All about the Brits - Page 4 - TheYellowCommunity.com - Valentino Rossi

seabiscuit81 · 19.03.2008, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrcambs

There has been some discussion about whether this particular hand-signal has international appeal or whether it is peculiar to just us Brits.
It appears its origins start as far back as 1066 and the Battle of Hastings when we were trying in vain to keep the French Invaders out.
It seems us Brits were in a strong position to begin with because we had these fancy new longbows which meant we were able to fire arrows at the baddies with such force that they were able to pierce the French armour…and so wound or kill the opposition. To use these bows the big bit was held in the left hand and the string (forgive the terminology, my memory is a little vague as it was a long time ago

) was pulled back with the index and middle finger of the right hand.
If any of the Brits were captured by the opposition they would have these 2 fingers chopped off so that they could no longer use these offensive weapons. So, in battle the Brits would stand and raise these 2 fingers at the French to taunt them and show they were still in action and ready to fight.
…so I heard, anyway.

So, it seems it is just a Brit thing and not really all that offensive at all!

Vale is using his left hand above but as he is left handed he may have had his bow specially modified

But, Uccio has it right here using his right hand

:

Thanx Jrcambs!
Informative yet entertaining

Catty · 29.03.2008, 17:18

Okay, just to add some spice.

At school, we were told that the V for Victory was from the french archers. They used to put their arrows in manure, to hold them ready for use in a battle. This meant, if they pierced their enemies flesh, the odds were good that the victim would die of an infection because of the bacteria. The poms, very angry at this, then made it a practice of cutting those two fingers off of any frenchie they came across as revenge. THus the rubbing-it-in-the-face gesture with those two fingers.
Apparently the french archers, using a smaller crossbow, had a dexterity and speed, as well, that the traditional english long bows didn't have.

So, it's now a cross-channel contest. The battle of Normandy can be fought again.

INcidentally, I stopped using two fingers when I was probably about 8. Since then, I've moved onto the, what I feel is, the more mature, faintly more profane, single fingered salute.

Angela O · 29.03.2008, 22:35

Ah but flicking the bird has a totally different meaning to giving two fingers...well it does here anyway.
V for Victory salute holds the fingers showing the other way around....with the palm pointing towards whoever you show the V to....giving someone two fingers by way of insult shows the palm facing yourself.
Vale gives the V for victory salute....Uccio does the other one!!!

Catty · 01.04.2008, 16:24

Oh, I know there is the difference between the V for Victory and the reverse V for eff off... but the two had become mixed, and people were commenting on when they use the eff off V. Point is, I never do... single finger for me! lol

02.04.2008, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catty

Oh, I know there is the difference between the V for Victory and the reverse V for eff off... but the two had become mixed, and people were commenting on when they use the eff off V. Point is, I never do... single finger for me! lol

u must have been showing the finger to some people quite alot lol

Catty · 02.04.2008, 17:03

Only when provoked to great extremes.

02.04.2008, 17:35

I don't give the finger to people, only to mad cows.hehe.

Catty · 02.04.2008, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by romantik

I don't give the finger to people, only to mad cows.hehe.

Exactly. When the power of the sword is topped by the power of the pen, which is then topped by the rules of a forum, one does have to just settle for "the bird" at one's computer screen, don't they?
And I thought england had fixed their mad cow problem?

Angela O · 03.04.2008, 01:34

Aimed at me I'm guessing!

03.04.2008, 07:48

Naaah Angela, the little scouse bird didnt do anything to the cat to render such reaction LOL.