# Canadians have the right to flip people off **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 15, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230 "2023-03-15T20:40:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/1 "2023-03-15T20:40:37Z")
Finally, [some sanity in the area of free speech](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/10/1162629535/canada-flipping-middle-finger-ruling-god-given-right)! But why didn’t the US snap it up as the National Gesture? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/2 "2023-03-15T21:11:13Z")
The argument that started all this sounds rather un-Canadian, but I see that it happened in Montreal. The thing to know about Montreal is that everyone there is a little bit crazy – mostly in a good way, but still, unconventional. And the judge’s remarks were a little weird, too. There is no such thing in law as a “God-given right” – there are only Charter rights – so why bring this up? Also “every red-blooded Canadian”. Are there other kinds? The judge may have been toking a bit of that legal cannabis we have around here, and possibly so were the principals in this silly case. Ah, Montreal, je t’aime! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/3 "2023-03-15T23:16:50Z")
Sure, Canadians may have the right to flip people off, but do they have the capacity to do so? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/4 "2023-03-15T23:37:54Z")
There’s [precedent in the U.S.](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/03/14/appeals-court-raising-middle-finger-police-free-speech/3161998002/) supporting the one-finger salute as “free speech”. Re the Canadian decision cited in the OP, does that mean that anyone appearing before the Honourable Judge Dennis Galiatsatos (who rendered the decision) has the “God-given right” to flip him the bird without fear of penalty? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/5 "2023-03-17T14:43:56Z")
Yes, but the word ‘sorry’ will feature prominently. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/6 "2023-03-17T14:58:44Z")
I thought Pierre Trudeau established this several decades ago. [https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4079/4791496185\_0121a271f7.jpg](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4079/4791496185_0121a271f7.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/7 "2023-03-17T15:08:01Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Yes, but the word ‘sorry’ will feature prominently. Maybe get it tattooed on your middle fingers and show it off. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/8 "2023-03-17T15:22:32Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Re the Canadian decision cited in the OP, does that mean that anyone appearing before the Honourable Judge Dennis Galiatsatos (who rendered the decision) has the “God-given right” to flip him the bird without fear of penalty? Well, there’s [the earlier precedent that under the people’s freedom of choices and voices act](https://youtu.be/8GGL0qGk5lA?t=50), we’re allowed to smoke and swear in court, so, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/9 "2023-03-17T18:42:54Z")
Apparently younger drivers find that instead of the crass middle finger, a more effective gesture is the “thumbs down” sign. Maybe. Maybe not. But I can still remember when some dude cut me off twenty years ago, and when given my constitutional and God-approved gesture responded by flashing the peace sign. > **[Gen Z claim hand gesture is the new middle finger and is 'triggering'](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1747115/gen-z-hand-gesture-thumbs-down-dxus)** > > Gen Z has a powerful and impactful hand gesture they are explaining why it is so effective on social media. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-have-the-right-to-flip-people-off/981230/10 "2023-03-17T23:41:59Z")
I think she may be overestimating the impact of her hand signal. When people see it they probably think “What the fuck does that mean? Are my tires low? A comment on my bumper sticker?” So they run her off the road just in case.