# How often have you seen others accidentally flipping the bird? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056 "2019-10-20T22:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/1 "2019-10-20T22:51:39Z")
Before responding, watch this video of the POTUS “fixing” his hair: [https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4823553/trump-flips-women-astronauts](https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4823553/trump-flips-women-astronauts). Have you ever seen anyone fix their hair (or anything else) with the middle finger like that? Does it happen very often in your experience? Because I haven’t noticed anything like this before except when someone was being very deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/2 "2019-10-20T23:04:22Z")
I do that exact thing frequently. More rubbing my eyebrow than fixing my hair, but it’s with the middle finger. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/3 "2019-10-20T23:12:16Z")
I watched the lil’wrekker do it for about 2 years. She sucked her pointer finger and ring finger at the same time. Her middle finger, big as life along side her nose. She quit finger sucking about age 2 1/2. It was very funny to us. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/4 "2019-10-20T23:14:58Z")
If I had a dime for every time I’ve done the same damn thing, from my glasses to whatever, I would have his kind of money. And I probably see it more than a couple dozen times a day; so much so that I really don’t notice. The Old Wench just did it now scratching her ear. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/5 "2019-10-20T23:15:55Z")
As some of the others, I do it rubbing my eyebrows or pushing up my glasses. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/6 "2019-10-20T23:17:09Z")
I’ve used my middle finger to rub my eyebrow(or push up my glasses) but i don’t fold my other fingers down. The other fingers are still alongside the middle finger. That maneuver with the fingers folded down-except the middle- was something I’d see in high school, trying to subtly flip off the teacher. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/7 "2019-10-20T23:23:46Z")
OK, I guess I just never noticed it before. Maybe now I’ll see people doing it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/8 "2019-10-20T23:24:30Z")
Back when teachers used chalk boards it was seen more, I think. Holding the chalk with thumb and pointer finger. Teacher would then point at something with the middle finger. I quit giggling about it in middle school. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/9 "2019-10-21T01:30:36Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > OK, I guess I just never noticed it before. Maybe now I’ll see people doing it all the time. Oh, the way he folded the other fingers down in a way that looks very much deliberate to me. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/10 "2019-10-21T02:44:25Z")
When conversing with my supervisors, I’ve been accused of flipping them off by adjusting my safety glasses with my middle finger. No idea what they were talking about.😉 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/11 "2019-10-21T14:38:26Z")
People frequently use their middle finger without intending it to be an insulting or obscene gesture. One prominent case I noticed is when Stan Laurel used his extended middle finger (wetted) to pick up the portion of Oliver Hardy’s moustache that he inadvertently shaved off in _Babes in Toyland_ (AKA _March of the Wooden Soldiers_). I can’t find an image or a video clip of it online, though. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/12 "2019-10-21T14:49:21Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Oh, the way he folded the other fingers down in a way that looks very much deliberate to me. Same here. That was no accident. He wasn’t poking or pushing anything. There was no need to bend his other fingers down. He flipped off an astronaut for gently correction him and making sure other women got the credit they deserved for space walking. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/13 "2019-10-21T15:49:37Z")
Here’s the thing though, either way, is it not reasonable that we should expect a man in his position to be aware of the weight that will be attached to his every move and t act accordingly? Is this not what they sign up for when the ask us to vote them into the highest office int he land? I met with protocol officers before ever visiting the oval office, and that was just a ten minute social call. Did he not get a far more in depth briefing? ETA: I have watched at least 50 hours of Trump video, including interviews from when he was younger. I have never seen him use this gesture before. If it were an habitual gesture, I think I would have by now. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/14 "2019-10-21T16:04:46Z")
As much time as Trump has spent in front of cameras, he knows the dos and don’ts. He barely touched his hair. This wasn’t “fixing” anything. It was clearly deliberate. Whether people who aren’t on TV a ton do this in their ordinary life doesn’t really come into play here. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/15 "2019-10-21T16:53:30Z")
Some people do it all the time and it means nothing. Trump has only done it once. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/16 "2019-10-21T17:05:10Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > This wasn’t “fixing” anything. It was clearly deliberate. > [@enipla](#): > > That was no accident. He wasn’t poking or pushing anything. There was no need to bend his other fingers down. > > He flipped off an astronaut for gently correction him and making sure other women got the credit they deserved for space walking. > [@raventhief](#): > > Oh, the way he folded the other fingers down in a way that looks very much deliberate to me. Is this the consensus? If so, it lowers my opinion of Trump — which I didn’t know was still possible. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/17 "2019-10-21T18:45:12Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Is this the consensus? If so, it lowers my opinion of Trump — which I didn’t know was still possible. Well, did you see the video? What do you think? Not only do I think it was deliberate, it’s just the kind of thing an immature asshole like him would do. Fits right with his ‘character’ ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/18 "2019-10-21T19:53:46Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Well, did you see the video? What do you think? Probably? My social awareness is almost autistic, so I’m reluctant to opine on such matters. And I’m reluctant to make the accusation because, if true, it means that Trump is even more of a snot-faced incontinent mobster-brat than I already thought he was. ETA: Think of the utter _childishness_ of these obscene and stupid gesture. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/19 "2019-10-21T19:56:26Z")
I have done that and seen others do it. None of us did it accidentally and I don’t think he did either. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056/20 "2019-10-21T20:35:51Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … ETA: Think of the utter _childishness_ of these obscene and stupid gesture. Precisely. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-have-you-seen-others-accidentally-flipping-the-bird/842056.md?page=2)