# Whats with the Shoe thumping in Iraq

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 9, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598 "2003-04-09T17:46:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598/1 "2003-04-09T17:46:13Z")

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I gathered that it is a cultural thing and all, but dang if watching that played over and over makes me think that its kinda a wussy way to get back at someone who oppressed you for decades. Whats the thinking behind swakking someone’s face with a shoe or slipper? A sledghammer was being used but as soon as someone started the shoe thing, everyone followed. Someone please explain this, please?

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**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598/2 "2003-04-09T17:52:20Z")

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They’re discussing it [over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=176113).

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**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598/3 "2003-04-09T18:01:50Z")

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Thanks **everton** dont know how I missed that 😃

its a good thing the Iraqis havent taken to throwing dirty underwear. That would be surreal. Comedic but surreal.

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**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-shoe-thumping-in-iraq/167598/4 "2003-04-09T18:13:02Z")

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No, they’re saving that up for the Tom Jones tour.