If someone upturns his middle finger at you, he is trying to represent anger and disrespect. It has become the symbol of saying F*** U. So, like many others, you might be wondering how the middle finger became a symbol of anger and rage.
Nowadays, teenagers are using these gestures more often, and it is enough to fire rage. But this gesture has a long history that dates years back, and it’s clear that it’s a pretty old gesture.
History of Middle Finger Gesture
It’s origin dates back to 2500 long years. This gesture was first used in Aristophanes’s play “The Clouds” performed in 423 BC. In this play, Socrates was shown the middle finger gesture by Strepsiades. And even at that time, it was known as a rude gesture, because it was known as gesture mimicking the male private parts. The Romans started calling the middle finger an indecent finger (digitus impudicus).
Since then, the middle finger has been known as an obscene gesture. This gesture is used to show rage, anger, and disliking towards someone. This symbol is also used to show the other person is sexually inferior.
In current times, with almost everyone using this gesture, it has become a silent way of saying “f*** you”. Nowadays, people don’t use this gesture to show anger only, and it is used for making fun among friends too. It could also be a disagreement in a friendly manner, but only among friends or the people you have close relations with.
Always be careful in showing it to people whom you don’t know or have a formal relationship with, like your boss. If you show the middle finger to your boss, you may even get fired for doing that.
So, this was the story behind the origin of the Middle finger and how it became a symbol of rage, anger, and hatred. This symbol/gesture has different meanings depending on whom you’re showing it to.
