How Did Extending Your Middle Finger Come to Mean F. U.?

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Thank you Dashlane for making this one possible! Get 10% off with the coupon code "todayifoundout" here: www.dashlane.com/todayifoundout

[@KraftyKreator]

Jay Barker well the bowmen got those fingers chopped off because then they couldn't be a bowman anymore, but the others sound spot on.

[@NinjaNezumi]

You left out that Hoss also means Horse. Anyway that's the connection.

[@harounsaad8698]

I really loved the video but I have one problem with it i was born and raised in iraq and we don't use the thumb to give the bird as u said but we use the Middle finger just like you do but in a slightly different fashion

[@catholiccrusader5328]

Too bad Simon you're not a fan of baseball the greatest game on earth!

[@honey_bee65]

An even earlier account of "flipping the bird" is in the film *"PARACHUTE JUMPER" (1933)* starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. In one scene Frank McHugh parachutes out of a plane and lands on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. He tries to hitch a ride from a passing car but gets ignored. Once the car passes him, he flips the guy off. It was completely uncensored because it was *"pre-Code"* (BEFORE the mentioned "Hay's Code" took effect)

[@DobieTanpaw]

It's not often that Simon Whistler looses his impecable British Gentleman's composure, but when he does it's over jokes a ten-year-old would giggle at.

[@anidnmeno]

That's what makes it great!

[@TodayIFoundOut]

You should see me around fart jokes.

[@williamjeffersonclinton69]

Just that moment he paused and looked at his hand...."oh yeah...*chuckle giggle chuckle*" Okay click like right now Willie

[@escott1981]

@@TodayIFoundOut I think it was you from whom I learned that the oldest recorded joke was a fart joke that was found scribed on a wall in Pompeii.

[@DobieTanpaw]

​@@TodayIFoundOut LOL! Well, if you're ever on the East Coast of The States and manage a visit to Pittsburgh, PA, hit me up and I'll treat you to a pint of lager, some good conversation, and a fart joke or two! :D

[@js0137]

"... and no doubt water was needed to put out the fire from that wicked burn." there's something so ridiculously satisfying to me from having heard that for the most-part said in your presenting voice 😎😏😁

[@zitronenfalte]

Simon has become my in-head explaining voice...

[@DisturbedVette]

For me it’s vsauce

[@Textile_Courtesan]

mine is always Adam C.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

I know I’ll have made it when I’m the voice people think with instead of their own voice.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Today I Found Out Well at least it’s already true for one person. Now it’s just a matter of growing your base. 😅

[@mwbgaming28]

For me it's > Scott Manley for space thoughts > Chubbyemu for medical thoughts > Nurdrage for science > Simon Whistler/Vsauce for everything else

[@barbarawallace6890]

I don't think Ive ever seen Simon get so goofy before....its hysterical! And quite adorable ❤

[@Von_D]

Simon instantly reverts to his 12-year-old self at 1:20.

[@judywright4241]

Von D --That was adorably cute too!

[@herbiehusker1889]

Ah yeah...

[@MarkLikesCoffee860]

It's a shame this 12-year-old didn't do his homework. It actually dates back to the English Longbowman who fought the French during the Hundred Years War from 1337 - 1453. The French feared the English archers who used the Longbow with such devastating effect. Any English archers who were caught by the French had their Index and middle fingers chopped off from their right hand to stop them using the longbow. This led to the English archers taunting the French with their two fingers in the ‘Two-Fingered Salute’ meaning “You haven’t cut off my fingers!” Later on, using the middle finger alone became popularised. Longbows were made using wood from the English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew" or "pluck yew". Much later, "pluck yew" got changed to "f**k you" in modern culture.

[@williamjeffersonclinton69]

I do like his seldom break of character.

[@brothadrknes4760]

pretty sure he did a video already on that French thing. Simon ALWAYS does his homework. However he does so much and he’s not perfect, everyone makes mistakes

[@howardpope3932]

I know a different theory about the origin of this gesture: In an educational program on German TV it was said that the middle finger gesture derives from the fact that in antiquity physicians used their middle fingers for rectal examinations. Because of this the middle finger was considered to be unclean and was also called the "stinking finger". Showing someone this finger was therefor considered an insult.

[@matttucker3]

You know I’m really really glad someone asked this question

[@fionapaterson-wiebe3108]

Matt Tucker I know right? You gotta love people that ask the questions others are too shy to.

[@chowder8802]

Fuck u

[@matttucker3]

🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼 too thrice and Fiona yes much embarrass such shame :P

[@preshisify]

😂

[@howardxu8050]

FOR SCIENCE

[@jonathanleiman5456]

Someone ask Simon a deep, multi-layered, statistical question on baseball. I need that video in my life.

[@julius-stark]

I can tell Simon was having fun making this one.

[@flibbernodgets7018]

I like the ones where he breaks character and laughs best

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Yeah, this one was a good laugh.

[@maem9246]

@@TodayIFoundOut " This is a baseball ---> ⚾ "

[@Corsuwey]

I was hoping you'd get into the British two-finger salute

[@fyredoesidiotgames8451]

The archers salute, the way enemy archers who escape capture during a war would send their regards to their opponents. were'as if they were captured as a form of punishment their index and middle fingers were removed so they could never fire a arrow again.

[@beatnik6806]

@@fyredoesidiotgames8451 I heard they used it as a form of taunt like "come and get them!" (the fingers)

[@fyredoesidiotgames8451]

@@beatnik6806 probably

[@lordfuckface8015]

Lol

[@TimCleveland85]

Have a like just for Simon being childish playing with his hand

[@HalseyHFW]

I love when the hand gesture is blurred on tv/pics. As if making a gesture with your hand is offensive in and of itself, and as if people don't know what's being blurred.

[@Topo842]

It's funny cause it makes it look like the real thing

[@marcbeebee6969]

Well that's harmless in Japan they blur out the porn. Now that is rediculous, I mean you can buy used girl underwear in the wending machine. Aaa maybe that's the reason, not the chicken but the egg was first

[@limitedoriginz6109]

Marc beebee Porn is trash and only for sexual creepy perverts

[@amberhide04]

@@limitedoriginz6109 ok boomer

[@adamwilliams5849]

@@limitedoriginz6109 u must b 1 of them people that thinks its the guys fault women become strippers, right

[@RamzaBeoulves]

Thank you. That's why I subscribed. A few times a week I scroll through my sub box and go "didn't know I wanted to know that" and proceed to ditch work for that quality information.

[@WASRGP]

Omg! The way Simon had to quick check to see if it indeed did resemble the shaft and sack was beyond righteous! 😂🤣🖤👊🏼🤘🏼✌🏼

[@jpm9316]

Nothing more impressive than turning an episode like “flipping the bird” into a form of higher education! Well done, Simon, well done!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@eskimocommotion4965]

That's not where it came from

[@jtschmitz6334]

LMAO... I balled up my fist to check seconds before Simon did the same. Simon put into words what I was thinking.... This man is Amazing!!! 😆

[@RevCode]

I'd really love to see Simon's advertisement for the sponsor if the sponsor was a condom manufacturer.

[@alexiswelsh5821]

This comment made me laugh 😆

[@barbarawallace6890]

Or extolling the virtues of different vibrators and such....

[@calichef1962]

@Barbara Wallace-- I can imagine that Simon's voice would sell a LOT of vibrators. What hetero woman doesn't love a rich baritone voice? Let me add, that when *Simon* has a cold, *I* get the fever! LOL! ;-)

[@josephwatson8448]

Simon looks gay af !

[@crypto66]

Then you remember he supposedly tests out aĺl their sponsorship products... wonder what he'd say about that?

[@shellycoffey6436]

When I was young there was a poster in our sunday school that showed a hand and gave a meaning for each finger. On that poster the middle finger meant 'I love you'. We had fun spreading love at church.

[@DrJekyll51]

"Giving the Big Bird" well I'll never see Big Bird on Sesame Street the same way again

[@WacoedeUnplugged]

now that i think about it think about Big Bird's shape he kinda looks like a extended finger

[@buddyclem7328]

Maybe Jim Henson and Frank Oz were being a little naughty!

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@buddyclem7328 ...um... MAYBE??!?! Henson wasn't always all about kid's shows. (I'll just leave that there...) ;o)

[@ManScoutsofAmerica]

I’ve been calling it “the bird” for as long as I can remember.

[@canaan5337]

At least they weren't going around giving people the Snuffaluffagus.

[@laurawillits176]

It's fun to watch Simon having fun. I didn't know what a desperate and burning need I had for information on this subject. Thanks, y'all.

[@Flakjacket96]

I love it when you go off script and make it obvious you are reading a script.

[@TheFlamerWolf]

🖕

[@purpleanimator1446]

🖕

[@Damond_Warrior]

🖕🏻

[@midshipman8654]

I like your balance of tones, sometimes some creators try a bit too hard to be “casual” and it comes off try hard, or otherwise are too stiff, but your style just feels really natural. Informative and well spoken as a base, but still knowing when somethings entertaining and putting a little spin on it from time to time. just feels really natural.

[@shinigamikitsune1541]

Me: **sees title of video in notifications** Also me: *"Could it possibly be that all my burning questions can possibly be addressed once and for all?"*

[@sixroldan6742]

Dude, your videos are getting better and funner the more your personality comes thru. Great job.

[@jackielinde7568]

We need Simon to swear more on this show, just for the sound effects.

[@Otokichi786]

If you watched "Mythbusters," you may recall the variety of sounds used to mask "Anglo-Saxon swear words" when experiments "missed the mark." (Or when Tori crashed into something and "rang the family jewels.";)

[@KingNoob7]

@@Otokichi786 there was a whole myth where they had a swear to make ice water less painful

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@Otokichi786 On some of the automotive programming of the time on some of the base level cable channels they would use the sound of a wrench being thrown across the room to replace swear words.

[@fortisprocer966]

@@InsideOfMyOwnMind I read it as "wench" and was dying laughing!

[@millermonsterair]

he does on his other channel, Highlight History. i think it is a great channel too

[@janedoe805]

Having lived in the US and the UK I have always heard that the “Middle Finger” gesture originated with the UK’s soldiers who manned the Longbow. (Hundreds and hundreds of years ago) I first heard this in 1972 at summer camp while I was learning Archery. Then I heard an almost identical story again over 30 years (and 3500 miles away too) later when I was living in Manchester. (I was enjoying a Guinness at the local pub.) Basically it goes like this; When one group of “Archers” captured their enemies, they would cut off their “plucking finger” (The middle of the three fingers that one uses to draw back their bow.) So, they would no longer be able to use their Longbows again. So to taunt their enemies before a battle, the Archers would scream across the field, “PLUCK YOU”! Implying that they were going to win and cut off the other Archer’s middle finger. Through the centuries the word, “Pluck” turned into “Fucked”. Did you ever hear of this theory? P.S. Simon, have you ever thought about reading books aloud for Audio Tapes? I think you have a fabulous voice. I absolutely love your channel it is so interesting. thank you very much to you and to everyone else who makes all these interesting videos.

[@pr0xZen]

@1:20 Who else was gleefully studying their own handballs (heh) while flipping themselves off?

[@macekreislahomes1690]

Definitely. Glad I'm not alone at this observation.

[@Explore-earth-4x4]

Yes i did the same

[@nkhamoza1]

I have been wanting to say this for some time, I LOVE Simon's accent & the way he talks, he is super funny! It's like 60% of what makes the show great! I have a small crush on him :)

[@robaba89]

As Simon started reading the bonus facts about baseball.. I could hear it before he broke. It was great haha. It's all sportball to me too, Simon.

[@jensrobot]

He tried valiantly, but it was lost beforehand :D

[@ghostfather1390]

may as well say "they did impressive feats represented by these numbers and abbreviations"

[@13ECHO20]

So, "flipping the bird" had nothing to do with medieval archers? I have heard from numerous people that the English archers would get their middle finger cut off by the enemy to make them incapable of drawing the longbow. Thus by showing the enemy the middle finger, it implied that they were capable of launching arrows. But Sir Simon is the resident expert. I will go with what he says.

[@ZEZERBING]

At my age, I have to point my finger downward.

[@thefunkosaurus]

Ha! Tape a Viagra to it.... (Results may vary)

[@rydemk4168]

Boomer

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Yeah? Around what "era" does it start to be "like playing pool with a rope"? ...asking for a friend. ;oP

[@chadmearhoff9086]

@@thefunkosaurus if bird remains flipped for over 4 hours please contact a doctor or local prude

[@theeasternfront6436]

Hopefully whilst doing a head stand.

[@ricannabaxley8279]

My mother always tells me that behind every bird is a pile of shit 😂😂😂

[@_Mr.Tuvok_]

Simon you’re more funny than you think, more humor in these please!!

[@AlexandraKuper]

Business blaze is hilarious. I don’t even care about the videos usually I just enjoy the Commentary is great!

[@TheTeufelhunden68]

"...Water was certainly needed to put out the fire from that wicked burn." Ahahahahahahahahaha!

[@CreatiVastARTS]

A censored middle finger is still a finger extended (meaning the censoring is practically moot lol)

[@calvinrempel8600]

Well, the same really applies to bleeping out curse words (doubly so if they only bleep out the vowels, which seems to be a thing. Either that, or the way the tone interacts with the audio makes it sound like the f and ck on either end of the word are still intact).

[@thedarknesst5995]

@@calvinrempel8600 you mean like at the beginning of this video?

[@ewkabel]

Fun fact... The state of West Virginia is shaped like a fist holding up the middle finger with the thumb extended out to the side.

[@Je1St2]

This was a fun video and it’s nice to see you have some fun with it!

[@kandreasworld4374]

I luv how towards the end of the video, he just stops blurring out his middle finger. Lol Hats off to the company that sponsored this taboo video. I salute you.

[@LividImp]

KZbin has been flipping off Iraqis everyday for over a decade now.

[@buddyclem7328]

14 times under this comment alone! (So far.)

[@ncstudio333]

'liked to take it UP THEE BUMM" I FKN LOST IT WHY IS HE SO HILARIOUS

[@alexlandherr]

At 7:02, best mocking of censorship prior to The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Good Morning Vietnam.

[@Reno_Slim]

I always thought people were just trying to tell me that I'm number one. I'm gonna have to reevaluate my entire life.

[@seananderson7601]

I'd like to give you a thumbs up but now I'm not sure I want to. Hmm...

[@mackinblack]

This was almost a good comment. Proof read what you type next time.

[@seananderson7601]

@@mackinblack Fixed. Have a thumbs up.

[@mackinblack]

@@seananderson7601 lol thank you

[@seananderson7601]

@@mackinblack :D

[@LindysEpiphany]

Just need to say thank you and state that not one derogatory word was used in this conversation! This day and age any type of constructive criticism is answered by durogatory comments and blatant anger. This is how a "constructive" conversation should go....a mistake was made, someone politely commented on said mistake, the mistake then realized and fixed, a polite answer back, no harm no foul. Everybody makes mistakes, not one single human being is perfect so accepting that one was made without lashing out in hate and anger is a sign of intelligence. Constructive=to build up and destructive=to tear down, which is better for society? Treat others with respect and kindness as you would wish to he treated. Thanks again for this breath of fresh air☺

[@wendychavez5348]

You actually handled this topic quite respectfully. I'm impressed.

[@6447912]

10:51 Not reaaally flipping the bird, but the gesture can finally be seen in its full glory, no censoring. ;)

[@calichef1962]

I looked for a long time before I found someone else that noticed that! Good eye!

[@charlesfarmer5749]

I don’t think it should be an insult. Rather the gesture and the words ought to be a kind of cheerful greeting. A way to say hello to friends and family.

[@auntielizardlips]

"Flipping the bird". One's phallus is often called a 'cock' meaning rooster, so called because it stands up at waking just as a rooster crows at first light. A rooster is a bird. That is my opinion of the origins of the phrase. Funny video, and well done!

[@buddyclem7328]

Interesting. 🤔

[@mennolente4807]

Exactly my thoughts. Reminds me of a dutch painting from the 1660's by Gabriel Metsu who had the funny habbit of hiding eufemisms everywhere. Many paintings have a creepy old man offering their roosters to young girls and older women, spinsters (yes, same eufemism in dutch) offering their turkeys to rich young nobles nudge nudge wink wink. Moreover, at least for as long as trousers have zippers, it was common where I live (southwest of the Netherlands) to say to young boys who accidentally had their zippers down to "pull the zipper up, or else "it" flies away". More recently, since the '60's, when trousers for young girls came into fashion, when having their zipper down, they were told: "Oh dear, it has flown away!" :) To bad most of this regional stuff is only oral history. So no sources on this. My grandpa, who was born in the early '20's, told me he was told by both his father and grandfather to "button up before it flies away", when having forgot to do so after relieving himself. So it even was a euphemism before zippers were introduced. So that running joke is flying for quite some time now.

[@actuallyNo...]

@@mennolente4807 lol

[@61percentodicarica]

That's actually funny, because in italian we use the word 'bird' (in Ita, "uccello") for what you mean by "cock" (in Ita, 'gallo' --> cazzo). So, to "to give the Bird", to me, literally, means what "to give the cock" means to english natives.

[@melodyvalentine8779]

@@mennolente4807 I'm from the UK and I haven't heard it said in a long time but right up til I was in high school I remember people saying "you're flying low" if your zip was down on your pants so that sort of ties in with what you're saying, kind of anyway. Very interesting

[@neighslayer768]

And now for another bonus fact. Did you know that the two finger variant of flipping the bird used in some parts of the British isles was derived from the 100 years war with France? It was a taunt made by British archers. The France gave a proclamation that any captured archer would have their fingers cut off. The archers would then salute French armies with their two fingers, basically saying "Come get them!"

[@AvoidTheCadaver]

“The seamen were beaten” oooh innuendo how I love thee quite. Edit: No one else notice Simon's hand gesture at @10:52?

[@wendychavez5348]

Because we don't want the government coming after him, NO

[@james.w.]

I always thought it came from the middle ages: Archery soldiers were captured by their enemy and had one finger amputated so they would no longer have the ability to draw their bow. If they eluded capture, they'd hold up both fingers in a symbol of "haha, can't catch me", and it eventually morphed to just the one finger...

[@fsmoura]

0:25 OMG WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE HIGH-FIVE??? ( O.O)

[@sonnyocad287]

I think it was created in the 70's by basketball players, and before that I think there was the low five in 1930s.

[@escott1981]

@@sonnyocad287 Close... It was invented by baseball players in the 70's. A teammate of Dodgers' great Dusty Baker held his hand up after Dusty had hit a home run and Dusty reached up and slapped it.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

We have a video on this already if you want to google it. But the short of it is that the first documented instance was spontaneously done by the first openly gay player in major league baseball and the other guy was Dusty Baker after he hit a home run. Before this the low-five was a thing, but not the high five. Soon became a thing in baseball and beyond.

[@OutSideTheBoxFormat]

@@TodayIFoundOut Correct its origins come from baseball.

[@Friendship1nmillion]

@@TodayIFoundOut I heard the high 5 was created after the 2nd world war by American troops stationed in Japan. 😯 👋⚾🎭

[@TheXev]

When I was a child, my Grandfather had a story about flipping-the-bird. He told me that had to do with archers in the middle ages. If they were caught, they would have their middle fingers removed so they wouldn't be able to fire their bows as well as before, and those that survived the attack would flip-the-bird to demonstrate they were still able to fire their bows. I was actually quite surprised to not hear this story mentioned in the video in any capacity since it is quite popular to tell where I live in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

[@monstamastarc]

Basically it's a friendly greeting for you and your friends now😂

[@brantleyhester6641]

monstamasta375 Yes a sign representing a cock and balls is now a sign of greeting. So that being said could I just show my junk to say hey?

[@OF01975]

Speak for urself dude, me and my homies are tight and would never think about doing some degenerate hooligan trash like that to each other. We might have different morals but i would drop a friend for some shit like that in no time at all. Not to mention how disrespectful that shit is

[@MrLeemurman]

@@OF01975 Wow, you are lame

[@OF01975]

MrLeemurman if thats what some anonymous loser thinks of me then so be it. If you actually got to know me and maybe didnt judge almost like a bitch you would see that im a very well respected and known conservative christian whos happily married alrieady

[@pharaok]

@@OF01975 you must be very fun.........

[@ladynancy1284]

I love the professor persona and I love the relaxed laughter. Well done, good sir!

[@jamesfleming1155]

This channel deserves more subs...and I say that knowing it has almost 2 million.

[@shannonbrooks5014]

I can't remember where I read this, but I read long ago that the modern usage of flipping someone off came from the wars between the British and the Scots. Captured Scottish archers would have their middle finger cut off, making it impossible to return to their previous duty. Those that had not been captured would flip off the Brittish army before battle, as an "FU, we've still got it" kind of gesture. I'm not sure how accurate this is, since yall seriously research the subjects discussed and it wasn't even mentioned. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Awesome video as always, keep up the great work on all channels. Love ya Simon!!! Youre awesome Brother!!!

[@remalm3670]

... I've been shown this gesture many times; I've always thought it meant I was still number one😉...

[@Howiesgirl]

Oh Simon, I just love you.... A guy who can freely admit he knows nothing about baseball is tops in my book! Keep the entertaining & informative stuff coming.

[@RaiXYT]

I heard the bird gestures was from captured archers and got their middle finger sliced off so they cant shoot with their bow anymore.

[@paulwilson5490]

RaiX That's what I always thought as well. And even in Great Britain the "bird" is used by showing the pointer and middle finger (like a backward peace sign) signifying that they (the archer) still had two fingers and could still potentially kill you.

[@cassiehaughey]

ROFL "...surely water would have been needed to put out the fire from that wicked burn." Simon got me with that one!

[@King_Nugget1]

Aye love finding a new episode as I scroll my list 🙃

[@allisonshaw9341]

I'm willing to bet that the middle finger salute has been around as long as humanity has.

[@loganshellborn293]

The girl in the picture doesn’t even have her middle finger up - it’s just a fist

[@itsmeekers]

For emphasizing some people give the entire fist. My weasel Meekers gives people the paw.

[@masterred82]

I always heard from multiple people that "flippin' the bird" come from the UK two fingered version. The two fingered version become popular because when fighting the French, the Brits would use their longbows which the French didnt have. When the French would capture a Brit longbows man they would remove his ring and middle fingers so he could no longer draw back on a bowstring. Once the Brits found this out they started showing the French before a battle that they still had their two draw fingers and were going to use them to kill them. Hence showing the two fingers (ring and middle), become FU were coming for you. Then for what ever reason, most likely their own FU to the Brits the Americans dropped one of the fingers. Was always such a great story, i hope it still holds true.

[@ByloBand]

Growing up (in the U.S.) we always heard that one of the origins of the middle finger came from the old wars when France and England were going at it. The English archers were so lethal that when captured the French would just cut off their middle finger to prevent them from nocking arrows, so showing the middle finger became a popular taunt as it showcased that they had not been captured. No idea if that is true.

[@puccabear81]

That story is a perverted versionof the actual story, which is for the backwards peace sign.

[@lesliekilgore648]

the sources are mixed in saying yea or nay. the 'rumored' moment was right before the Battle of Hastings when the ENTIRE corps of British long-bowmen held up their index and middle fingers, back of the hand pointed at the French battle-lines. the Brit arrow lobbers started screaming at the top of their lungs "PLUCK YOU! PLUCK YOU!" referring to 'plucking lute strings' ie bowstrings. this also alluded to bowmen checking their strings for excessive moisture by going 'twang' with their fingers to ensure the string was still tight.

[@k27ism]

I searched too find anything confirming that becausw I read it somewhere concerning the french and english archers, and i'm left with only your comment... im not sure what to make of it tho

[@JeremyWS]

That was educational and entertaining, once again answering a question I didn't ask. Keep it up.

[@icemagiciangh]

*And no doubt water was certainly needed to put out the fire from that wicked burn*

[@hi.moriarty]

Epic!

[@davidgustavsson4000]

In Swedish sign language, it's the sign for 'r'. Most speakers choose to turn it upside down so as to not cause offense, but the deaf association, SDR, had the flipped bird as part of their logo up until recently.

[@geekedslotter7948]

I always heard it was an insult archers would use to show they haven't been punished. It was said that archers fingers would be cut off so the middle finger showed they were still capable of using their bow.

[@intothecalm420]

BOSTON BEAN EATERS!!! Why is that so funny!?!

[@Delgen1951]

you need to watch some of the old "baseball" cartoons, form the 1930-1940s and you will get it.

[@creatoruser736]

Another bonus fact: flipping people off by showing the middle finger did not start from medieval archers having that finger cut off to prevent them from being able to string a bow.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

I really enjoyed this episode. You were much more expressive, especially whenever you """broke character."""

[@Sgt-Gravy]

Pluck yew... French history has it that cutting off the middle finger made it nearly impossible to draw a long bow. So as a statement of victory the archers would show they still had their fingers.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

No that's just a thing people say :-)

[@perrychills]

Dear mr Whistler, this was hilariuos and informative. Great work. Just sad you didn't use the top gun clip

[@HyperionaSilverleaf]

Bonus fact: the gesture in Spain uses the pinky finger to imply the target has an inadequate member. The rawkfist from the US should never be used in certain places because it means that the person's SO cheats hard, Given The Bull Horns.

[@MikePlaysYeet]

Today I turned notifications on

[@KM-ld9ln]

But did you learn today?

[@MikePlaysYeet]

@@KM-ld9ln thats a different question

[@marcusothman3435]

Simon, as an Iraqi American who lived in Iraq during the invasion, I assure you that the middle finger and the thumb up have the same meaning in both Iraq and the US, I think you're mistaken about this fact.

[@LividImp]

Utterly bizarre timing. I was just wondering last night what the origin of "charlie horse" was.

[@whatsup7202]

It was Charlies' horse with a leg spasm, you silly goose..

[@phyllisdevries5734]

Simon you're the best! I listens to your voice everyday. You always have something interesting to tell me

[@chrokeii]

For some reason I always thought it had something to do with archers in the middle ages

[@grmpEqweer]

No, that's the English double-finger up yours. When British archers were captured by the French, the French cut off their bowfingers and released them. Showing one's bowfingers to the enemy became a taunt towards the French, thus the two-finger flipoff was born.

[@lesliekilgore648]

@@grmpEqweer also the 'rumored' moment right before the Battle of Hastings when the ENTIRE corps of British long-bowmen held up their index and middle fingers, back of the hand pointed at the French battle-lines. the Brit arrow lobbers started screaming at the top of their lungs "PLUCK YOU! PLUCK YOU!" referring to 'plucking lute strings' ie bowstrings. this also alluded to bowmen checking their strings for excessive moisture by going 'twang' with their fingers to ensure the string was still tight.

[@Daniel_Roach]

It's so much more funny when you look at your own finger to see the comparison and then look up and Simon is doing it too.

[@Bizzymuma]

How many likes did it take for this to be answered?😂

[@00coyote60]

I always heard the origin came about when British long bowmen had been captured. They were to have their middle fingers cut off, disabling their shooting hand. They escaped, or were rescued, and then tauntingly extended their middle finger as a "There still there!" Toward their ex captors.

[@purple-headedyogurtslinger2683]

4:32 Did one of the camera guys crack a cold one with the boys?

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Hahah, no, it’s just me in the studio. I’m not sure... but I think that’s my food slipping off the base of the air and hitting a wheel. The more you know.

[@purple-headedyogurtslinger2683]

Today I Found Out Thank you for the clarification. Loved your video about the war crimes of the allies. My great grandmother had told me some awful things they had done to people in her town in the Netherlands when it was liberated by Canadian forces in 1945 and it was interesting to hear more. Keep up the great videos👍🏼

[@jakeloranzed196]

So years then, my middle finger got cut from paper so I did the gesture, and I told the teacher and then one of my classmates were like " Stop doing the middle finger" and I was like confused. Till I found out it was an offensive gesture

[@otakuribo]

But how and when did it get approved by the Unicode Consortium as an emoji: 🖕?

[@Delgen1951]

computer geeks, that exlanies it, if not you had better meet a few, then you will understand.

[@lagomoof]

@@Delgen1951 Yup. It wasn't the Rabbinicate that wanted this hand gesture in Unicode: 🖖

[@buddyclem7328]

@@Delgen1951 *explains

[@otakuribo]

@@lagomoof *looks it up* Hmm... you have a point. But I choose to make my meaning clear by saying "Peace and Long Life" 🖖 while doing this so you know what I intend by this finger-wiggle-shape.

[@otakuribo]

@@Delgen1951 And yes, I'm not IT but my job certainly has an IT department. They're pretty chill dudes with some minor idiosyncrasies but I can relate so

[@SmilingKratosTheGodOfWar]

Passwords are better if they are longer rather than complex. The only time a phrase is insecure is when you use it in everyday speech, or is related to your username. The hard cracking checks everything including numbers and icons, therefore if it is longer it is more likely to be discovered by the antihacking on the websites.

[@hipcat13]

Sesame Street will never be the same again. 6:00

[@Swnsasy]

ROFLOL Simon being silly is awesome!! 🤣

[@hotcoffee5542]

The like button is flipping people off

[@zappawench6048]

Lolololololol

[@canaan5337]

I've seen that Tweety Bird cartoon before and I remember that part ha ha

[@wild00side]

was this real or was this just a fever dream?

[@nachtegaelw5389]

Omg!! I grew up watching that exact tweety bird cartoon !! I had no idea the dirty joke was in there when I was 5 😂

[@akrybion]

Diogenes is the best. I love that guy.

[@normanmazlin6741]

One of the first cynics

[@martinmcwhorter]

As a followup it would be interesting to find the history of the British/Irish two-finger salute and how it seems interchangeable for the bird... Though seems to be a recent invention or adoption to these islands.

[@soulman71901]

So, you are explaining how the bird became the word? -_-

[@TheAlabamboo]

Okay, those stats for Charlie Radbourne are straight up bananas. Considering that a modern starting pitcher is doing fantastic to throw 200 innings over 33 starts, Radbourne throwing 1310.2 innings over 139 starts (151 games total) over two seasons, is mind boggling. I know that the game is different now, but, wow....those are crazy numbers. Also, that he had a cumulative ERA under 2.00 and 32.2 WAR in those two years makes it that much crazier. The game had to be so much different for that to take place that I legitimately don’t think I can picture it. To put the WAR (wins against replacement player) stat into perspective, Babe Ruth’s two best seasons (non-consecutive) have a cumulative value of 27.0, whereas recent great Barry Bonds has his two best (consecutive) seasons at 24.2 WAR by this metric. An average starting major league player will be somewhere between 1-3 WAR for a full season if they're healthy and at least decently productive.

[@johnps1670]

F.U.? Do you mean Fair Use?

[@GeneralNickles]

Putting your hand out palm open typically means "STOP" to most of the world, but in the middle East it means something along the lines of "welcome". This has resulted in some issue for middle easterners going through US military checkpoints in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm sure you can imagine the results.