My Opinion

I’ve been a bit confused why I see videos with that gesture censored, I feel like that rarely happened in the media I consumed a decade ago. However, I believe this “phenomenon” is older than TikTok and its weird censorship.

I’d place giving the finger at a high 2, low 3 on offensiveness, definitely nowhere near gesticulated sexual acts. You can give a child shit for using it, but the occasional finger is something I’d expect from even a teenager.

  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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    14 days ago

    1 - I grew up in Boston.

    I think from about Salem through Newark it’s more of a greeting than anything else.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
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    14 days ago

    In the context of ad-supported algorithmic social media, offensive is the wrong question. It’s about brand damage.

    Showing an ad next to something that actually offends people can damage a brand, but even something a little edgy might turn off customers of a brand with a more formal or conservative audience. The algorithm’s ultimate goal is to get people to watch ads, so something a little edgy might reduce the reach of that content. Censoring it prevents the algorithmic downrank.

  • HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works
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    14 days ago

    Apparently pretty offensive. Bad drivers who insist in abusing their honk and endangering pedestrians seem to get pretty intense whenever I flip a finger at them. I might get punched for real one of those days. Only thing that saved my ass for now is the fact that they can’t really leave their car in the middle of the street to come assaulting me, with other excited assholes driving behind them… My luck should run short one of these days though. #fuckcars

    • everett@lemmy.ml
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      14 days ago

      they can’t really leave their car in the middle of the street to come assaulting me

      I’d be careful, I’ve had this happen twice.

  • Today@lemmy.world
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    14 days ago

    I didn’t grow up using it, but now as an adult I love it. I use it at least once a week with friends, family, and co-workers with intended offensive score of one or two. I have a friend that sends me pictures of clowns late at night when she knows I’m home alone. That’s pretty deserving of a middle finger or two.

  • bruhSoulz@lemmy.ml
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    14 days ago

    Id say about like 2 to me idk irdc personally but some ppl overreact over this stuff lol