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Going Viral #6

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Ever since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, I have noticed that manners have deteriorated. Where I smile at passers by, I now get a scowl.

”Why am I smiling? I thought it might slightly lighten your mood” I might say. But I don’t.

And when driving, I tend to be courteous to oncoming drivers, particularly in the narrow roads from my village, stopping and letting them go first. Once they used to wave thanks. Now... nothing.

So I give them a wave. V for virus? V for victory? Or perhaps it’s something else.

Ah! Maybe that’s why they’re scowling.

9 comments add one below

  • avatar

    Christopher about 4 years ago

    Haha! I know about the ole British two finger salute. Here in America, though, we trimmed it down to one finger.

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt about 4 years ago

    Always keen on economy, you Americans! Supposedly, the two finger salute we have here was generated after the English trounced the French at Azincourt (Agincourt to the Brits). The longbow was the state of the art weapon of the English and if the French got hold of an English archer, they would cut off his index and second finger (used to stretch the bow). If the English still had these fingers, they would show them to the enemy. Apparently!

  • avatar

    Christopher about 4 years ago

    That's interesting. I wonder where the tradition of blowing a raspberry along with it came from (I think that's what they call it).

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt about 4 years ago

    Haven't heard of that one Christopher. I'll see if I can find out.

  • avatar

    Christopher about 4 years ago

    They used to do it on old British shows when they would do that salute. Stick their tongue between their lips and make a farting type sound with their mouth as they held their fingers up.

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt about 4 years ago

    Oh yes, I know that... it’s an essential sound effect to the salute and the unsaid message is ‘up yours!’

  • avatar

    Christopher about 4 years ago

    Yeah. On "Are You Being Served" they called it blowing a raspberry. But I'd heard it called that elsewhere too, though.

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt about 4 years ago

    All my grandchildren know the scarily delightful raspberry! Every time I go to kiss them (not right now though) the kiss becomes a raspberry. And they raspberry back with great fun. Even little newborn Lily got a raspberry before the Coronavirus thingy... just to get her used to me! My daughters-in-law got a surprise one time when instead of a cheek peck from me they got a raspberry. The battle lines were drawn.

  • avatar

    Frenchie about 4 years ago

    Yes, manners have deteriorated. Though, I have to say, humankind is the most savage animal on earth.

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