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Italian Ban On Public Privates-Scratching
Yahoo News ^
| 28 Feb 2008
| Anon
Posted on 02/27/2008 6:47:32 PM PST by BlackVeil
Italy's Court of Appeal has issued a new hands-off landmark ruling - outlawing men from scratching their crotches in public.
The ruling says that blatant scratching or holding is "an act contrary to decorum and public decency".
Superstitious Italian men often hold or touch their private parts for good luck when they see a hearse or to ward off bad luck - the equivalent of touching wood in Britain.
Italy's Court of Appeal in Rome made the judgement after listening to the appeal of a 42-year-old man from Como who had been fined 200 euros for gross indeceny at a hearing in May last year.
His defence lawyer had argued that his client - a mechanic - had been mereley adjusting himself in his overalls and nothing else.
However, the appeal was overturned by the judges who said in their ruling hat: "The touching of genitalia in public is a sign of ill manners and must be considered against public decency.
"The rules of social etiquette require all of us to abstain from what might be considered offensive to public decorum."
The ruling added that touching or scratching below the belt risked causing "awkwardness, disgust and disapproval in the average man".
The man's 200 euro fine was upheld and he was also ordered to pay 1000 euros in costs.
TOPICS: Hobbies; Society
KEYWORDS: italy
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1
posted on
02/27/2008 6:47:39 PM PST
by
BlackVeil
To: BlackVeil
I guess this just about does it for Major League Baseball ever playing any exhibition games over there.
2
posted on
02/27/2008 6:49:55 PM PST
by
FlingWingFlyer
(In November, we're going to be able to elect politicians who say they can change the weather. YAY!)
To: FlingWingFlyer
Also Australian cricketers - who have a way of adjusting their protective gear which is rather specific.
3
posted on
02/27/2008 6:50:48 PM PST
by
BlackVeil
To: BlackVeil
4
posted on
02/27/2008 6:52:25 PM PST
by
FlingWingFlyer
(In November, we're going to be able to elect politicians who say they can change the weather. YAY!)
To: BlackVeil
“...the equivalent of touching wood in Britain.”
No pun intended.
5
posted on
02/27/2008 6:53:22 PM PST
by
Dad x 3
To: Petronski
6
posted on
02/27/2008 6:54:25 PM PST
by
cyborg
(Nursing school, another marathon and a cherry on top)
To: Dad x 3
Cough ... of course not.
And those men are just trying to protect themselves from “harm”. Which is a good excuse.
7
posted on
02/27/2008 6:54:28 PM PST
by
BlackVeil
To: EveningStar
8
posted on
02/27/2008 6:54:28 PM PST
by
GQuagmire
(Giggety,Giggety,Giggety)
To: cyborg
Note to self: stay way the hell out of Italy.
9
posted on
02/27/2008 7:15:00 PM PST
by
Petronski
(Nice job, Hillary. Now go home and get your shine box.)
To: al baby; Auntbee; BJClinton; Dashing Dasher; dfwddr; exile; feinswinesuksass; Finger Monkey; ...
"Tard" refers to the ping list members and not to the subject of the thread!
List of Ping Lists
To: BlackVeil; aculeus; Billthedrill; Larry Lucido; Constitution Day; martin_fierro; Ezekiel; ...
11
posted on
02/27/2008 9:07:04 PM PST
by
dighton
To: Grizzled Bear; Darksheare
The ruling added that touching or scratching below the belt risked causing "awkwardness, disgust and disapproval in the average man".
I must not know too many average men! A 1200 euro fine...Ouch! I think if I were an Italian male I would NOT be keeping my hands to myself!
12
posted on
02/27/2008 9:39:04 PM PST
by
callisto
(CONGRESS.SYS corrupted...Re-boot Washington DC (Y/N)?)
To: BlackVeil; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
They're just taking inventory.
13
posted on
02/27/2008 10:21:57 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Those who surrender personal liberty for lower global temperatures will receive neither."--weegee)
To: BlackVeil
The old Roman Sign to Italy’s Court of Appeal!
Gafon!
14
posted on
02/27/2008 10:48:09 PM PST
by
NaughtiusMaximus
(Refusing to calm down since the Waco massacre.)
To: FlingWingFlyer
ROFL! That was my FIRST thought after reading this — I guess there will be no “goodwill” games in Italy! ;)
15
posted on
02/27/2008 11:08:36 PM PST
by
LibertyRocks
("Islam - The Religion of Pieces" -- quote from LR's "Infidel & Proud" Daughter)
To: Petronski; cyborg; EveningStar; JRios1968; BlackVeil
I had thought it might be an improvement over several other Italian gestures...? Feh...
16
posted on
02/28/2008 5:30:47 AM PST
by
Froufrou
To: Froufrou
I wonder what they would ban in...
.
.
.
.
.
wait for it...
.
.
.
.
.
.
THAILAND????
17
posted on
02/28/2008 6:08:29 AM PST
by
JRios1968
("If you go over a cliff with all flags flying, you are still going over a cliff"—Ronald Reagan)
To: BlackVeil
Well, all I gotta say is if the Italians can outlaw men adjusting themselves in public, they damn well better outlaw women adjusting their bras in public as well.
18
posted on
02/28/2008 6:30:32 AM PST
by
cuz_it_aint_their_money
(I'm writing in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" for President in 2008! Who's with me?)
To: glide625
Well, what are they supposed to do with their hands now?
19
posted on
02/28/2008 7:46:18 AM PST
by
Xenalyte
(Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
To: Cacique
“I gots your ball scratchin’ right hea’!”
20
posted on
02/28/2008 7:50:26 AM PST
by
Clemenza
(I live in New Jersey for the Same Reason People Slow Down to Look at Car Wrecks)
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