It’s not surprising that flags put by a person saying “I am putting these up as a form of showing the middle finger” are interpreted as being a form of showing the middle finger.
Giving someone the (middle) finger, also known as flipping the bird[1] or flipping someone off,[1] is an obscene hand gesture. The gesture communicates moderate to extreme contempt, and is roughly equivalent in meaning to “fuck you”, “fuck off”, “go fuck yourself”, “shove it up your ass/arse” or “up yours”. It is performed by showing the back of a hand that has only the middle finger extended upwards, though in some locales, the thumb is extended. Extending the finger is considered a symbol of contempt in several cultures, especially in the Western world.
In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, the V sign, “two-fingered salute” or “the fingers”, when given with back of the hand towards the recipient, serves a similar purpose.
With the palm of the hand facing inward toward the signer (i.e. with the back of the hand facing the observer), this is seen as an insulting gesture in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, akin to giving the finger.
In the past few decades in England, I’ve seen the use of the bird finger increase relative to use of the backward V-sign. I’m sure the xenophobes regard this as another sign of national decline.
It’s the UK. Maybe the V instead?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_finger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign
In the past few decades in England, I’ve seen the use of the bird finger increase relative to use of the backward V-sign. I’m sure the xenophobes regard this as another sign of national decline.