02/28/2008
Italy Rules it a Criminal Offense to Touch Your Privates in Public
When in Rome, don't do as the Romans do and touch yourself down there for good luck. A workman from Como, Italy has been ordered to pay a €200 fine and €1000 costs for "ostentatiously touching his genitals through his clothing" even though his attorney said he was merely adjusting himself through his overalls.
"The judges of the court of cassation stressed that the ban did not just apply to brazen crotch-scratching, but also to what might be termed superstitious pre-emption. Anyone who has seen a hearse go past in Italy, or been part of a discussion in which some terrible illness or disaster is mentioned, will know it is traditional for men to ward off bad luck with a quick grab at what are delicately called their 'attributi'. The practice has become increasingly frowned on, but 'io mi tocco i … ', which translates as 'I touch my … ' is still a common phrase, roughly equivalent to 'fingers crossed'. The judges helpfully suggested that those seeking reassurance should wait till they had returned to the privacy of their own homes before letting their hands stray trouser-wards."
Touch your privates in private, court tells Italian men [guardian]
A bunch of criminals...in Italy...
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Posted 10:38 AM EST by Andy in Crime, Italy, News | Permalink
Comments
Oh, nuts!
Posted by: Scott B. | Feb 28, 2008 10:46:29 AM
How will they ever be able to testify in court?
Posted by: Kevinvt | Feb 28, 2008 11:33:10 AM
What has the world come to when adjusting your nuts is outlawed...
Posted by: Wes | Feb 28, 2008 11:40:54 AM
Wes took the words right out of my mouth
Posted by: gay as life | Feb 28, 2008 11:56:43 AM
Tennessee Williams said that young Italian men love to touch and caress themselves--are they going to put all the young Italian men in jail? WHen I was in highschool the Italian-American guys from South Philly rubbed and adjusted themselves all day long...come to think of it, all the teenage boys rubbed and grabbed themselves...except me. I was still trying to be Jane Fonda back then--she'd never rub her balls in public.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Feb 28, 2008 11:58:47 AM
Maybe there's a correlation between grabbing yourself and being sponsored by Semen's...Just a thought
Posted by: CLIFF | Feb 28, 2008 12:43:11 PM
can't they just say "touch wood" like the rest of us? ;)
Posted by: oakling | Feb 28, 2008 2:26:19 PM
Are there no men left in Italy??
Posted by: anon | Feb 28, 2008 2:41:51 PM
the italians need a little lesson in etymology. before hands over hearts or placed on bibles, men who 'testified' literally swore an oath while holding their testes. besides, they're mine and i'll touch them if i want to ! (and will gladly touch yours too, with permission.)
Posted by: el polacko | Feb 28, 2008 7:09:31 PM
if this silliness spreads to mexico, i'll be totally bummed.
Posted by: nic | Feb 29, 2008 11:08:59 PM
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