Post by dgriffin on Mar 9, 2008 18:03:11 GMT -5
UK's Daily Telegraph carried this last week:
tinyurl.com/2kdpfs
"The Italian supreme court has outlawed men from touching their genitals in public.
Crotch-grabbing is an ancient superstitious habit in Italy that is believed to ward off the evil eye - it is traditional for men to do it if passed by a hearse or when discussing serious illness or disasters. The phrase "Io mi tocco" ("I touch my") is as common as crossing fingers for good luck.
However, the supreme court ruled that an unnamed 42-year-old man from Como had broken the law by "ostentatiously touching his genitals through his clothing".
His lawyers said he had a "compulsive, involuntary movement" because of uncomfortable overalls. But the court said his behaviour was an "act contrary to public decency" and that the rules "require everyone to abstain from conduct that is potentially offensive to collectively held feelings of decorum".
The judges pointed out that if men needed to grab their crotches, they should wait for the privacy of their home
The man was fined €200 (£152) and ordered to pay €1,000 (£762) in costs.
Also see Slate's "Can't Touch This" at:
www.slate.com/id/2185740
###
tinyurl.com/2kdpfs
"The Italian supreme court has outlawed men from touching their genitals in public.
Crotch-grabbing is an ancient superstitious habit in Italy that is believed to ward off the evil eye - it is traditional for men to do it if passed by a hearse or when discussing serious illness or disasters. The phrase "Io mi tocco" ("I touch my") is as common as crossing fingers for good luck.
However, the supreme court ruled that an unnamed 42-year-old man from Como had broken the law by "ostentatiously touching his genitals through his clothing".
His lawyers said he had a "compulsive, involuntary movement" because of uncomfortable overalls. But the court said his behaviour was an "act contrary to public decency" and that the rules "require everyone to abstain from conduct that is potentially offensive to collectively held feelings of decorum".
The judges pointed out that if men needed to grab their crotches, they should wait for the privacy of their home
The man was fined €200 (£152) and ordered to pay €1,000 (£762) in costs.
Also see Slate's "Can't Touch This" at:
www.slate.com/id/2185740
###
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! 
You mean I won't be able to watch my favorite baseball player fondling his crotch anymore. 
What is this world coming to. 
I'm so unhappy. 
Nice to see it kind of equal out. 
