Arguably a lot of men do it. Be it behind closed doors or in full public view, crotch grabbing by some Jamaican men is seen by many as a habitual pastime where our males find some time in the day to adjust their nether regions - at times in full view of all and sunder.

Well, maybe Jamaica can take some advice from Italy whose highest court ruled that men who scratch, adjust or otherwise manipulate their genitals are committing a criminal offence.

Indecent behaviour

The report which appeared in the overseas paper Telegraph said that a 42-year-old worker from Como, near Milan, was convicted of indecent behaviour after "ostentatiously touching his genitals through his clothing".

The man was charged and ordered to pay a €200 ($21,443) fine and €1,000 (107,219) costs.

Shardae Cowan, a 21-year-old medical student, finds the practice disgusting and believes Jamaican men have a fixation with their crotch. She, however, does not believe that a court ruling is necessary.

"I don't think we need to address that through the courts because we have bigger issues, but I think it is something that Jamaican men need to stop. How would men feel if we walked around grabbing our crotch, you would think something is wrong with us."

Donovan Marshall, a grooming instructor with the modelling agency Pulse, believes that boys should be taught proper grooming on how to behave in public.

"We cannot infringe on people's rights by banning it, but we just need to educate people. We also need grooming in schools and in society to tell people not to do this."

VoxPOP

Should a ban/fine be put in place to prohibit males from touching their crotch in public?

Errol Buckridge:

Buckridge

That is going to be hard. I mean, sometimes the pants may be too tall and you are genuinely trying to pull it up, so I don't know how the ban is going to work out. To me, if you check the levels, is just a moneymaking thing it would be to ban and fine people for that.

Tyrone Phillips:

Phillips

It is something that we should ban. If you see the need to grab yourself you should do that in private.

Jason Latham:

Latham

A ban would be extreme. I mean I don't think it is proper, but suppose I am walking I have a itch or so forth and I have to do something about it? I don't think I should be fined.

Erneita Brown:

Brown

I think you should be free to touch any part of your body. This is as long as the person is not doing this as a gesture to a female.

Kay Harvey:

Harvey

Yes, we need some ban of that sort in Jamaica. It is too frequent of a practice out here and I don't know why. Maybe it's because they want to pretend as if something is actually there to hold or they are really trying to locate whatever it is that should be there.

- Photo and text by Marlon Vickerman