# Are you all thumbs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2000, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679 "2000-09-19T02:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/1 "2000-09-19T02:49:03Z")
I’ve been trying to get my sister on the phone for the last two days; the line is busy which means that she is either online or talking dirty with her friend. Anyway, I just noticed that I ‘dial’ the phone with both my thumbs. I hold the phone in my left hand and punch in the numbers with my thumbs. Left thumb = left number column and my right thumb hits the middle and right number column. [This is MPSIMS right?] I only use one thumb when I dial on my cellphone because it’s so small. I used to punch the pushbottons with my right index finger. Earlier yet, I found this antique phone dialer for those really old fashion rotary phones with holes. I guess these gadgets were for women who didn’t want to ruin their manicures. Now that was an ackward phone to use. How do you dial your numbers - the first time before your hit that wonderful redial button. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/2 "2000-09-19T03:08:05Z")
At work: with a pencil eraser or pen. Not cuz I’m nuts but because I usually have one in my hand when I’m on the phone. At home: with my thumbs because of those stupid all-in-one phones. Phone booths: with my forefinger. Never my pen cuz I put my pens in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/3 "2000-09-19T03:13:08Z")
Your mom must be proud of your good hygiene practices! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/4 "2000-09-19T03:25:03Z")
Makes it easy to recognize–and keep–my pens. Unscathed? Not mine! Chewed heavily? Nope! A wreath of pinholes around the first 3/8" of the cap? That one’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/5 "2000-09-19T03:26:14Z")
But if somebody is brave enough to borrow one I don’t want it back. Or I wash it. I’m only slightly OCD. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/6 "2000-09-19T05:06:32Z")
Well, I noticed that I use my left thumb (punch pad is on the receiver). I used to use my right index finger with rotary phones, and also when punch pads were on phone bodies, but now I use my left thumb. I suppose that’s because I hold the receiver with my left hand. But I’m not very good at dialing with my thumb - too many mis-dialed numbers. What is really weird is that doing it with my right thumb feels so wrong. And I’m right-handed. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-all-thumbs/33679/7 "2000-09-19T05:28:25Z")
I have always used my left middle finger. I’m lefty and the phone only feels right in my left hand so I have to shift hands after dialing. Taking messages can be a daredevil proposition. The phone once slipped out from between my ear snd shoulder and landed in the toilet.