# Could you use another thumb in your life/job? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359 "2024-02-09T17:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/1 "2024-02-09T17:14:55Z")
I stumbled across a video about a person who created a second thumb that you would fit it your wrist and control with your feet. It looks pretty cool, but would it be practical in many jobs or situations? And what would you call it? A _prosthesis_ is used to replace a missing part, isn’t it? Is this an “augment”? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIuEw\_q1ZQE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIuEw_q1ZQE) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/2 "2024-02-09T17:19:24Z")
That’s kind of cool, but I’m thinking it may be more practical to come up with a surgery that could turn your pinkie into an extra thumb. I mean, who actually uses thier pinkie for anything useful? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/3 "2024-02-09T20:57:29Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I mean, who actually uses thier pinkie for anything useful? it would chnge touch-tying uite bit ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/4 "2024-02-09T20:59:24Z")
No…but an extra middle finger could come in handy sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/5 "2024-02-09T21:07:22Z")
Can I nominate the prehensile tail? It would make carpentry a LOT easier! ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/6 "2024-02-09T21:11:55Z")
I could use it for emotional support when my other two thumbs are otherwise occupied. Could also be useful when I’m bored… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/7 "2024-02-09T22:18:32Z")
If my other thumbs were in use I could use the extra to stick in someone’s eye, hold to my nose or give an up or down indication. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/8 "2024-02-09T23:17:06Z")
I’m all thumbs anyway, so it makes no difference. I can’t believe no one said it yet. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/9 "2024-02-10T02:44:32Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > it would chnge touch-tying uite bit Apparently. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/10 "2024-02-10T03:35:04Z")
Hey, wait, has no one considered the inevitable extension to animals? In particular, CATS? Imagine a world inhabited by CATS with THUMBS? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/11 "2024-02-10T04:34:15Z")
Frank Zappa coulda used an extra thumb one time. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/12 "2024-02-10T05:16:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > > > I mean, who actually uses thier pinkie for anything useful? > > it would chnge touch-tying uite bit Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/13 "2024-02-11T02:31:45Z")
Janina Fialkowska is a professional Canadian pianist. When she had a tumor in her left arm, they took it out, destroying a muscle in the process. There is a signficant repertoire for piano for the left hand (much of it created for Paul Wittgenstein who lost his right arm in WW I) and she tried to play right hand only. She more-or-less succeeded but as she put ended up with strongest pinky in the west. The point is that the left-hand music was written with a thumb in mind, not a pinky. I never realized the degree to which composers pay attention to such details. Incidentally, they later took a small muscle out of Janina’s back and grafted it onto her arm and she resumed her career. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/14 "2024-02-11T02:35:39Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I mean, who actually uses thier pinkie for anything useful? For high-class folks, I think they need it to stick out when they’re drinking tea. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/15 "2024-02-11T11:48:28Z")
Cats already have thumbs. They’re just attached to another animal. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/16 "2024-02-11T15:15:23Z")
Maybe she should have gotten [toe thumbs](https://youtu.be/w_rMpUSYmYs?si=LTLKOv8o1FNWV0HI). ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/17 "2024-02-11T16:31:10Z")
Serious answer, 100% yes. I walk with crutches, so holding something and walking can get tricky. I’ve gotten pretty good at gripping stuff between my fingers while still having a reasonably stable hold on the crutch with my palm, but it’s awkward and can be painful. What I’d really, really love is a whole extra arm/hand or two, but I could definitely make use of a functioning extra thumb. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/18 "2024-02-11T16:42:09Z")
The guys on the [Toe Fat album cover](https://i.discogs.com/OP11DVZGXTVlCr7jiTlDODCm5ERC-AW-wYFD0E5A_Gc/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:498/w:500/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI4MzM2/MTAtMTMxMzEwNTgz/MS5qcGVn.jpeg) had an extra thumb, but the placement left something to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/19 "2024-02-11T20:34:26Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I mean, who actually uses thier pinkie for anything useful? I broke mine recently and it had to be in a splint for a couple of weeks. The rest of my hand was completely functional, but I was surprised how difficult some things were - tying my shoes was awkward; things like picking up a glass just didn’t always work properly. Might be that a period of adjustment would have made the problems go away, but turns out I use mine all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359/20 "2024-02-12T02:54:04Z")
When I was in electronics school, I often wished for a couple of extra arms. It would have made soldering so much easier: one hand to hold the electronic part, one hand to hold the circuit board you are putting it into, one hand to hold the solder, and one hand to hold the soldering iron. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-use-another-thumb-in-your-life-job/997359.md?page=2)