# Favorite Finger **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582 "2004-08-06T07:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/1 "2004-08-06T07:02:21Z")
My favorite is my right index finger. What is your favorite finger on you own hand? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/2 "2004-08-06T07:26:34Z")
Isn’t that fairly obvious, unless someone is left handed? Of course, some people with bad tempers might list their middle finger. I’m right handed, so just to be contrary I’ll say my ring finger. That may just make you want to give me that middle finger signal. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/3 "2004-08-06T07:51:54Z")
Why not choose the ring finger? The index is the primary; the middle is the longest; the little is the smallest, and the thumb is opposable. Those are common - we’re used to them; bored of them. The ring finger is the ultimate “other” finger, the “alternate” to all the rest. “Alternate” is unusual and interesting. And since most people are right handed, the left hand is also the alternate. I’ll second **kniz** on this one, but not for the sake of being contrary. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/4 "2004-08-06T15:16:16Z")
I am right handed, but my favorite finger is my left index finger! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/5 "2004-08-06T15:52:56Z")
Mary Ann Martensen, in 4th grade behind the gym. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/6 "2004-08-06T15:58:30Z")
I’m left handed, and I’m going to go with my left ring finger, writing callous and all, because it just looks nice. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/7 "2004-08-06T17:33:09Z")
In an antique joke, a guy is teaching his grandson the names of his digits. “And _this,_” he said, holding up his longest finger, “is the _pleasure_ finger!” “Why’s that, Grandpa?” “This is the one I use to ring up sales on the cash register!” (Some folks told that one as an ethnic joke, but I don’t think it’s any funnier that way.) ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/8 "2004-08-06T20:17:15Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Mary Ann Martensen, in 4th grade behind the gym. Bwa ha ha! I’ve got to say left pointer index finger. And I’m right handed. What are we learning from this? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-finger/258582/9 "2004-08-06T20:20:03Z")
“pointer index finger”? WTF? Christ, I think I meant to delete one of those two words. :rolleyes: