# Long fingernails in China **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 28, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592 "2006-04-28T14:46:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/1 "2006-04-28T14:46:59Z")
I’ll add my experience as well: One of my supervisors is about 35-40 years old. He has one long pinky nail. I asked him why and he said, “I am not working class.” So at least some Chinese think this is the right answer. And yes…my supervisor is a massive prick. Everyone hates him…he’s a boss and he knows it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/2 "2006-04-28T18:32:50Z")
Over three thousand posts and you still forgot the link: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060428.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060428.html) Anyway, a followup question: why did Slug draw the fingernail slicing the snake on a platter? Is snake a delicacy reserved for the rich? ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/3 "2006-04-28T20:02:53Z")
Surely the error is with the editor, and not with the Perfect Master, but… > [@Cecil Adams](#): > > You’re thinking I’m going to say I did all my research for this on the Internet. Well, not all. I have a buddy with a long pinkie nail and a high embarrassment threshold, **so I called up and asked**. However, let’s face it: for topics resistant to conventional lines of inquiry, the Internet is hard to beat. What did his buddy say??? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/4 "2006-04-28T20:20:38Z")
I’m confused. The Perfect Master writes: > [@](#): > > Some theories, many lifted from the Straight Dope Message Board, this column’s own little window into the demimonde When was this asked? I just did a search a year back for “fingernail” and nothing comes up. Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/5 "2006-04-28T21:14:47Z")
> [@Engywook](#): > > What did his buddy say??? Second item from the end. ---
**Author:** ![YesandNo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f19dbf/32.png) [@YesandNo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YesandNo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/6 "2006-04-28T21:14:57Z")
> [@Engywook](#): > > Surely the error is with the editor, and not with the Perfect Master, but… > > What did his buddy say??? Near the end of the article > [@](#): > > Don’t cut my nails, pinkies only ones that don’t break off. My friend’s answer. Give him credit for honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/7 "2006-04-28T21:19:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When was this asked? I just did a search a year back for “fingernail” and nothing comes up. Did I miss something? > **[So what's up with the long pinkie nails?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=111348)** > > Not a matter of world-shattering importance. Still… I’ve been wondering for some time now why some men keep their pinkie nails (one or both) extra-long. I’ve observed this phenomenon with Asian, black, Latino, and Russian-born men. Their ages run... > **[What does one long fingernail mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=151400)** > > I just met a 40ish something man with one long fingernail on his pinky (1/2 inch past the end of his finger). Does that mean something? Wasn’t that a sign of a coke user in days past? Am I just hopelessly unhip or is it knda creepy? ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/8 "2006-04-28T21:23:09Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > Second item from the end. I humbly prostrate myself before the altar of the Perfect Master, and offer many sacrifices of microbrews. ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/9 "2006-04-28T21:45:29Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...ad.php?t=111348](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...ad.php?t=111348) > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...ad.php?t=151400](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...ad.php?t=151400) I reported your post, Ed, for bad coding. I though Cecil was in fine form this column–liked the earwax _lief motif_. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/10 "2006-04-29T13:24:11Z")
I was thinking of asking this question once upon a time. I asked two people this question. The 2nd person actually had the long fingernail. Their responses: Person 1: They’re crazy. Person 2: [spends a few minutes trying to make up an answer]… sometimes I clean my ear with it. Me: What about other people? Person 2: They’re crazy. ---
**Author:** ![hellojello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@hellojello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellojello)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/11 "2006-04-30T02:38:17Z")
Pizza makers also keep their pinkie fingernail long in order to pop the bubbles that form in the dough while the pizza cooks. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/12 "2006-04-30T03:07:42Z")
I’ll add that I’ve seen countless Chinese cleaning their ears with it as well. I have no idea why…Q-tips exist in China. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/13 "2006-04-30T10:29:24Z")
Am I the only one who is unimpressed with that column? Rather than actually do some research and come up with a conclusive (or at least likely) answer, Cecil just sticks a bunch of suggestions from the teeming millions as he’s answer. I could have done that! ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/14 "2006-04-30T12:36:27Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Am I the only one who is unimpressed with that column? Rather than actually do some research and come up with a conclusive (or at least likely) answer, Cecil just sticks a bunch of suggestions from the teeming millions as he’s answer. I could have done that! No, i was rather unimpressed too. I was excited to see it as a topic, but dismayed when i got to the end of the article. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/15 "2006-04-30T13:17:03Z")
There are some topics for which there is no definitive single answer. From time to time, Cecil likes a column with lots of laughs, and given the columns of the last few months (deaths from smoking, say, global warming, and biohazards from cemetaries ), I can understand the need to go for humor every so often. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/16 "2006-04-30T14:51:02Z")
> [@alanak](#): > > No, i was rather unimpressed too. I was excited to see it as a topic, but dismayed when i got to the end of the article. You guys honestly wanted a serious answer to this question? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/17 "2006-04-30T17:53:33Z")
I always thought it was a gang-banging thing. Kind of like a tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/18 "2006-04-30T23:05:59Z")
> [@Humble Servant](#): > > I reported your post, Ed, for bad coding. > > I though Cecil was in fine form this column–liked the earwax _lief motif_. Can I report you for bad spelling? I’m sorry, but this has been bugging me. [leitmotif.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitmotif) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/19 "2006-04-30T23:06:53Z")
> [@Humble Servant](#): > > I reported your post, Ed, for bad coding. > > I though Cecil was in fine form this column–liked the earwax _lief motif_. Can I report you for bad spelling? I’m sorry, but this has been bugging me. [leitmotif.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitmotif) ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592/20 "2006-04-30T23:11:59Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Can I report you for bad spelling? I’m sorry, but this has been bugging me. > > [leitmotif.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitmotif) Only if we can report you for double posting. If I manage to mess this up, the irony will be most awesome. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592.md?page=2)