# Pinky or Testicle **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773 "2010-10-29T15:10:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/41 "2010-10-30T15:10:37Z")
I’m trying to image the kind of accident or situation or circumstances in which you’d get to choose. It’s not pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/42 "2010-10-30T16:04:40Z")
I voted Testicle. It would be very hard for me to play piano, tabla or mandolin without my pinky, and I think losing all of that as well would be devastating for me. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/43 "2010-10-30T17:52:01Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Testicle, hands down, and it boggles my mind that any guy would say anything different other than out of fear of feeling less manly. First, no one would even know except your partner, who probably wouldn’t care a whole lot. Second, you lose no functionality, after all, that’s why we have two. Third, you can always get a prosthetic. > > OTOH, missing a pinky is fairly visible to everyone, you definitely lose at least some functionality, and a prosthetic doesn’t recover the same level of appearance. This pretty much covers my feelings on the subject. Plus, I’ve already got one freaky pinky as a the result of a broken bone from my youth. I don’t want it to be crooked _and_ partially missing. And I don’t want two freaky pinkys. The testicle implant would serve me just fine. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/44 "2010-10-31T02:32:59Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I’d say goodbye to the testicle. I type and I play the piano. So do I. But your pinky is not nearly so useful in either. As long as you have part of one, you’ll be fine at typing, just a little closer to the keys. And almost all fingerings are designed to minimize use of the pinky on piano. Sure, I’d lose my 11th, which hurts enough anyways, but a 10th is enough for most uses, even if it would hurt a wee bit more. Now, left pinky would be harder, since it’s assumed to exist more than having a wide range on top, but just try learning a piece without using your pinkies. It’s not that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/45 "2010-10-31T04:12:15Z")
I’m hoping Mr. Serenata would chose the pinky… I’d be kinda ticked if he lost one of his balls… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/46 "2010-10-31T15:34:34Z")
Losing a testicle can affect the surrounding remaining area, in terms of persistent chronic pain and difficulty with normal functioning, especially if the testicle is not removed properly. If I were to have chronic pain and/or dysfunction at the surgical site, you can bet your life I’d rather have it on my hand than in my groin. You guys opting to lose the testicle don’t have all the facts… ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/47 "2010-10-31T15:38:47Z")
The only reason I can see people voting testicle is because they have some weird stereotypical idea that their manliness is contained in the balls or something. Either that or you get a significantly reduced hormone load with one or something - is that the case? Otherwise your testicles aren’t doing you any favors. You’d barely notice if you had to get by with one. On the other hand, you use your fingers all the fucking time. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/48 "2010-10-31T15:41:39Z")
To fellow guitarists: losing a pinky is not necessarily debilitating. Look at Django Reinhardt and Tony Iommi. I vote pinky. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/49 "2010-10-31T15:43:44Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The only reason I can see people voting testicle is because they have some weird stereotypical idea that their manliness is contained in the balls or something. Either that or you get a significantly reduced hormone load with one or something - is that the case? > > Otherwise your testicles aren’t doing you any favors. You’d barely notice if you had to get by with one. On the other hand, you use your fingers all the fucking time. Post again after you’ve had chronic orchalgia and associated erectile dysfunction due to surgical scarring in that area. Granted it’s relatively low risk, but it does occur. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/50 "2010-10-31T15:44:04Z")
I will! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/51 "2010-10-31T15:46:40Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I will! Okay, I’ve got you booked in for the testicle removal at my office this next Tuesday, at 7:15 AM. Make sure someone is there to drive you home after the procedure, or you’ll have to stay overnight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/52 "2010-10-31T15:47:01Z")
I am already missing the tip of my middle right-hand finger, to the first knuckle. (The end knuckle; is that the first or the last?) I’ve never felt self-concious about it, and hardly anyone ever seems to notice. It was the result of an unfortunate accident way back in Texas, when I got my hand caught in a door slammed shut by the wind. (I sometimes tell people I flipped off the wrong person, hehe.) In fact, back before I was married, when I was still holding hands with some of the local lasses, you should have seen their faces when they finally after a long while realized I was missing part of a finger; they were mostly concerned that they had been hurting my hand, but no, it doesn’t hurt in the least. So you can take part of any other finger, but leave me testicles be, damn you. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/53 "2010-10-31T15:47:44Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Okay, I’ve got you booked in for the testicle removal at my office this next Tuesday, at 7:15 AM. > > Make sure someone is there to drive you home after the procedure, or you’ll have to stay overnight. 😃 I knew it was a trap, you damn ballbuster. Keep your hands away from my orbs of manliness or I’ll bite a pinky off. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/54 "2010-10-31T16:01:45Z")
On the one hand, the testicles are the one body part that’s really fully redundant. On the other hand, there’s damn good reason for that: Testicles are both really fragile and really important. I wouldn’t be heartbroken over losing a testicle, but I’d really rather not give up the spare without a really good reason. For folks talking about prostheses, sure, a prosthetic testicle would look more realistic than a prosthetic fingertip, but who the Hell cares how their scrotum looks? For that matter, who cares all that much about how their off pinky finger looks? The purpose of a prosthetic is functionality, and you can get more functionality out of a prosthetic finger (i.e., at least some) than you can out of a false ball (none). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/55 "2010-10-31T16:28:34Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I am already missing the tip of my middle right-hand finger, to the first knuckle. (The end knuckle; is that the first or the last?) I’ve never felt self-concious about it, and hardly anyone ever seems to notice. It was the result of an unfortunate accident way back in Texas, when I got my hand caught in a door slammed shut by the wind. (I sometimes tell people I flipped off the wrong person, hehe.) In fact, back before I was married, when I was still holding hands with some of the local lasses, you should have seen their faces when they finally after a long while realized I was missing part of a finger; they were mostly concerned that they had been hurting my hand, but no, it doesn’t hurt in the least. > > So you can take part of any other finger, but leave me testicles be, damn you. P.S.: Jerry Garcia was missing even more of that finger than I am, and he managed to get along okay musically. For those thinking in terms of a prosthetic for a missing partial finger, my advice is don’t bother. Seriously, it’s not like missing an arm. No one really notices, and if they do, it’s always only upon close inspection. And even then, they forget about it afterward. It’s just not as noticeable as many people seem to think it is, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/56 "2010-10-31T21:06:26Z")
I’m baffled that its even up for debate. I’d lose the pinky, lose both before I lose a ball. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/57 "2010-10-31T23:18:39Z")
“So whatcha wanna do today, Pinky?” “Try to screw over _The World!!!_” _Narf!_ Its Pinky & the Ball! Its Pinky & the Ball! One’s really messed up, the other’d f-ck you to the wall! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/58 "2010-11-01T03:49:33Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > I’m baffled that its even up for debate. I’d lose the pinky, lose both before I lose a ball. This poll reminds me of the recent one for blind versus deaf. I can only assume all of these guys preferring to lose their testicle would also choose blind over deaf. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/59 "2010-11-01T14:08:47Z")
I voted for the pinky, as I only have one testicle. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773/60 "2010-11-01T21:07:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I voted for the pinky, as I only have one testicle. Same here. Note: having lost the testicle before puberty, i have no issues with hormone level or any other sorts of “lack”. I also have 3 amazing kids. And I am the butt of constant jokes on the parts of my friends, those magnificent bastards. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-or-testicle/558773.md?page=4)