# Pinky sticking out: is it genetic? \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551 "2011-12-27T18:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/1 "2011-12-27T18:30:42Z")
Main question: Is holding your pinky-finger out heretic/gentic? Like the Vulcan ‘Live long and prosper’ sign, like rolling your tongue, etc. Source of question: When I was about 5 I was asked by a classmate: ‘Why do you do that?’ Me: ‘Do what?’ ‘Hold your pinky like that’ ‘I dunno’. More: After than I actually noticed that I do indeed do this a lot. When eating a sandwich, when using a fork/spoon, when drinking especially if the cup has a handle, and even right now while typing my right pinky-finger is held up hardly ever touching the keyboard. I know my mom does this too, and I asked the same question to her that my classmate did and her answer was the same: ‘I dunno.’ I don’t remember if my father does, nor do I know if any of my half-brothers do this either. ((By the way, I can do the Live long and prosper with both hands and can roll my tongue… my father can, my mom cannot and I _think_ two of my brothers can)) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/2 "2011-12-27T18:49:38Z")
Heritable. [Heretic is something else.](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heretic) ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/3 "2011-12-27T18:51:02Z")
eh… I knew that was probably wrong… couldn’t remember exactly what the word was that I wanted, but you still understood what it was supposed to be so I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/4 "2011-12-27T18:56:22Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > you still understood what it was supposed to be so I’m good. Welcome to the Dope, where nitpickery and unnecessary corrections are what we’ve all signed up for. Your statement has never and will never fly around these parts. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/5 "2011-12-27T19:01:00Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > eh… I knew that was probably wrong… couldn’t remember exactly what the word was that I wanted, but you still understood what it was supposed to be so I’m good. I was confused by the question. I thought you were asking if pinky-lifting is a sign of anti-religious zealotry. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/6 "2011-12-27T19:05:42Z")
Only the unbelievers hold their pinkies out like that. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/7 "2011-12-27T19:10:31Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > Main question: Is holding your pinky-finger out heretic/gentic? . . . More: After than I actually noticed that I do indeed do this a lot. When eating a sandwich, when using a fork/spoon, when drinking especially if the cup has a handle, and even right now while typing my right pinky-finger is held up hardly ever touching the keyboard. > > I know my mom does this too. . . . I will be forwarding this information to David Vincent. ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/8 "2011-12-27T19:18:47Z")
oh my gosh _insert rolled eyes here_ if I could fix it I would. I’d still like some honest answers, aren’t you also suppose to answer instead of posting just to make some kind of non-informative joke? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/9 "2011-12-27T19:21:58Z")
I think it’s much more likely you _learned_ the gesture from your mother. Gestures and expressions and phrases get passed from parents to children sometimes. It’s not a genetic thing. It’s because the children learn those things from their parents. That’s different from something like the tongue-rolling thing, where some people inherit the ability to do it and some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/10 "2011-12-27T19:23:15Z")
I changed the thread title, which was originalyl “Heretics/Genetic?” ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/11 "2011-12-27T19:23:32Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Welcome to the Dope, where nitpickery and unnecessary corrections are what we’ve all signed up for. Your statement has never and will never fly around these parts. :smack: And yet, since I can’t exactly fix it, I’m still okay with that. And besides that the fact that I put that AND genetic together should give you some kind of clue that I had made a mistake _GASP!!!_ Now, if you guys are quite finished kindly release me from the stockades and refrain from throwing anymore rotten fruit. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/12 "2011-12-27T19:24:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think it’s much more likely you _learned_ the gesture from your mother. Gestures and expressions and phrases get passed from parents to children sometimes. It’s not a genetic thing. It’s because the children learn those things from their parents. That’s different from something like the tongue-rolling thing, where some people inherit the ability to do it and some don’t. Thank you for fixing the title. But how would I have learned this? I was never physically taught to do this, and never noticed it until it was brought to my attention. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/13 "2011-12-27T19:37:17Z")
genetics could have affected your tendons. it could be a secret sign for nonbelievers to recognize one another. you’ve exposed them. now they will need something else. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/14 "2011-12-27T19:39:57Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > But how would I have learned this? I was never physically taught to do this, and never noticed it until it was brought to my attention. Let me put it this way: did someone teach you how to say this sentence, or did you pick up language through imitiation and lessons and do the rest yourself? You learned the gesture by watching your mother do it over and over again. She didn’t have to sit down and teach you to do it, and you didn’t have to be aware of it consciously. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/15 "2011-12-27T19:50:00Z")
Pursing your lips or sticking your tongue out when concentrating on a task is another trait that runs in families. Several member of my family and I do it. We are totally unaware of it. Just like the OP’s pinky finger. I’ve always blamed heredity. ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/16 "2011-12-27T20:01:52Z")
Marley: (I’m not nitpicking, I promise) If I learned it by visual WHY did I learn it when my father doesn’t do it. (Nearly certain). I watched him eating just as I watched my mom. Maybe that’s a different conversation altogether. Aceplace: Re: pursing lips and sticking out tongue. My mom sticks out her tongue if she’s concentrating really hard on something like coloring a picture (she’s a daycare teacher). I’ve tried to do it, but I don’t like it so I don’t do it. I have noticed that I make the same facial expression that my uncle (her brother) does when I smile. So that’s really odd. I’ve also been told that I have a same facial expression as one of my brothers who’re nearly 10 years older than I am. I did live my uncle for a year and a half and my brother until I was about 5. So I suppose it’s possible that I learned the facial expressions. I like to blame heredity, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/17 "2011-12-27T20:03:54Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > Marley: (I’m not nitpicking, I promise) If I learned it by visual WHY did I learn it when my father doesn’t do it. I’m not sure you’ll ever find a reason for that. Maybe as a child you had more meals with your mother than your father. (That doesn’t seem so unlikely.) I’m sure you’ve noticed you do some things more like your mother and some more like your father. > [@](#): > > I like to blame heredity, as well. You did inherit it in the sense of getting it from a parent, but I doubt it’s genetic. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/18 "2011-12-27T20:28:42Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > :smack: > And yet, since I can’t exactly fix it, I’m still okay with that. > > And besides that the fact that I put that AND genetic together should give you some kind of clue that I had made a mistake _GASP!!!_ > > Now, if you guys are quite finished kindly release me from the stockades and refrain from throwing anymore rotten fruit. > > Thanks. Not so fast there **Lizzyerd** , you don’t get off _ **that** _ easy around here. 😉 What do you mean, “you can’t exactly fix it”? You’re sitting in front of a computer, for Og’s sake! Are you familiar with the term “Google it”? :rolleyes: It’s really easy, it works like this… If you’ve typed a word that you’re not quite sure about, (spelling or definition) use the left button on your mouse and highlight the word. Put the cursor (the little arrow or hand, whatever… the thing that moves) on the highlighted word and click the right button, a menu will appear, click on “search with Google”. You’re very welcome… think nothing of it. I’m glad I could be of assistance. 😃 > [@Lizzyerd](#): > > Marley: (I’m not nitpicking, I promise) If I learned it by visual WHY did I learn it when my father doesn’t do it. (Nearly certain). > I watched him eating just as I watched my mom. Maybe that’s a different conversation altogether. > > Aceplace: Re: pursing lips and sticking out tongue. My mom sticks out her tongue if she’s concentrating really hard on something like coloring a picture (she’s a daycare teacher). I’ve tried to do it, but I don’t like it so I don’t do it. > > I have noticed that I make the same facial expression that my uncle (her brother) does when I smile. So that’s really odd. I’ve also been told that I have a same facial expression as one of my brothers who’re nearly 10 years older than I am. > I did live my uncle for a year and a half and my brother until I was about 5. So I suppose it’s possible that I learned the facial expressions. > > I like to blame heredity, as well. If it was hereditary, that would mean that you are genetically/physically predisposed to do that. I don’t think that’s the case. My WAG would be that it’s a trait that you unconsciously picked up. It’s only ‘hereditary’ in the sense that **Marley** so eloquently put forth. ---
**Author:** ![Lizzyerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lizzyerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzyerd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/19 "2011-12-27T20:37:41Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > Not so fast there **Lizzyerd** , you don’t get off _ **that** _ easy around here. 😉 > What do you mean, “you can’t exactly fix it”? You’re sitting in front of a computer, for Og’s sake! Are you familiar with the term “Google it”? :rolleyes: > It’s really easy, it works like this… > If you’ve typed a word that you’re not quite sure about, (spelling or definition) use the left button on your mouse and highlight the word. > Put the cursor (the little arrow or hand, whatever… the thing that moves) on the highlighted word and click the right button, a menu will appear, click on “search with Google”. > You’re very welcome… think nothing of it. I’m glad I could be of assistance. 😃 > . 😛 o thanks, oh so much, why ever have I not thought of doing that? Geeeeeeeeee… :rolleyes: I meant I couldn’t fix the title. Nor can/could I fix what I had written a second ago, doesn’t let you. Which IMO is slightly annoying that you can’t fix it after someone else posts. I also didn’t really notice until others started nitpicking. “predisposed…etc” wouldn’t that be inherited then like Marley said? ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551/20 "2011-12-27T20:51:46Z")
> [@Lizzyerd](#): > > Marley: (I’m not nitpicking, I promise) If I learned it by visual WHY did I learn it when my father doesn’t do it. (Nearly certain). > I watched him eating just as I watched my mom. Maybe that’s a different conversation altogether. Do you mean why did you learn something from your mother and not your father? I’m not sure it really matters what the source is. It could have even been a character you liked on a television program. We pick up all sorts of habits (especially language wise - e.g. picking up accents and idiolects of others) from all sorts of places. For example, I laugh exactly like my dad - but not my mum. I too doubt you’d ever find a pinky gene. :dubious: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinky-sticking-out-is-it-genetic-edited-title/607551.md?page=2)