# Save my wedding ring doc, cut off my finger -- You lost your finger we lost your ring **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 12, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464 "2004-12-12T17:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/61 "2004-12-13T00:27:30Z")
Every hand injury of signifigance (including my own) that I’ve seen involved swelling. If his finger was sufficiently mangled that amputation was a consideration, that strongly suggests that leaving the ring in place would have adversely effected his post-op recovery owing to circulatory compromise. We regularly cut off rings in the ER owing to that issue. That said, it still was his choice, and I find it disturbing that people on this board who weren’t there, weren’t in his position, didn’t feel his feelings or think his thoughts, will call him names. Ignorance fighting, that ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/62 "2004-12-13T01:25:35Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > That said, it still was his choice, and I find it disturbing that people on this board who weren’t there, weren’t in his position, didn’t feel his feelings or think his thoughts, will call him names. > > Ignorance fighting, that ain’t. My problem with this is the doctors even giving him a choice. It sounds like you know what goes on in the ER. You also must know people act strange and don’t make the best choices after being injured. The fact he picked the ring over his finger doesn’t bother me as much as the doctors giving him that choice in the first place. I put it in line with a doctor giving a patient a choice between saving their foot or their tennis shoe. “Hey! My wife gave me those shoes for my birthday. I love my wife. Don’t you DARE cut them off my feet. Just hack the foot off at the ankle and save those shoes.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/63 "2004-12-13T01:52:55Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > When interviewed about the incident, Corporal Battle responded, _“They’re thieves! They’re thieves! They’re filthy little thieves! Where is it? Where is it? They stole it from us, our precious. Curse them! WE hates them! it’s ours it is, and we wants it! We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!”_ Best use of a LOTR’s quote EVER. Seriously, for those saying the loss of a finger is no big deal, how about trying to get through an entire day NOT using one of your ring fingers for anything. Not typing, picking things up, etc. Depending on one’s profession, it could be a minor inconvenience, or a complete disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/64 "2004-12-13T02:06:45Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > how about trying to get through an entire day NOT using one of your ring fingers for anything I’m a computer-professional by day and a guitarist by night (or at least, occasionally). Losing the ring finger on my left hand would be devestating. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/65 "2004-12-13T02:13:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I seriously doubt that he was just trying to get a little extra when he got home. Okay, true, I shouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion. Still, if I was his wife, I would be extremely pissed at him, and would probably feel really guilty myself, since it was our marriage that made him decide to do this. Then again, that’s probably just my own hang ups talking. Then again, I don’t think the loss of any finger is minor. I’m a writer, and I use all my fingers to type. Losing even the “useless” ring or pinky finger would be devastating. So I don’t see this as a minor loss. I also agree that soldiers shouldn’t wear rings in the combat zone. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/66 "2004-12-13T02:13:49Z")
> [@Earthworm Jim](#): > > I’m a computer-professional by day and a guitarist by night (or at least, occasionally). Losing the ring finger on my left hand would be devestating. Which is what I’m trying to get across to people saying that losing a finger is a “mere inconvenience.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/67 "2004-12-13T02:15:42Z")
> [@Earthworm Jim](#): > > Losing the ring finger on my left hand would be devestating. Tell that to [this guy](http://www.redhotjazz.com/django.html). Not saying it would be easy, but people are pretty adaptable. Amazingly so, in some cases. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/68 "2004-12-13T02:53:59Z")
Tell _that_ to my grandfather, **Q.E.D.** He lost parts of 3 fingers and thumb about 10-12 years ago in a radial arm saw accident. He’s adapted well; at 90, he drives, won a bocce tournament last summer, and has even kept up his woodcarving, which he does better than most people who have two whole hands. Amazingly, he’d still rather have his fingers back. I think he’d shake his head at the idea of someone _choosing_ to lose one. That kid doesn’t know what he’s in for yet. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/69 "2004-12-13T03:06:39Z")
I’m not trying to be all high and mighty, but I’ve noticed something in this thread. A lot of people seem to be going back and forth about what stand we take, and how stupid we/each other are for taking that stand. In any case, the decision was _his_ and his alone. And as trivial as it may seem to many of us, a marriage ring versus a ring figer, I’m sure it must have seemed a pretty heavy decision on this Corporal’s part. I applaud him for taking the time and the pains to make that decision, no matter how insignificant it seems to the rest of us. And I agree with those that side with his conviction to duty and life. I respect his decision, and I’m sorry that while he tried to save the ring, it was lost anyway. Tripler Just my two cents. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/70 "2004-12-13T04:31:16Z")
**Seven** Darn, you beat me to the punch with your posting. Since when do doctor’s (or any emergency care workers) give choices to people who are in critical situations? Should firefighters ask permission to use the “jaws of life” when someone is trapped inside of a car because irreparable damage might occur to the automobile? As parents usually say “Hey you can _always_ get another \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_” (Fill in the blank with whatever inanimate object you please). Had the doctors sliced off the ring, it could have been repaired. If that were me, I’d say wreck the ring and I wouldn’t give a damn about its possibilities of being repaired or not. If the doctor’s managed to keep possession of the destroyed ring, personally, I wouldn’t get it reapired. I’d get it encased in lucite or whatever, and put it on the mantle and that would make one Hell of a conversation piece. ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/71 "2004-12-13T04:43:38Z")
Well, if it made his wife happy… I guess. still stupid, though. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/72 "2004-12-13T05:07:22Z")
First of all, let me say that I read the article earlier today, and laughed quite bit. I tend to laugh at sick and not so funny things when I see elements of humor in them. I get, however, that a lot of folks wouldn’t find it funny. I also dig George Carlin, so maybe I’m sick in the head. I’d guess that the answer to how much finger he lost is, “More than he needed to” which makes the decision foolish. I use my fingers for a lot of things, and like my penis, losing any more of any of them than I have to would seem stupid. The great irony of this isn’t the fact that he had the finger cut off to save the ring, and then the ring was lost. It’s that he had all hopes of ever conveying at an instant that he was married cut off as well. Perhaps there was a master plan involved here? The ring itself, as grand a symbol as it might be, is only symbolic _on that finger_. Now, even with a new ring to symbolize his marriage, he has nowhere to _put_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/73 "2004-12-13T13:13:49Z")
Hm, I have nightmares about losing a finger (as an artist my hands are pretty darned important), but looking at **Earthworm Jim** ’s earliest points, I have to admit… My great grandmother’s ring is a _precious_ family heirloom. It’s worth a scary amount of money but more importantly, to several generations of family it is also considered a historic piece of jewellery (being somehow unique at the time when it first got here in North America) – it belongs in a museum. It’s value far exceeds your typical “sentimental value” type thing. For something like that I probably would begrudginly agree to lose a finger. Not my mother’s ring, nor my grandmother’s, but my great grandmother’s ring would be worth preserving for it’s historical value. I would jump through hoops to prevent it from being cut. That said – I would NEVER wear something THAT precious in a situation in which it could be damaged. I wore it in a wedding it would then go right back into the safe and I’d wear different ring on a day to day basis. If the soldier’s ring was that precious to him, I’m surprised he’d wear it in combat where it get lost or damaged. I think it’s more likely he was a bit in shock or a bit bewildered and wasn’t making really well though out choices. But a young kid getting shot at… that ring probably did mean the world to him. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/74 "2004-12-13T13:45:30Z")
> [@](#): > > **Eats\_Crayons** said: > it belongs in a museum. Then maybe the smart thing to do would be oh, not to wear it into a war? ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/75 "2004-12-13T15:00:18Z")
> [@Shaolinrabbit](#): > > The ring itself, as grand a symbol as it might be, is only symbolic _on that finger_. Now, even with a new ring to symbolize his marriage, he has nowhere to _put_ it. This was my exact thought when I read the article. I do find the whole situation very sad, though. It was his decision, not ours - and be he delusional, intellectual, or a fool, he lost something dear to him - and his finger, too. The ring doesn’t have to mean anything to any of us, it meant something to _him_. That’s enough for me to empathise, even though I would not have made the same decision. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/76 "2004-12-13T16:02:15Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Then maybe the smart thing to do would be oh, not to wear it into a war? Which is why I said: _That said – I would NEVER wear something THAT precious in a situation in which it could be damaged."_ And also: _If the soldier’s ring was that precious to him, I’m surprised he’d wear it in combat where it get lost or damaged._ ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/77 "2004-12-13T16:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > _Tripler said:_ > I applaud him for taking the time and the pains to make that decision, no matter how insignificant it seems to the rest of us. Umm, what the heck are you talking about? Took the time to make the decision? And I think the main criticism has been of the signifigance of a ring vs. ring finger- not the actual decision. Look, I honestly don’t make any judgments on this guy as a person. He was in a dramatic moment, which is given to dramatic gestures. That said, it is a plainly horrible decision- all symbolism red herrings aside. The simple fact is the symbol can be replaced, the body part cannot. Loss of the ring (under these circumstances) would not have ended his marriage nor insulted his wife. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/78 "2004-12-13T18:44:01Z")
This rates a gigantic WHAT THE FUCK!!! I guess the “doctor” forgot about his hypocritical oath. (I stole that joke from M_A_S\*H.) In the universe I’m accustomed to, we rate things in the following order of importance: 1. people 2. possessions ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/79 "2004-12-13T18:54:46Z")
> [@Shaolinrabbit](#): > > The ring itself, as grand a symbol as it might be, is only symbolic _on that finger_. Now, even with a new ring to symbolize his marriage, he has nowhere to _put_ it. There is no law that says you have to wear your wedding ring on a particular finger, some people wear their wedding rings on their right hands, my father wears his on his pinkie. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464/80 "2004-12-13T20:43:46Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > I think he was a fucking moron. A marriage is far more than a ring. A ring is a stupid piece of metal that can be replaced, not a marriage, not a vital part of life. A finger is quite an important part of a functional hand. This guy’s 19 and he’s just consigned himself to having a disadvantage for the rest of his life that is, in all reality, worse than having a finger that has limited use. > > Then again, perhaps for safety reasons soldiers shouldn’t wear rings in the field. It’s not exactly unheard of for those with occupations in which a ring can become a hinderance or even a danger to be told they _must not wear them while working_. Soldiers are not supposed to wear rings, even wedding bands in UNIFORM, regardless of whether it’s in combat or at a base in the US. (If this has changed in the past few years and I’m simply unaware of it, please correct me.) My dad lost one of his fingers a few years back. He’s an electrician, doesn’t bother him at all. I guess it really depends on your job. Since this isn’t the Pit, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself about those of you who find this funny or dumb on his part. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-my-wedding-ring-doc-cut-off-my-finger-you-lost-your-finger-we-lost-your-ring/279464.md?page=5)