I was watching this “adult” video where the actress had long fingernails. They were only about 1/2" or so, but I couldn’t help thinking “ouch, that’s gotta hurt”*.
Which made me think there’s got to be a ton of other everyday activities that are much harder to do with long fingernails (so you can’t touch a flat surface with the end of your finger). I know typing (and touchscreens in particular) are annoying, but what else? I’m sure there’s a few things you’d never would be hampered by long nails until you’ve actually tried doing it (with long nails).
*because of the long fingernails, (and not some other stuff you’d find in some genres, you freaks :P)
Dialing phones, especially rotary.
Digging for gold. (YOWCH!)
Picking up small things.
Contact lenses.
Measuring out a pinch of something when cooking.
Keeping my hands clean when cooking. If my nails are long, it’s easier for foodstuff to get trapped under them. Unfortunately, hazardous stuff (raw meat) is the stuff most likely to get trapped under my nails.
Wearing gloves. Motorcycle gloves in particular, which tend to be more form-fitting than general-use winter gloves. With long nails, the ends bump up against the leather and can get pushed/pulled in uncomfortable directions for extended periods.
I don’t have long nails but the slightest bit of length on them makes it difficult for me to use the clasp on jewellery.
A friend of mine has artificial nails (? gel - not sure what type. They’re obviously fake but not horribly long) and she can’t use her iPhone or iPad without a touch stick thingy. That alone would drive me nuts.
Same with one of my old girlfriends. She had long nails (artificial nails, with a ton of strengthener on them), and she worked as a legal secretary. She could type at ~110wpm, even with the nails.
However, many guitarists who play “fingerstyle” (such as classical and flamenco guitarists) grow their nails long on their playing hands (usually the right hand), as the nails are used for picking the strings.
That’s easier, depending on the items: long nails are natural tweezers.
Typing is one that can lead to broken nails and be difficult or painful if done incorrectly, but like dialing a phone it’s a matter of being able to use the correct part of the finger (the “front”, not the top).
And looking at the stuff posted by other people, either they’re all thinking of Fu Manchu or they’re doing those tasks incorrectly.