# That Extra-Long Pinkie Nail **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 1, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432 "2018-05-01T20:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/1 "2018-05-01T20:34:04Z")
[https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2650/why-do-some-people-have-that-one-extra-long-fingernail-on-the-pinkie-finger/](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2650/why-do-some-people-have-that-one-extra-long-fingernail-on-the-pinkie-finger/) I’m a bit surprised that the comprehensive list of reasons for having an extra-long pinkie didn’t include this one: playing a guitar or other stringed instrument. Back when I was trying to master fingerpicking, I grew out my pinky because my stubby fingers needed all the extension they could get. It didn’t help much. FWIW, I’d sampled coke back then but wasn’t impressed enough to get into it. I bring this up because my boss at the time noticed that fingernail, and made some facetious comment about my built-in cokespoon. I wasn’t offended, just a bit embarrassed. It sticks in my mind because I felt the need to explain the real reason, upon which she just smiled. I got the impression she didn’t believe me. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/2 "2018-05-01T22:14:12Z")
> [@Little\_Brother\_1](#): > > I’m a bit surprised that the comprehensive list of reasons for having an extra-long pinkie didn’t include this one: playing a guitar or other stringed instrument. A sitar is a stringed instrument and was included in Cecil’s list: > [@](#): > > My pinkie finger on both my hands is a bit longer than the other nails. I use them for playing the tarifs, or sympathetic strings of the sitar, in different fashions. I use the right one for playing a quick scale down the sympathetic strings between different movements of the Hindustani classical music I usually play. The left one I use for striking the tarifs as accents during the slow, first movement, or alap. I keep my right index nail a little long so that I can pluck each string individually (they are hard to reach) for tuning. And as a bonus, people think you’re a pimp. l ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/3 "2018-05-01T23:43:25Z")
I can’t believe I missed that! I was so stuck on “guitar”, and my encounter with my boss, that it went right past me. I’d delete my idiotic OP if I knew how. Thanks for pointing this out. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/4 "2018-05-01T23:51:22Z")
In the ranking of “idiotic OPs we have seen” yours is waaaaay down the list. Try harder! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/5 "2018-05-03T00:07:44Z")
I was surprised he only said “there’s some truth in this” about people in the Orient wearing a long fingernail “as a sign of culture, breeding and wealth”. I would have said that it’s completely true that some people in Shanghai grow a single long fingernail that is a sign that they don’t have to work with their hands. But people who have a choice mostly don’t read stuff I write, and I’ve learned there is a reason for that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-extra-long-pinkie-nail/813432/6 "2018-05-11T15:37:31Z")
> [@Little\_Brother\_1](#): > > I can’t believe I missed that! I was so stuck on “guitar”, and my encounter with my boss, that it went right past me. > > I’d **delete** my idiotic OP if I knew how. Thanks for pointing this out. You can’t. Your mild idiocy (and corresponding mild ignorance) are captured for all to marvel at for all time. It’s a good thing, really. You brought your ignorance and poor reading skills to have them fought, and learning won out. We fight ignorance, and we love our victory trophies. (Because there is much refractory ignorance out there, and unwinnable fights. We treasure the victories.)