# What could you do with a third arm? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964 "2000-09-29T02:29:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sangria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Sangria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangria)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/1 "2000-09-29T02:29:05Z")
I think I could trim my own hair with a third arm. I just need the hand mirror in exactly the right place. Can’t make it work with just a mirror-on-a-scissor-arm. I could write or shuffle papers (like wrong 5-page phone bills) when I’m on the phone without getting a crimp in my neck. I could manage to get the boiling-over pot off the stove while I’m stopping the mess from spreading. Somehow I can’t manage both with a full pot. I could get that back zipper unstuck. Needs each side held plus the slider. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/2 "2000-09-29T02:32:46Z")
I could eat a donut while doing push-ups! ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/3 "2000-09-29T02:41:21Z")
You could make obscene gestures while keeping two hands safely on the wheel! ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/4 "2000-09-29T03:13:21Z")
Be a lot easier for porn surfing on the net. I’ll tell you that right now. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/5 "2000-09-29T04:34:03Z")
Girlfriends would be even more satisfied, I’ll tell you that. Would make soldering test leads a hell of a lot easier, is currently a pain even with a board holder to help. Headstands…a breeze. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/6 "2000-09-29T05:11:56Z")
I refuse to answer this question until the OP makes clear exactly _where_ the third arm would be located. Oh, the possibilities… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/7 "2000-09-29T05:21:14Z")
I think it would definitely make dealing craps a lot easier. Some yayhoo throws in a bet while I’m making change for someone else, no sweat. Actually, I want a whole second **pair** of arms. No, I want **eight** arms, so I could deal the game and get fresh with the cute boxman, and slap the annoying floorman, and steal someone’s beer all at the same time. **I WANT TO BE A HINDU GODDESS, DAMMIT** ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/8 "2000-09-29T05:40:25Z")
I could be an amazing bass player! I play bass, but man, with _3 arms_, I could truly kick some funky, groovin ass! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/9 "2000-09-29T06:08:23Z")
Who wants three arms anyway? My vote is for a prehensile tail. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/10 "2000-09-29T06:53:37Z")
And opposable toes. With a third arm, yeah. I can imagine the possibilites. Typing while… eating. Yeah, that’s it. Shifting while adjusting the radio… Of course, if this third arm were at the end of my tailbone, that’d be even cooler. Clothes would be a bitch, though. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/11 "2000-09-29T12:21:37Z")
Dial the phone while typing, use the number keypad and the keypad, and USE THE FRIGGING MOUSE AND THE KEYPAD AT THE SAME TIME. I’d love a third arm just for the last one. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/12 "2000-09-29T14:08:51Z")
I could hold the baby on my lap with one arm, use another to keep his hands away from the keyboard, use another to jingle a toy in front of his face, another to… dammit, I’m out of arms and I haven’t even started typing or using the mouse yet, not to mention the fact that the six year old is bound to have a crisis when I least expect it. Mothers ought to get _at least_ six arms as part of the basic equipment. ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/13 "2000-09-29T14:18:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*I refuse to answer this question until the OP makes clear exactly _where_ the third arm would be located. > > Oh, the possibilities… \*\* I don’t think it’s important where its at, just what it can reach. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/14 "2000-09-29T14:23:22Z")
I wouldn’t mind having four arms, three seems a little unbalanced. The prehensile tail seems like a good idea too. The clothing industry would love it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/15 "2000-09-29T14:51:53Z")
I would finally be able to hold the ribbon in place, nice and tight, while tying the bow on a package. By myself. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/16 "2000-09-29T15:07:00Z")
Three slices of pizza all at the same time! ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/17 "2000-09-29T15:18:21Z")
…I could give my cat a pill. …I could answer the phone and still keep typing. …I could hold a map without having to clutch it and the steering wheel at the same time. …I would have an esier time finishing my art projects finished. Prehensile tail and toes would be fun, too. [True story - when I was younger, mom and I went shopping at Lerner’s (expensive clothes, but lacking in quality - mismatched seams, etc.), and found a velvet blazer marked down to $15. Turns out there was an extra arm sewn in the back seam. (Didn’t get it - would have made a great Halloween costume - nuclear reactor employee.)] ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/18 "2000-09-29T15:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > **…I would have an esier time finishing my art projects finished.** I could also hold a dictionary and grammar book and a little sign that says “PYI!” [“Preview, You Idiot!”] ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/19 "2000-09-29T16:39:35Z")
Open the door with two hands or arms full. Second the motion for 4 arms and prehensile tail. Maybe with four arms, opposable toes would not be needed. I also want wings. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964/20 "2000-09-29T16:43:59Z")
The second pair of arms and the wings would not develop fully until after a child’s fourth birthday. This would be an enormous benefit for mothers of toddlers! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-you-do-with-a-third-arm/34964.md?page=2)