Baby born with 12 fingers, 12 toes...all fully formed and functioning!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

but like the doctor said, he could be amazing at pretty much any musical instrument, plus, his work, so that's like chopping off some one's finger.

I actually don't think this is a valid argument.

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

For a musical instrument, I know at least the guitar and piano beginners' books are all numbered for the fingers, 1 through 4. That's just how they're taught. And it wouldn't help to have a sixth finger for the strings or the brass instruments.

I just think this kid would end up feeling very, very different and left out if he keeps the sixth finger. Can you imagine how you'd feel if a girl recoiled when she saw your hands? I think a lot of people would be creeped out, at least initially. Or - this is silly - what about gloves? Would the kid be more likely to have carpal tunnel, since there's more muscles and tendons to be irritated? If the kid got to be 30 and decided he wanted the extra digits removed, could he do it? Would he be able to find a doctor who would agree to remove fingers that had been fully functional for 30 years? Would the recovery time take forever, and would he need live-in help for that time since you can't do ANYTHING without your hands?

And his toes. He'd have to look for special shoes with a huge toe box. He couldn't ever wear sandals because people would stare and make him feel uncomfortable. He'd feel bad at the beach when he was unavoidably barefoot and his sixth toes are on display and suddenly that's what everyone's talking about.

I think they should remove the extra digits.

[UGAalum94]

I think the kid will be fine.

I also want to note that his extra fingers and toes don't make him nearly as freaky as the St. Luke's pediatrician featured in the video who seems to think style-wise he's living in the 1860s.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I also want to note that his extra fingers and toes don't make him nearly as freaky as the St. Luke's pediatrician featured in the video who seems to think style-wise he's living in the 1860s.

Snort.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

I think this is making it a bigger deal than it really is. The kid has one extra finger on each hand, so he'll figure out how to type...maybe he'll just shift his hand down one key (so like his index finger will be on the G & H keys instead of the F & J).

I don't know many people who type correctly anyways.

[Thetagirl218]

If the digits are fully functioning, I don't see a reason for removing them. The child will learn to adapt just like those without digits learn to adapt. One of the students at my school only has three fingers, and while it was difficult, she has adapted and does many things people said she could never do such as be a star volleyball player.

Personally, I have two knuckle bones missing in each hand which has added to some early arthritis and discomfort. I believe that even if you are different, you can still fit in.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally Posted by epchick

I don't know many people who type correctly anyways.

Seriously?? I only know one or two people that don't.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Seriously?? I only know one or two people that don't.

Same. Everyone I know that is my age (in college) know how to touch type. The people who do the "point and type" are the ones my parents' age.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Seriously?? I only know one or two people that don't.

I'm one of the few people that use all my fingers to type (like the way they show you in school) and also not stare at the darn keyboard.

Most people I know use 2-3 fingers, while staring at the keyboard the entire time. I guess that is why they type around 30-40mph.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by epchick

Most people I know use 2-3 fingers, while staring at the keyboard the entire time. I guess that is why they type around 30-40mph.

I can't watch my dad type, and I can't wait for him to type anything. More often than not I end up ripping the keyboard away from him and forcing him to dictate to me because it drives me that crazy.

My mom used to do the same thing to him, although she was quicker on a number pad (being a CPA will do that to ya) than she was on a QWERTY keyboard.

When my dad was here over Christmas and was annoying me with his laptop, I grabbed it and typed the e-mail that he was trying to send. He said "You know for the last 15 years of her life your mom used to do this to me, and I always asked her 'how am I'm supposed to get better at this if you never let me do it myself?' Now I'm glad that you've picked up her bad habits as well as her good, because to be honest I've been annoying myself with my inability to type."

It's really sad when your typing style is so bad that it annoys you. He doesn't even use the 2-3 fingers method. One finger on the left hand, one finger on the right. Drives. Me. Crazy.

[libramunoz]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

I can't watch my dad type, and I can't wait for him to type anything. More often than not I end up ripping the keyboard away from him and forcing him to dictate to me because it drives me that crazy.
It's really sad when your typing style is so bad that it annoys you. He doesn't even use the 2-3 fingers method. One finger on the left hand, one finger on the right. Drives. Me. Crazy.

Oh God do I understand that! I cannot stand to see my mom play Pac-Man on the computer because she uses the 1-2 finger method. AAAAGGGGHHHH! It drives me batty, but when she types, good God, that woman is fast!
I learned how to type in school and know that I can go pretty fast and I have been asked to type things for other people because of the quickness of it all.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

I'm one of the few people that use all my fingers to type (like the way they show you in school) and also not stare at the darn keyboard.

I do it exactly like I was taught in high school. I was the fastest typer in my class and I still type faster than anyone I know.** I'm actually annoyed by slow typers who look at their keyboards--I want to type for them.

** Except for one of my Sorors. She and I used to have typing competitions...she's like 1000000000 wpm.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I do it exactly like I was taught in high school. I was the fastest typer in my class and I still type faster than anyone I know.** I'm actually annoyed by slow typers who look at their keyboards--I want to type for them.

hahaha...I think i'm the fastest typer of anyone I know as well. Except when I took my keyboarding class, I would cheat. Instead of typing 10 of the exact same sentence, I'd just copy & paste it. lol. My teacher never caught on.

I never knew it was so difficult for people to type, but apparently it is for some people. Although my aunt (who is the one that types with only 2-3 fingers) can go like 1 billion mph on a number pad w/o looking at the numbers. I'm sooo slow on that.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

hahaha...I think i'm the fastest typer of anyone I know as well. Except when I took my keyboarding class, I would cheat. Instead of typing 10 of the exact same sentence, I'd just copy & paste it. lol. My teacher never caught on.

I challenge thee to a duel. Noooo cheating!!!

Originally Posted by epchick

I never knew it was so difficult for people to type, but apparently it is for some people. Although my aunt (who is the one that types with only 2-3 fingers) can go like 1 billion mph on a number pad w/o looking at the numbers. I'm sooo slow on that.

Some people say their fingers are too big for the keyboard. Some people haven't memorized the keys.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I actually don't think this is a valid argument.

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

For a musical instrument, I know at least the guitar and piano beginners' books are all numbered for the fingers, 1 through 4. That's just how they're taught. And it wouldn't help to have a sixth finger for the strings or the brass instruments.

I just think this kid would end up feeling very, very different and left out if he keeps the sixth finger. Can you imagine how you'd feel if a girl recoiled when she saw your hands? I think a lot of people would be creeped out, at least initially. Or - this is silly - what about gloves? Would the kid be more likely to have carpal tunnel, since there's more muscles and tendons to be irritated? If the kid got to be 30 and decided he wanted the extra digits removed, could he do it? Would he be able to find a doctor who would agree to remove fingers that had been fully functional for 30 years? Would the recovery time take forever, and would he need live-in help for that time since you can't do ANYTHING without your hands?

And his toes. He'd have to look for special shoes with a huge toe box. He couldn't ever wear sandals because people would stare and make him feel uncomfortable. He'd feel bad at the beach when he was unavoidably barefoot and his sixth toes are on display and suddenly that's what everyone's talking about.

I think they should remove the extra digits.

The majority of your reasons have to do with self-esteem. I don't believe that's a good enough reason if, in fact, the extra digits could be useful and are fully functional (and they are).