Asians and their single long fingernail, WTF?!

kevthecelt · 18-01-2008 03:34PM #1

Exactly what it says on the tin. Ive always wondered about this, i see it time and time again, whats the story with it?

RonMexico · 18-01-2008 03:35PM

Its for peeling the skin off chickens.

Reku · 18-01-2008 03:39PM

Snorting coke off was what I'd heard but may just be BS, they weren't refering to Asians having it at the time, just people in general having one long fingernail, on only one hand, while all the rest are trimmed.

hopalong85 · 18-01-2008 03:40PM

for playing guitar is what i heard. that could be bs too.

AckwelFoley · 18-01-2008 03:40PM

RonMexico wrote: »

Its for peeling the skin off chickens.

26 posts in 2 years from you.

... but that one my good man is fooking priceless

Reku · 18-01-2008 03:42PM

hopalong85 wrote: »

for playing guitar is what i heard. that could be bs too.

Don't play myself but just guessing; would that not need to be specifically the thumbnail in order for it to help pluck the strings?

Lux23 · 18-01-2008 03:45PM

bedlam wrote: »

supposedly a sign of status, indicating that the person does not do manual labour.

And they also use for picking their ears and nose.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 18-01-2008 03:47PM

Its a secret Kung Fu symbol & used for slitting the throats of those who cross them.

RonMexico · 18-01-2008 03:47PM

snyper wrote: »

26 posts in 2 years from you.

... but that one my good man is fooking priceless

I forgot I registered when drunk one night. Then I tried to register again which lead to much confusion

Pheonix Ski · 18-01-2008 03:48PM

They just like to get dirt underneath em,make it look like they do something!

AckwelFoley · 18-01-2008 03:49PM

.. it would be handy for picking the crusty bits out of those hard to reach places

18-01-2008 03:51PM

For scraping the dangleberries off their undercarriage after releasing the chocolate hostage(s). They can't use jax roll cos their sewage system is, pardon the pun, shyte.

18-01-2008 03:52PM

RonMexico wrote: »

Its for peeling the skin off chickens.

LOL

snyper wrote: »

.. it would be handy for picking the crusty bits out of those hard to reach places

O dear...

18-01-2008 03:53PM

This post has been deleted.

18-01-2008 03:56PM

bedlam wrote: »

supposedly a sign of status, indicating that the person does not do manual labour.

status is what i figured/heard too
old old custom?

AckwelFoley · 18-01-2008 04:01PM

http://images.chron.com/photos/2006/08/09/3654647/311xInlineGallery.jpg

.. its been a long time since that woman gave anyone a "hand shandy"

AckwelFoley · 18-01-2008 04:03PM

In the old days in China, long fingernails were a sign you were rich and didn't do manual labor. Now they grow out the pinkie as a sign of culture, breeding and wealth. No doubt there's some truth to this. A bit of browsing turns up photos of ornate fingernail protectors worn by ladies of the imperial Chinese court. Bizarre though such talons may seem to some, one could argue that as an indicator of culture, breeding, and wealth they beat having to buy a Jaguar and read Proust.

In the 19th century in the Balkans, white-collar workers, such as clerks, grew their fingernails long to distinguish them from people in lower classes who worked with their hands.

Some guitar players, notably classical and fingerstyle players, will purposely grow long nails on the hand they use to pluck the strings. Their longer nails serve as small, easily-maneuverable guitar picks. For some serious musicians, daily nail care can become a mark of pride and dedication.

In comparison, pianists must keep their nails trimmed short to avoid clicking noises on the keys and avoid dangerous situations where in fast passages the nail may be caught under a key and rip off, and most string players, such as violinists and guitarists, must keep at least the nails on their fretting hand short to allow the strings to be fingered correctly

admiralofthefleet · 18-01-2008 04:04PM

a chinese fella i worked with years ago said it was to show that the bloke was a virgin

Pheonix Ski · 18-01-2008 04:05PM

Nasty...nasty....nasty

AckwelFoley · 18-01-2008 04:07PM

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

a chinese fella i worked with years ago said it was to show that the bloke was a virgin

... time to start cutting my nails

rubadub · 18-01-2008 05:04PM

bedlam wrote: »

supposedly a sign of status, indicating that the person does not do manual labour.

As is being overweight. Many of the business owners are overweight there. I did spot many with the nails too.

copeyhagen · 18-01-2008 05:13PM

come on now, we all know its for doing "hoover" off..coins and keys are so scarce these days.....

magpie · 18-01-2008 05:23PM

Its to make that finger look the same length as the others.

BaZmO* · 18-01-2008 05:24PM

bedlam wrote: »

supposedly a sign of status, indicating that the person does not do manual labour.

I worked with a Chinese girl and asked her what was the deal with the long fingernail on the pinky and that's the reason she gave me.

Incidentally, I also worked in a Chinese Takeaway and the Chefs used to use the fingernail as a kinda scoop adding liquids and the like to the Wok.

ejmaztec · 18-01-2008 05:42PM

Should we re-introduce the Irish extra-long thumbnail? It was mentioned on a programme recently, it was apparently used for peeling spuds. Go on, be a trendsetter.

ExpectantMum · 18-01-2008 07:32PM

The Scientist wrote: »

Gold.

Its for the co-ki-ane, i know, i used to be Asian.

wtf??? used to be asian??? wat are you now???:p:p:p:p

Dudess · 18-01-2008 07:48PM

snyper wrote: »

http://images.chron.com/photos/2006/08/09/3654647/311xInlineGallery.jpg

.. its been a long time since that woman gave anyone a "hand shandy"

Christ, what does she do when she's alone and fancies a bit of, you know, "button-pressing"...?

18-01-2008 08:07PM

This post has been deleted.

patrickolee · 18-01-2008 08:13PM

Its for cleaning ears.

Susannahmia · 18-01-2008 08:45PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

I worked with a Chinese girl and asked her what was the deal with the long fingernail on the pinky and that's the reason she gave me.

Incidentally, I also worked in a Chinese Takeaway and the Chefs used to use the fingernail as a kinda scoop adding liquids and the like to the Wok.

Eeeww! Thats the last time I eat chinese!:eek:

Rhyme · 18-01-2008 08:55PM

Mairt wrote: »

Its a secret Kung Fu symbol & used for slitting the throats of those who cross them.

Casanova Frankenstein wants a word.

Asians and their single long fingernail, WTF?!

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