A word to the wise:

[conuly]

If your villainous character is in the habit of chopping off fingers or parts thereof in order to torture, intimidate, or punish other people, then you should know that the pinky is more valuable than the pointer.

Everybody assumes it's the other way around - I sure did! - but it turns out that while most people can compensate for the loss of the point finger by using their middle finger instead, the loss of the pinky finger brings about a dramatic reduction in grip strength.

Your protagonist might not know about that, and neither might your antagonist. Heck, your antagonist might not care, although you'd think they would if they're chopping fingers off their laborers, even if only out of a brutally profiteering mindset.

You should know, though, especially if you intend to have your protagonist do tasks later that require a strong grip. This goes double if they haven't had one or both of either a reasonable healing period or any form of physical therapy.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

—good to know

[sonia]

It would be great to have a cut tag for content like this.

[conuly]

Got it.

[sonia]

Thank you!

[siderea]

That would make a great villain monologue. Like, "Now, Mr. Bond, you, like most people, probably suppose the pinky... [etc]"

[conuly]

Menacing and educational for the viewers at home.

[deird1]

How interesting. I must remember this.

[conuly]

As I learned last year, a surprising number of people have lost fingers or at least bits of fingers, so this could come more in handy than you think.

[sabotabby]

I have a different kind of hand mutilation in my story but...fuck now I'm tempted because one of the people doing the torturing was halfway to a degree in kinesiology before—er—changing careers, and would absolutely know this.

The main reason is to stop the protagonist from being able to draw or write, though.

[conuly]

That's quite a career change!

There's very little that can stop somebody determined from drawing or writing.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/23/us/girl-no-hands-wins-handwriting-competition-trnd/index.html

[sabotabby]

This is true, but you know, they quickly discover that and find something more effective.

[melita66]

I never switched my writing implement grip in 3rd grade when I was supposed to so I rest a pen/pencil on my ring finger and hold it with my middle and pointer fingers. It's easy enough to not use the pointer finger. Take away the thumb and pointer finger...

[sabotabby]

Yiiikes.

Crime & Punishment

[nodrog]

Traumatic cephalectomy - recidivism zero.

The Red Queen knew this.