How do you show "three" with your fingers?

[Janx]

I used to do Index middle ring, then I started dating a deaf gal and switched to thumb, index, middle. I never switched back because it is a much more natural gesture. Especially if you've ever broken a finger/thumb or you have arthritis.

Thumb index middle.

I couldnt even fathom the other way. I just tried it, and having to use my thumb to hold the pinky down was uncomfortable.

 

[jonesy]

You guys need to hold down your pinky? I just put it down like any other finger.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Is this an Inglorious Bastards question?

Haven't seen the movie.

I do this.

Thought sometimes I do Thumb index middle.

 

[fba827]

When I am trying to show three (i.e. gesture across the room to my brother that I want three slices of pizza), I use index-middle-ring.

When I'm trying to show a count to three (i.e. gesture to my nephew that he has 3 seconds to stop what he's doing and i count off the numbers by raising each finger to emphasize the number) then I actually do index-middle-thumb

 

[Thunderfoot]

I do it the standard American three middle fingers way, but altered it when I was stationed in Europe to the thumb +2 method so as not to offend anyone by accident. (good ambassadors and all that.)

 

[El Mahdi]

Same as Thunderfoot for me, index/middle/ring. But when I lived in England, I used thumb/index/middle so as to not be confused when ordering at the pub. Same for using two fingers. In England I used thumb and index. Using index and middle alone in England could be misconstrued as another gesture...

 

[Janx]

You guys need to hold down your pinky? I just put it down like any other finger.

That might be an abnormal ability.

As I understand it, the pinky and ring finger tend to not be able to be moved independently.

Thus, for most people, to move the pinky, means the ring finger also moves, albeit to a lesser extent. I can barely flex the pinky at the base of the hand without moving the ring finger. The actual joints, is pretty much lock-step with each other.

So, to hold the ring finger up and pinky down, that movement is contrary, so the thumb is needed to hold the pinky down.

Another interesting hand thing, is I've heard that double-jointedness is a genetic deviation. Allegedly its rare. Yet I am apparently the only person on the planet whose thumb can NOT bend back farther than a straight line. Nearly every other person I've met can bend their fingers back past the plane of their hand and their thumb tip curls back (not a straight line).

 

[Dioltach]

I do it the standard American three middle fingers way, but altered it when I was stationed in Europe to the thumb +2 method so as not to offend anyone by accident. (good ambassadors and all that.)

I've never come across any three-fingered gesture that might be construed as offensive. Aside from the British two-fingered gesture (which is easy enough to learn and so to avoid), I can only think of one offensive gesture involving fingers, and again, it's easy enough to avoid.

 

[jonesy]

That might be an abnormal ability.

As I understand it, the pinky and ring finger tend to not be able to be moved independently.

I guess, but my dad can do it too.

I just tried it the other way around, and it doesn't work. I can't move the ring finger without the pinky moving, but I can move my pinky without the ring finger moving.

 

[Herschel]

Ring, Middle, Index with right hand, Middle, Ring, Pinky with left (less flexible) hand.