{"id":4305,"date":"2021-01-09T15:28:26","date_gmt":"2021-01-09T20:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marcosticks.org\/?p=4305"},"modified":"2021-07-08T12:40:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T16:40:51","slug":"caswellian-thumb-and-chopsticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marcosticks.org\/zh\/caswellian-thumb-and-chopsticks\/","title":{"rendered":"Caswellian thumb and chopsticks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To use marcosticks<\/a> (read: chopsticks) with the Standard<\/a> <\/a>Grip<\/a>, a flattened, unnatural thumb pose we call Caswellian thumb<\/strong> is needed. Unfortunately, we believe that a substantial human population cannot comfortably move their thumb into this pose, or at least not for a substantial amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Marcosticks<\/a>
Caswellian thumb pose used in wielding the Standard Grip<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This unnatural thumb pose is a major contributor to chopstick cramp, an underreported issue in chopsticking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has real-world implications. In most chopstick-using cultures, not being able to use the standard grip often reflects negatively on someone’s home environment. We have already explained, in Using vs Not Using the Thumb<\/a>, how preschoolers are often coerced into adopting a non-standard grip early on, due to their inability to wield long and heavy chopsticks properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Beetle<\/a>
Using the thumb (left), vs. not using the thumb (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But we now think that Standard Grip may not be for everyone. We have heard from hundreds of people in our 4-hours of fame<\/a> on Reddit. We now understand that Caswellian thumb is beyond anatomical abilities of many. Perhaps alternative grips<\/a> such as Count-to-4<\/a> or The Equal Opportunity<\/a> are better choices, for these users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Marcosticks<\/a>
Count-to-4 grip<\/a>, where the Caswellian thumb pose is not needed *<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In a retrospective, The Art and Science of Chopsticking<\/a>, we dove deeper into the issue of creating a menu of alternative grips. These could serve as options for folks who find such grips easier to wield than Standard Grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/p>\n