We have our own set of unique talents, some of which are sweet or fun. There are even some that a person might not expect about us when they first look at us, like juggling or magic tricks or being able to ride a unicycle gracefully, which can be fun conversation starters.
But nothing turns heads quite like body mutilation, like a person who can contort into unusual positions or a guy on TikTok who can elongate his thumb several inches past its natural state.
That's right, Jacob Pina of @jwpina on TikTok can increase the length of his thumb, on command, and it comes with some unusual sound effects that might set some people's teeth on edge.
In one video, Pina looks at his normal thumb and says:
"Nah, too short."
After elongating it, he compares it to a miniature water bottle and shows that his thumb is now noticeably longer than the container.
You can watch one of his videos here:
During a discussion with Buzzfeed, Pina explained that he first discovered that he could make his thumb longer during his freshman year of high school. The way that he's able to elongate his thumb is by dislocating it and then stretching it.
His normally two-inch-long finger can be stretched up to five and a half inches!
His doctor was able to confirm that this was a natural side-effect of having a disjointed limb, but he could not otherwise link this to a chronic health condition, like Ehlers-Danos Syndrome (EDS) as many of Pina's followers have recommended checking out.
Fortunately, this parlor trick is simply an enjoyable, if startling, act for viewers and Pina, since this does not cause Pina any pain.
The TikToker has found joy in the attention, however.
To Metro, Pina confided:
"When people see my thumb, they freak out and measure it next to their own thumb."
"I feel great about it. It's always great to be different and to embrace your own essence."
Pina has grown an extensive TikTok following of over 2.7 million followers and 62.4 likes.
The account is dedicated to the elongation of his thumb and Pina's reactions to his followers' questions.
Some have requested thumb wars, which he's humbly obliged on many occasions.
There have been side-by-side comparisons with other people's thumbs, hot dogs, glasses, and other household items.
And Pina has entertained different theories on what makes his thumb grow, from putting water on it, to exposure to sunlight, to plant food, to the possibility of him being the next member of the X-Men.
Some TikTokers were confused and intrigued by the trick.
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Others inappropriately wondered if the trick could be applied elsewhere.
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Some were just grossed out or scared by the videos.
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This just goes to show that we all have certain things that we are better at than others, but those talents are going to be received differently, as well, depending on who we're talking to.
One man's trash is another man's treasure, and what might be one man's talent will be another man's ick factor.
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