What Fairy said.

And I believe that all things are possible. So a ghost could or could not exist. A fairy or a god or a whatever-else could exist, too. So if someone asked me, I'd probably just say "They're possible."

I do indeed believe in ghosts, spirits, faeries, and vampires, though not necessarily quite as extraordinary (Unfortunately, though I like to pretend, to add spook factor- But anything of the sort is indeed possible) as they are perceived by the media and some literature. As for unicorns, not so much, but again, you never know... And chihuahuas...? Well, of course...

I often quite wonder about Ghosts, Spirits, and Fae.

...as for chihuahuas I am convinced that they are better described as Abberations.

If you had a baby that was born with six fingers on each hand, would you have the doctor remove the extra fingers, or would you leave them alone?

-- Nephele

^^Leave them and let the child decide when they get older what they want to do with it.

Depends. If it's purely a vestigial digit, it can make learning basic skills like handwriting or eating with utensils difficult as this case of preaxial polydactyly suggests possible. It's really not comparable to IS genital integrity or the anti-circ movements because vestigial digits really aren't serving a function to the body. Most cases of an extra digit on the hands are just these nubs that kind of hang off without any real attachment to the musculoskeletal system and, if left there, can become more trouble than they're worth.

On the other hand, if it's a deal like The Six-Fingered Man from The Princess Bride --or, to pull a real-life example out of my personal experiences of people met, a friend from my senior year in high school who had six connected, fully-functional digits on each hand and foot, then leaving the extra digits would be best, and depending on their chosen profession, might even be to their favour --such as playing musical instruments, typing, hell, maybe even hand modelling.

That video of the six-fingered baby was glorious.

-- Nephele

Yes.

I hear my old friend from high school took up Jazz clarinet and sax. An extra functioning digit on each hand opens up all sorts of room to be amazing --like playing chords that just can't be played without six fingers. Which reminds me:

Question to all:
Who else is now thinking of the scene with the six-fingered pianist in Gattaca?

It's a tough one, but I'd leave them alone. It's not fair for me to make a decision for a child (beyond their name, of course), so if they wanted to have them removed at an age where they're more self aware, I'd support them then. If the extra fingers (although I don't see how) were a danger to their health, I would have them removed.

I would however worry about them fitting into school in general, but I was a weirdo the whole way through school and I'm a decent human being. So yeah, I'd leave them.

I'm kinda torn with that idea, as much as I agree that it's a nice idea to let the child decide when they get old enough... There is no doubt that the child will have the easiest time adapting and healing if such a decision is made at birth. As a child who was not "treated well" in school (as i'm sure is a rather common story here), I feel children have a hard enough time finding themselves as youngsters. A visible physical difference like that, has a real chance of defining a child at a very young age. Even something as simple as buying gloves for sledding in the snow would be an exercise proving their difference. Everything they do in kindergarden would be highlighted by "they are not the same as other kids". Tracing a hand, counting fingers, etc etc.

Although I wish we lived in a world understanding enough to say "that's fine" to the other 5 year olds in a room, you're not 'normal' in a way that is going to be treated harshly. I would expect such a child to want to remove their difference and doing so at a later date will be more complex, painful and debilitating then it would be at birth... So I think I would have to say, in my case although torn, I would probably have to deal with it rather then waiting for the child to age... hard to say?

Maybe I'll ask a simple question for anyone interested.

What is your favorite thing about spring/summer?

^^I like that it's not freezing at night so I can sit outside and enjoy the moonlight and stars. Oh, and the rain during spring. But that's about it. There isn't much I like about summer or spring to be honest.

The smell of spring and summer rain, cherry blossoms, and the fact that I get two weeks off in August.
About it.

Extra fingers are a sign of Chaos taint. The child should be burnt and it's family interrogated by the Inquisition lest the taint spreads.

Have you considered applying for the job of America's Immigration Czar?

-- Nephele