Hoax: iPhone the Gadget of Choice for Self-Mutilators

When I first read this news report I immediately figured it was a hoax, and I'm still leaning towards this being wholly fake, but Apple fanatics tend to do things that the rest of us wouldn't normally dream of... so on further reflection, maybe this report has a glimmer of potential truth to it. Oh, the news: A 28-year-old Denver man had plastic surgery on his thumbs, "whittling" them down into points, so he could more easily use his iPhone's touchscreen.

The North Denver News reports patient Thomas Martel as saying, "I had a hard time hitting the right buttons, and I always lost those little styluses... Think of all the time I save by being able to use modern handhelds so much faster... and what it's saving me in frustration—that's priceless." I guess no one told Martel you're supposed to use a finger, not a thumb, with the iPhone.

Priceless, eh? I was going to use another word.

The procedure, which involves shaving down the thumb bones and altering the muscle inside and the fingernail, is described as "on the edge sort of stuff" by Martel's doctor. His thumbs are now described as "small and effeminate in comparison to his very large hands."

Oh God, please let it be a hoax.

LINK: Surgically alters thumbs to better use iPhone  (via Russell Shaw)

UPDATE: Yep, it's a hoax.