Left-Handed Discussion Thread

[Pnsku Sovregard]

I don't think us left-handers get the respect we deserve. like how are we only 10.6% of the world population (source: Google and Wikipedia), which is a small amount really. one question is why is that low? So, right-handers and Ambidextrious-ers, got any questions? (This really is just a discussion thread)

[Aadhiris]

Finally, something actually worth discussing! /j

In all seriousness I'm really really happy that there's a left-handed discussion thread because I'm left-handed! I agree that we don't get enough respect and I was actually wondering why we're so rare just earlier today! I feel like it'd be weird to be right-handed but then I remember that the majority of the world is right-handed and that I'm the "weird" one. Left-handed people supremacy!!!

[Pathonia]

I do believe there is a video by Vsauce pertaining to this.
Something along a balance of competition and cooperation, where competition would need an 'edge' or something different for success (such as in baseball pitching) and cooperation would necessitate same handedness between parties.

*I'm not an expert on this by any means, and my memory has likely riddled this with inaccuracies. Take this with two grains of salt.

[Narland]

I was taught in school, that in 800 BC the Assyrian soldiers were about 50% right handed and 50% left handed. Phillip of Macedon's men were about 60%/40% with a noticeable fraction of ambidextrous. The "theory" was that over-time the lefty got weeded out of the gene-pool because it is dangerous for a lefty to live in Right-Handed World. But I never really double-checked the teacher's facts. As a predominantly left-handed person (almost everything left handed, but a few tasks that can only be done right-handed), I grew up noticing in the news when a left-handed person was injured or died because of right-handed engineering bias.

I watched my dad tie his boots in the mirror in order to learn how to tie my shoes as a kid with square knots. I realized a difference when needing left handed scissors for crafts, and I used a different hand for finger-paint than my cousins. Right-handed people tend to be unaware of the discrepancy, or if they are aware (like teachers) are not well versed as to the extent and degree of right-handed bias for most objects. Left-handed hunting rifles, scissors, tape measures, manual can openers and left-handed guitars make sense. Asking a right handed teacher for a left handed stapler would get some teachers looking in their desks for one, until it dawned on them that there is (usually) no inherent chirality with staplers. Other than some "disciplinary problems" overseas as a child, being left handed (especially in the States) has helped make me a more conscientious and safety-conscious person than I would otherwise be.

[Ineva]

We need Keltionialang on this ASAP!

[Keltionialang]

We need Keltionialang on this ASAP!

Left hand ftw.
Anyways, I feel as if my experiences being left-handed are pretty normal. Usually, people will just say "You're left-handed?" or "Oh, I didn't know that." I don't really have much to say, though. I suppose being left-handed is both an advantage and disadvantage. I could never imagine being right-handed.

[Floofybit]

Sometimes I use my right hand for things, sometimes my left. But never both for the same activity. I'm not ambidextrous, I'm whothefluffknowswhatIwilluseforthisnewactivitydextrous. But I write with my right hand.

[Cyptopir]

We need Keltionialang on this ASAP!

Left hand ftw.
Anyways, I feel as if my experiences being left-handed are pretty normal. Usually, people will just say "You're left-handed?" or "Oh, I didn't know that." I don't really have much to say, though. I suppose being left-handed is both an advantage and disadvantage. I could never imagine being right-handed.

Isn't it kinda more confusing to shake most people's hands?

[Keltionialang]

Left hand ftw.
Anyways, I feel as if my experiences being left-handed are pretty normal. Usually, people will just say "You're left-handed?" or "Oh, I didn't know that." I don't really have much to say, though. I suppose being left-handed is both an advantage and disadvantage. I could never imagine being right-handed.

Isn't it kinda more confusing to shake most people's hands?

Definitely not for me.
Obviously, I don't speak for everyone.
However, I find it a normal process to shake someone's hand, no difficulty in it. Probably because I shake left with right, but I don't really know where you even got this from. It may be harder for other people though, I don't know.

[Kostane]

Left hand ftw.
Anyways, I feel as if my experiences being left-handed are pretty normal. Usually, people will just say "You're left-handed?" or "Oh, I didn't know that." I don't really have much to say, though. I suppose being left-handed is both an advantage and disadvantage. I could never imagine being right-handed.

Isn't it kinda more confusing to shake most people's hands?

As a left-handed person I feel like I just shake with my right hand. It’s not a matter of dominant hands. The biggest problem is elbows at a dinner table, writing left to right, and such where there’s just subtle things that have been designed for right-handed people.

[Narland]

Sometimes I use my right hand for things, sometimes my left. But never both for the same activity. I'm not ambidextrous, I'm whothefluffknowswhatIwilluseforthisnewactivitydextrous. But I write with my right hand.

The term the family doc used was "mixed-handedness." One of my brothers is noticeably mixed-handed. I was predominately left-handed out of the gate. There are only a few things I cannot do best left handed (if at all). I cannot use flatware right-handed, but can only use chop sticks right-handed. Frisbee golf and bowling/curling has to be done right handed. I cannot golf right handed, and throwing anything else but a frisbee is done best left handed. I am left eyed and hunt best with left-handed weapons.

Isn't it kinda more confusing to shake most people's hands?

As a left-handed person I feel like I just shake with my right hand. It’s not a matter of dominant hands. The biggest problem is elbows at a dinner table, writing left to right, and such where there’s just subtle things that have been designed for right-handed people.

Same here. Shaking hands right handed seems normal because it is expected (and not much skill is needed). I am the same with seating arrangements when flatware is used. Bumping elbows isn't fun.

[Cannot think of a name]

Isn't it kinda more confusing to shake most people's hands?

As a left-handed person I feel like I just shake with my right hand. It’s not a matter of dominant hands. The biggest problem is elbows at a dinner table, writing left to right, and such where there’s just subtle things that have been designed for right-handed people.

Fucking knives.

[Cannot think of a name]

Sometimes I use my right hand for things, sometimes my left. But never both for the same activity. I'm not ambidextrous, I'm whothefluffknowswhatIwilluseforthisnewactivitydextrous. But I write with my right hand.

The term the family doc used was "mixed-handedness." One of my brothers is noticeably mixed-handed. I was predominately left-handed out of the gate. There are only a few things I cannot do best left handed (if at all). I cannot use flatware right-handed, but can only use chop sticks right-handed. Frisbee golf and bowling/curling has to be done right handed. I cannot golf right handed, and throwing anything else but a frisbee is done best left handed. I am left eyed and hunt best with left-handed weapons.

As a left-handed person I feel like I just shake with my right hand. It’s not a matter of dominant hands. The biggest problem is elbows at a dinner table, writing left to right, and such where there’s just subtle things that have been designed for right-handed people.

Same here. Shaking hands right handed seems normal because it is expected (and not much skill is needed). I am the same with seating arrangements when flatware is used. Bumping elbows isn't fun.

Having to explain, "No, I'm not autistic. I have to sit on the left otherwise we'll be bumping elbows the entire meal..."



No one has ever thought I was autistic for insisting on sitting on the left, but it feels so odd to be insistent about it to someone who has never thought about it once in their lives.

Like most right handers. They know about scissors, can openers, and are just a little too gleeful in reciting the way we use to be treated...like they miss it.

[Ingridguerci]

As a left-hander, it's understandable to feel that way sometimes, given the predominance of right-handed tools and setups in society. The reason for the relatively low percentage of left-handers in the population is not entirely clear. Some theories suggest a mix of genetic factors and environmental influences.

One theory is that handedness is linked to brain lateralization, where certain functions are localized more in one hemisphere of the brain than the other. However, the exact mechanisms behind this aren't fully understood.

It's also worth noting that cultural and societal factors may play a role. For example, historically, left-handedness was sometimes stigmatized or discouraged, which could have led to fewer left-handed individuals openly identifying as such. https://phima1a.com/trung-quoc/

Regardless of the reasons behind the statistics, it's essential to recognize and accommodate the needs of left-handers in various aspects of life to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for everyone.

[Hidrandia]

Left handed people of the world unite!

[Almighty Biden]

Even though I'm always right, i gotta hand it to you. You guys left us all behind.

[Pasong Tirad]

Born left handed. When I was around five, my left middle finger

got caught in the door hinge as my cousin shut it forcing four or five year old me to be rushed to the emergency room to get stitches. My left middle finger was saved thankfully but now the nail grows a bit weird

. So, at around the same time I was learning how to write, there were a few weeks when I could not use my dominant hand cause of the stitches.

I've written with my right hand ever since, but there are a bunch of things that I've noticed I do better with my left hand. Any of the sports that needed me to throw the ball (baseball, soccer as a goalie for a bit in high school, etc.) I used my left hand, for example. And then there are a bunch of other things that I can do ambidextrously. I can use scissors and knives and can openers with either hand. I can stir and hold the pot with either hand too (which I only recently found out not everyone can do).

[Dazchan]

I write and crochet with my left hand, but do almost everything else right-handed.
I'm learning Auslan (Australian Sign Language) at the moment, and I'm learning that left-handed, purely because I found it easier to mirror the (right-handed) teacher when learning new signs.

[Adharcaili]

Even though I'm always right, i gotta hand it to you. You guys left us all behind.

I'm not sure if I should slow-clap or