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The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

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Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#121

Post by neckro23 »

_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #103
InMice wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im also like that..randomly mixed. I write left, but use scissors always with right. Throw and kick are right, but swing and bat is left. Computer mouse left. Taking a phone call is always left hand on left ear...but holding phone to use or text is always right hand. Self check out? Back to left hand for that mostly Lol. If a backpack is on one shoulder it feels weird if it's not on my left shoulder despite being mor…

I thought that scissors were made to be right handed, and you need a 'reversed' pair for left handed people. Or is that a scam?

Left-handed scissors are a thing. I own a couple of pairs but they feel funny because I've simply used right-handed scissors backwards most of my life.

One big difference is visibility. On right-handed scissors you can see the cut from the (top) left, while left-handed ones are the opposite. If you cut lefty with righty scissors you can't see what you're doing (unless you awkwardly hold everything to the right side).

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#122

Post by TheRoque »

grecy wrote: post #17

Here's a fun test - we're all in socks on a slippery wood floor. I'll give you $500 if you can run and slide further than I can. Close you eyes and really imagine it (or do it right now). Really feel yourself sliding along, that tingly feeling of almost losing control, etc. etc. Going a little further with each try. REALLY run and slide AS FAR AS YOU CAN. Which foot did you have in front? I'm very much right handed a…

I brush my teeth and write with the left, dribble and throw with the right.

I kick the ball with the right, and on the boards sports I'm goofy.

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#123

Post by MontgomeryPy »

grecy wrote: post #77
MontgomeryPi2 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An easier snowboard test is to tell someone to turn around and tell them you are going to give them a push. Give them a shove to the upper back and see which foot they put forward first to brace.

That is an old myth that doesn't work very well. Source: I've been a level 3 snowboard instructor in Canada for 10+ years. There are only 4 levels. It also doesn't work if you're with a group of students because it won't be a surprise after everyone sees you do it to the first student. If you have a "slide on snow" competition but don't say why, you can watch everyone and what foot is forward before you tell them wha…

Duly noted!

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#124

Post by quickthrowman »

_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #103
InMice wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im also like that..randomly mixed. I write left, but use scissors always with right. Throw and kick are right, but swing and bat is left. Computer mouse left. Taking a phone call is always left hand on left ear...but holding phone to use or text is always right hand. Self check out? Back to left hand for that mostly Lol. If a backpack is on one shoulder it feels weird if it's not on my left shoulder despite being mor…

I thought that scissors were made to be right handed, and you need a 'reversed' pair for left handed people. Or is that a scam?

Left-handed screwdrivers are not real, but left-handed scissors are real.

Left-handed watches are also real, the crown is on the left side: https://www.fratellowatches.com/help-my-son-is-a-lefty-a-loo...

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#125

Post by virtualwhys »

bpoyner wrote: post #61
rrgok wrote: post #8

I was originally left-handed, but my father made me switch to my right hand because he believed being left-handed was the "hand of the devil." Now, I’ve become ambidextrous, and I instinctively choose which hand to use depending on the activity. Sometimes, when I'm trying something for the first time and I'm unsure which hand is best, I get stuck and have to go through some trial and error before it feels natural.

Unless you really can switch hands at the drop of a hat (which is incredibly rare), the term is cross-dominant or mixed-handed. I prefer my right hand for fine motor skills and left for gross. I have a coworker is who is almost exactly the opposite.

Exactly, ambidextrous people are freaks of nature, like a professional baseball player who can pitch with either hand from inning to inning, and even then there will be a stronger side -- in other words, it is unlikely that a human being could be equally dominant across both hands.

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#126

Post by serf »

was right handed for 20 years, got paralyzed, became left handed.

of course relative to the physical therapy/rehab that was easy -- but it still surprised me how quickly it became fluent. it kind of made me think that it's more just a coin-flip as to which you are, and the conveniences available during critical learning moments early in life.

if my favorite rattle or play-thing was placed on my left versus my right in the crib predominantly would things have turned out different? makes me think that might be the case a bit.

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#127

Post by fforflo »

zdragnar wrote: post #51

I write left handed, and use a fork in my left and knife in my right. Left hand for holding a phone or a drinking glass, and for shaving. I'm right eye dominant, though, so I throw, swing, shoot, use scissors, play instruments and use a mouse right handed. I'm not at all ambidextrous, I can't do most of those things with my other hand.

Metoo kind of... Write right-handed, fork on the right, but knife on the left. Throw with the left hand, kick with the left. Mouse on the right. Also wished the gas pedal was on the left :D

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#128

Post by bombcar »

quickthrowman wrote: post #124
_whiteCaps_ wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought that scissors were made to be right handed, and you need a 'reversed' pair for left handed people. Or is that a scam?

Left-handed screwdrivers are not real, but left-handed scissors are real. Left-handed watches are also real, the crown is on the left side: https://www.fratellowatches.com/help-my-son-is-a-lefty-a-loo...

Wait do people wear their watch on their dominant hand? I can’t do that, need to use that hand to manipulate the watch. Maybe because it’s a smartwatch.

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#129

Post by virtualwhys »

zdragnar wrote: post #51

I write left handed, and use a fork in my left and knife in my right. Left hand for holding a phone or a drinking glass, and for shaving. I'm right eye dominant, though, so I throw, swing, shoot, use scissors, play instruments and use a mouse right handed. I'm not at all ambidextrous, I can't do most of those things with my other hand.

Left:

Write, eat, brush teeth, scissors, chop vegetables, etc. Basically fine motor skills on the left.

Right:

Throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, play tennis, etc. Power movements on the right.

Could always do some sports lefty, like switch hit in baseball, kick a football (soccer) past half field, or play pool, those kinds of things, but right side has always been stronger.

The only sport where I am much better lefty than righty is table tennis -- probably because to play at higher levels you need fine motor skills, not just brute force.

Re: The mystery of why left-handers are so much rarer (2016)

#130

Post by roelschroeven »

grecy wrote: post #17

Here's a fun test - we're all in socks on a slippery wood floor. I'll give you $500 if you can run and slide further than I can. Close you eyes and really imagine it (or do it right now). Really feel yourself sliding along, that tingly feeling of almost losing control, etc. etc. Going a little further with each try. REALLY run and slide AS FAR AS YOU CAN. Which foot did you have in front? I'm very much right handed a…

I feel I can imagine myself sliding both ways. Actually doing it would more than likely reveal my preference though.

But when I try to imagine myself standing on a skateboard, it gets clear immediately: left foot forward. Right foot forward feels completely wrong.

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