 
Thnk2mch
Member
Username: Thnk2mch
Post Number: 1336
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 10:05 am: |    |
I am left handed.
The left handed presidents thread got me thinking about how almost everything is designed for right handed people.
What things can you think of - i.e. the number pad on your keyboard being on the right instead of the left, or a clock turning to the right intead of the left.
What else can you think of? |
East_detroit
Member
Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 1912
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 10:08 am: | |
The content frame of this forum being on the right, instead of the left.
Its handed-ist, at its worst. |
Wally
Member
Username: Wally
Post Number: 562
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 10:40 am: | |
At least you lefties have your left-handed cigarettes.  |
Ruxy17
Member
Username: Ruxy17
Post Number: 87
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 11:00 am: | |
hah! NOTHING is made for lefties!
I'm a proud lefty and at least once a day I find something that is difficult for me to use. Just off the top of my head:
-pens with ink that stays wet so as you write, you drag your hand it in (you can always tell a lefty because the left side of their left hand pretty much always has ink/graphite stains)
-scissors
-any bound-on-the-left pad or notebook
-can openers
-some knives... tables are always set backwards!
-corkscrews
-can openers
-video games - especially the new Nintendo Wii. while most games have a left handed setting, it takes forever to change and really isn't worth it if you're playing a two player game with someone.
-rulers and measuring tapes
-playing cards have the number and suit in the wrong corner.
-those nerf balls that are made to spiral and whistle, the whistles are on an angle so that they have to be thrown with the right hand to work. same thing with boomerangs, they only work with your right hand.
-classroom desks - this is the worst! there is usually only one lefty desk (if any) in all of my classes and I try to get there early to snatch it but it's almost always in the back corner and someone's usually already sitting there.
all little things, I know. and it never really bugs me because my whole life everything has been built for right-handeds. I can do most things both handed just because I've been taught everything right handed. people just don't realize how much stuff and how often lefties have to adjust to this crazy right handed world! |
Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 2192
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 11:00 am: | |
The automobile ignition key cylinder is always located to the right side of the steering column. Next time you get in your car, you right-handers ought to try taking your key ring in your left hand, finding the ignition key, inserting it into an imaginary key cylinder and then turning it counter clockwise. Makes you feel kind of clumsy, doesn't it?
Then there are the checkouts in the grocery stores where the credit card swipe and its pen are usually oriented to favor the right-hander, not to mention the little shelf for signing the credit card receipt. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 9366
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 11:07 am: | |
quote:-video games - especially the new Nintendo Wii. while most games have a left handed setting, it takes forever to change and really isn't worth it if you're playing a two player game with someone.
-rulers and measuring tapes
If you create your Mii and set him as left handed, he will be left handed in most every game you play.
The Wii is the only system I can think of (since the Intellivision anyway) that has a perfectly symmetrical controller, so I would think it is the least of the offenders.
(Message edited by johnlodge on February 09, 2009) |
_sj_
Member
Username: _sj_
Post Number: 1674
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 11:10 am: | |
quote:-classroom desks - this is the worst! there is usually only one lefty desk (if any) in all of my classes and I try to get there early to snatch it but it's almost always in the back corner and someone's usually already sitting there
quote:Then there are the checkouts in the grocery stores where the credit card swipe and its pen are usually oriented to favor the right-hander, not to mention the little shelf for signing the credit card receipt.
So True.
Computer mice as well.
At least the toll booths are usually left handed. |
Islandman
Member
Username: Islandman
Post Number: 1908
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 12:19 pm: | |
I have the best of both worlds. Write with my left, but most other things I do with my right. |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 3880
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 12:36 pm: | |
Bolt operated rifles open on the right. Lever action and pump action eject on the right.
But leftys sure usually make the best pitchers! And 95% of first-basemen are left handed. |
Wally
Member
Username: Wally
Post Number: 563
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 1:23 pm: | |
quote:Computer mice as well.
You can edit your mouse settings to suit a left-handed user. |
Grumpyoldlady
Member
Username: Grumpyoldlady
Post Number: 338
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 1:27 pm: | |
There are websites that sell all kinds of products that are designed for lefties. I've purchased many items for my son. |
Danindc
Member
Username: Danindc
Post Number: 4303
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 2:01 pm: | |
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Mopardan
Member
Username: Mopardan
Post Number: 111
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 2:02 pm: | |
I had a brother who was left-handed & we were cognizant of how we sat at the dinner table so we didn't bump elbows.
He once owned a Plymouth Sapporo('78 I think) & reflecting back, I swear that thing was oriented for lefties to work on. I figured it was due to it being built in Japan.
Quote:
But leftys sure usually make the best pitchers!
Ray, my dad tried in the worst way to get him interested in baseball figuring he could turn him into a pitcher, but no dice; he wanted to play football instead. It must've drove our dad nuts because my oldest brother was a very good pitcher but didn't pursue it after HS. I'll bet my dad had visions of them being in the Majors. Oh well, the best laid plans often go awry.
As a Simpsons fan, I'm really surprised there isn't a "Leftorium" chain of stores. That would solve a lot of what Ruxy listed. |
Otter
Member
Username: Otter
Post Number: 542
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 2:15 pm: | |
I do everything left-handed, but I honestly don't find most things in the above list too onerous. With bound notebooks, if nothing else, you can just rotate it 180 degrees and start from the 'back.'
MikeG, the Porsche 911 has the ignition on the elft of the column. Or it did, anyway, not sure about the water-cooled cars.
Clocks turning to the right?? Come on, that had to be tongue-in-cheek, no?
O. |
Thnk2mch
Member
Username: Thnk2mch
Post Number: 1337
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 3:29 pm: | |
Cameras and camcorders - right handed
The open button and the locks on filing cabinet drawers - right handed
Microwaves - right handed |
Jimaz
Member
Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 6534
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 4:19 pm: | |
Italian switchblades |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 9368
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 5:37 pm: | |
Placement of the toilet paper roll in most restrooms. |
Alfie1a
Member
Username: Alfie1a
Post Number: 152
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 7:13 pm: | |
I've been able to pretty much adapt to this right handed world except for one thing. Guitar thumb picks. I can use the steel ones and bend them up to work half assedly. Wish i could use a plastic one. I wish Ned Flanders would open up one of his stores near me. |
Alfie1a
Member
Username: Alfie1a
Post Number: 153
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 7:18 pm: | |
Lefty's have a slight advantage in bowling, I think. They get the groove all to themselves.
And in boxing, we are kinda sneaky. |
Mauser765
Member
Username: Mauser765
Post Number: 2968
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 7:26 pm: | |
Left handed compliments - cant forget those. |
Ccbatson
Member
Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 18604
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 8:58 pm: | |
Character building....lefties must learn to function despite obstacles. |
Classicyesfan
Member
Username: Classicyesfan
Post Number: 468
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 1:18 pm: | |
Yes, it does build character having your knuckles whacked with a ruler in elementary school as the ignorant "educated" educators tried to impose their will on an essentially unchangeable attribute. Reminds me of something else....
My beloved father used to let me use his flat contractor pencils and of course I would smudge my papers writing as a lefty. Bless those conscientious, considerate and concerned authority figures who would send me home humiliated and ashamed of something so natural. And, bless my mother for being such an advocate for her child, and for being a Dr. Spock enthusiast before it was really popular. My parents stood up to these ignoramuses in authority, and inspired me with their courage and moral superiority. They encouraged me to write properly, instead of in the overhand manner that avoided smears at all costs. I believed in myself solely because of them in my early years.
It's so easy for the more insensitive types among us to dismiss utter brutality as "character building" when they did not suffer through the dark ages. ("MANTRA: "Reduce and compartmentalize")
One small benefit is that we tend to get to sit at the head of the table when everyone remembers the food dumped into laps in previous episodes!
Lefthandedness can actually give one an edge in some of life's pursuits but that was not even considered 50 years ago. I suppose the race evolves, albeit at a slow snail's pace.
(Message edited by classicyesfan on February 10, 2009) |
Ccbatson
Member
Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 18629
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 5:06 pm: | |
Oppression is not what I meant by character building, rather the process of overcoming the challenges that go along with being left handed. |
Douglasm
Member
Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 778
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 6:03 pm: | |
Anything (steno-type pads, pocket notebooks) that is bound on the top. If you write with your hand curled over the top of the page, they're impossible to use. |
Classicyesfan
Member
Username: Classicyesfan
Post Number: 479
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 11:18 pm: | |
"Character building....lefties must learn to function despite obstacles."
Yeah, you lefties, pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps and expect no "entitlements" from the righties. Every man for himself and the strongest one survives. The Uncivilization replaced the Great Society! |
Jimaz
Member
Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 6552
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 11:30 pm: | |
Women and children last into the lifeboats is what those cowards want. |
Sumas
Member
Username: Sumas
Post Number: 692
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 9:32 am: | |
I started out left handed but the school forced me to use my right hand or suffer consequences.
I truly believe that this created my speech impediment. I took speech classes for several years. To this day if I get nervous I lose those years of classes and revert. |
Lpg
Member
Username: Lpg
Post Number: 113
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 7:27 pm: | |
As a lefty, I started to get the same "re-education" to be a right hander in elementary school in the mid 50's. When my mother found out about it, she put a stop to it. Her brother is a lefty, so she knew there was nothing "wrong" with it.
Also had to put up with the one left-handed desk in each classroom (sometimes). Learned to balance the book on my leg, so I could write. |
Aiw
Member
Username: Aiw
Post Number: 1888
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:01 am: | |
I'm a proud lefty. |
Classicyesfan
Member
Username: Classicyesfan
Post Number: 489
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 9:58 am: | |
Aw, come on now, Sumas, Lpg, and all the older lefties, CC says we were just having "character building". We were being taught how to overcome obstacles, such as oppressive, persecuting righties. At least we didn't receive any of those "entitlements" such as compassion, equal treatment and encouragement from the prevailing authority figures.
Aiw, we should be proud lefties. I believe the studies that claim that there is a higher percentage of exceptionally talented, intelligent, or gifted people among the lefties than the righties. There are too many testaments to even begin to cite them in this venue. Perhaps the obstacles may have required us to develop more than life requires of the righties. I am equally highly adept at keeping a 100 Terabyte global data warehouse functioning at peak capacity as I am at oil painting, or even the common man's hobby of bowling. And, I can easily identify the conductor if you play a short sample of 15 different versions of Sibelius Symphony 2. So, I think I have a right to be proud.
(Message edited by classicyesfan on February 13, 2009) |