Can People Be Neither Right Nor Left Handed?

[DaveC426913]

Yes. I see. But that is for right angle turns only (that's "right" as in 90 degrees ; not right versus left for direction or handedness.)

As a city driver of 40+ years, it never occurred to me that there was any ambiguity in my clever saying.

No wonder it never got the appreciative nods I expected.

 

[Mark44]

Yes. I see. But that is for right angle turns only (that's "right" as in 90 degrees ; not right versus left for direction or handedness.)

You're overthinking this. The "lefts" in what Dave said, "Three lefts make a right" are by implication 90° angles. If someone tells you that you need to drive 5 blocks and then turn left, it would be very unusual to interpret this to not mean 90° to the left.

As a city driver of 40+ years, it never occurred to me that there was any ambiguity in my clever saying.

Nor did I, but I doubt that it is "your" saying.

 

[pinball1970]

You're overthinking this. The "lefts" in what Dave said, "Three lefts make a right" are by implication 90° angles. If someone tells you that you need to drive 5 blocks and then turn left, it would be very unusual to interpret this to not mean 90° to the left.

Nor did I, but I doubt that it is "your" saying.

I've said this to @fresh_42 also, this is what happens when a seemingly innocuous question falls into the hands of a mathematician!

 

[DaveC426913]

Nor did I, but I doubt that it is "your" saying.

I came up with it on my own, I've never heard anyone else say it, though that's no guarantee someone else didnt invent it elsewhen.

 

[bob012345]

Here are some possible alternatives:

• person with no hands from birth
• person with no hands, but right or left handed until hands gone
• right handed, not right hand
• left handed, no left hand

there as also some people who are right handed for some things and left handed for others (throws right, bats left)

I gotta hand it to you... you came up with all the possibilities.

 

[bob012345]

Any differences in typing between RH and LH people?

 

[DaveC426913]

Any differences in typing between RH and LH people?

You betcha!

 

[berkeman]

You betcha!

Do you just mean the use of the Space Bar and Shift Key? Or do you have something else in mind?

After all, we all have to use our left hand for Carriage Return.

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Carriage_return

 

[DaveC426913]

Do you just mean the use of the Space Bar and Shift Key? Or do you have something else in mind?

After all, we all have to use our left hand for Carriage Return.

View attachment 302285
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Carriage_return

There's lots of little things. Since I've always been left-handed, it's actually difficult to say what's harder for me than for you. (Took me into my adulthood before I learned that scissors don't raise welts on the hands of right-handers.)

• Some applications use the two Ctrl keys differently. To operate the correct one, I have to cross my arms.
• The touchpad on my laptop is shifted toward the left. I disabled it completely for a while, so I wouldn't keep scrolling the cursor while I'm typing.
• The mouse buttons are the wrong way.

 

[berkeman]

The mouse buttons are the wrong way.

There is a config setting on you PC to swap the mouse buttons...

 

[Godot_]

...using the NumPad should be easier for right-handed people. But spacebar? Right or left thumb - even I as a pretty much right handed person do it both ways. Where's the difficulty / difference?

 

[Tom.G]

(Took me into my adulthood before I learned that scissors don't raise welts on the hands of right-handers.)

Inspect carefully, it turns out there are two versions of left handed scissors.

Right handed scissors are assembled with the blade that is on top of the work positioned to the right during use. That allows you do see exactly where you are cutting.

Some left handed scissors just change the handles for a more comfortable fit without changing the blade overlap. This positions the top blade to block your view of the cut line.

I hear that is rather annoying for lefties.

 

[DaveC426913]

the handles for a more comfortable fit without changing the blade overlap. This positions the top blade to block your view of the cut line

It's worse than that. It often won't cut because the angle is wrong. It just twists the paper.

 

[Jodo]

Here are some possible alternatives:

• person with no hands from birth
• person with no hands, but right or left handed until hands gone
• right handed, not right hand
• left handed, no left hand

there as also some people who are right handed for some things and left handed for others (throws right, bats left)

I am right handed. I play guitar right handed but I play drums left handed. Trying to do either vice versa results in a sonic mess or personal body damage.

 

[pinball1970]

I am right handed. I play guitar right handed but I play drums left handed. Trying to do either vice versa results in a sonic mess or personal body damage.

Same as me but I am left handed.
I write left (hence lefty), use a mouse, play pool hold a fork and drum that way.
Guitar right, badminton, cricket.
I play chess left handed, seems odd but I just tried it. Right hand on the table and move the piece with my left.
I am right footed (football not bass drum)
Not surprising I am at times completely baffled by the universe and everything in it.

 

[DaveC426913]

Here are some possible alternatives:

• person with no hands from birth
• person with no hands, but right or left handed until hands gone
• right handed, not right hand
• left handed, no left hand

there as also some people who are right handed for some things and left handed for others (throws right, bats left)

I feel this is still reinforcing archaic binary stereotypes.You clearly have a hand-centric bias.

What about handed-fluid?
And why limit everyone to just two?

 

[berkeman]

And why limit everyone to just two?

https://www.sciencealert.com/images...imming_arms_stock_cover_getty_images_1024.jpg

 

[BillTre]

number of squid arms = number of octopus + 2

 

[berkeman]

number of squid arms = number of octopus + 2

TIL

 

[berkeman]

number of squid arms = number of octopus + 2

I don't like octopi. Not their fault, but when I'm skimming along the bottom free diving and all of a sudden a rock turns into an octopus with tentacles darting out at me and ink in the water, that is very startling for somebody not carrying any extra air!

 

[berkeman]

And just to pull this OT discussion back to OP relevance, has anybody ever done a study on the handedness of octopi? That would be fascinating, IMO... Still 80/20 do you think?

 

[BillTre]

And just to pull this OT discussion back to OP relevance, has anybody ever done a study on handedness of octopi? That would be fascinating, IMO... Still 80/20 do you think?

Octopuses have a preferred arm​

• Michael Hopkin

Nature (2004)

https://www.nature.com/articles/news040614-1

 

[berkeman]

https://www.nature.com/articles/news040614-1

Interesting, thanks!

Unlike in humans, this handedness is split more or less 50-50, rather than being biased towards right-handers. But it does seem to show why the many-limbed creatures go to the trouble of choosing a favourite.

 

[256bits]

...using the NumPad should be easier for right-handed people. But spacebar? Right or left thumb - even I as a pretty much right handed person do it both ways. Where's the difficulty / difference?

I would rather have it on the left side of the keyboard, even if I am right handed.

 

[256bits]

Inspect carefully, it turns out there are two versions of left handed scissors.

Right handed scissors are assembled with the blade that is on top of the work positioned to the right during use. That allows you do see exactly where you are cutting.

Some left handed scissors just change the handles for a more comfortable fit without changing the blade overlap. This positions the top blade to block your view of the cut line.

I hear that is rather annoying for lefties.

If I use right handed scissors in my left had, they do not cut.
Something to do with keeping the blades tight against one another.
the left hand pushes them apart a little bit.

 

[256bits]

I am right handed. I play guitar right handed but I play drums left handed. Trying to do either vice versa results in a sonic mess or personal body damage.

I don't get these left/tight handed references to sports or instruments.

Is the 'better' hand to be the upper or lower grip on a bat, or rather the left or right side of the pitcher when the batter steps up to the plate, or on which 'side' of the rink the hockey player is on when looking from his own goal.
Should the 'better' hand be strumming or playing the chords.
These are would just consider conventions that have developed and continued on.

Holding a tennis racket, or kicking a field goal - that makes sense.

Knitting - maybe that is a left or right handed activity, but no one talks about that.
( By the way I haven't knitted since grade 3 when we made those rope things from thread and a old spool. )
Knitters UNITE - are you a left or right handed knitter.

 

[pinball1970]

I don't get these left/tight handed references to sports or instruments.

Is the 'better' hand to be the upper or lower grip on a bat, or rather the left or right side of the pitcher when the batter steps up to the plate, or on which 'side' of the rink the hockey player is on when looking from his own goal.
Should the 'better' hand be strumming or playing the chords.
These are would just consider conventions that have developed and continued on.

No it is not convention. Have you never played squash, tennis or badminton?
Never held a guitar?
One way feels 'wrong' and the other way feels natural.
As wrong and as natural as writing with your right or left.

 

[256bits]

No it is not convention. Have you never played squash, tennis or badminton?
Never held a guitar?
One way feels 'wrong' and the other way feels natural.
As wrong and as natural as writing with your right or left.

One handed actions - definitely a handedness to them.
Batting - convention as both hands are used - where does it say the left or right hand should be above the other on the bat? In fact, a left handed batter has his right eye closer to the pitch, so he should really be a right eye handed batter.

I bat right handed, but play hockey left handed, and both feel natural, but where is the logic in naming one stance over the other.

 

[pinball1970]

One handed actions - definitely a handedness to them.
Batting - convention as both hands are used - where does it say the left or right hand should be above the other on the bat? In fact, a left handed batter has his right eye closer to the pitch, so he should really be a right eye handed batter.

I bat right handed, but play hockey left handed, and both feel natural, but where is the logic in naming one stance over the other.

Ok I get you now. Yes that is convention. How did the nomenclature arise?
My guess is a bunch of guys are doing something right handed because that is the norm. One guy is doing it different because he is left handed so that is the left handed position.
No one says Jan Ackerman is right handed he just plays.
EVERYONE noticed Jimi was a leftie, it looks odd.

 

[pinball1970]

One handed actions - definitely a handedness to them.
Batting - convention as both hands are used - where does it say the left or right hand should be above the other on the bat? In fact, a left handed batter has his right eye closer to the pitch, so he should really be a right eye handed batter.

I bat right handed, but play hockey left handed, and both feel natural, but where is the logic in naming one stance over the other.

An example. I went to drum clinic for schools when I was about 14. I was the only leftie for a snare session of about 10 or so kids and I was outed.
I was quite embarrassed because he said I should learn to right handed and would be an inconvenience in an orchestra. How would that work if I was the only leftie violinist?
I actually tried it and it felt awful so I switched back and put my foot down. I am playing left and my teacher who was a jazz drummer thought I played well.
So, the right way and the wrong way! The odd way is left by default because of the numbers.