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Left handed people

266 replies

ItchyScratch · 13/08/2020 18:07

Do you know today is
‘International Left Handers Day’

I am not left handed but all 3 of my kids are (which I find weird!)

Do you have any tales to tell as a left hander?
Are you proud to be one or is it a nuisance?
Did you grow up in the era when it wasn’t allowed 😳

OP posts:
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bettsbattenburg · 24/08/2020 19:36

Alphabetical left to right, the same as reading and writing.

That's what I'd expect but a bookcase at work was organised with A on the right and Z on the left, the person doing it is left handed and always does it that way.

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Buntyjones · 24/08/2020 06:23

I'm a leftie and so is my DH. We have a 6-week old DD so it will be interesting to see if she is too! I remember at primary school my teachers making all the left handed kids sit on the same table at the back of the classroom so we wouldn't bump hands with the (obviously more important!) right handers! I was also accused of being lazy in my first job as a waitress because I told them I couldn't write the specials on the board. When I showed them that when I tried to write in chalk I ended up rubbing it off as I went along they finally got it! No-one knows the persecution we suffer!

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Ploughingthrough · 24/08/2020 00:46

Having said earlier in the thread that I've not had many problems as a leftie, my DS who has just turned 5 is having some interesting issues that show leftieness can be hard work sometimes! He is currently learning to put finger spaces between his words when practising his writing; as a right handed person this is easy, you write a word, put a finger on your left hand down for the space the carry on after the finger. For him, it's hard because he writes a word, puts a finger down from his right hand then has to jump over that finger and write the next word with his hand in the way! It makes him swap hands so his teacher has given him a lollipop stick to manage this issue but it's one I hadn't even thought of! I also remember the agony of tin openers back in the day.

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TheWordWomanIsTaken · 24/08/2020 00:17

If you are left handed and are struggling with right handed cards you find yourself forever having to rearrange them to be able to see what you have. Can be a dead giveaway to a skilled eye

A dead giveaway to what?

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UnaCorda · 23/08/2020 23:50

Does a fetus putting it's left thumb in it's mouth mean it was inherently lefthanded ? Or does the fact the fetus put its' left thumb in its' mouth make it a leftie ?

Don't want to derail, but @DGRossetti can you possibly explain the logic of your apostrophes? Smile

And I should imagine the former is far more likely.

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UnaCorda · 23/08/2020 23:39

@DGRossetti

Aren't the nibs on fountain pens handed too ?

Only if they're angled (so italic pens).
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UnaCorda · 23/08/2020 23:37

@bettsbattenburg

Out of curiosity, you left handers if you are organising books in alphabetical order on a shelf which side do you start at - A on the left or A on the right?

With playing cards in your hand, do the cards start with the low cards on the right or left?

Alphabetical left to right, the same as reading and writing. Confused
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Polkadotties · 23/08/2020 22:42

@bettsbattenburg

Out of curiosity, you left handers if you are organising books in alphabetical order on a shelf which side do you start at - A on the left or A on the right?

With playing cards in your hand, do the cards start with the low cards on the right or left?

I would order books A-Z. Z-A seems wrong, that’s backwards.
Similarly I would arrange cards ace, 2,3,4.....
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bettsbattenburg · 23/08/2020 18:38

Our tv has them too, they are on the left hand side and are a pain to use right handed.

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EBearhug · 23/08/2020 18:06

My TV still has controls - at least a power switch, rather than just standby; I believe it's possible to change channels on the adjacent buttons, but never tried. Anyway, they're tucked just at the back, and easier for the right hand. Though, if it had been the other side, I'd have just used my other hand, as it's just pressing a button.

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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 18:02

@EBearhug

I checked my own pack of cards, which have pips both sides, which is probably why I never perceived it to be a problem. I have played with other people's cards in the past, but it's such a long time since I last played with physical cards, I don't know how widespread single-pipped cards are.

Very common in the US - and Europe. Almost compulsory at casinos.

I have no idea why. Surely it can't cost that much more to print 2 extra pips per card ? Or turn the deck around and put it through the printing machine again ?

Microwaves are also setup for righties. As old TVs with the controls on the right used to be.
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EBearhug · 23/08/2020 18:00

I checked my own pack of cards, which have pips both sides, which is probably why I never perceived it to be a problem. I have played with other people's cards in the past, but it's such a long time since I last played with physical cards, I don't know how widespread single-pipped cards are.

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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 18:00

I notice that "left handed playing cards" are really 4-pip ones so can be used by either left or right handed people.

www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/acatalog/playing_cards.html

It would be an interesting experiment to make some proper left handed playing cards with 2 pips, and see all the right handed people struggling.

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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 17:57

Aren't the nibs on fountain pens handed too ?

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bettsbattenburg · 23/08/2020 17:55

Out of curiosity, you left handers if you are organising books in alphabetical order on a shelf which side do you start at - A on the left or A on the right?

With playing cards in your hand, do the cards start with the low cards on the right or left?

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hopefulhalf · 23/08/2020 17:53

I've only just realised why my leftie son never uses the numberpad! Obvious now you mention it... Although watching him mouse right-handed and simultaneously write notes left-handed is amazing. I'm jealous!

This as long as you are not "too left handed" this is worth it's weight in gold 😀

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bettsbattenburg · 23/08/2020 17:49

f you are left handed and are struggling with right handed cards you find yourself forever having to rearrange them to be able to see what you have. Can be a dead giveaway to a skilled eye.

I must have a look next time I hold some cards, I don't have to rearrange them to see what I have, I just have them in a fan and can see at a glance what I have, I was playing cards last night and didn't have any problems.

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ErrolTheDragon · 23/08/2020 17:45

@bettsbattenburg

Care to join my next poker game ?

How do they help you though? I mean I've played cards for years and never noticed or used them so they can't be much use.

We're specifically talking about the 'corner index Pips' . I can't imagine how anyone plays cards without using them.Confused


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pip_(counting)
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Jojobar · 23/08/2020 17:40

Leftie here as is one of my DC. The other is a latent Leftie (you can tell by how you cross your arms, if you go left hand first that's means you're latently left handed. He was pretty much ambidextrous until about 8 but I think used his right hand because everyone else in his class was).

I used to have team of 8 at work and 4 were lefties, completely coincidental

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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 17:37

I'm right handed but am currently scrolling with left hand. Which I'd assumed was normal, will have to watch my left handed DS later.

Of course physical button placement on phones is right handed too ...

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alliejay81 · 23/08/2020 17:35

@Ulysses

I’m On my Phone and notice that I scroll with my right hand . I use the space bar on the keyboard with my right hand too.

My mouse is on my left hand but I haven’t changed the mouse clicks. I really can’t use the mouse with my right hand at all.

I'm right handed but am currently scrolling with left hand. Which I'd assumed was normal, will have to watch my left handed DS later.
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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 17:08

@bettsbattenburg

Care to join my next poker game ?

How do they help you though? I mean I've played cards for years and never noticed or used them so they can't be much use.

If you are left handed and are struggling with right handed cards you find yourself forever having to rearrange them to be able to see what you have. Can be a dead giveaway to a skilled eye.
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bettsbattenburg · 23/08/2020 17:03

Care to join my next poker game ?

How do they help you though? I mean I've played cards for years and never noticed or used them so they can't be much use.

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DGRossetti · 23/08/2020 16:32

@bettsbattenburg

If a left handed does a mirror image of the same fanning action they'll see empty corners on the lower cards - unless there's 4 pips.

What pips? I've never noticed the pips on playing cards!

Care to join my next poker game ?
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bettsbattenburg · 23/08/2020 16:30

If a left handed does a mirror image of the same fanning action they'll see empty corners on the lower cards - unless there's 4 pips.

What pips? I've never noticed the pips on playing cards!

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