Being Left-Handed: Blessing or Curse? Share your experiences.

[Aspyred]

As a leftie myself (or so I think), there have been many obstacles to get me to where I am now. You know, the "normal" stuff, scissors, knives, computer mouses (I use it on my right, but initially began with my left hand) and...writing. Dreaded writing. This is what actually prompted me to begin this topic. I despise binders and coiled notebooks as your hand just hits the hinge and it's just generally uncomfortable. That, and latent feelings of alienation make for an interesting recipe.

I have several topics I want to touch upon, and if you guys would like to add to this, definitely feel free to do so:

1) Writing

For you lefties out there, what are your coping strategies? I definitely have mine, I'm sure you all do. For my contested topic of writing however, I don't have one. I've heard of people curling their hands around their pen/pencil and slanting their papers in all sorts of directions. In lecture, the leftmost row of seats have left-handed desks, and in some of the more archaic buildings, none. Not that I gravitate towards leftie desks, as I try to cope (easier to find a seat).

As a result of having very few coping strategies to writing, I smudge my hand against the ink/pencil lead ALL the time. There is no avoiding it, so I've learned to live with it. That, and my writing is completely unlegible. That is not to say I'm hiding behind my being left-handed as a way to excuse my poor handwriting skills, but there definitely are challenges abound. Sometimes, I can write extremely well, and other days, it's a complete mess. Of course, tack this onto attempting to listen/learn in lecture, and it makes for a hodgepodge of chaos.

2) "Intelligence"

And of course, the heavily contested topic of "intelligence". Sometimes, I think many of the results are heavily skewed/biased and exposed to the oh-so-lovely self-fulfilling prophesy. Because I think, due to statistics, that lefties are generally better at arts/creativity and less on linear computations (ie. Math), I am that way. I think, therefore I am. I personally think that is true for me, but I will not deny that the mind is a very powerful thing in terms of the self-fulfilling prophesy.

Also, there have been many reports that the very fact of being left-handed, results in being some sort of genius (as many notable famous people are; by the same token, so are many notable famous right-handed people just the same). In my experience, that is not true . However, what is completely true of me, and my thinking pattern, is that it is EXTREMELY erratic and random. I tend to think of things very holistically, and find it difficult to break any sort of problem into smaller, bite-sized pieces. In the way, I tend to miss the obvious and find it hard to organize large projects.

By the same I'm speaking, I'm making it sound as if I have a severe disability. This is not the case, as I'm merely trying to accentuate and give my account of the many reports out there, trying to compare the left-handed mind (or the right brained) with those in their "right mind" (ie. left brain dominant).

When I speak with people, or write any type of essay, I do not proceed in a linear fashion. Things come to me at all angles, and their organization definitely proves a challenge. Conversations for me, typically go off into a direction I could not have planned and rarely do I remember clearly, my initial point. This is also why I absolutely love Wikipedia. I may enter in a topic about a movie, and through eventual clicking and increased intrigue, end up on a page about paganistic existentialism (I just made that up).

Mathematics DOES in fact disgust me, despite the fact that I love twiddling with computers, but art/English intrigues me, and I find that I take many an opportunity to perfect my speaking/writing skills. This goes even without any perceived active effort, I do it because I like it. Rarely does it get a second thought. Like Nike, I just do it.

Is the plight of being left-handed an excuse in today's society? Though society does not condemn lefties as was common in the past, computers and linear, efficient sequences are very so pervasive, and increasingly so. A robot seems to embody the perfect person, as is my impression today. And as such, how should we meet this challenge?

I leave this to you guys. I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read through my ramblings. A toast to you, whether you are left-handed, right-handed, ambidextrous, or overweight! (that's a The Office reference)

[ynot]

I'm ambidextrous, so I get the best of both.

[mrlooneytoon]

I'm ambidextrous, so I get the best of both.

ambidextrous here as well. GREAT MINDS! :P

Except I can't control a mouse with my left hand?! I can write, eat, and do "other stuff" great with both!

[Samir]

I can do everything with both hands except write and throw a ball. It's odd because I shoot a basketball left, however throw a baseball/football right. Even in Hockey, I'm not more or less comfortable with any sided stick.

I guess based on writing left-handed, I consider myself a lefty... but in this day and age of computers, it doesn't really matter much anymore. I used to hate right-handed desks at school though!

[Islander]

As a lefty, I am always conscious when I am with other people during meals that I sit on the left end of everyone. Otherwise, when trying to eat we're always bumping elbows. Works out great that my husband and I are both lefties (however son ended up right handed)

This part of your comment suits me as well.

"When I speak with people, or write any type of essay, I do not proceed in a linear fashion. Things come to me at all angles, and their organization definitely proves a challenge. Conversations for me, typically go off into a direction I could not have planned and rarely do I remember clearly, my initial point. This is also why I absolutely love Wikipedia. I may enter in a topic about a movie, and through eventual clicking and increased intrigue, end up on a page about paganistic existentialism (I just made that up)."

One thing that really bugs me is when some people exclaim "Oh, you're a leftie....but you write so neat!" or "How in the heck do you manage to write with your left hand?!?!" (As if it's a miracle/curse - tho sometimes I think it is a curse)

[felixdd]

This is what actually prompted me to begin this topic. I despise binders and coiled notebooks as your hand just hits the hinge and it's just generally uncomfortable.

That depends on which side your page is on. I'm a rightie and I have trouble writing the 2nd page of every sheet of paper.

Just for the hell of it, I'm considering learning to write with my left hand. Probably this summer I'll practice by keeping a diary. We'll see where that goes

[hyperion]

I'm a righty and I think all lefties look funny when they write.
Kinda like reaching around to back of your head with your right hand to scratch your left ear type of thing.

[hyperion]

That depends on which side your page is on. I'm a rightie and I have trouble writing the 2nd page of every sheet of paper.

I hate that too, I'm giving up binders alltogether next semester because that pisses me off.

[Aspyred]

That depends on which side your page is on. I'm a rightie and I have trouble writing the 2nd page of every sheet of paper.

Just for the hell of it, I'm considering learning to write with my left hand. Probably this summer I'll practice by keeping a diary. We'll see where that goes

I don't mean to start splitting hairs here, but the difference when writing in a coiled notebook is that people begin to write *left -> right*. The margins (though we can ignore them) are closer to the left and is more conducive for right handers. When you flip the page over, it's still somewhat okay because you begin at the left margin and write over to the right side of the paper. It's just slight nuances I know, but it looks neater overall.

In other words, stopping in the middle of the page (right handers) is a heck of a lot neater looking than starting in the middle of one (left handers). Again, I apologize for going into the little things, but I can't ignore them.

[jayisthebest88]

im left handed too, and the binder thing pisses me off too, but I got used to writing on the right side in university lecture seats. Also, where did u hear that left handed people are not as good as math and better in the arts? Ive never heardd that, Generally I hear that left handed people are just smarter overall. I dont think you should blame some of your issues on being left handed. I think you should go to a doctor and see if you have ADD?

[goob3r]

I'm a righty and I think all lefties look funny when they write.
Kinda like reaching around to back of your head with your right hand to scratch your left ear type of thing.

I write the same way right handed people do. I don't hook my hand around or slant the paper.

Back in university, I used to writing on right handed desks in university. I also take a sheet out of my binder instead of writing on a sheet directly in it.

[TheRide]

I can relate when writing. Hated it when the fresh ink/lead smuged when I was taking notes or writing an essay or having to struggle with binder rings/spines. I've always enjoyed it when people are surprised when they see me write with my left hand. Alot of people say I write "wiered'....... I've always disliked math aswell.

Being a southpaw also gives you a small advantage in fights.

[Aspyred]

im left handed too, and the binder thing pisses me off too, but I got used to writing on the right side in university lecture seats. Also, where did u hear that left handed people are not as good as math and better in the arts? Ive never heardd that, Generally I hear that left handed people are just smarter overall. I dont think you should blame some of your issues on being left handed. I think you should go to a doctor and see if you have ADD?

Yeah, I know. It's definitely a weird correlation to make, and one that stems from being left or right brain dominant. I found a lot of places where they relay that whole arts/math thing, but generally, it's said that there is a relation between being left handed and right brain dominant. I don't attest to the accuracy of the data, I'm merely responding to it.

That said, left brain dominance (right handed) is said to be responsible for more analytical/rational thinking. A common textbook application of that, is Math.

[JoKeRr]

so am I a lefty or not??

I used to write with my left hand (when i just started writing), and my mom forced me to write with my right hand, so now I can't write with my left. For basketball, baseball, it's always left hand shoot or throw. But when it comes to fake guns etc, right hand feels more comfortable.

I can eat (with forks and knifes) comfortably with both hands, and I can play badminton/tennis with both hands.

I only play ping-pong with right hand, kick soccer ball with my right foot. Breath on my left shoulder side when I swim freestyle, and punch things with left hand. Mouse is on the right hand side and my computer. When it comes to use various tools, I'm pretty comfortable with both hands.

btw, I'm pretty good at math, not so at arts though.

[ynot]

Generally speaking, I'm a rightie. I'm a lefty when I shoot (hockey and golf), I bat left and right (left is my preferred stance though), I catch with either hand, but can only throw with the right. I can write with both hands, but write substantially neater with my right. I can use utensils with either hand.

I learned to adapt when I was sixteen and suffered a hand injury at work. I ended up having to learn to do pretty much everything with my left hand.