- 1,872
- Bogotá
- GTP_Suitan (w/ an i), SultanRS4
I'm always left-handed except when using computers. I use my right hand to use a mouse and trackpad.
POLL: HANDEDNESS : LH, RH, or Ambidextrous.
- Thread starter photonrider
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- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
I would think - if a poll was taken - that it would show that the majority of right-handers suffer from some sort of sinistrophobia. Time to make up.
Today is the day we observe LEFT-HANDERS DAY - August 13th.
But what about those ambidextrous? The Olympians - especially some of them putting just the right foot in when the left was needed for that spectacular final goal, again brought to my mind the value of ambidextrosity.
So, lefties, Happy Left-Handers Day, but don't give up on the right, okay
Today is the day we observe LEFT-HANDERS DAY - August 13th.
But what about those ambidextrous? The Olympians - especially some of them putting just the right foot in when the left was needed for that spectacular final goal, again brought to my mind the value of ambidextrosity.
So, lefties, Happy Left-Handers Day, but don't give up on the right, okay
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- 2,227
- Portland, Oregon
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- Katiegan
- KatieB53
I'm right handed for almost everything, apart from eating. I'm left handed when I hold my knife and fork. We only noticed it the other day when I set out the table the wrong way round - usually I ask which way they go traditionally, because I always forget, but that evening I didn't ask and just set it out how I eat. I've never noticed that before. I also hold my knife and fork very low down, and I hold my pens/pencils very low down as well.
My whole right arm is stronger than my left though. Last time I lifted weights I forgot which was left and which was right, and started working out my right arm more thinking it was my left. By the time I realised it was too late.
I'm left eye dominant, however... which can be confusing when shooting. Whenever I'm shooting with cadets I have to have something covering my left eye to stop myself from closing my right. Usually when people are left eye dominant, they're left hand dominant too, so they can just swap the rifle round to their other side. But being right handed, I can't do that. My right eye is my worst eye too, even with my glasses on, so when my left eye is covered, I can't see anything out of my right eye. Not very good when shooting at targets far away.
My whole right arm is stronger than my left though. Last time I lifted weights I forgot which was left and which was right, and started working out my right arm more thinking it was my left. By the time I realised it was too late.
I'm left eye dominant, however... which can be confusing when shooting. Whenever I'm shooting with cadets I have to have something covering my left eye to stop myself from closing my right. Usually when people are left eye dominant, they're left hand dominant too, so they can just swap the rifle round to their other side. But being right handed, I can't do that. My right eye is my worst eye too, even with my glasses on, so when my left eye is covered, I can't see anything out of my right eye. Not very good when shooting at targets far away.
- 3,549
- Taipei
- GTP_ghskilla
Left handed pencil-wise. I hold a baseball bat right-handed, my starting foot during running is my left, I punch harder with my right hand, I shoot basketballs with my left hand, I hold tennis rackets with my left hand, and I kick footballs (soccer balls) with my right.
- 2,191
- San Francisco,
- machate-man
- dowby
My left-Handedness lets me write cursive backwards, as well as with my right hand:tup:👎
Mirror writing?
Trivia:The "👍" is a left hand
Mirror writing?
Trivia:The "👍" is a left hand
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
I would think it is more than foul, it is paltry. However the humans around here seem to have a right to eat it, although if they continue to do so there may be no humans left.
As you can see they sell a lot of it over here:
However, after preparing it, and taking one mouthful I spat it out and got rid of the whole dish. I prefer the more 'old-fashioned' corned beed - the old brisket-in-brine variety:
Back on topic:
So if the makers of can openers favour only right-handed people, what are left-handers to do? Get an ambidextrous can opener, of course - like this one:
One touch is all you need - and doesn't matter what hand you use. Look around you - and you will find that more and more, manufacturers are gearing towards an ambidextrous society and the former favouring of right-handers is coming to an end. From smoothing irons to drills, the cords, grip, and even ergonomics favour either-handed use.
But what is the purpose of this discussion - apart from polling handedness?
Well - as we have discussed in depth so far - handedness is an acquired trait.
Yet - the hand we use exercises a particular side of the brain. When you use your left hand - you are actually influencing the neuroplasticty of your right brain. And we all know that right-brained thinking is somewhat different to left-brained activity. So the more right-handers use their left hands, the more effective and active the right side of their brains get.
This past summer - I found it immensely valuable while up on a thirty-foot ladder painting exterior window trim to not depend on my right hand alone. Having trained my left hand to paint as well as my right hand, I did not need to contort my body into dangerous positions trying to reach areas that were far more safely accessible with my left hand. And I find that many other activities are easier and faster with merely a switch of the hand being used than trying to angle myself to use only my right. Or left.
Of course the more you practise, the easier it becomes.
At first - changing to your 'other' hand may be difficult - even annoying and tedious - but as you go along you will find that it not only becomes easier - you will feel different. Why? Of course - you are now thinking with the part of the brain you usually don't use much.
There are many activities you can try this with. I strongly encourage you to do so. And bring your experiences back here, so we can discuss your progress. The next time you are using your hands, observe yourself - then switch hands and try it out.
Peeling potatoes is good practise for a start.
Or try switching that fork.
👍
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Both when one gets tied I can use the other
I'm going to assume you mean 'tired' - and I do that, too; when one hand gets tired and it's a job that either hand can be used, I switch over. Stirring, is an example, as in mixing a pot of paint, or a cake-mix that has to be hand-beaten.
Shifting the position of your hands - for instance when you are sweeping with a broom, can also be less tiring, as well as developing one's ambidextrosity.
Here's something to think about:
Neil Armstrong's first footprint on the moon was his left. Yes, he put his left foot forward first. Randomly?
The shooter at Newtown put his left foot forward at the intersection to right and left in the hallway, and turned left (randomly?) before he began to shoot, which saved the people to the right.
Why do we do this? So far the pattern I've observed is that the right brain issues an order first.
Left! Left! Left, right, left! Sound familiar?
:
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
kikiefonix . . . you keep an eye on Obelix, now. Don't want you tied to an oak.
Asterix was definitely ambidextrous. Not sure what Getafix used in the magic potion, but he had no loss of gall when it came to using both fists equally.
Asterix was definitely ambidextrous. Not sure what Getafix used in the magic potion, but he had no loss of gall when it came to using both fists equally.
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Which eye does your camera use?
At first glance this may seem like a no-brainer. But, in reality - your camera has only one eye. Is it a left or a right?
In other words . . . are you using your left brain . . . or your right brain - to compose that picture?
Think about it and you'll realise there is more to your photography than meets the eye.
At first glance this may seem like a no-brainer. But, in reality - your camera has only one eye. Is it a left or a right?
In other words . . . are you using your left brain . . . or your right brain - to compose that picture?
Think about it and you'll realise there is more to your photography than meets the eye.
- 8,945
- F1 chimp land
- AnotherStory
Very much right-handed. But if you insult me I`d punch you with my left, too. 
Voted.
Voted.
opelgt1969
Premium
- 2,231
- Bristol,Va USA
- opelgt1969
I think everybody does the fork switch, while eating a steak you cut with your handy hand while you eat with the clumsy one at the same time if you decide you want a bite of baked potato you switch hands.There are many activities you can try this with. I strongly encourage you to do so. And bring your experiences back here, so we can discuss your progress. The next time you are using your hands, observe yourself - then switch hands and try it out.
Peeling potatoes is good practise for a start.
Or try switching that fork.
Try peeling potato, apple, or peach with a serrated knife (left handed) the knife tries to go down into the food (yes, I'm left handed and have seen left handed serrated knifes).
Used to be a training instructor for Perkins Pancake Houses back in the 70's and had to teach myself how to roll omelets and crepes back-wards with my left hand so I could show a right handed person how to fold them.
Worked in a compressor factory (repair/rework) department years ago and they were setting up a new line (I used a torch to remove copper tubing from housings) and keep laughing at them because they were setting it up for a left handed person knowing that I would be getting lay off. I got to work on the new line for about a week before the company downsized!
David
Premium
- 2,732
I don't do this. I'm left handed and the fork always stays in my left. That's probably because I'm one of the lefties who does a lot of other things right handed though so I don't mind cutting with my offhand.
Write and eat left handed.
Throw, kick, swing, shoot, etc with my right.
Always used a mouse right handed since I was a kid and everyone's computers were always set up that way. At home I still mouse right handed, but at work where I have an ambidextrous shaped mouse I use my left hand now just for fun.
- 1,847
- London
- Ziz528
Right handed, but being a semi-professional pianist, my left hand has to be pretty good as well. 
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
As I mentioned, at first glance this seems a no-brainer.
But a closer look with some imagination applied to the knowledge behind the intelligence will help us bring something into sight: A camera has a hole (whether with an iris or not) that one brings either their left (or right) eye to, to view the POV that one has selected in viewing the composition. This extension of one's eye (the camera) is very much like a telescope (unlike the stereoscopic vision provided by binoculars. It's a 'one-eyed' (whether left or right - or none (?) view.
The eye you then bring up to the viewfinder is your 'compositional' eye. If you are using your left eye to look through your 'extended eye' (the viewfinder or TTL mechanism) then you are composing it with a right-brained mind. If it's the right eye - then your POV is left-brained (not to mention the jump in perspective when you do this.)
Take shots using both left eye, then right, and compare the composition and POV.
An interesting practise is to wear an eyepatch over your dominant eye for some hours. Just don't lose your sense of balance, because along with it will go your sense of humour.
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