# Is your beach a righty or a lefty. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489 "2008-03-07T19:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/1 "2008-03-07T19:22:11Z")
I wanted to general question this, but I’m sure it will deteriorate to beyond what is a suitable discussion on the subject. The article is about shoes with feet in them that show up on beaches. The statement is made that due too the difference in feet, right and left can follow a trend to show up in different places regularly. I can see how the angle of the foot in a shoe could act as a rudder with left and right going to different locations. Is there any collected data that can verify this? This would be something I expect needs the correct current and land projections to work, so I don’t expect it would occur for most beaches. [Article about mystery feet and how they sometimes get sorted.](http://www.komotv.com/news/16341351.html) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/2 "2008-03-07T19:47:55Z")
Jesus Christ- I came in here thinking that this was a question about surf breaks… Holy crap! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/3 "2008-03-07T19:54:51Z")
I try to get head when I go to the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/4 "2008-03-07T19:56:31Z")
I am particularly disturbed as I am in that very area right now :eek: I was to fly home to Toronto tomorrow, but apparently an enormous storm there will prevent my doing so. I’m taking comfort in the knowledge that two feet are sized twelve (and I’m a dainty girl 8). Note to self - don’t wear sneakers in Victoria! ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/5 "2008-03-07T20:01:45Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] Jesus Christ- I came in here thinking that this was a question about surf breaks… Holy crap! :eek: [/QUOTE] Me too… imagine my surprise. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/6 "2008-03-07T20:03:37Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] Jesus Christ- I came in here thinking that this was a question about surf breaks… [/QUOTE] Ah, and that turned out to be a fibia. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/7 "2008-03-07T20:49:49Z")
I wonder if rabbits ever feel this way at trading posts. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/8 "2008-03-07T21:26:10Z")
I wish gabriela was around. This is something she might know. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/9 "2008-03-07T21:33:34Z")
> [@](#): > > “It’s not that unusual to find feet,” he says, “but they’re not usually so similar. Several have been found along Florida and several along Texas. They detach from the rest of the body by a process called disarticulation.” > > They also have unique sailing characteristics. “Some beaches collect right shoes and others collect left shoes,” says Dr. Ebbesmeyer, who’s writing a book about his beachcombing experiences called The Floating World for HarperCollins. From [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080307.wlflotsam07/BNStory/lifeMain/home](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080307.wlflotsam07/BNStory/lifeMain/home) “It’s not that unusual to find feet” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/10 "2008-03-07T22:42:44Z")
I guess the moral is wear sandals at the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/11 "2008-03-07T23:07:36Z")
How big a sample size are we talking about here? Seems a bit previous to be saying that the ocean sorts left and right feet based on half a dozen instances. Finding half a dozen severed feet is _shocking_, without a doubt, but does the data stand up to scrutiny? (yes, a pun-fest is inevitable) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/12 "2008-03-07T23:32:23Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Finding half a dozen severed feet is _shocking_, without a doubt, but does the data stand up to scrutiny? (yes, a pun-fest is inevitable) [/QUOTE] I’ll wager the stats can go toe to toe with any rigorous analysis. Hopefully, the researchers will not be arch in manner, but will tread respectfully–they have pretty big shoes to fill. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/13 "2008-03-08T00:23:20Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I’ll wager the stats can go toe to toe with any rigorous analysis. Hopefully, the researchers will not be arch in manner, but will tread respectfully–they have pretty big shoes to fill. [/QUOTE] I don’t want to be a heel, so I’ll show a little sole and give their effort a big kick-off! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/14 "2008-03-08T02:47:47Z")
Three feet? Sounds like a case for Scotland Yard. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/15 "2008-03-08T06:09:59Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Three feet? Sounds like a case for Scotland Yard. Daniel [/QUOTE] Yah, but there it’s like only a meter or something. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-beach-a-righty-or-a-lefty/440489/16 "2008-03-09T00:34:51Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Three feet? [/QUOTE] Also remember that two rights do not make a left, but three do.