# Left handed Doper Sign in **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 8, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918 "2000-07-08T01:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/21 "2000-07-08T04:50:17Z")
Mom and I are both lefties, and thanks to her, and not to my elementary school, I use everything left-handed except for scissors. When I played baseball, I swith-hit, and I kick with my right foot. I use my mouse right-handed, mostly because when I do tech support 99% of the desks I visit have the mouse that way – but I’m equally comfortable with my left hand. This way, though, I can type with my left hand and move the mouse with my right; I’ve gotten rather proficient at typing one handed over the years. 🙂 Oh, and I play guitar right-handed. Just about everything I do with my left hand I can do rather well right-handed (including writing). But, for the life of me, I can’t play a guitar left-handed. Don’t know why. No one else in my family is left-handed except my mother. ---
**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/22 "2000-07-08T04:53:46Z")
Mouse: right Guitar: right Rifle: right Pistol: left Wanking: left nosepicking: left knife: right Fork: left And you would be amazed at how mant armwrestling matches I win with my left hand. ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/23 "2000-07-08T13:41:27Z")
Ambidexterous with Lefty concentration - writing and eating is lefthanded, but can’t throw worth a damn left handed. I’m the only lefty in my family…with the possible exception of my son, who like most toddlers is ambidexterous, he’ll settle on one or the other hand (probably) in the next year or so. ---
**Author:** ![Michi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Michi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/24 "2000-07-08T13:43:31Z")
Another lefty checking in. I do not write upside down. I turn the paper. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/25 "2000-07-08T14:07:20Z")
Michi, you’re left-handed too? Can’t you see we’re meant for each other yet? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/26 "2000-07-08T14:13:54Z")
I do nothing left-handedly. 'Cept for giving compliments. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/27 "2000-07-08T14:25:00Z")
Milo & fnord: I got the troll joke. I live below the bridge too! I think I’ve convinced my right-handed husband to teach our daughter to play guitar left-handed. He’s not real happy about it, but I think he understands that it’s for the best. Oh, he’s got no problem with her being a lefty–he was one of those unfortunates that was born lefty but forced to switch as a child. He plays guitar right-handed, though. Our daughter has a little student-model guitar, that she absolutely loves. He’s showed her how to hold it right-handed. But lately, she’s taken to holding it upside-down. Must be an instinct thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/28 "2000-07-08T14:47:17Z")
Another lefty checking in. Apparently we lefties have some physical differances which proves that handedness is innate and not learned. We are, of course, the best. There may only be 5% of us but 80% of architects are lefties, on one to one sports lefties are represented at the highest levels out of proportion to their numbers. An explanation to the sportsperson, righties meet righties all the time and learn to play against them but don’t meet lefties as often and so the lefty has an advantage having learned to deal with them. We are also allegedly more likely to suffer chronic illnesses such as arthritis or those where the defence mechanisms turn in on the body, however we are less likely to suffer cancer. This could all be tosh but it made for a good couple of TV progs not long ago. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/29 "2000-07-08T15:04:47Z")
Another lefty here. But I mouse with my right hand, and if I ever finally get around to learning how to play my banjo, it will be right-handed too. (You pretty much have to, since on banjos, one of the tuning pegs is way down on the side and would get in the way if you tried to fret with the right hand.) I once knew someone who learned to use mouses and trackballs upside down. You’d always know she’d been at the computer because she’d leave the mouse facing the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/30 "2000-07-08T15:05:57Z")
Yup. I’m a leftie too. I write with a subtle hook. casdave: IIRC, 25% of all astronauts are lefties, too. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/31 "2000-07-08T18:17:54Z")
I am left handed. The only thing I do right handed is write. Osip ---
**Author:** ![Altair\_8800](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Altair\_8800](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Altair_8800)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/32 "2000-07-08T20:48:53Z")
Ambidextrous. Actually, I was mostly right-handed until I reached the 9th grade, when I started taking notes left-handed. I can write, throw, etc. with either hand, but my writing is a lot neater left-handed. Strangely, both of my parents are right-handed. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/33 "2000-07-08T21:30:21Z")
I’m a leftie, too, almost totally. The only thing I do right-handed is golf, because I couldn’t find any leftie clubs when I was learning. In school, I used to flip my spiral notebooks over and, starting at the back, write on the backs of the pages so that the spiral was on the right-hand side. Otherwise, it cut into my writing hand. Anybody else do that? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/34 "2000-07-08T22:09:23Z")
It’s been my observation that lefties can read text upside-down fairly easily, whereas righties struggle like hell just figuring out the words. Anybody else notice that? Can you read holding the text upside-down? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/35 "2000-07-09T00:35:28Z")
Left-handed, AND green-eyed. Pure evil, I am… ---
**Author:** ![P\_G\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@P\_G\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_G_B)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/36 "2000-07-09T01:12:37Z")
Call me Ambidexter. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/37 "2000-07-09T03:52:29Z")
Yep! This is also one of the few traits revealed about Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/38 "2000-07-09T04:00:00Z")
I think I read that male leftys outnumber females 10 to 1. It looks like we are running pretty close to that here. I always knew we were a well rounded bunch, but I’d hate to think we were _average_. (Shudder) ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/39 "2000-07-09T04:02:01Z")
To steal **Fnord** ’s idea: writing: left pistol: both, left preferred, .45s straight-drawn, holsters at mid-thigh rifle: left (it’s hell with a bullpup stock) dominant eye: left fork: left knife: right chainsaw: left, and the manufacturers are conspiring to kill me guitar: left (if I ever bother to learn how to play, that is) throwing and batting: both right golf: right tennis: right wanking: right, if you must know > [@](#): > > In school, I used to flip my spiral notebooks over and, starting at the back, write on the backs of the pages so that the spiral was on the right-hand side. Otherwise, it cut into my writing hand. Anybody else do that? I solved the problem by using the Mead “Neatbook” wireless notebook. And now for something completely different: new sig! ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918/40 "2000-07-09T05:37:21Z")
Does ex-lefty, ex-catholic count? 😕 I can do most anything lefty with a little practice, but the old catholic school de-programing still dominates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-doper-sign-in/24918.md?page=3)