# Left-handedness - what should we think? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 27, 2002, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854 "2002-09-27T11:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/61 "2002-09-30T15:33:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmalin \* > “Dexter” is Latin for “right”. Well, that in itself is probably enough to drive people to left-handedness, if it’s a choice. Wouldn’t you rather be “sinister” than “Dexter”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ForgottenLore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@ForgottenLore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForgottenLore)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/62 "2002-09-30T15:59:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Corruption breeds corruption. You will be tossed into the fiery pit for your evil ways Oh come now, what’s the good of _having_ an evil tendency if I’m not allowed to wallow in it once in a while? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/63 "2002-09-30T16:33:51Z")
It’s my understanding that most cats are left-pawed. However, they are agents of the devil. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/64 "2002-09-30T16:50:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ForgottenLore \* > **I am left-handed. > So is my wife. > And so are both my children.** Won’t somebody please think of the _chilllllllllllllllldren…_ ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/65 "2002-09-30T17:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ForgottenLore \* > \*\* > > Oh come now, what’s the good of _having_ an evil tendency if I’m not allowed to wallow in it once in a while? \*\* Because of your evil tendency, you will be _allowed_ to wallow in the fiery pits of Hell for all eternity. ---
**Author:** ![ForgottenLore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@ForgottenLore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForgottenLore)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/66 "2002-09-30T18:40:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Because of your evil tendency, you will be allowed to wallow in the fiery pits of Hell for all eternity. Oh, you poor misguided creatures. You do not understand. Consider: Scissors will never cut for us. Dialing a standard phone will always be awkward for us. Ink will always smudge for us. We, the humble left-handers, are _already_ in hell. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/67 "2002-09-30T19:27:57Z")
And rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/68 "2002-09-30T19:36:35Z")
I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! I’m a leftie I’m here Get used to it! ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/69 "2002-09-30T19:51:10Z")
Burn in Hell You’re going there Get used to it! Burn in Hell You’re going there Get used to it! Burn in Hell You’re going there Get used to it! _Repeat until bored to tears._ ---
**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:** [September 30, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/70 "2002-09-30T21:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > Aversion therapy is remarkably successful in 63% of cases; in a study of 368 left-handed people undergoing therapy, 232 of them were, after treatment, permanently turned into cowering, insecure, disfunctional wrecks who could not hold a pen in their left hand without much guilt, fear, anxiety and vomiting - moreover nearly all of them were discharged with the ability to quite easily form large clumsy block capitals with the pen in their right hands. \*\* I probably ought to expand on this a little as it could give the impression that the therapy is less than effective; the full results of the therapy are as follows: 232 (~63%) individuals are now able to feel genuine disgust regarding their disgusting desire to be left-handed. 76 (~21%) were too stubborn to accept the obvious easy path to change and actually willed themselves to death rather than accepting the ‘right’ path and thus permitting the electrodes to be removed.\* 33 (~9%) have not yet shown any sign of regaining their motor skills following the neurosurgery.\* 18 (~5%) attempted to discharge themselves from the program and as a result, were declared clinically insane; they are awaiting the advanced form of therapy at a secure unit. 5 (~1%) did not respond properly to the medication; and although there are indications that brain stem death has not actually occurred, they are unlikely to regain consciousness.\* 4 (~1%) escaped the treatment centre, but have not yet returned home to be captured by their families for readmission. \*It is important to note that after treatment, these individuals have also not shown any sign of desire to use their left hands and therefore the true rate of cure is somewhere around the 94% mark. So you see, change is not only possible, it is quite easy to achieve, under the correct circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/71 "2002-09-30T23:29:00Z")
Is it true that Mike Piazza’s lefty? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/72 "2002-10-01T00:02:07Z")
I don’t care who’s left-handed, as long as they don’t try to push it off on ME! My husband’s not left-handed, either, but believe me, any time he sees two left-handed females writing notes to each other. . .gets him all hot and bothered! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/73 "2002-10-01T00:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*I would love to see **His4Ever** ’s reaction to this thread. \*\* [channelling His4Ever badly] You people think you’re funny but what you say doesn’t matter. The bible says homosexuality is wrong. It doesn’t say that left handedness is wrong. So how is this thread relevant? [/channelling His4Ever badly] ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/74 "2002-10-01T01:07:13Z")
I have thought long and hard but I think I have finally thought of a proper response. Hehehehehehehehehehehe… You guys are great. But very silly. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/75 "2002-10-01T01:36:49Z")
But, but, but… What about all the people in less enlightened parts of the World who are born, grow up, live their lives, and die in cultures which allow, condone, accept, or even bless this abomination? Should I hate or pity them? What happens to them when they die? Do they go to some Catholic thing like “Purgatory”, “Limbo”, or “404 Page Not Found”? What of children anywhere who show some Leftist tendencies early on but die before they learn to write? Please! **O Mangy One** , show me the light!!! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/76 "2002-10-01T05:04:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ForgottenLore \* > \*\* > > Oh, you poor misguided creatures. You do not understand. Consider: > > Scissors will never cut for us. > Dialing a standard phone will always be awkward for us. > Ink will always smudge for us. > > We, the humble left-handers, are _already_ in hell. \*\* Why would anyone **choose** this? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2002, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/77 "2002-10-01T07:58:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*Why would anyone **choose** this? \*\* Quite. [Out of Satan’s shadowy world of Left-handedness, in a display of defiance against society, they come forth - those who suffer the agony of rejection, the despair of smudged handwriting, endless search for comfortable scissors and pain of beatings received from sensible right-handed people, crying that Left is Right - their tragic lives prove that there isn’t anything right about being ‘Left’.](http://www.chick.com/tractimages31578/0084/0084_05.gif) ---
**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:** [October 1, 2002, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/78 "2002-10-01T10:22:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E d’Mann \* > \*\*But, but, but… > > What about all the people in less enlightened parts of the World who are born, grow up, live their lives, and die in cultures which allow, condone, accept, or even bless this abomination? > > Should I hate or pity them? > > What happens to them when they die? Do they go to some Catholic thing like “Purgatory”, “Limbo”, or “404 Page Not Found”? > > What of children anywhere who show some Leftist tendencies early on but die before they learn to write?\*\* None of this matters as long as **you** yourself are OK; just try not to associate with people of left-handed orientation; for one thing it may rub off on you and for another ostracising them encourages them to change. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/79 "2002-10-01T10:52:30Z")
For all you poor, misguided, sinister souls out there, can’t you see you’re missing the point? Why, look at the title of the first book by the prophet Timothy LaHaye: _ **Left** Behind_! No rapture for you perverts! 😉 CJ : Ducking and running for the hills! : ---
**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:** [October 1, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854/80 "2002-10-01T11:22:06Z")
I think we’re almost done here, but a few more points in a communication I received by email (some of which have been touched on already): The word _left_ is derived from an Old English that means _weak_ or _worthless_ The Italian word _mancino_ means _deceitful_ but also means _left_ _No ser zurdo_ in Spanish means _to be very clever_, but can be literally translated as _not to be left-handed_ The English word _adroit_ is commonly used to mean _proper_ or _correct_. The French word _adroit_ means _right_. The English word _gauche_ means _clumsy_, or _awkward_ In French, it means _left_. The word _dexterity_ derives from the Roman _dexter_, which in turn means _right_. The Roman word for _left_ is _sinister_, and the phrase meaning _masturbation_ translates literally as _left-handed whore_. _Linkisch_ has two meanings in German:_awkward_ and _left_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handedness-what-should-we-think/129854.md?page=5)