I’ll admit it. I’m directionally challenged. I don’t mean that I can’t follow directions. I mean that, if I don’t stop and think about it, I have a good chance of screwing up left and right.
I KNOW which way we need to turn, in order to get us to go where we need to, but I’ve got a fair chance of saying left when I really mean right. Or right when I say left. I’ve got a scar on my left hand, and if I have to be absolutely sure that I’m giving the correct side, I’ll double check for the scar. Yes, it’s that bad at times.
I’ve asked several other lefties that I know, and they also are more likely then average to screw up left and right.
My current working theory is: I’ve digested the fact that right-hands are supposed to be dominate. Therefore, the hand that I write/eat/use tools with MUST be my right hand. This conflicts with the known fact that this is really my left hand, leading to chaos when it comes to spontaniously deciding which side is left.
So, leftie dopers, do any of you have the same problem? Does anyone know of any actual studies/findings on this?
I have a hell of a time following other folks’ directions, trouble visualizing what they’re visualizing when they speak, but it doesn’t seem to be related to left vs. right.
I was born right-handed. About a dozen years ago I lost the fine motor control in my right hand and I had to start using my left to do everything. Now I say left when I mean right. Right when I mean left. I know exactly what you are talking about, as I do it myself. Even came up with the same reasons (the bolded part). I just never figured a southpaw would have the same problem.
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It’s not about being good with directions. Speaking for myself, I think is just the way my brain is hardwired being born right-handed and all.
I am a lefty. I have no problem knowing which way is left and right, but I have absolutely no sense of direction. You say we are going west? Oh…I thought we were going north. Oops…
It makes no sense to me how some people always know which direction they are heading.
I have always had trouble mixing up right and left when speaking, so mucch so that my best friend and i starting using “this way” (turn toward my side of the car) and “that way” (turn toward your side of the car) in giving directions. Most people think that this is more confusing … as when she says this way, it’s that way to me. :dubious:
In elementary school, I used a scar on my right ankle as a guide. Not easy to check unobserved.
Today, I hold my hands out, palm down, and extend my thumbs to the side. The left hand looks like an “L”.
I was born with a preference for the left hand, but my gandmother switched me. I am largely ambidextrous now.
Born left handed, and was forced to do things right handed. Somewhat ambidextrous today.
I have a horrific time with right and left directions. There’s just two! How hard could it be?! Yet it is.
Though I am also dyslexic. :dubious:
I don’t blame my directional confusion on either fact. It just is what it is. Some people are in circumstances similar to me and don’t have any problems, some have different circumstances and are just as bad as I am. It doesn’t cause me too many unfixable problems. Now, get back to me when you want to write the word “panic” and something altogether different comes out.
My father’s right-handed but he usually confuses between left and right as well. He doesn’t know why he does that. Can be a bit confusing when asking him for directions…so I don’t.
Lefthanded (although I can lead with either hand when signing easily). I’m shite at directions, and forever bless the day I moved to a city that has numbered streets with cardinal directions in street names. Cuts down on the phobia some.
Left-handed and I totally have the problem. I don’t really think it has anything to do with being left-handed though. I mean my mom is right-handed and she can get herself good and lost 2 blocks from home.
