# Leg crossing poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742 "2011-06-08T14:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/1 "2011-06-08T14:39:42Z")
Since we now have [arm crossing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611620), [finger clasping](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611519), and [cloth-wringing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611381) polls I figured why not give the lower body some recognition. So, when sitting, what is the most comfortable way of crossing your legs? ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/2 "2011-06-08T14:45:11Z")
Well, I cross my ankles, not really my legs. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/3 "2011-06-08T14:49:38Z")
Right over left. As nature intended. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/4 "2011-06-08T15:10:25Z")
Right over left by default if I do it without thinking, but if I’m sitting a long time, switching doesn’t feel at all odd. Plus there are times where due to where I’m sitting / who I do or do not want to kick, it may be more convenient to do the other. The question you forgot is: Cross at the knees (thighs close together), or with the ankle resting on the other thigh? I usually use the ankle - less random leg sticking out to kick someone. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/5 "2011-06-08T17:56:31Z")
I have to switch mine up - can’t stay in one position too long. Either is fine to start out with. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/6 "2011-06-08T18:01:30Z")
I tuck my leg under the opposite knee and sit with one leg hanging down, the other tucked. I have no preference for either side, but I have to switch every half hour or so when my leg falls asleep. I have never, in my entire life (even when I was tiny in middle school) liked crossing my legs over-top like a normal person, because my legs have always been short and stubby relative to the rest of me. The leg just falls back to the floor with gravity. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/7 "2011-06-11T14:34:26Z")
My body itself betrays which direction I habitually cross legs: Left over right. I have a callosity on the outside of my right thigh just above my knee. I have a corresponding callosity on the left outside of my left calf, a little below the knee, where it rests against said spot on my right leg. I said habitually, because I don’t have any callosities going the opposite direction. But I could have answered the poll that I go either way, because I do change them up eventually if I stay seated for a really long time. But left over right is obviously the default, the way I always do it first and leave it that way the longest. I goofed answering the poll, though, answering right over left when I meant to answer left over right. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/8 "2011-06-11T14:51:59Z")
At the ankles. Which is technically the proper way to do it. I don’t like crossing my legs. It feels uncomfortable. I have rather large calfs and always have. All of the women in my family do. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/9 "2011-06-11T22:37:02Z")
I used to be able to do it either way, but my right leg in the past couple of years has seemed to do what **rachel** is describing. I have to fight to keep it up there, and that isn’t comfortable. I do wonder if I could fix it with exercises of some sort, as that leg is weaker overall. It’s worried me, but my blood sugar is the same as its always been–perfectly normal. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/10 "2011-06-11T23:05:28Z")
Only left over right. Often knee over thigh, but probably just as often the other way. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/11 "2011-06-12T00:18:09Z")
I think I lied. I’m presently sitting with my feet up (recliner) and have my feet crossed at the ankles. Left over right. Or maybe I’m just trying to balance things out for all the times I cross my legs at the knees, right over left. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/12 "2011-06-12T00:46:55Z")
Left over right. Sometimes I’ll catch myself doing the reverse, but I know left-over-right is my go-to position. I also sit on one leg when I don’t want to cross (usually when I’ve been sitting for a long time and I’m getting uncomfortable). It’s always the right that I sit on, though. Absolutely never the left. I have no idea why I would be so staunchly specific for this position. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/13 "2011-06-12T01:14:05Z")
Who can cross their legs after 40? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/14 "2011-06-12T01:25:04Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Who can cross their legs after 40? I could, until the age of ~60. Now I can do it with a great deal of knee pain. I have to be content with crossing my ankles. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/15 "2011-06-12T07:50:29Z")
I have no preference when sitting, but…when lying down to go to sleep, if I’m on my back reading or whatnot, it’s left over right and when I switch it up it feels…weird and wrong. But sitting, no preference at all, as I’ll be switching back and forth every three minutes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/16 "2011-06-12T08:36:18Z")
I am completely ambidextrous when it comes to leg-crossing. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-crossing-poll/584742/17 "2011-06-12T11:37:41Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Who can cross their legs after 40? I didn’t even start it until I was 45.