# Taking matters into your own hands...which hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390 "2005-10-01T23:27:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/1 "2005-10-01T23:27:37Z")
Since it seems to be boner week here at the dope, I’ve got a question for the masses - for those who have no boners of their own too, of course. Which hand do you use when you masturbate? Dominant hand, or non-dominant hand? I’ve long had the impression that _most_ people use their non-dominant hand to masturbate but comments like in the hand or death thread make me wonder about that… ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/2 "2005-10-02T01:21:01Z")
This may strike you as funny or as TMI, but: I used to habitually use my right (dominant) hand. Then at the massage therapist school I attended we had a class in diagnosing habitual posture problems and my instructor wondered why my pelvis was high on the right. I wondered too until I thought “could it be…?” I made a point of switching regularly and miraculously the hiked hip went away. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/3 "2005-10-02T03:36:56Z")
I think I’ve always used my left, though I’m right handed. Feels…weird…to use the right. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/4 "2005-10-02T04:16:41Z")
It’s not unusual for someone to see me writing for the first time and exclaim, “Oh, you’re left-handed!” My typical response is, “Yes, but I only write and eat left-handed; sports and everything else, I do with my right.” I consider it a private joke that they don’t know the third thing I do with my left… _At least, not until I posted it here…_ ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/5 "2005-10-02T13:58:28Z")
Both. Starting with the tip working down to the base while rubbing my hands like I’m trying to start a fire with a stick. jk… with my dominant hand, right. I don’t have the coordination in my left and winds up whipping all over tha place. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/6 "2005-10-02T14:04:15Z")
Interesting topic. I’ve always assumed that guys used their dominant hands; however, in my experience a lot of women use their off-hand. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/7 "2005-10-02T17:23:03Z")
I switch off. [Beavis]Heh heh…is that what it’s called now?[/Beavis] I’m a lefty (as defined by “which hand do you write with”) but I do some things right-handed (scissors) and many things ambidextrously (thread needle, sew; weild utensils in kitchen; use sandpaper; ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/8 "2005-10-02T17:43:34Z")
Depends on the situation: Computer: Left hand (mouse is more important than keyboard when surfing for, ahem, material). Anywhere else: my right, in various ways. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/9 "2005-10-02T18:48:39Z")
I depends what one does with the other hand. In the old days, it was that dog-eared paperback. Later, it was that bespattered mag. Today, it’s a mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/10 "2005-10-02T18:51:48Z")
Can be either. I’m autoerotically ambidextrous. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/11 "2005-10-04T22:17:29Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Interesting topic. Yeah, I thought so, but I guess not. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/12 "2005-10-04T22:25:10Z")
The non-dominant hands makes it feel like a stranger’s doing it for you. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/13 "2005-10-04T22:58:57Z")
I start left, finish right. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/14 "2005-10-04T23:05:55Z")
Dominant hand. My left hand’s just well too spastic to give myself a good fiddle. But since I got my vibrator I haven’t even bothered with my dominant hand 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/15 "2005-10-05T00:11:38Z")
Both. ---
**Author:** ![Sohist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@Sohist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sohist)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/16 "2005-10-05T00:18:57Z")
I use a potable cunt. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/17 "2005-10-05T00:27:06Z")
> [@Sohist](#): > > I use a potable cunt. Yes but is it a _potent_ potable cunt? ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/18 "2005-10-05T06:09:56Z")
Right and dominant hand. When my right arm was injured it was definitely a hardship. My left hand just doesn’t have the coordination. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/19 "2005-10-05T08:24:39Z")
> [@Sohist](#): > > I use a potable cunt. 😕 You can [drink](http://www.answers.com/potable&r=67) it? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390/20 "2005-10-05T18:25:59Z")
Um, aren’t all cunts more or less portable? I know I can take mine with me wherever I go. I have never even thought of using my left (non-dominant) hand for that particular action. I usually hold the book with it, though. (Yep, I still masturbate the old-fashioned way.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-matters-into-your-own-hands-which-hand/324390.md?page=2)