I never had any urge to be left handed. I was taught to be right handed and that was fine by me. I don't remember any left handed pupils at my two schools, but maybe I was very unobservant!
Jenny's mother was left handed, but again Jenny never had any urge to be the same. Though Jenny does do some things with her left hand, like brushing her teeth.
Roughly 10 per cent of the population are left handed. I didn't realise it was that many (that's 7 million in the UK). I don't really notice if someone is right or left handed.
Luckily we live in an enlightened age in which (on the whole) left handedness is an unremarkable personal trait. But throughout history it has been given negative associations. Into the 20th and even the 21st century, left handed children in Uganda were beaten by teachers or parents for writing with their left hand, or had their left hands tied behind their backs to force them to write with their right hand. In the Soviet school system, all left handed children were compelled to write with their right hand.
International Left Handers Day is held annually on August 13. Right handers are encouraged to try out left handed objects to see how awkward it can feel doing things the "wrong way round".
It's amazing that people can be so intolerant over something so trivial.
ReplyDeleteInfidel: Intolerance seems to know no limits, even over the most trivial things, as you say.
DeleteI don't think handedness is a choice - I think you're just compelled to prefer either left or right, no thinking involved.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I agree with Infidel - people get their knickers in a twist about the silliest things.
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Ms Scarlet: I read that there are various possible causes as well as genetics. If genetics was the only cause, how come me and my sister aren't left handed? It's mysterious.
DeleteI am shocked at your assertion about left handedness. One either is or isn't. Nothing to do with "urges" or "copying". You are born with it!
ReplyDeleteI remember one of my relatives relating to me how, in the olden days, they'd tie a child's left in order to force it to write with their right. And no, she wasn't from Uganda.
Honestly, Nick. I thought better of you. I repeat: You either are or you aren't left handed. It's not a matter of "being taught" or choice.
As it happens I would describe myself as right handed but, lucky me, I am semi bi-dextrous; which came in amazingly handy when I had broken my right wrist.
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Ursula: One is or one isn't? Then my life-long ignorance is astonishing! Even at the age of 78, I learn something new every day....
DeleteAgreeing with others; you’re either right or left handed. Though I’m sure one can learn to use either hand, if forced.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: I had a maths teacher at school who was ambidextrous. He could use his left hand as easily as his right.
DeleteMy son is left handed. Since birth he favored his left hand. It is a major inconvenience as the world is geared toward right-handedness.
ReplyDeleteSandra: Since birth? That seems to rule out any later influences.
DeleteHe favored the left hand always. Grabbing at things babies do. I don’t believe it is learned behavior. Kids who were forced to be right handed never really were.
DeleteSandra: "Kids who were forced to be right handed never really were." Interesting, I'd never thought about that.
DeleteMy dad and step mother are both left handed. I'm right handed.
ReplyDeleteMary: So if you were right handed at birth, you would never take after your parents?
DeleteI didn't grow up with any left-handers but Dave's father, one brother, and brother-in-law were all left-handers. It was primarily noticeable when deciding who would sit where when eating. At least one had to sit at the end of one side of the table then the others could sit next to him or take other corners where right-handers and left-handers would not be bumping into each other.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: I hadn't thought about left and right handers bumping into each other. Yes, you'd have to be careful about seating arrangements.
DeleteI am right handed but have tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to do some things with my left hand. Handwriting is one. I can however type using both hands😏
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: I can type using two hands, but it's more like two fingers!
DeleteNick, we have quite a lot of lefthanded persons in our family. Saïd is lefthanded, our child too and grandchild also. My father was, mother not.Our grandchild was like Sandra told, grabbing things up from the start with the left hand. We have friends who have twins, two boys one lefthanded, the other not. Science doesn't know how to explain, maybe brain directed neurons connections. who knows the brain is still an unexplored "continent".
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: The general consensus here seems to be that you're left or right handed at birth and nothing will change that. And who knows how that comes about?
DeleteIm a bit gobsmacked that you could even entertain handedness being a choice
ReplyDeleteKylie: How would I know any different? Nobody ever explained it to me. Certainly not my father. And it's not a subject that's come up with anyone else.
DeleteWell i couldn't be left handed if I tried so I assumed everyone else got the "preference" as a default like I did
DeleteIt's interesting how your father was left-handed but you became right-handed. It sounds like a common experience where societal norms or schooling influenced handedness, even if not explicitly forced.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that left-handedness is generally accepted now, especially considering the harsh historical practices you mentioned. International Left Handers Day is a nice way to raise awareness and empathy for the challenges lefties used to face, and still might with some everyday objects. I am left handed too.
Melody: Other commenters have said that left or right handedness is apparent as soon as you're born and there's no question of being influenced by others. So presumably your left handedness was apparent at birth.
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