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.
DeleteMy dad and step mother are both left handed. I'm right handed.
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