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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 7:49 pm
This is the first time I started a thread so I hope I'm doing it right. I'm looking for other people on here that are left handed. My youngest son is left handed the only one in our family. I was just looking for some of the things that you have come up against or benefited from due to being a left handed. I have noticed certain things about him and when I mention them to a friend of mine who teaches at an all-boys school her answer is always "oh that's because he's left handed, I see that all time".
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 8:27 pm
I'M A LEFTIE!!! I don't often notice challenges. I sit on the very LEFT of a dinner table, so my elbow doesn't compete with a rightie's. School pisses me off, because EVERY desk is made with the mini-table part coming around the RIGHT side. So I've learned to tilt my body to the right, so my arm has a bit of support (but I would hardly think that is ergonomically sound way to sit). My Logitech cordless mouse and all of it's buttons are situated for a right hand thumb. So are the curves of the mouse, where your thumb is supposed to fit. Scissors don't really bug me, but I guess they might if I had to cut for long periods of time. The ZESTER at my work is for righties. For example, if I want to cut out a "twist" (a long strand of lemon zest for martinis), I have to use my right hand, as the point faces a specific way, and you need to pull TOWARD yourself to get the zester to work. Lots of people at my work are left-handed. PERSONALLY, I don't need VISUAL things changed, like the ordering screen, although many lefties DO change their screen around. An example of those types of lefties is that you can change your buttons on your mouse, so that the LEFT-click is for submenus, and the RIGHT click is for normal clicking. However I don't change it around. But yeah, lots of computer programs are now being designed so that things are located on the opposite side of the screen. Like, your Windows start button would be on the RIGHT, and the clock would be on your left. I think it has something to do with brain specialization, as to which lefties see their visual world in reverse. I don't have that problem. That's all I can think of for now. I'm interested in hearing what everyone else has to say!! GREAT FIRST THREAD TOPIC Biloxi!!
Here is a picture of the a zester. That cutter in the MIDDLE of the metal is used to cut long strings, but it only cuts in one direction.

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Jmm
Member
08-16-2002
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 8:44 pm
Biloxi, My 11 year old son is a leftie, how old is your little one? One big thing we learned was the placement of paper when he writes. A right handed person will turn the top of the page to the left a little. I taught my son to turn his to the right and he holds his pencil like a righthanded person.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 10:30 pm
My Dad was a lefty and there were no accommodations,, I'm used to looking out for that left end of a table and in a group, checking to see if anyone needs it, because of my dad needing it.. his writing was hard to read .. My mice can be modified software wise and also curve in the same on each side, but I'm right handed. I do believe that Zmom is a lefty, so hopefully she'll contribute here.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 10:33 pm
Lefty solutions website
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 11:05 pm
I'm definitely a lefty but I have a certain advantage. Having played piano since I was 7 I don't know if I developed being ambidrextrous because of that or if I would have developed it anyway. But I do remember very vividly my mother storming down to my school when I came home crying that my 3rd grade teacher was making me try to write right handed. My mother had a flipping fit!! She chewed out the principal and the teacher! LOL But I can only write lefthanded but do a lot of other things righthanded. Like sports. I play all sports righthanded. I also write like a righthanded person in that I don't twist my hand around to write. My hand is straight with my wrist. I hope any of that helps. I think if you don't make a big deal about what hand they use they will find out on their own what's comfortable for them. Just don't let anyone tease or pressure them about it. And tell him some of the brightest people are lefties.
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Jmm
Member
08-16-2002
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 11:15 pm
Most mice can be configured for a left handed person, but if you son is young enough he can just as easily learn to use the mouse right handed. Our ds has never used the mouse any other way and it has never been a problem. And he is left handed in all other things. Twinkie, that's what I was talking about angling the paper to the right. That allows ds to keep his wrist straight when he writes also.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Monday, January 10, 2005 - 11:43 pm
Exactly, Jmm. The first time I used a computer the mouse was on the right and I got used to that very quickly. In fact, now it would take me all night to play a game of solitaire if I tried to use the mouse with my left hand. LOL
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 12:29 am
I use my left hand to move my mouse around, but all the buttons are configured for the right hander. I like my cordless mouse, so I can put it on the left when I'm using it, and my bf can move it over to the right when he uses it. No cords!! But unlike Seamonkey, my mouse is moulded to be "comfortable", but I guess they should have put "only fir right-handers" on the box. Most things you grow up with, and get used to the right handed way of things. It's just the FEW things that are blatantly right handed that stick out, like the zester. There is NO WAY I could hold it with my left hand that would let it work (EASILY), and I am feeble with my right hand. In my Developmental Psych class, we learned that some left handers actually MOVE their brain's "language centre" to the other side of their brain. Something to do with more brain activity on the right side in left handers. The Wernicke's Area and Broca's area are both located in the LEFT hemisphere of the brain. But in some lefties, they have found more language related activity in the RIGHT side. I'll have to go look up the study.
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Schoolmarm
Member
02-18-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 12:55 am
Lefties' brains CAN be reversed as to which side takes on which function. OR there can be more active communication between the two hemispheres. Usually language is processed on the left (the hemispheres are ACROSS the dominant site). In a lefty is can stay there OR shift over to the corresponding place in the right lobe. Music is usually processed on the right just above the ear, and that is one reason why lots of musicians are left handed. There is actually a test for hand/foot dominance. Can't remember what it is called (I'm in Germany and not at home with my library). They check things like which foot to you put in your pants first. Which eye is dominant. Etc. Etc. It's very interesting. I have found that my early piano lessons really helped me to be more ambidextorous. I AM left handed, although I cut, swing a bat and golf right. May I add that I really suck at swinging a bat and golfing. I throw left and bowl left ....actually I confess that I really suck at throwing and bowling, too! Oh, I play guitar the regular way...no need to restring or play backwards like Paul McCartney. It's actually an advantage to play the chords with your left hand. It's also an advantage to play the recorder, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, English Horn, sax, etc. as the left hand is on top and gets more of a work out. Lefties tend to page through a book or magazine from the back to the front. Lefties tend to go the opposite direction when turning around. Did you know that gum wrappers are designed for right handed people? Lefties tend to die earlier because of accidents. (Not related to gum wrappers, but often to other things in everyday life that are designed for the right handed world). There are higher proportions of left handed people in the arts, creative areas, and in the way-up there geniuses. (Maybe it had something to do with some of the lefties using more of their brain lobe?) Eating? I NEVER switch my knife out of my right hand. The fork or spoon stays in the left. Like the Europeans, almost. I remember having trouble learning how to hold a fork and spoon. I also had a horrible time in school with penmanship until I got a left handed desk and straightened my arm out. If you curve over you get pencil all over the side of your hand.! LEFTIES rule!!! (Glad to see so many of you here!)
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 1:22 am
Schoolmarm, interesting facts!! We did some kind of test (not at all VALID though) in that Dev Psych class. Mostly it was an observation of a person's EYES as they answered questions spontaneously. The subject is unaware they are being watched while answering the questions. If your eyes go up and to the left when you answer, you are left-brained? Something like that. It all depends of which way you look when you are thinking. Apparently, in that same test we did, there was a question about how we held our pen(cil) when we wrote one was normal, and one was sort of with the wrist bent forward so your knuckles are above the area you are writing. I wrote normally, but apparently people who are VERY left brained write with the hook in their wrist. Lots of the research out there is correlational, and many scientists see no validity in the left-brained/right-brained theories. My personality and abilities do not match the "typical" lefty. I am very analytical, and have had MANY difficulties being artistic or creative throughout school. I can't see past the words in poetry, have no clue WHAT to draw or sculpt in art class, and have a hard time thinking of something to write about in english class. I am very concrete-sequential, which is SO not like a lefty!! I also golf/hockey/baseball right handed. Also very poorly. I bowl and throw left handed though. I also eat European. Fork in left, knife in right. I couldn't IMAGINE wasting time switching all the time!!! Poor righties!!!
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 4:28 am
My son is a leftie!!!! 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:24 am
I am left handed, and it's just no big deal. I have always gotten confused when people worry. I don't turn my paper when I write, I don't crook my hand around, I cut with regular scissors, ect. Maybe because my dad was left handed and they tried to change him (which caused a stutter), I was raised not thinking it was a disability. (my mil steal freaks out when she watches me use a knife...sounds like she has the disability! LOL) The only slight pain was the college desks, but I would just pull over another desk and use that one to write on.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:31 am
This all so interesting. He is 14 not to young so he has adapted to most things. So many of you have hit on some of the things I have noticed. School desks do stink. He curves his hand up over his paper but he does have very nice handwriting. My FIL thought he might be also be a leftie. He could remember in back in school the teachers making him write with his right hand. Until the day he died you could not read his writing....he could not read his own writing. Another problem we had was when they went to double digits that had to be carried over in math. During single digits and simple double digits he would breeze through his math but when double digits with carryover appeared he started having trouble. That is where my friend came in. When I told her about it she told me to check his papers to see if he was working them left to right instead of right to left. Sure enough he was. He has an amazing ear for musiic. He teaches himself piano by ear. I really should get him lessons. He has all kind of awards for playing the baratone in school. He has a guitar and violin that he is not all that interested in. The other plus I notice is his memory or I will call it it his memory. He can look at something and remember it so easily. Spelling words have always been a snap to him. He does a lot of plays in our community theater and he not only knows his lines but the other parts as well. And retains it. He does tend to be accident prone. The other day he opened the car door right into his head. Had blood every where. Leaving a big gash is his brow area. I would hate to see him use a zester LOL. I tend to keep him out of the kitchen. One thing that stands out in my mind was teaching him to tie his shoes. I can remembering my having to do it backwards to show him how. That was hard. Thank you for joining in the thread it is fun to read all this. I was amazed to see so many of my questions touched on so quickly. I hope to see more stories.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:41 am
The following is written by my dh who is a lefty: I'm left-handed, well sort of. I write left-handed and eat left-handed but then again I throw right-handed and bat right-handed when playing baseball. I can't kick right footer, but can kick pretty well left-handed. The funny thing is that I can't do many things with both hands but with some I can. For instance I can't throw a ball left-handed, but I swing a bat pretty well left-handed. Then there's writing. I can't write my name whatsoever right-handed, but I can bowl and throw darts both left and right handed pretty well. If I try to eat with a spoon/fork right-handed it feels all wrong and I switch back to left-handed. I wear contacts and put them in with both hands, well I put my left one in with my right hand and my left one in with my left-hand. I brush my teeth left-handed. And, I can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now. I pick my nose (just kidding)... I hug my wife with both hands but she says I don't do it enough.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:46 am
Also when I was younger I read that lefties use their right side of the brain more (which is the creative side) so I actually tried to make myself a lefty. To this day I can write my name farly well lefty. But it is slow to do.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:57 am
Could he be clumsy cause he is 14? LOL I know my ds (right handed) became very awkward during puberty. You sound like my mil with the zester! LOL
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 7:23 am
Marm, I so relate to the knife and fork thing. I also do like the Europeans. No back and forth with the fork. It stays in the left hand. I think if I tried to brush my teeth with my right hand I'd have toothpaste all over my face! LOL But other things come easy right-handed. I've never been bothered by scissors. I use my right hand. I'd say from my own experience that 14 is just a real klutzy age. I was a bit of a tomboy and thought I was invisible so I got lots of scrapes, bruises, and stitches around that age.
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March
Member
10-02-2003
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 8:23 am
Another Leftie here. I also write with my hand and wist straight instead of curved around but one thing I do find is that I have to watch the type of pen I use when writing. Because your hand is still moving from left to right on the page I find I cannot use roller ball or uni-ball pens as they go on a little wet and my hand will smug it. I try to only use ball point pens but there are some gel ink pens that are ok. I do most things with my left hand but as with most lefties some things are done with my right hand because we have to conform to the right hand world in some instances.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 8:40 am
I don't change my silver back and forth either. Same with the pen, March. Hated fountain pens in elementary school! Funny, I do alot with my right hand, but I always looked it as being ambidexterous rather than having to conform.
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Lucy
Member
10-08-2002
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 9:06 am
My DH is a lefty and DS (14 yrs old) is ambidextrous. My son plays sports left-handed and footed and writes, plays guitar, and eats right-handed. He often complains about the lack of left-handed sports equipment at school. He just mentioned that they're playing hockey in PE and all they have are right-handed sticks. In baseball he bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He's trying out for the freshman/soph bb team and he's hoping it will work to his advantage because he's the only left-handed hitter. DH is a total lefty and always needs to be put at the end of the table.lol! He also complains about vegetable peelers, zesters, and scissors.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 9:29 am
My sons all have left handed qualities - youngest one is left handed, oldest one is ambidextrous in many of the same things you have all mentioned, and the middle one is right handed but agile with his leg dexterity. He broke a school record in running track hurdles, because he didn't have to choose one leg to hurdle with as most runners do. Biloxiebelle, do get your son those music lessons. You will not regret hearing the talent pour out of him. I guarantee it.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 10:05 am
My husband writes with the right hand, but does everything else with his left. Spooky! I'm a righty, but years ago tried to teach my lefty friend how to crochet. What a laugh!
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 10:53 am
i'm left-handed and do everything left handed but throw a ball and bowl. (we only had fielder's gloves for right-handers in p.e., so rather than catch the ball, then have to take off the glove to throw the ball, i just ended up throwing it right-handed). i can play golf either right or left-handed, but it's more comfortable left-handed. the nuns at school tried to make me right-handed, so i wrote mirror-image. when they got tired of reading my papers in a mirror or holding the paper backwards and up to the light to read it, they let me be left-handed! we used fountain pens, and the only way i could use one and not draw a long smear across the page was to write like a rightie,but with my left hand. most people are surprised to find out i am left-handed when they read something i've written. i can still write 'backwards' as fast as i can frontward. i always wanted to be the weather person who wrote backwards on the piece of glass to show the temps, etc! now it's computerized, of course, so there went my great job ability no problems with our computer mouse being on the right; it would feel ackward to use one on the left! i used to have some trouble with scissors, but that's about it. i love being left-handed...my kids wish they were! i am the only one of 7 kids who is a leftie, but one aunt (out of 10 kids) and my grandma were both lefties. when i was a chairside assistant in oral surgery, the docs loved it because i was holding the instruments in a way that they were in the right position for the doctors to take them from me. since i was on the left of the patient, it was easy to use the suction and other equipment with my left hand. we supported the patient's jaw with our right hand...the other assistants had to suction and use other instruments in their left hands, which was often awkward for them. a lot of surgical techs are left-handed just because the instruments are in the correct position for a right-handed surgeon to receive.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 10:55 am
I am ambidextrious (sp)
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