Leftie rights

[elspeth]

I was at a wedding recently and was one of the witnesses... and when I went to sign the register they had a rather pretty fountain pen for us to use. And I found myself thinking, wonder if they have another, left-handed pen for anybody left-handed who has to sign? (Fountain pen nibs are different if you're left-handed) Or do lefties just get a biro?

I'm right-handed but my mum's left-handed and given to muttering darkly at people and organisations who don't provide for her... like in banks, when you go to the cashier's desk the provided biro is always chained down on the right. Or cake forks. Most restaurants look at you as if you're daft when you point out they're right-hand-biased and do they have any left-handed ones...

[thalbergmad]

Interesting that you mention banks, because some will now issue a left handed cheque book.

Definately more lefties around nowadays. Years ago, it was stopped at an early age. My mum was left handed, but at school, it was tied behind her back to stop her from writing with it. I think some morons thought is was the work of the devil.

The last 10 years or so seems to have got much better for lefties ( I am one myself).
You can now easily buy left handed gold clubs, left handed bread knives, left handed nail scissors and thank the lord, left handed banjo's. I remember seeing that somone had built a left handed piano where the base a treble were exchanged.

https://www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/?source=googleaw&kw=left_handed&gclid=CI7Eou28wIwCFRWOEgodfGcNbA

Useful site for lefties.

Thal

[elspeth]

anythingleft-handed is one of my mum's favourite websites... and a rich seam of birthday pressies for the rest of us!

[pianistimo]

will have to check that site out - as my husband's birthday is approaching.  he's left-handed, too. 

i found this huge rock in our yard that was in the shape of a grand piano - excepting that the curved side (which happened to be flat on top) was on the wrong side.  then, i go and look on the internet - and sure enough - there's a piano just like that.  called a left-handed piano.  so i painted the rock and put it near the front door.  when people tell me about it - i say 'yes.  it's a left-handed piano.'  the strings are shorter in the bass and longer in the treble.

[thalbergmad]

will have to check that site out - as my husband's birthday is approaching.  he's left-handed, too. 

See if you can get him a left handed bus pass.

Thal

[pianistimo]

buss pass? 

[pianolearner]

Left handed people are an inconvenience to right handed people. Why don't they just learn to use the correct hand and stop trying to be different.

[jlh]

I think God is right handed.

[shortyshort]

I think God is right handed.

Yes he is, Jesus told me.

[thalbergmad]

I think God is right handed.

That is not true coz i read somewhere that someone was sitting on his right hand.

Therefore he must be left handed.

Simple logic old chap.

Thal

[pianolearner]

I think God is right handed.

No, he is ambidextrous. He is God after all...

[jlh]

No he has to be a righty... because lefties are the abnormal ones.

besides, i asked him and he told me. 

[ahinton]

There you all are (or at least several of you) bringing God into a thread about handedness; who do you think you are, you people - progeny of Saint Susan?! Let her who is without sin cast the first reference to God into each thread! Usurpers, all of you! Shame upon you!

I happen to know (albeit not well) the fellow who's behind that lef-handed piano, by the way.

Best,

Alistair

[prometheus]

What's the difference between a left-handed and right-handed pen?

[thalbergmad]

I would have thought none with a ball point pen, but on a fountain pen, i think the knib is different.

Thal

[spaciiey]

I have never written with a fountain pen - left or right handed. I should probably try it one day lmao. but I think that the idea of a leftie piano is ludicrous. I mean... what if you have to perform? do you request a left handed piano?! What if they don't have one, what do you do then? And anyway, its good for lefties because you get better coordination in your right hand. =p

[elspeth]

The difference in pens is because of the different ways a right or left handed person writes. When writing from left to right across a page, a right handed person pulls their pen across the paper with the right side of the nib making contact with the paper, while a left handed person pushes it with the left side making contact.

In biros and other roller-ball-type pens this doesn't make any difference because the roller ball can move in any direction to spread ink. It makes a difference to fountain pens because the point has to be designed differently depending which side of the nib will be pushed or pulled across the paper to make sure the ink gets to the paper at all and with any degree of consistency. Theoretically a leftie can write with a right-handed fountain pen, and vice versa, but it's difficult and the ink splashes and doesn't flow evenly because they're using the 'wrong' side of the nib, so it's very awkward to write with at all, let alone neatly.

Ah, the mine of useless knowlege one acquires by being brought up by two teachers...

[prometheus]

Then just use a normal pen.

[thalbergmad]

Thanks to a left handed breadknife, i can now cut a slice evenly.

Thanks to a left handed pair of nail scissors, i can now cut my nails evenly and without pulling them out.

And most importantly, thank the lord for the left handed 5 string banjo, without which my life would be empty.

Thal

[ahinton]

And most importantly, thank the lord for the left handed 5 string banjo, without which my life would be empty.

Thal

Which lord is that, then? Can you specifically identify him/her?

Best,

Alistair

[thalberg]

You know, every year thousands of left handed people die operating machines that were intended for right handed people.

[elspeth]

And a fair number come to grief in accidents on staircases because the banisters are only provided on the right, so if a leftie trips on the stairs they're using their weaker hand to try to save themselves.

[jlh]

You know, every year thousands of left handed people die operating machines that were intended for right handed people.

A lot of the accidents are due to the right-handed "band saw", which would be horrible for a left-handed pianist to try and use...