Poll: Are you left-handed or right-handed?

[Something Amyss]

I'm not sure I count as ambidextrous, but I do some things left-only, and a few things I was taught in school right-only. Most of the time, I use whatever hand's closer.

The only thing I can think of I can't do left-handed that I wasn't taught to do is play guitar, and that's likely because there was n lefty guitar around when I learned. Hell, I even air guitar left-handed.

These days, I sort of favour my right side a little more, but only because my left shoulder's been screwed up for several years.

 

[KnightOfTwo]

Predominantly right-handed, but for some things I do use my left hand (using scissors, knives, screwdrivers). I also default to holding a drink with my left hand, not sure why, and I always throw things using my left hand

 

[conmag9]

Very strongly right handed. Right footed too, actually. Where it's an option, I always focus on the right side of things over the left. No clue why.

 

[McElroy]

There are some things I do the left-handed way because that's how I did it the first time as a kid. And afterwards it has simply felt right (hahhaaahaa). Anyway, right-handed.

 

[Saltyk]

Right handed.

For those who aren't sure, it's basically whichever hand you prefer to use. You should also notice a considerable difference when using the other hand for anything that requires precision, like writing. I personally can barely write with my left hand. It will be done slower, with much less smooth letters, and likely won't stay within the lines if writing on lined paper.

Of course, that doesn't mean I do everything with my right hand. For example, when driving, I either use both hands or just my left hand. And plenty of other actions I'll do with whichever hand I feel like using. When eating steak, I'll switch the hand with the knife depending on what is most comfortable at that moment.

Humans are actually an oddity in this. Most animals don't prefer one "hand" or the other. And, when they are noticeable to prefer one over the other, it's usually split 50/50 over the population. Yet, if you think there is a "left handed gene" which will eventually be phased out, that doesn't seem to be true. It seems we have always had a 10% population of left handed people.

Another oddity, three of the last four US Presidents have all been left handed.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Just waiting for the poll to inevitably shift to right handed. The bulk of people I know are right handed and previous polls have done so here in the past...

Also it's like 90% of the population or something.

You are correct. With the current population, roughly 7% are left-handed men and the other 3% are left-handed women. Currently, there is no known explanation, scientific or otherwise, for the reason for this numerical gap between the sexes as it concerns dominance in hands. Also, if both parents are left-handed, 50% of their children will be left-handed, too. However, if they're both right-handed, that percentage drops to 2%.

Lefties are the spawn of Satan and they need to be taught a lesson. It is unnatural and must be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

The word you're looking for is "sinister [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sinister]" (see definitions 2 & 4).

On an unrelated note, Im left handed. Mwuahahahaha... ha.

Fun fact: As your definitions are of the Latin origins, I will state the French origins in the form of its heraldry. On shields, if you have a stripe running from top left to bottom right, it is called a bend. However, if that stripe runs from top right to bottom left, it is called a bend sinister. It is also believed that, should your shield's crest sport a bend sinister, you are believed to be born out of wedlock; otherwise known as a bastard.

Ergo, if you were a left-hander during the medieval period in the area of France...you were considered to be a "sinister bastard". Can't you feel the love?

 

[freaper]

I do most things with my right hand, but I'm more comfortable riding my bicycle one-handed with my left. It's just some actions I guess, so right handed overall.

 

[Shock and Awe]

I do everything right handed. The one exception is archery. For some reason I picked it up left handed.

 

[Reiper]

Right handed, though I am told that when I was young they thought I would be left handed, and that I switched for some reason.

I do everything right handed. The one exception is archery. For some reason I picked it up left handed.

Maybe you are left eye dominant?
That is what happened with me, I am right handed, but left eye dominant, so I shoot left handed so it aligns with my strong eye.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I'm left-handed, and I am genuinely surprised that as of the point I voted, there are 25 people voting left-handed, and 50 right handed. I'm starting to think we have some posers on our hands. I know the allure of being unique (and awesome) is cool, but don't deny your dominant hands people!

On a slightly more serious note, due to having so many things being made for right handed usage, I have gotten good at using many things with my right hand, the most notable being a computer mouse. That being said, I use my left hand for most things. I even always open door handles with my left hand subconsciously for example.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Right handed, though I am told that when I was young they thought I would be left handed, and that I switched for some reason.

I do everything right handed. The one exception is archery. For some reason I picked it up left handed.

Maybe you are left eye dominant?
That is what happened with me, I am right handed, but left eye dominant, so I shoot left handed so it aligns with my strong eye.

I actually am left eye dominant, however I still shoot firearms right handed. I think it was just that I learned the 'wrong' way at first and never corrected. The whole left/right eye thing has never been to much of an issue with rifles and with pistols(my preferred weapon) I have both eyes open all the time anyway.

 

[Frankster]

Leftie here, our numbers might have been culled during the dark ages but they will never wipe us out!

 

[Roofstone]

Used to be right handed, trained myself to be pretty much ambidextrous.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

My parents claim I was ambidextrous as a small child, but, eventually started favoring my right hand over my left and it was encouraged. So, here I am; all righty-handed. Not sure how true all that is. I don't know or remember any specific details, but you know, *raspberry*.

 

[leberkaese]

I'm a little bit surprised about the high numbers of left handed people in here. I thought that there are only ~10% lefties?

 

[Scarim Coral]

Right handed all the way baby! Seriously even in former dinner when you have a few more knifes and forks, I still used my right hand for the forks.

 

[Charli]

I'm a little bit surprised about the high numbers of left handed people in here. I thought that there are only ~10% lefties?

This has radically changed in the past 30 years ever since religious people have stopped putting the fear of god into people about it being 'the hand of evil' and the right hand being the one you should use.

I think in due time we'll see a far more even split of people who are left and right handed.


I do ...well alot of things left handed, I PC game right handed though as i'd be handicapped if I didn't, and I use the knife and fork as a right handed person would.

I have some capacity of ambidextrous behaviour, but I do favor my left hand.

 

[Flunk]

Other than the number of people lying about being ambidextrous, these numbers hold up for the public at large. As expected.

I'm right handed, but it doesn't matter at all. Unless you're trying to buy left-handed mice and then I'm sorry for you.