I am sinister; I am gauche.

[rhythmaning]

You, on the other hand, are more than likely dextrous and adroit. And you would be right.

Because I am left-handed, whilst you probably aren’t. According to Wikipedia, about 10% of people are left-handed, although for cultural reasons that may be an underestimate – apparently it is so feared in some parts of the world that it remains a hidden trait.

Cultural associations with left-handedness with evil seems widespread, from western societies – hence sinister (from the latin for left) – through Asia and Africa. Just about everywhere, it seems.

Although there isn’t much evidence of a genetic relation to left-handedness, my father and his mother were both left-handed; so perhaps when I grew up it wasn’t so frowned upon.

I am very left handed, my right hand doing little except carrying a bag (or a beat). The irritations of being left-handed in a right-handed world are renowned – scissors won’t work, pens won’t write (indeed, although I write with an ink pen, I had to learn how not to drag my fingers through the ink; curiously, I hold my pen much as right-handers do, rather than the convoluted twisted wrist common to many left-handers. I have been told I have nice writing – for a left-hander). Wrist-watches are virtually impossible to wind if you are left-handed. Even PC keyboards and mice can be a hassle – particularly mice (who ever thought it would be a good idea to use right-handed mice at work really didn’t think things through).

Surprisingly, cars appear to have been designed for left-handers, at least in those remnants of the British Empire where they drive on the left side of the road. In British cars, the important things – changing gear (putting the stereo on) – are done by the left hand, leaving the right hand holding the wheel or feeling like a spare part. Perhaps the first cars were designed by left-handers? I mean, someone must have decided that we should all drive on the left.

I am not very sporty, but being left-handed can give a slight advantage. The few times I played squash, just occasionally with a flick of my wrist I could completely outfox the competition. Same in tennis, too – volleys sent where the opposition weren’t expecting. (In cricket, strangely, though I bowl left-handed, I bat right-handed. Well, I used to. I think that must have been how I was taught.)

I notice whether people are left-handed; perhaps this is because it is the only minority of which I am a member. There seem to be a lot of left-handed people at work, a cabal perhaps; recently in a meeting, about half the people there were left-handed. Perhaps we have all just gravitated to the same kind of work.

And being left handed is really important to me. It is a defining character, part of my identity, engrained in my view of myself. One of the things that makes me different.

Comments

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

How strange to think that we drive on the left in the UK so that horsemen could defend themselves!

But also, apparently trains run on the left too (though it is hard to find proof!) - I couldn't find it in wikipedia, but it gets referred to elsewhere.

[pshtaku.livejournal.com]

Well - the west coast mainline runs through MK, and has 4 lines - 2 slow, and 2 fast.

The most left one is going south (slowly), then north (slow) then south (fast), and north (fast).

So I guess that is "on the left"...