Well, of 9 people who posted their handedness, we got some surprising results. This just reflects which hand people said they write with, as that tends to be how we identify our handedness.
We ended up with four lefties (Max Q, Hyla, Bridget96, maverick), one ambi (wwh), and four righties (Sparteye, BlanchePatch, FiberBabe, of troy).
Not the expected distribution, by any means.
Anyone else care to post (or PM me, to keep the suspense up) and I'll let y'all know where we end up?
We ended up with four lefties (Max Q,Hyla, Bridget96, maverick)
I fear that I don't truly belong on that list. I am left-handed, but I have strong suspicions that it is only by force of circumstance. I think like a "left-brainer", and am useless at all the arty-farty creative stuff that left-handers are supposed to be good at. All the indications are that my being left-handed was a last-second survival chioce made to minimise the impact of CP. I am, if you will, a dextral in sinistral clothing. How sinister is that?
Max - your description of your being a left-brained lefty struck a chord, as that's just how I am. I have zero artistic ability, tend to think along the typical left-brain lines (as I've come to understand them), etc. However, in conducting the survey, I've had to draw lines somewhere, so have focused exclusively on which hand people use to write. So, I think we both pass as lefties and form part of what is so far a very unusual distribution.
Now - what is "CP," around of which you were trying to steer the impact?
Sorry. Cerebral Palsy, involving (hence the whole "hemi, demi, semi" thread) "R. hemiparesis due to birth hypoxia." As a child, one of the favourite taunts kids would throw at each other was, "up your nose with a rubber hose", and it used to give me great glee to be able to say, "been there, done that."
I am definitely a righty. The ONLY thing I always attempt to do with my left hand is open the tops on glass jars. I don't know why that is, but it makes me a lousy jar-opener.
And by the way, does anyone have any idea whether for some reason left-handedness is more prevalent in men than in women? I only know one woman who is left-handed, whereas I know at least 5 men (off the top of my head) who are...
I think that left-handedness, like many rescessive traits, predominates in males. Something under twenty percent of the population is left-handed, although I believe that a disproportionate number of sinisters are in technical fields.
I wonder how long the "writing" hand will determine whether a person is right- or left-handed? I would surmise that more "writing" is done on a keyboard these days than with pen and paper.
Would a kind soul elucidate the right/left brain talents and the connection to right/left handedness. Either here or by Private Message. I read about it Ages Ago and my poor aged brain refuses to dredge up the particulars. Or, perhaps a url ? Many thanks wow
The right-brain, left-brain theory is old enough to be seriously challenged. Sorry I can't give reference. I was always sceptical of the wild interpretations made of it.
What is known is that the right side of your brain controls the functions parts of the left side of your body, and the left side of your brain, controls the rights side of your body-- giving rise to the idea that lefties are the only people who are using (or in) their right mind!
"In general, the left hemisphere is more important for language and certain motor skills. On the average, the right side of the brain does better with certain kinds of spatial functions such as mentally walking through a maze, understanding and working with maps, visualizing and remembering faces, and other performances that don't depend on verbal descriptions."
For a bit of harmless fun, any who haven't seen it before are encouraged to download brain.exe from AWADabilia at idrive. It is a fun quiz that attempts to categorise responses to certain questions as right or left brain, visual or auditory. Spontaneous answers have a reasonable chance of delivering a not too wildly inaccurate assessment. The first time I tried it, I was staggered by the validity of its conclusions, but have not managed the same accuracy since, so it was probably beginner's luck. It is, of course, totally unscientific, but still a lot of fun, with the potential to be thought-provoking. If enough people try it, we may even be able to post results, either the eerily accurate, or the laughably wrong.
Oh, Max, how cool! It said something that surprised me: that I "have a strong preference for auditory processing". I would have said I am a visually-oriented person. My "learning style is very much language-based and logical". My left brain is slightly dominant, with 54.5%. Yep--pretty much right down the middle--again.
Note: it is important, in these types of tests, to mark what your first, instinctive answer is--if you think about it too much, you can skew the results.
I do not know whether or nay this matter under discussion has been treated evenhandedly, but when once it is resolved perhaps we could celebrate. There is this watering hole down the way a bit called the Bar Sinister where SOME of us could gather. Several Queries come to mind: Does this establishment cater to "lefties" or to threatening evildoers or both. Or, (dare I say) "on the other hand" does it "bar" Lefties. And then of course there is the question more intime', concerning whether one was born on the "right" side of that Fate-determining Blanket or (alas!)on the "other" side. I cannot answer these Qs because, though I am curious(blue) I have never patronised that place, preferring instead its across-the-street neighbor the "Bar None" which, open-mindedly, democratically offers a welcome hand (dexter or sinister) to all, including nuns. When the rant ends and we celebrate, once again, as friends, I shall be pleased to go to a deli to get the Right Stuff for the party. Meantime, for the record, (wasn't someone keeping score?) Scribbler is a "rightie" "Dieu et mon Droit" he notes adroitly, but confesses that he is really ambi-sensuous or whatchacallit.
Note: it is important, in these types of tests, to mark what your first, instinctive answer is--if you think about it too much, you can skew the results.
Absolutely. Since so few have yet taken up this particular gauntlet, I have made the game easier to find. Clicking on this link, http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/maxq/brain.exe will take one straight to a download page.
How curious! The interpretive results of my test seemed to be almost entirely accurate. I'm 59% right-brained, which doesn't surprise me, tho' I'm right-handed, I'm pretty creative. 50/50 Visual and Auditory.
Whenever I see a quiz that "reveals your personality," I'm always skeptical about the language of the result. For example, there's a "psychic" on a cable channel right now, I forget his name, but he says he can contact the dead and lots of people show up in his tv audience to see if he can find out about loved ones. Recently I read an analysis of his technique, and while all the tricks were fresh in my mind, I tried it out on my partner: "There's an important aniversary -- I see the number 9 -- is 9 important to you for any reason? And the letter J" Meanwhile, the supplicant is wracking their brain to make his suggestions fit, since they've already invested the time, at least, in believing in this guy. Not that this right-left test is in the same league. But it seems amazing that so much can be projected from answering so few questions.... I'll try it out on some unsuspecting guinnea p--- I mean friends.
For example, there's a "psychic" on a cable channel right now, I forget his name, but he says he can contact the dead and lots of people show up in his tv audience to see if he can find out about loved ones.
Try me. When I was teaching I often found I could contact the dead, particularly on a Monday morning after a party weekend in Dunedin's dubious but extremely lively student quarter.
Dunno about them being loved ones, however. Disowned was the most common impression I got.
M. Scribbler, I don't want you to be left all alone. I can see that you are even-handed in your interactions, whether people are from the dexter or sinister side. I, too, am right-handed, so will you kindly allow me, even though I am not a nun, to take your left elbow? If you will escort me into the Bar None, I will be happy to procure your favorite beverage for you from the barkeep. Perhaps after some glad-handing 'round the place, we might persuade other patrons that it would be the right thing to do to cross the street and picket the Bar Sinister--unless all its patrons have left. Your ambi-sensuous remark is most intriguing, sir. But I have no wish to be insensuous, so I shall make no inquiries. I hope to continue being able to be in your courtly presence, and not be barred from it.
did anyone get severely skewed results? i got 72% left side, plus 64% visual, which the program said meant i'm weird. well, they actually used the term 'unusual', but we all know what that means.
Took the "test" once. Left-45.5 Right-54.5 Visual 31.3 and Auditory 68+ It said I'm "well balanced" -- my sons and friends will zing me about that! -- and I am predominantly an auditory learner ... verrrrry interesssting ... as I am deaf in one ear! However, does this mean I would be twice as smart if I heard everything ... at full volume? wow
72.8% left dominant "with a balanced preference for auditory and visual inputs".
"Organised"? Have you seen my desk? "You persevere on a theme." i.e., you don't know when to let something drop.
"You have at hand at least two alternatives which dimensionalise your organisation and thoroughness." If my organisation is dimensionalised, will I lose my job?
72.8% left dominant "with a balanced preference for auditory and visual inputs".
"Organised"? Have you seen my desk? "You persevere on a theme." i.e., you don't know when to let something drop.
"You have at hand at least two alternatives which dimensionalise your organisation and thoroughness." If my organisation is dimensionalised, will I lose my job?
WHAT?!Now you tell me that I ought not have relied on it for making life-altering decisions? Sheesh!
Left brain: 62.5% Right brain: 37.5% Auditory: 60% Visual: 40% “enviable organisation, structure and efficiency” – hah! Bingley I definitely can’t see any part of my desk as I type But that’s all serene code for “control freak”, so I ain’t stoppin’ those tablets yet…
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Cerebral Palsy, involving (hence the whole "hemi, demi, semi" thread) "R. hemiparesis due to birth hypoxia." As a child, one of the favourite taunts kids would throw at each other was, "up your nose with a rubber hose", and it used to give me great glee to be able to say, "been there, done that."
But that’s all serene code for “control freak”, so I ain’t stoppin’ those tablets yet…
