In the first part about pens, I talked about their placement in offices. If that were the only problem, it would be tolerable, but there is a greater problem with ALL pens that affects all left handed people.
Do you have a suitcase with wheels on the bottom? Take it out, extend the handle and walk with it.
No, not by pulling it. Put the suitcase in front of you and push it. Is it awkward to walk with it while pushing it?
Welcome to the world of left handedness and pens.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Are software makers becoming more considerate to left handed people?
No. If they were, they would have included left handed options from the get-go. Hey, who cares about 10-15% of the users anyway?
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/11/25/latest-swiftkey-4-3-1-update-brings-new-left-handed-options-and-bug-fixes/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/29/killzone-shadow-fall-ps4-patch-1-05-adds-left-handed-support-more/
They seem to be responding to user concerns, but only after complaints come in.
Here's one about a right handed person reporting his use of a mouse with the left hand. He switched hands due to a repetitive motion injury.
http://techreport.com/blog/25590/adventures-in-left-handed-mousing
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/11/25/latest-swiftkey-4-3-1-update-brings-new-left-handed-options-and-bug-fixes/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/29/killzone-shadow-fall-ps4-patch-1-05-adds-left-handed-support-more/
They seem to be responding to user concerns, but only after complaints come in.
Here's one about a right handed person reporting his use of a mouse with the left hand. He switched hands due to a repetitive motion injury.
http://techreport.com/blog/25590/adventures-in-left-handed-mousing
The hardest part of raising awareness is...
The hardest part of raising awareness about right hand privilege is not getting people's attention.
The hardest part of raising awareness is not sounding like a crank. It would be easy to mistake this as a claim of "my pain is greater than yours," which others disingenuously try to do.
The issue here is not left handed adults. We can take care of ourselves.
The issue is left handed children, people who can't take care of nor defend themselves.
The hardest part of raising awareness is not sounding like a crank. It would be easy to mistake this as a claim of "my pain is greater than yours," which others disingenuously try to do.
The issue here is not left handed adults. We can take care of ourselves.
The issue is left handed children, people who can't take care of nor defend themselves.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Adult annoyances: Doctors
Have you ever gone to a doctor's office and been told you need an injection? Which side do they stand on? Which arm do they reach for? Without exception, they assume everyone is right handed and go for the patient's left arm. Even left handed doctors end up doing it.
I've had times where I was told I needed a shot, then rolled up my right sleeve.
And then the idiot doctor says, "Roll up your sleeve," completely oblivious to the extended right arm.
I've had times where I was told I needed a shot, then rolled up my right sleeve.
And then the idiot doctor says, "Roll up your sleeve," completely oblivious to the extended right arm.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Child annoyances: Teachers
Left handed children in schools have many problems in getting an education, and being left handed is not one of them. There are many objects in schools which make life difficult - pens, books, desks, rulers, scissors, etc. But the single greatest source of frustration for children is the adult in the class, the educated person who is supposed to know better.
The teacher.
The teacher.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Adult annoyances: Pens, part 1
Businesses and institutions like banks, government offices and the like will tie down their pens to prevent them from being stolen. I don't object to that, it's as much a waste of time for them to replace the pens as it is the cost of replacing them.
What I don't like is the assumption that everyone is right handed. Have you ever seen a pen on a cord that was tied on the left side of a counter?
What I don't like is the assumption that everyone is right handed. Have you ever seen a pen on a cord that was tied on the left side of a counter?
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Design flaws
This tag refers to problems with the design of objects which are designed for the right hand but work poorly or do not work at all for left handed people. There are many objects which, by their design, either cannot be held with the left hand, or worse if held with the left, the user's vision is blocked.
A basic example of this is scissors, most are made for right handed people. When held with the right, the top blade is behind what is being cut, the bottom blade underneath. If a left handed person tries to use right handed scissors, the top blade blocks the view of what is being cut.
A basic example of this is scissors, most are made for right handed people. When held with the right, the top blade is behind what is being cut, the bottom blade underneath. If a left handed person tries to use right handed scissors, the top blade blocks the view of what is being cut.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is (to borrow from the dictionary) "the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments". Or in simpler terms, how easy things are to use. Tags containing this label will discuss objects that may not be dangerous or difficult to use, but are designed for right handed people without consideration for left handed users.
In The Wrong Hands
This label is intended to identify things that are dangerous or difficult to use for left handed people.
Right handed people ignorantly assume that left handed people are "uncoordinated" or "clumsy". Wrong. When objects are deliberately designed for use with the right hand, it is difficult to use them correctly with the left. The problem is not the user's hand, it's the design of the object.
Posts with this tag will talk about objects (machinery, kitchen utensils, etc.) that are poorly designed or contain design bias.
Right handed people ignorantly assume that left handed people are "uncoordinated" or "clumsy". Wrong. When objects are deliberately designed for use with the right hand, it is difficult to use them correctly with the left. The problem is not the user's hand, it's the design of the object.
Posts with this tag will talk about objects (machinery, kitchen utensils, etc.) that are poorly designed or contain design bias.
Everyday Annoyances
"It's not the mountains that wear you down. It's the grain of sand in your shoe."
That statement is truer than you could ever believe. A grain of sand on its own weighs very little. But as it reaches a million or even a billion grains, the weight begins to add up. But even a single grain can cause damage, cause blistering and bleeding, if it wears away repeatedly on the same spot.
It's not single, big things about right hand privilege which annoy left handed people. Rather, it's the small, everyday things that get under one's skin. That's what this label is for, to identify the small things that can irritate a little at a time, like the single grain of sand in your shoe will irritate.
That statement is truer than you could ever believe. A grain of sand on its own weighs very little. But as it reaches a million or even a billion grains, the weight begins to add up. But even a single grain can cause damage, cause blistering and bleeding, if it wears away repeatedly on the same spot.
It's not single, big things about right hand privilege which annoy left handed people. Rather, it's the small, everyday things that get under one's skin. That's what this label is for, to identify the small things that can irritate a little at a time, like the single grain of sand in your shoe will irritate.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Children suffer the most from right handed privilege
Left handed children
suffer the most because right handed privilege is unlike any other form of privilege.
When people in other minorities face privilege (adults or children), they can ask for help, band together and take action, or at the least, communicate with each other and find support:
For left handed people, it's a different matter.
Left handed adults have very few problems with it. Aside from possible hiring discrimination (e.g. mechanical devices and machines designed only to be operated with the right hand), it's a non-issue. Adults have the experience, education and knowledge to adapt, adjust or take legal action.
Left handed children, on the other hand, have massive problems. Women, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ people who can obtain support from family, teachers and community. But for left handed children, their own families, teachers and community are most often the source of discrimination and abuse. The people who should be their support system are most often the source of the problem, and left handed children have no one they can ask for help.
Without that sense of community, left handed children lack a support structure, and are isolated. And because they are young, they lack the experience, knowledge and ability to help themselves. It really is the same way gay people felt decades ago, as if they're the only one in the world, and everyone is telling them they're wrong.
Often the only left handed person in their families. If the parents are biased against left handedness because of religion or culture, they will try to force the child to switch hands.
In schools, teachers are almost all left handed and fail to teach left handed children properly. "Corporal punishment" and verbal abuse still go on, even where it's illegal. I've seen it first hand, teaching in various Asian countries.
Communities and cultures often perpetuate ignorant and outdated views that left handedness is "evil", "dirty", "stupid" or "awkward", none of which is true.
Parents: If your child is left handed, educate yourself instead of taking it out on your child. Forcing a child to change hands is a form of child abuse. Read books. Become informed and understand that left handedness is as natural as one's gender.
Teachers: Respect the fact that left handedness is natural and does not need to be "changed", that abuse is not acceptable. Your personal views have no place in the classroom. You have an obligation to treat that child with respect, and an obligation to do your job and teach that child. Neglect and passive-aggressive behaviour are as much abuse as violence or insults.
Communities: "Culture" is a choice. Ignorance is a choice. Left handedness is natural.
Religions: Keep your views to yourself. Left handedness is not "evil".
When people in other minorities face privilege (adults or children), they can ask for help, band together and take action, or at the least, communicate with each other and find support:
- Women who are harassed or face a glass ceiling in the workplace
- Those who endure racism
- LGBTQ people and homophobia
For left handed people, it's a different matter.
Left handed adults have very few problems with it. Aside from possible hiring discrimination (e.g. mechanical devices and machines designed only to be operated with the right hand), it's a non-issue. Adults have the experience, education and knowledge to adapt, adjust or take legal action.
Left handed children, on the other hand, have massive problems. Women, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ people who can obtain support from family, teachers and community. But for left handed children, their own families, teachers and community are most often the source of discrimination and abuse. The people who should be their support system are most often the source of the problem, and left handed children have no one they can ask for help.
Without that sense of community, left handed children lack a support structure, and are isolated. And because they are young, they lack the experience, knowledge and ability to help themselves. It really is the same way gay people felt decades ago, as if they're the only one in the world, and everyone is telling them they're wrong.
Often the only left handed person in their families. If the parents are biased against left handedness because of religion or culture, they will try to force the child to switch hands.
In schools, teachers are almost all left handed and fail to teach left handed children properly. "Corporal punishment" and verbal abuse still go on, even where it's illegal. I've seen it first hand, teaching in various Asian countries.
Communities and cultures often perpetuate ignorant and outdated views that left handedness is "evil", "dirty", "stupid" or "awkward", none of which is true.
Parents: If your child is left handed, educate yourself instead of taking it out on your child. Forcing a child to change hands is a form of child abuse. Read books. Become informed and understand that left handedness is as natural as one's gender.
Teachers: Respect the fact that left handedness is natural and does not need to be "changed", that abuse is not acceptable. Your personal views have no place in the classroom. You have an obligation to treat that child with respect, and an obligation to do your job and teach that child. Neglect and passive-aggressive behaviour are as much abuse as violence or insults.
Communities: "Culture" is a choice. Ignorance is a choice. Left handedness is natural.
Religions: Keep your views to yourself. Left handedness is not "evil".
Right hand privilege is wrong
Right hand privilege is wrong.
What does that mean? It means right handed people are unaware of their unearned privilege. It means they should be aware that there are left handed people, and that societal norms, design of objects and everyday behaviours should not be done solely for the benefit of right handed people.
In starting this blog, I am not claiming that the right handed privilege is comparable to racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination. I'm not even calling it organized discrimination. And this is definitely not intended to be confrontational. What I am calling it, however, is a lack of consideration the one in seven people who are left handed, and I am calling for right handed people to think about it.
For adults, right handed privilege is generally a minor issue, except perhaps where dangerous machinery is involved and left handed people are forced to used things with the wrong hand instead of the left hand. The biggest annoyances I have are ones I can work around.
For children, though, right handed privilege is a major issue. Materials in classrooms - books, desks, various objects - are designed for right handed people. But even if objects weren't a consideration, the attitude of teachers, schools, parents and societies are. Children are still forced and harassed to switch hands against their nature, a topic I will go into in other posts.
What does that mean? It means right handed people are unaware of their unearned privilege. It means they should be aware that there are left handed people, and that societal norms, design of objects and everyday behaviours should not be done solely for the benefit of right handed people.
In starting this blog, I am not claiming that the right handed privilege is comparable to racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination. I'm not even calling it organized discrimination. And this is definitely not intended to be confrontational. What I am calling it, however, is a lack of consideration the one in seven people who are left handed, and I am calling for right handed people to think about it.
For adults, right handed privilege is generally a minor issue, except perhaps where dangerous machinery is involved and left handed people are forced to used things with the wrong hand instead of the left hand. The biggest annoyances I have are ones I can work around.
For children, though, right handed privilege is a major issue. Materials in classrooms - books, desks, various objects - are designed for right handed people. But even if objects weren't a consideration, the attitude of teachers, schools, parents and societies are. Children are still forced and harassed to switch hands against their nature, a topic I will go into in other posts.
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