Who's Left?

Hopefully you are, and that's how you ended up here. This site is a resource for left-handed individuals who are looking for information, history, and resources about their small, but significant trait. If you are left-handed, then you are a member of only 15% of the current United States population. This means you're more likely to be obese, claim a disability, or be a pot smoker than you are to be left-handed. So embrace your unique trait, browse around, and discover more about the rich history and abundant resources for left-handed people.

...So why the bad rap?

Left-handers have a history of being socially less-than-desirable. In fact, the term "Sinister" can be loosely translated from its Latin origins to mean left side, or left hand (see sidebar). Alternately, the term that we associate with agility, skill, and competence-of-hand, dexterity, comes from the Latin word, dexter, which means on the right side or right hand. We shake hands with the right hand and we write from left to right (causing lefties to not be able to see what they have just written). Products are developed without consideration for lefties. Desks, spiral notebooks, fishing rods, power tools, and mobile phone antennas are just a few examples of dexter-favoring objects. One famous 19th century detective, Cesare Lombroso, believed that left handedness was an inherited trait of born criminals. An equally famous 21st century technology leader, Steve Jobs, stated, "You're holding it wrong" regarding the iPhone antenna that is disabled when held in the left hand.

If that's not enough, here is a short list of other nuisances for lefties:

• Cameras
• Scissors
• Corkscrews
• Can Openers
• Weed Eaters
• Computer Keyboards
• Computer Mice
• The list goes on and on...

Are you thoroughly depressed now?

Don't be!

You are in good company.

Here is an abbreviated list of some well known sinisters from past and present: