Re: First report on Conm

Christophe Grandsire scripsit:

> Lateralisation is a continuum. I know that I am left-handed, and
> behave consistently this way, except that I handle cutlery like right-handed
> people.
More accurately: there is the fully right-handed majority, and then
there is a continuum of various degrees of left-handedness, from people
who do most but not all things with their right hands, through full
ambidexterity, to obligatory sinistrals.  "All right-handed people are
alike; all left-handed people are different."

My left-handed wife basically uses her left hand for all purposes except
handwriting; she can write with her right hand (in a somewhat different
handwriting, less individuated), which is convenient when taking notes.

> the table with the fork on the left and the knife on the right, and I just
> copied on them about the use of the tools.
Bizarrely, Americans still *place* the fork on the left side and the
knife and spoon on the right, but we hold the fork in the right hand,
*except* when also using the knife, in which case we switch the fork
to the left hand, cut with the knife, put both down, and then pick up
the fork in the right hand to eat.  It is very gauche (or European)
to eat with the fork in the left hand (pun intentional).

Go figure.

In any event, unless you are eating by yourself, it is awkward to eat in a
way distinct from your neighbor at the table; you will be bumping elbows.

> There is a definite test of lateralisation, which happens to be available only
> to males ;))))) . I think you can guess yourself what I mean ;))) . It is
> usually correct in 95% of the cases :))) .
Umm, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work for females too.

--
John Cowan           http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
To say that Bilbo's breath was taken away is no description at all.  There
are no words left to express his staggerment, since Men changed the language
that they learned of elves in the days when all the world was wonderful.
        --_The Hobbit_

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