On Thu, 4 Feb 2016 07:47:00 -0800 (PST), whisky-dave
wrote:

snip

Not aure how you could do such a thing with left or right.

Hmmm, good point. I guess some of us find accepting / remembering that
something just 'is' easier than others.

But there should be some logic to it, there should be some way of decribing left or right but there isn't as it's totally reliant on a human to understand the idea.

But how is that any different to remembering your name or what 'hot'
conveys to anyone?

Left and right (like port and starboard) are only man made labels for
things that already exist, just as forward and back are. So, (and from
my POV of course), why is left and right any more difficult to learn /
understand than back and forward. If 'forward' is the same way as your
face then right is the same side as the hand you write with (or the
opposite side if it isn't)? ;-)


eg. I have two hands, a left hand and a right hand. The hand I (happen
to) write with is my right hand and so that side / way is 'the right'.
I can also do it just as easily when describing left and right to
someone who is facing or and 90 degrees to me. It just 'is'?

You're describing hands rather than a direction that the point.

It's the same things though isn't it? If I tell someone to 'turn
right' it's the same direction as their right hand?

Not ever creature has hands, try explaining it to a star fish.

Ok. ;-)


I have a scar() on my left side, that's how() I've always remmebred left from right.


Well, we do what works Dave and that sounds as good an 'aid-memoir' as
any (all be it you have to take your shirt off to be sure). ;-)

No I don't actually, I'd have to drop my trousers :-0

Ah, that might take some explaining. ;-)

But having the scar from before my first birthday it's difficult to forget such a thing that goes half way up my leg.

But haven't you had your right hand for even longer? Ok, I can see if
you were ambidextrous it would be difficult to use that to remember
left / right via the hand you write with but if it was really that bad
I think I'd have a 'R' tattooed on my right hand (because being able
to know your left from right can be quite important).

snip

It still interests me (from a human observation pov) just how many
people, often adults don't instinctively know their left from right.

Maybe that's an indication that it isn;t as logical as you think.

You may be right (or left ducks) mate but of course to any of us
where it seems to come 'naturally', it is logical. ;-(

What even in women :-
Maybe their 'logical' is just different.

I'm pretty sure it is (and as yet un deciphered). ;-)

I went out on Friday and came back on Monday, the Mrs had the right
hump and I hadn't even been there! ;-)

Cheers, T i m