View Full Version : Lefties are More Apt for Creative Genius?


Legacy~Art
01-16-2005, 03:47 PM
Lefties are More Apt for Creative Genius: A really interesting question is whether there is any connection between left-handed people and creative genius. As one of the most common myths of left-handed people, Pieper states coincidence rather then consequence.

"Some of history's most creative minds have been left-handed," says Pieper. "Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Ludwig van Beethoven, Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein were all left-handed according to history. But just as we can name all these wonderfully talented left-handers, we can also name just as many right-handers. There are no concrete facts to prove or disprove any relation between being left-handed and being exceptionally in any field. However, even if it isn't fact that left-handedness gives rise to creative genius, left-handed children and parents can take comfort to know that they are in good company."

I got an email from a friend about Left-Handed kids (http://toddlerstoday.com/resources/articles/lefthand.htm) As i told him a story that when i was at school around the age of 5 to 10 the headmaster thought left handed people did not have enough brains to be geniuses let alone remotely clever so he made all the left handed kids go into his room at a lunch time and tried to convert us by getting us to write with our right hand...Never ever worked for me. :bawling:

Legacy~

Flora
01-16-2005, 04:46 PM
You managed your poll very fast!!!! (obviously left-handed!!!) :wink:

Gosh, after reading that list of names I'd just love to cheat and say I'm left-handed too....

Truth is .... right-handed female...

P.S. I'm going to delete your first (test) Thread on this same topic ....

Legacy~Art
01-16-2005, 05:00 PM
I will get use to these forums very soon...

Legacy~

MBChamberlain
01-16-2005, 07:57 PM
You don't have an option for those of us who are ambidextrous...

I usually write righthanded, but I can use both for almost everything else

Michael

Gary Richardson
01-17-2005, 12:23 AM
I'm with Mike, in that I'm ambidextrous also. Have ticked right handed, as I am
slightly more right handed than left.

byRo
01-17-2005, 09:33 AM
left-handed male

(lefty activist) As we live in a right-handed world, it would only be fair if we got a good break like this.

Up to a couple o months ago I was perfectly happy being a lefty, then I read that someone discovered that a lefty's time on this earth is usually a wee bit less than for "normal" people. Can I change hands now?

byRo

earthman
01-17-2005, 10:50 AM
I write and draw with my left hand, use scissors with my right, throw with my right.... I'm just confussed, I think :confused:

MBChamberlain
01-17-2005, 12:56 PM
ByRo,

The main reason that lefties have a shorter life span is because a good number of them are killed using things for right handed people. Stay away from things like right handed chain saws and you'll be ok. (I don't know of many things that aren't made for lefties too.)

Michael

CJ Swartz
01-17-2005, 01:23 PM
I've always considered myself a lefty since I write and eat with my left hand, but like some others, I use my right hand for some things -- throw underhanded (throw over-handed with my left), use scissors, drink from a glass... Definitely not a creative genius, but am good at adapting what others create to suit my own purpose.

The Saturday Evening Post had an article about all the things that lefties had to deal with in a right-handed world (this was in the early '50's before most businesses saw "differences" as an opportunity to create a niche for their products) -- one of the worst was the enclosed phone booth -- if a lefty could get in and close the door, they were trapped in a tiny room created only for right-handed activities. :shocked:

Legacy~Art
01-17-2005, 02:15 PM
Funny thing about being a Leftie...

I am youngest of seven...I am the only one in my family that is left handed, my parents both were right handed too.

My Mum taught me how to use knife and fork the right handed way, at school the teachers insisted i learn to write with my right hand, could never get the hang of it...

I had a cruel headmaster he hated having left handed kids in his school, seriously talk about old school...There was about 20 in 1000 kids that had to go through hell being left handed.

But hey i knew i was Unique...lol from the moment i was born! :lmao:

Janet Petty
01-17-2005, 02:55 PM
I'm so left handed that even after 25 years of marriage my husband still won't follow my directions anywhere because they are usually backward.

Do any of you other lefties write in a notebook from the back to the front?

Janet

Legacy~Art
01-17-2005, 04:21 PM
Janet - I don't write in a notepad back to front but what i do is turn the paper so its longways and turn my left arm so i am writing...Funny thing it never looks slanted my handwriting its always neat and straight...

Lol also at your directions...I get lost everywhere i go, directions i cannot follow...

FrannyMae
01-17-2005, 05:32 PM
Had to share the message on the T-shirt I bought my extremely lefthanded daughter:

Everyone is born right handed, only the gifted overcome it!

There may be something to this, as she is majoring in Art, while her righthanded mother can barely draw a stick man. Oh well.....

Legacy~Art
01-17-2005, 06:34 PM
I need that t shirt...

I might get those words added to a t shirt...

That will get people thinking!

byRo
01-18-2005, 03:17 AM
Do any of you other lefties write in a notebook from the back to the front?
I remember when I had artistic calligraphy (is that how you spell it?) lessons at school. The only way I could get the thick and thin strokes in the right place was to turn the paper 90 degrees and write from top to bottom. Actually I think it was an advantage :pleased: because instead of writing I was drawing and ended up making a lot fewer mistakes.


Janet Petty
01-18-2005, 07:14 AM
Calligraphy? Isn't that what fonts are for? :dizzy: :lmao: :dizzy:


Janet

Juliana Ross
01-19-2005, 12:20 PM
I use whatever hand is handy for whatever I am doing. (terrible pun, sorry)
;)
I do have prefered hands for particular tasks writing with the right, eating with the left. I can't use a drafting table set up for a right handed person for some reason....even though it seem counter productive, I find it easiest to use the left handed equipment and reach over the stuff with my right.

and the notebook thing...my poor brother was constantly getting notes sent home from the teacher....because he would get to the middle of the notebook, switch hands and keep right on going.

Chip Hildreth
01-21-2005, 11:23 AM
I do most things righthanded but have a tendancy to do right brained things lefty. I draw lefthanded... usually; I write right-handed. I shoot a camera with my left eye; I shoot a rifle with my right eye. When driving, skating or kayaking my strong side is my left. I throw a ball with my right hand. I chose RH Male in the poll.

I don't draw a correlation with CREATIVE genius and lefties but I've never met a lefty who wasn't, in my judgement, above average in cognitive ability. A few of those, close friends were highly intelligent and academically gifted but about as creative as a cup of mud.

Chip

Legacy~Art
01-21-2005, 06:26 PM
Very interesting i never even thought about if i used my left or right eye more...Well it seems us Lefties here are outnumbered...

Any lurkers want to come and give us your vote?

cardmnal
04-17-2006, 06:29 PM
Funny I never saw this thread before. The poll is closed but I cast mine as a confused lefty.

I eat, write, draw and shoot pool left handed. I use my right for throwing. I use most hand tools, including hammers, with either.

The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body therefore I think it is safe to say only left handed people are in their right minds :lmao:

klassylady25
04-18-2006, 08:42 AM
Just think of the advantage... you may one day write standing on your head!! You go!!! ;)