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From: js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.followup,net.misc
Subject: Results of handedness survey
Message-ID: <649@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Mar-85 12:46:50 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.649
Posted: Wed Mar  6 12:46:50 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Mar-85 05:15:15 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 38
Xref: watmath net.flame:8696 net.followup:4603 net.misc:7488


    Well, here it is, folks.  What you're all been waiting for...
The results of the 1985 net handedness survey!  I didn't receive any
new responses today, so I decided it was about time to tally the
results and post this note.         

    Total number of respondents: 49
    Lefties:                     21  ==> 43%
    Righties:                    26  ==> 53%
    Ambies:                       2  ==>  4%

    As I mentioned before, I didn't include anyone who only posted their
responses to the net, and I didn't include anyone's family, although
a few people thought it necessary to tell me the handedness of everyone
they knew.  I also ignored the person who told me that someone else was
wrong about their own handedness.
    Four people responded with the numbers for % of lefthanders in the
general population.  These were: 17%, 15%, 10%, and 8%.  Whichever way
you slice it, it's clear that the people who responded to the survey have
a lot more lefties than the average.
    What can we conclude from this?  Well, either we have a lot more
lefties on the net than elsewhere, *OR* righties on the net are not as
likely to respond to handedness surveys than lefties.  (You can't blame
them for being slightly ashamed to be right-handed.)  More likely, some
combination of both of these factors.
    Someone mentioned that there are *no* lefties in the USSR.  (presumably
because lefties are purposely driven out of their right minds by prejudiced
elementary school teachers.)  If this is true, it's not too suprising, 
since it was only a decade or so ago that our own educators became convinced
that left-handedness might not be a sign of eeville.
    In case anyone hasn't guessed yet, I myself am one of the few, the proud,
the lefties.  Well, thanks for all of the responses, everyone.  Even you 
righties.
-- 
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j
     "That little red hen said to that little red rooster:
      You don't come 'round no more, like you used to." - Taj Mahal