Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpm.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!gymble!lll-crg!dual!qantel!ihnp4!ihlpm!cher From: cher@ihlpm.UUCP (cherepov) Newsgroups: net.med,net.kids,net.social Subject: Re: Changing Left-handedness to Right-handedness Message-ID: <413@ihlpm.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 17:38:40 EDT Article-I.D.: ihlpm.413 Posted: Tue Aug 13 17:38:40 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 22:07:16 EDT References: <127@unc.unc.UUCP> <464@petrus.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 20 Xref: linus net.med:1857 net.kids:1545 net.social:825 > Back in the "old days" in this country, they taught children to be > right handed. My father was born left-handed, and then re-trained. > He now eats with his left hand, writes with his right, and claims > that the attempt at righting his dexterity has ruined his sense of > direction (which is lousy; mine is good). He is convinced that this > is a usless if not harmful thing to do to children. > -Mark Garrett I am one of such "converts" (not-so-old days in another country). My opinion is that it can improve aptitude for some sports (wrestling, skiing) where ambidexterity is more of a plus, but hurt you in tennis,... I play left-handed, but used to be about equally good (poor?) off both sides in badminton. Should be damaging for guitar-playing. I also have very poor sense of direction and often say "right" while distinctly having in mind "left". Re-training is clearly a very ill-concieved policy, however I can not give any references. Just the idea of creating an invisible handicap for the sake of conforming does not seem reasonable. Mike Cherepov