Are lefties actually smarter?

Jessica Chavez4 Active Member

67 messages
joined Jul 2012

#61 · Jun 2, 2012

Dennis Bailey2 said:Icy. 🤦 Look, left-handedness only stopped being treated like a disgrace about 40 years ago. Before that, kids were forced to write with their right hands, and they managed just fine.

Nowadays, anyone can pick up left-handed writing if they want to; it’s purely a matter of grit and persistence. For example, when my right arm was stuck in a cast for two months, I picked it up without any trouble at all.

If lefties are supposedly "superior" because of how they process information or whatever pseudo-scientific theory people cling to, why don't we see that reflected anywhere else? Aside from having an advantage in certain positions on a soccer field or a baseball diamond, there's zero evidence. 🤣

Sure, they can write without issues, but give me a second to read what they actually wrote. 🤣

My kids, for one, never learned how to write neatly because it just wasn't natural for them. They do everything left-handed, so when they try using their right hand, it’s a total mess.

Dennis Harris4 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jun 2012

#62 · Jun 2, 2012

Well, count me in on the left side of the political spectrum—and just so we’re clear, I have absolutely zero artistic talent whatsoever! 😁

Jonathan Reyes3 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jun 2012

#63 · Jun 2, 2012

My five-year-old niece is a lefty. I have to say—she’s quite sharp, genuinely bright... she just loves to dance and sing, always bouncing around 🙂 😍

Though, it doesn't necessarily follow that lefties are more intelligent. 🙂 Who's to say, really? 🤷

Her father 🙂 was almost exactly the same way, though her parents eventually steered him toward using his right hand...

rowdymason38 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Dec 2011

#64 · Jun 2, 2012

Edward Johnson50 said:Here’s my take on what I know about them:
- way sharper perception (honestly, they put today's crowd to shame)
- a memory like an elephant
- just naturally gifted when it comes to acting, music, painting... basically, they were born artists 😁
- total bundles of energy—super hyperactive
- and get this—scientists have actually claimed that every single leftie who sat for an IQ test clocked in at over 140

What do you guys think? Let me hear your thoughts!

I couldn't disagree more.

There are undoubtedly genetic permutations—or various environmental factors, for that matter—where someone happens to be left-handed without being particularly "brilliant."

To suggest that absolutely every left-hander fits that specific profile is, in my view, a massive overreach—if not outright nonsense.

Perhaps they trend higher on average? Maybe. But that does not mean that EVERY left-hander is built that way.

Nicholas Nguyen Active Member

80 messages
joined Oct 2016

#65 · Jun 2, 2012

vividraven7 said:ambidekster 🤷 And when you try doing all that right-handed stuff with your left... are you just clumsy or what?

No clue... maybe you're like me. Nobody ever bothered to correct you, so you just practiced until it stuck. 😉

True enough. If I try tossing a baseball with my left hand, it looks pretty awkward 😬 or any other task with the left side feels off. Writing with my right is actually more clumsy, though I suppose with enough practice, I could probably get it close to how I write with my left. 🤷

Jonathan Fowler14 Member

30 messages
joined Jan 2023

#66 · Jun 2, 2012

I know three Leos pretty well: two girlfriends and a guy friend. I wouldn't say high intelligence or an interest in the arts is their common denominator, but I have noticed they all share this incredible charisma. They’re just so open and approach everything with such energy... I'm not sure if it's a coincidence, but it certainly doesn't feel like one to me. Maybe I should start promoting them more! 😁

steelskipper5 Active Member

176 messages
joined Feb 2010

#67 · Jun 2, 2012

hollowpilot3 said:Leftists might actually have an edge when it comes to athletics. The logic is pretty simple: on average they tend to possess faster reaction times than what we see today. Of course, I’m specifically talking about sports where those split-second reflexes make all the difference.

That’s just not right.

Look, lefties definitely have a leg up in certain sports—I'll give you that. But that advantage mostly shows up in combat sports or stuff like that, where being the opposite of what someone expects doesn't necessarily mean you're reacting faster—it's more about throwing the opponent off balance and making them hesitate.

In other sports, there isn't much of a difference, and honestly, in some cases, lefties might even be at a slight disadvantage—partly because finding gear that actually fits is such a pain. 😁

hollowpilot3 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2012

#68 · Jun 3, 2012

steelskipper5 said:That’s just not right.

Look, lefties definitely have a leg up in certain sports—I'll give you that. But that advantage mostly shows up in combat sports or stuff like that, where being the opposite of what someone expects doesn't necessarily mean you're reacting faster—it's more about throwing the opponent off balance and making them hesitate.

In other sports, there isn't much of a difference, and honestly, in some cases, lefties might even be at a slight disadvantage—partly because finding gear that actually fits is such a pain. 😁

Here is the link. I actually first stumbled upon this through an article by Kelly Baggett. Obviously, we're talking about averages here. It's not like every single lefty is going to outpace every single righty out there.

As for that advantage from having an opposite orientation, I agree (though lefties have their own issues too—mainly running into other lefties).

BTW, in Springfield, Ned Flanders used to run a shop where he even sold nunchucks specifically designed for lefties.

hollowpilot3 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2012

#69 · Jun 3, 2012

Who’s to blame if I decided to stay in tonight instead of heading out? Now I’m stuck here with nothing better to do...

Let's put those claims to the test and see what we actually find; hopefully, we can round up enough people from that left-wing intelligence study to get a decent sample size.
Here is a test to measure your reaction time. Post your results along with your orientation (spatial, not gender-based 😬). I'll kick things off:

right index finger - 176.6 ms

P.S. I ran this six times to get that average.

Richard Morris43 Active Member

57 messages
joined Apr 2008

#70 · Jun 3, 2012

So I see everyone's just obsessed with talking about intelligence, but honestly, there's a whole other side to this coin that nobody seems to want to touch.
Like, if you actually look at the data from various left-wing intelligence studies, it turns out that leftists tend to have shorter lifespans—we're talking an average of ten years less than right-wingers—and they also deal with much higher rates of mental health issues.
It’s pretty clear that, generally speaking, they're just more fragile and prone to struggles compared to the right.

Megan Williams5 Member

19 messages
joined Jul 2010

#71 · Jun 3, 2012

Demant Richard Morris43; we're more prone to injuries simply because everything is designed for the right-handed majority. Because of that, lefties supposedly live ten years less on average. (I’m not entirely sure how they calculated that figure)

I haven't found any specific left-wing intelligence study; that link everyone keeps posting just claims a huge number of lefties have achieved great things.

The reality is our thinking is less analytical and more divergent, which might ultimately lead to more creative solutions. Or we just get lost in the divergence. 🤣

It's a fact that being left-handed is a result of right-hemisphere dominance.

Are we generally clumsier? Maybe. It's probably because most things aren't built for us.

Left-handedness is much more common in males, and there are studies suggesting it's a result of higher testosterone levels affecting the embryo.

The rest is just prejudice, prejudice, and more prejudice.

And I am allergic to it. Especially when you end up at a university that happens to have a slightly higher percentage of lefties than others, only to have a TA lecture you on how "lefties are completely handicapped."

Personally, I started drawing very early; I've always been driven artistically... but the only technique that actually clicked for me was pencil. I haven't tried much else, and a lot of other mediums just contribute to smudging everything we work on.

There is no "correct" way for a lefty to write from left to right, since you're always dragging your hand over what you just wrote. I often draw from right to left just to avoid the mess.

Math came easy to me. I have no issues with spatial awareness.
Emotional intelligence, social interactions, clumsiness... it's a nightmare. I consider myself more complicated than most. And different.

But then again, everyone loves to think they're special... the question is how special we actually are.

That little test above;
As a lefty, I can't move faster than 250 ms...

Richard Morris43 Active Member

57 messages
joined Apr 2008

#72 · Jun 4, 2012

Both my sisters are total lefties, so they aren't exactly outliers or anything... just your run-of-the-mill examples. Honestly, the only weird thing I actually remember is that they both used to try and write from right to left when they were little.

I can't even figure out if my kid is left-handed or right-handed yet. One minute he’s going all in with his left hand, then the next he's switched over to the right. It's totally unpredictable.🤷
Whenever I'd give him some crayons or markers, he’d just scribble away with zero interest in what he was actually doing—just mindless doodling, really.
But then I go out and buy him some watercolors, and suddenly, boom—he's an artist! He draws a sun, a tree, some grass, and everything looks perfectly color-coordinated.

Gerald Fowler5 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Jun 2012

#73 · Jun 10, 2012

I’m thinking all of this might actually apply more to ambidextrous folks, since they're essentially engaging more areas of the brain at once, rather than just being strictly right-handed or left-handed 😵 hmmm, and honestly, speaking from my own experience, I wouldn't go so far as to say lefties are any smarter than righties. I have plenty of friends who are left-handed—and plenty who aren't—and I've never really noticed a gap in intelligence or intellect between them :/

Chloe Price2 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Jun 2011

#74 · Jun 10, 2012

The results from my Moog testing session:

344 ms 🙂

Right-handed.

Nicholas Nguyen Active Member

80 messages
joined Oct 2016

#75 · Jun 10, 2012

My results fluctuated between 220 ms and roughly 250 ms over several days (using sets of five clicks). Fatigue likely played a role in those deviations. I used my right hand since I hold my mouse with my right hand anyway (I type with my left). 😬

hollowpilot3 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jun 2012

#76 · Jun 11, 2012

People have actually been dropping tips on how to boost your results, too. Here’s one I spotted:

Take a deep breath before you hit start, then let it out slowly. (Just don't be smoking weed while you're doing the breathing exercises).

goldenscout14 Active Member

68 messages
joined Nov 2011

#77 · Jun 11, 2012

Megan Williams5 said:Demant Richard Morris43; we're more prone to injuries simply because everything is designed for the right-handed majority. Because of that, lefties supposedly live ten years less on average. (I’m not entirely sure how they calculated that figure)

I haven't found any specific left-wing intelligence study; that link everyone keeps posting just claims a huge number of lefties have achieved great things.

The reality is our thinking is less analytical and more divergent, which might ultimately lead to more creative solutions. Or we just get lost in the divergence. 🤣

It's a fact that being left-handed is a result of right-hemisphere dominance.

Are we generally clumsier? Maybe. It's probably because most things aren't built for us.

Left-handedness is much more common in males, and there are studies suggesting it's a result of higher testosterone levels affecting the embryo.

The rest is just prejudice, prejudice, and more prejudice.

And I am allergic to it. Especially when you end up at a university that happens to have a slightly higher percentage of lefties than others, only to have a TA lecture you on how "lefties are completely handicapped."

Personally, I started drawing very early; I've always been driven artistically... but the only technique that actually clicked for me was pencil. I haven't tried much else, and a lot of other mediums just contribute to smudging everything we work on.

There is no "correct" way for a lefty to write from left to right, since you're always dragging your hand over what you just wrote. I often draw from right to left just to avoid the mess.

Math came easy to me. I have no issues with spatial awareness.
Emotional intelligence, social interactions, clumsiness... it's a nightmare. I consider myself more complicated than most. And different.

But then again, everyone loves to think they're special... the question is how special we actually are.

That little test above;
As a lefty, I can't move faster than 250 ms...

Megan Williams5 Member

19 messages
joined Jul 2010

#78 · Jun 12, 2012

goldenscout14 said:

I can't speak for the rest of the left-wing crowd, but I'm literally clenching my fist while typing this. I'll attempt to write this way, though I doubt they could even manage it.

Michelle Alvarez8 Regular

299 messages
joined Nov 2015

#79 · Jun 12, 2012

Edward Johnson50 said:Here’s my take on what I know about them:
- way sharper perception (honestly, they put today's crowd to shame)
- a memory like an elephant
- just naturally gifted when it comes to acting, music, painting... basically, they were born artists 😁
- total bundles of energy—super hyperactive
- and get this—scientists have actually claimed that every single leftie who sat for an IQ test clocked in at over 140

What do you guys think? Let me hear your thoughts!

Then I look at my cousin—someone who wouldn't know perception if it hit her in the face, who would spend hours searching for a Briton just to walk past him a few times, whose memory only kicks in when she needs to remember which celebrity hung out with whom, who’s only "talented" at acting when she’s too lazy to get herself a glass of water, who's as hyperactive as a Sphinx, and definitely isn't exactly a genius in the IQ department.

Richard Morris43 Active Member

57 messages
joined Apr 2008

#80 · Jun 12, 2012

Dennis Bailey2 said:Icy. 🤦 Look, left-handedness only stopped being treated like a disgrace about 40 years ago. Before that, kids were forced to write with their right hands, and they managed just fine.

Nowadays, anyone can pick up left-handed writing if they want to; it’s purely a matter of grit and persistence. For example, when my right arm was stuck in a cast for two months, I picked it up without any trouble at all.

If lefties are supposedly "superior" because of how they process information or whatever pseudo-scientific theory people cling to, why don't we see that reflected anywhere else? Aside from having an advantage in certain positions on a soccer field or a baseball diamond, there's zero evidence. 🤣

tell that to my in-laws🤦

Are lefties actually smarter?

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