It’s just when people say: ‘go left here’ or me throng to indicate direction in a split second that my change of getting it right reduced to 50%. My brain doesn’t grok that left right isn’t absolute but related to orientation.
What helped me as a kid is imagine to write. That’s my left hand and than I know which is which without thinking too consciously (in case you’re right handed, it’s the other way around obviously).
But interesting that you know absolute directions easily. That’s a cultural thing actually. I think Australian Aborigines will say things like “my western foot hurts” because it’s more intuitive for them that way.
If I think for it for s second I know, I’ll think about my dominant hand too (although my dominant feet is on the opposite side so I don’t have a clear dominant side).
Yeah the aboriginal method seems way more intuitive to me, yet it probably won’t replace the left right system anytime soon :p
I only mention it as for the last forty years or so every time that someone has said left or right I’ve twitched my hands to work out which one I hold a pen(cil) with. Takes less than half a second and I don’t need to look at them either. It’s not unique not immediately knowing which is which. Live with it.
I have problems telling right from left. At least I’m the moment, if I take my time I can tell.
But I almost always know my cardinal directions
If you extend your thumb and first finger, the L shape that is the correct way around is on your left hand.
Yeah I know when I have time to think about it.
It’s just when people say: ‘go left here’ or me throng to indicate direction in a split second that my change of getting it right reduced to 50%. My brain doesn’t grok that left right isn’t absolute but related to orientation.
Just remember that port is a 4 letter word and so is left. So left is port and right is starboard.
Thnx, very helpful.
What helped me as a kid is imagine to write. That’s my left hand and than I know which is which without thinking too consciously (in case you’re right handed, it’s the other way around obviously).
But interesting that you know absolute directions easily. That’s a cultural thing actually. I think Australian Aborigines will say things like “my western foot hurts” because it’s more intuitive for them that way.
If I think for it for s second I know, I’ll think about my dominant hand too (although my dominant feet is on the opposite side so I don’t have a clear dominant side).
Yeah the aboriginal method seems way more intuitive to me, yet it probably won’t replace the left right system anytime soon :p
Do you “write” with your “right” hand? That’s how I remember.
Like I said repeatedly. If I get to think about it I know what side is what. It’s only in the moment when I falter
I only mention it as for the last forty years or so every time that someone has said left or right I’ve twitched my hands to work out which one I hold a pen(cil) with. Takes less than half a second and I don’t need to look at them either. It’s not unique not immediately knowing which is which. Live with it.