Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Worst Parts About Being Left-Handed

The Worst Parts About Being Left-Handed
white spiral book with pens and watches
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Make us preferred on Google

Roughly 12 percent of the world's population is left handed.

Studies have shown that being in this distinct minority comes with a number of advantages.

Indeed, four the last seven Presidents of the United States were all left-handed,

And considering Phil Mickelson, Rafael Nadal and Oscar De La Hoya are all left-handed as well, it seems lefties are at an advantage on the field or in the court or arena.

Though, if you were to speak to a left-handed person about their experience, they'll more than likely bemoan all the disadvantages of being a lefty.

Of which, there are admittedly several.


Redditor Mythalieon waa curious to hear what people considered the biggest disadvantage to being left-handed, leading them to ask:
"What is the worst thing about being left-handed?"

Take Your Pick...But Mainly Scissors...

"The smudging is annoying."

"The right-handed desks suck."

"But it’s scissors, man."

"F*cking scissors."- Icy_Mortgage6654

Sucks The Joy Out Of Morning Coffee

"All the cute designs on mugs are only visible for right handed people."- jdon93

Baking Complications

"Measuring cup labels are on the other side when I use my left hand."- maninthemoonpie

Great British Baking Show GIF by PBSGiphy

Good Penmanship Is Futile

"Fountain pens, and pencils."

"F*cking hate smudges."- deanfranz12

"When you write, you have to put your whole arm on the paper because you are actively pushing it."

"Whereas right handed people just have to apply a little force not to pull the paper."- iStealP

To Assume Makes An A** Out Of You And Me...

"When someone tries to teach you how to play guitar, line up a pool cue, shoot a bow and arrow, and they can’t because you’re left-handed."- aeowyn7

Dougie Payne Guitar GIF by TravisGiphy

At Least Some Progress Has Been Made...

"My grandad was left-handed."

"He went to a catholic school, this was in the 1930s/early 1940s UK, and the nuns would tie his left hand behind him and hit him until he wrote with his right hand."

"They said that it was a ‘sign of the devil’ if someone was left-handed."

"So cruel."- miz_moon

Might As Well Be Dying...

"Hearing the following words:"

"'Ohhh you're left handed!'"

"It becomes grating after the 1000th time of hearing it."- redbutterfly_78

In All Seriousness, It's Worse Than You Think...

"Left handed people aren't taught how to write as lefties, they are taught as if they are right handed."

"Pens tips are designed for right handed people, especially ballpoint and fountain pens."

"But even others work less efficiently for lefties."

"This is because we have to push the pen across the page, whereas they are pulling it."

"This causes frequent breaks in pencil tips, catching of nibs, and this ink/graphite will be rubbed against the lefties' hands, often ruining their writing."

"In addition, this pushing motion means there is pressure going into the hand of the lefty, trying to push the pen into their grip."

"As a result, they have to squeeze tightly."

"This reduces control of the pen, leading to bad handwriting and pain after even short periods."

"I know doing exams was awful for the lefties."

"Handwriting is for right handed people."

"Pretty obvious, you are taught a way to move your hand to get the shapes of letters, but lefties aren't taught the opposite."

"They are just left to figure it out, but these kids don't know what they are doing wrong."

"A lack of equipment for lefties, whether it is left handed scissors or desks or sharpeners."

"It may seem trivial, but these little things can make a leftie feel weird or like their can't figure out even the tiny little things that everyone else is getting so quickly."

"The effects:"

"This is a cause of lefties craning their wrists round so that they don't smudge and get a better pulling motion."

"As well as craning wrists, some may lean round, or massively rotate their page just so it isn't in the way, but no one taught them these solutions."

"Bad handwriting."

"Lack of confidence, which affects schoolwork and how the kid see his/herself."

"It may be the kid simply can't do what their classmates can do, despite trying his/her hardest."

"Uncomfortable positions causing pain in the neck, back and wrist."

"There are some, very small, organizations that have developed ways to properly teach left handed children how to sit and write comfortably."

"It usually involves angling the page slightly, but clockwise, whereas most lefties angle it anti-clockwise."

"I'd gladly volunteer my time to teach left-handed kids how to write."- untakenu

Left-handed people have to take the good and the bad much more than right-handed people.

However, considering Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were all left-handed, it seems that it's easy to make the most of the disadvantage.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Cher and Bob Mackie
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Cher Leads Poignant Tributes To Iconic Fashion Designer Bob Mackie After His Death At 87

On September 14, designer Bob Mackie passed away. While he did design clothing collections and accessories available to the masses, Mackie was best known as an icon who designed for icons.

Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Elton John, and Diana Ross were among the legendary names Mackie designed for.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Trump Epically Fact-Checked After Claiming More People Watched His GOP Midterm Convention Than NFL Opener

President Donald Trump was swiftly fact-checked after he claimed that his recent midterm convention "beat the NFL" in viewership, referring to the 2025-26 season kickoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

Trump spoke for nearly two hours that night, with his address airing live on Fox News as well as the Nielsen-rated cable networks Newsmax and NewsNation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephen Colbert; Donald Trump
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Stephen Colbert Had Hilarious Reaction After Being Asked About Trump Following Emmy Win

After taking home six Emmys, including for Outstanding Variety Series, comedian Stephen Colbert had the perfect reaction after he was asked if he thought that President Donald Trump got The Late Show canceled.

Colbert was approached backstage by Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh, who asked if Colbert believes his show "was canceled because of Donald Trump?” Colbert merely said, "What?" and turned instead to CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kash Patel; Cory Booker
Win McNamee/Getty Images (left and right)

Cory Booker Compares 'Disgrace' Kash Patel To Failed Frat Boy In Epic Rant During Heated Senate Hearing

New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker lost his patience with FBI Director Kash Patel during his testimony in the Senate on Tuesday and called him a "disgrace" while also reserving other pointed criticism toward Republicans as a whole.

Booker accused Patel of overseeing the "generational destruction of the nation's premier law enforcement agency" during testimony in which Patel claimed there is "no credible information" to prove the late financer, sex trafficker, and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein trafficked victims to anyone other than himself.

Keep ReadingShow less
Katie Dippold at Apple TV's Primetime Emmy Party Red Carpet held at Nya Studios West.
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images

Emmy-Winning 'Widow's Bay' Creator Went Viral Years Ago With Hilarious Halloween Photo—And Fans Are Obsessed

Forget lifting the curse on Widow’s Bay. After its night at the Emmys, Katie Dippold and company might want to keep whatever supernatural forces are working in their favor.

Apple TV’s horror-comedy premiered in April and stars Matthew Rhys as Tom Loftis, the mayor of a small island town off the coast of New England. Determined to transform Widow’s Bay into a tourist destination, Loftis presses ahead despite locals warning that its sleepy seaside charm comes with some decidedly sinister baggage.

Keep ReadingShow less