h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Will you answer 14 questions for me about being a left handed writer? Although its for my brother's tech Im actually interested, and would like to know if anyone does find being left handed a disadvantage...

1. Do you have an interest in Calligraphy? Y/N

2. Are you left handed? Y/N

3. Have you ever written with a pen, other than a ball-point pen? Y/N

4. If yes, what type of pen did you use?

5. Are any pens that you have used been designed specifically for left-handed people? Y/N

6. If yes, what type of pen was it?

7. Does using a pen give you any problems? Y/N

8. If yes, what problems does the pen give you when writing?

9. Is it a disadvantage to be a left-handed writer? Y/N

10. If yes, how do you overcome the problems when writing?

11. Would you use a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

12. Would you consider buying a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

13. Would you use a calligraphy pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

14. Woud you buy a calligraphy pen designed for a left-handed writer?


Thanks guys! You are all stars!

1. No

2. Yes

3. Yes

4. I was made to write with a fountain pen for a brief period at primary school, but eventually was allowed to revert to ball point when it became apparent that all I was producing in my exercise books was smudge.

5. No, not aware any such pens exist.

6. See above

7. Yes

8. Even ball point pens are prone to smudging, especially if the pen is a poor quality one with a higher than normal water content in the ink.

9. Yes

10. Rotate the page so my hand does not drag across the writing as much. I've often thought of going to the same extreme Leonardo Da Vinci went to get around the same problem, but I'm not much good at mirror writing and I don't know any Latin

11. Yes

12. If it was reasonably priced then yes.

13. Maybe if I decide to take up calligraphy.

14. See above, but at the moment no.

Cheers Croz!

1.Yes

2.Yes

3.Yes

4.Rapidograph, Fountain, well er Caligraphy pens.

5.No

6.N/A

7.er NO

8.N/A

9. NO !

10.N/A

11.No

12.No

13.i might try one yes

14.No

No disadvantages at all in writing left-handed. Nor do i curl my hand around over the top of whatever i'm writing.

Glad to be of service.

Alec.

For the record, my answers are identical to Croz's answers.

So it's not worth typing them out meself, really.


Geggs

Thanks guys (not deliberately pushing this back to the top... )

1.yes
2.yes
3. yes
4. caligraphy
5. No
6. N/A
7. not usually
8. occasionaly smudge slow drying ink by rubbing my hand over it
9. sometimes
10. I don't write in script any more, because I have found that slows me down, a problem on timed writing assesments. Also, spiral bound notebooks are painful unless I use them backwards.
11. yes/maybe
12. yes/maybe
13. yes! most left handed calligraphy pens have slanted tips so they are easier to write with.
14. yes
Jen

1. Do you have an interest in Calligraphy? Y/N

No.

2. Are you left handed? Y/N

Yes.

3. Have you ever written with a pen, other than a ball-point pen? Y/N

Yes.

4. If yes, what type of pen did you use?

Cheap fountain pen required by school. Dumped it about ten seconds after the last lesson finished. Stupid, pointless, annoying archaic rubbish it was too.

5. Are any pens that you have used been designed specifically for left-handed people? Y/N

No.

6. If yes, what type of pen was it?

n/a

7. Does using a pen give you any problems? Y/N

It used to. I used to have the full on, curl-your-hand-over-and-smudge-the-ink technique apparently common among left-handers - until a teacher at primary school "re-educated" my technique by repeatedly hitting me round the back of the head with a wooden board rubber or the edge of a ruler every time she saw me writing the "wrong" way. After about six or seven months, this led to two results:

a. My writing technique was successfully changed
b. I have a deep and unshakeable contempt for teachers, especially primary school teachers, and it is my firm belief that the majority of them should not only not be teaching, but should actually be locked up where they can't get at other people's children.

8. If yes, what problems does the pen give you when writing?

No problems nowadays - my hand goes under the letters so the ink doesn't smudge. The ironic thing is that that teacher's efforts were wasted, because nowadays probably less than 1% of the words I commit to paper get there through a pen. They'd have been better off teaching me typing...

9. Is it a disadvantage to be a left-handed writer? Y/N

Occasionally. There are some places who place the pen by default on the right of an area where you're supposed to sign a credit card chit, or whatever, and have it on a chain so short that you can't use it with your left hand. My usual technique is to tut extremely loudly, hold the pen firmly in my left hand at the very limit of the chain and produce a signature shocking in its baroque ridiculousness, and bearing absolutely no possible relation to the one on my card. I then fix the person on the till with a steely glare and dare them to challenge it. So far they never have...

10. If yes, how do you overcome the problems when writing?

A subtle blend of psychology and extreme violence. See above.

11. Would you use a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

If it was free, and if it was cool (i.e. wrote in mauve, or lit up, or made a noise etc.) and if it was in some way noticeably different than a normal pen, which gives me no problems.

12. Would you consider buying a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

Never. Most stuff designed specifically for lefties is a con.

13. Would you use a calligraphy pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?

I would never use a calligraphy pen in any case. N/A.

14. Woud you buy a calligraphy pen designed for a left-handed writer?

See above.

H.

Um, just for the record I was born left handed but broke my left collar bone when I was 2 and was so into drawing at the time I forced myself to become right handed, and never switched back

Funny - my school introduced me to the fountain pen, and started me on a lifetime's journey into calligraphy, draughtsmanship and design which is currently my only source of income!

My father's tale is eerily similar

guys!

Cloviscat:

Was said school your primary school? By the time I first held a fountain pen, the damage (to the back of my head and my impression of teachers) had long been done in a previous institution...

H.

Primary schools who force children to use fountain pens deserve their reputations!

I'd recommend introducing them in a middle school system, but in the first year (before the riff-raff come along) for maximum effect

Sheesh - don't these primary teachers realise what they do to people?

Rather than shamelessly hijacking AFC's thread, I should really fill in the q-aire. I'm right handed, but I guess from Q2 that I'm allowed to provide a 'control' respones:

1. Do you have an interest in Calligraphy?
Y

2. Are you left handed?
N

3. Have you ever written with a pen, other than a ball-point pen?
Y

4. If yes, what type of pen did you use?
Fibretips, cartdidge pens, fountain pens

5. Are any pens that you have used been designed specifically for left-handed people?
No - because I'm right handed

6. If yes, what type of pen was it?
N/A

7. Does using a pen give you any problems? Y/N
Y

8. If yes, what problems does the pen give you when writing?
I get a nasty sore bump on the forefinger side of my right finger, but only if I write a lot, like doing exams or filling in forms

9. Is it a disadvantage to be a left-handed writer? Y/N
Wouldn't know, I'm right handed!

10. If yes, how do you overcome the problems when writing?
N/A

11. Would you use a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
No - because I'm right handed

12. Would you consider buying a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
Only as a gift for a left hander who used that type of pen

13. Would you use a calligraphy pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
Only as a gift for a left hander who used that type of pe

14. Woud you buy a calligraphy pen designed for a left-handed writer?
Only as a gift for a left hander who used that type of pen

Don't know if that works really, or if it helps, but you're welcome to it

" the first year (before the riff-raff come along)"

" don't these primary teachers realise what they do to people?"

I'm glad you make the distinction - as I often do - between "primary teachers" and "people"...

H.

Hey! That's my mother you're talking about! Would you care to step outside...?

No, on second thoughts, let's not start all that again!

*moving swiftly on*

1. Do you have an interest in Calligraphy? Y/N
N

2. Are you left handed? Y/N
N

3. Have you ever written with a pen, other than a ball-point pen? Y/N
Y

4. If yes, what type of pen did you use?
Fountain Pen, fibre-tip pen, board marker, gel pen,

5. Are any pens that you have used been designed specifically for left-handed people? Y/N
N

6. If yes, what type of pen was it?
N/A

7. Does using a pen give you any problems? Y/N
Y

8. If yes, what problems does the pen give you when writing?
Can't rub it out
Inky fingers (if a fountain pen)

9. Is it a disadvantage to be a left-handed writer? Y/N
Don't know

10. If yes, how do you overcome the problems when writing?
N/A

11. Would you use a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
No

12. Would you consider buying a pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
See 11

13. Would you use a calligraphy pen specifically designed for a left-handed writer?
See 12

14. Woud you buy a calligraphy pen designed for a left-handed writer?
See 13



Ben

You are all fantastic.

My brother would really appreciate it if you wonderful people could mosey on over to F19585?thread=260898 where you can give extra insights into fun things like how do you break pens!

guys. Much appreciated.