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Because most people are right handed, there is a notion of it being 'natural' to use their right hand. This is probably where we get the overlap with words that
by nickpeterson 9y ago
Because most people are right handed, there is a notion of it being 'natural' to use their right hand. This is probably where we get the overlap with words that mean 'correct'. Doing something left-handed, for most people, is doing it backwards.
People are rarely left-handed, so there is an 'us verses them' notion behind the term. Right handed people are the default and left-handed people are different. Note phrases like "right hand man" describing someone you rely on.
Finally, a large percentage of leaders seem to be left handed (for reasons I cannot fathom), so perhaps sinister meaning evil has some root in people's criticism of those with power?
- kls 9y agoTheory goes, left-handers have an advantage in battle (everyone has fought and trained against a right hander). Those that won, and had good political skills got to rule (and remain ruling) and reproduce, so it was self selecting for leadership. What is odd about that theory is our almost static percentage of the population thru the ages.
- hghhhggv 9y ago> What is odd about that theory is our almost static percentage of the population thru the ages. > odd That simply means the theory is wrong, not "odd".