Among 10 of my best pals, 3 of them still not 100% sure which is left and which is right even though they are 22 this year. Even my dad, 55, has the same problem. he can say 'left' with his finger pointing right when pin-pointing a direction. I don't think this is something to do with IQ as one of three of my best pal that having this problem is a really smart guy. Sorry for my lousy English, I failed my English Exam. I have classified this question as Science as I heard someone said before this is due to a 'failure' from the brain.
2006-06-18 17:44:39 · 10 answers · asked by viper_xeno 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Among 10 of my best pals, 3 of them still not 100% sure which is left and which is right even though they are 22 this year. Even my dad, 55, has the same problem. he can say 'left' with his finger pointing right when pin-pointing a direction. I don't think this is something to do with IQ as one of three of my best pal that having this problem is a really smart guy. Sorry for my lousy English, I failed my English Exam. I have classified this question as Science as I heard someone said before this is due to a 'failure' from the brain.
Updates after 10 answers:
but why there is NONE who confuse with up/down front/back but only with left/right??? They are all directions.
2006-06-18 17:57:35 · update #1
I'm not sure why your friends, and father, still are not 100% confident with right and left. I work in the medical field and probable 30% of my patients are unsure between left and right. I was taught the difference in kindergarten by thinking of a clock, the 3 is always on the right and the 9 is always on the left...everyone knows what a clock looks like. Try teaching that one to your friends!
2006-06-18 17:49:47 · answer #1 · answered by tj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's a brain problem. My gf also has the same problem, the only way she can distinguish left side and right side is that her right hand is a bit more callous (she uses her right hand to write a lot when she was a child), so she must touch her right hand to make sure that's the callous hand to know that's the right hand.
It's a reaction to her now everytime she needs to distinguish left and right hand, although she only moves her right hand to check her callous finger, her left hand doesn't move, it means she knows that the callous hand, but she still needs to make sure it is.
And some other friends of mine, they don't have *callous hand* so they can't distinguish and they usually got lost when trying to find way.
I believe the only way to prevent this is to be well educated about this when we're young, frequently teach and check if our children know which side is left and which is right, once we know we'll never forget it. It's much easier to have new reaction when we're young because we're *pure*, when we grow up, it's nearly impossible to change.
2006-06-19 00:54:32 · answer #2 · answered by plasmaisnoturs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you've heard the terms "left brain" or "right brain" . Well some people are not predominately either. In fact, they may even be ambidexterous to a certain extent. While these people understand the concept of right/left, it is hard for them to distinguish due to the fact they are using ALL of their brain equally. They are not capable of automatically determining either right or left.
2006-06-19 00:52:34 · answer #3 · answered by themainsail 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people simply cannot "feel" which way is left and which right. I don't think anything can really help it come to them as naturally as it seems to come to the rest of it. They always have to do a "double-think" (ring's on which side?) before they're certain.
All things considered, it's not that terrible a disability. (And, of course, it has nothing to do with intelligence.)
2006-06-19 00:53:11 · answer #4 · answered by LazlaHollyfeld 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because that may actually be just a twitch in the brain that just doesn't allow them to ever get that right. i believe there is something in your brain that just can't learn it. it has absolutely nothing to do w/your IQ, because that is just your amount of knowledge. i bet they all have heard a gazillion times which way is right and left, but their brain just struggles to comprehend that fact.
2006-06-19 00:51:39 · answer #5 · answered by hott dria chikk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband (a physicist) has trouble with this. But he is definitely smart.
It seems like he has trouble because RIGHT and LEFT aren't "stable" - his right might be my left. He has no trouble with east/west or port/starboard.
I really think that because right/left
is relative, he decide it was not very important, or reliable.
2006-06-19 00:50:45 · answer #6 · answered by nickipettis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one took the time to teach them right from wrong, oops, left when they were little. It's not too late even for Pops.
2006-06-19 00:49:25 · answer #7 · answered by Kathy W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe much (not all) of it is a matter of training. When my military drill instructor found recruits like that, he made them carry baseball-sized stones in their right hand, as a reminder of right, as opposed to left. It was interesting to see how quickly (or slowly) they all learned.
2006-06-19 00:52:51 · answer #8 · answered by Puzzleman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you let me think about it I get it right... if I have to make a quick decision ... I forget which one sometimes, till a few seconds later ;-)
b/c I'm forgetfull (can't answer for others sorry).
::PEACE::
2006-06-19 00:48:33 · answer #9 · answered by Am 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are just plain stupid
2006-06-19 00:47:58 · answer #10 · answered by meter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋