From: Andjam <andjamgeo@...>
To: distexters@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Handedness in fiction
Date sent: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 20:57:48 +1000

> "There is one thing I forgot to tell you - I'm not left handed" - The
> Princess Bride.
>
> There are estimates that about 1 in 10 people are left handed. Is
> this reflected in fiction? Are left-handers required to act as right-
> handers or vice versa? Are left-handed actors discriminated
> against?
>
> In many sporting areas (baseball, tennis AFAIK), left-handers have
> an edge and are well represented because most people (including
> left-handers themselves) are more familiar with playing against a
> right-handed player. Would this also be the case with fighting
> prowess? If so, wouldn't that make lack of representation of left-
> handers in fiction involving successful fighters more anomolous?
> (Though a character being successful due to handedness rather
> than having extra skills up one's sleeve may be boring).

I had a look at http://www.usopen.org/bios/top20.html and only 3 of
the top 20 men and women combined were left-handed - if
anything, a marginal under-representation of left-handers.

Not a good start...

Andjam