The Skeptics Guide #997 - Aug 17 2024
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What is International Left-Handedness Day and how do left-handed traits and genetics vary?
You're listening to the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.
Hello and welcome to the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. Today is Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, and this is your host, Stephen Novella. Joining me this week are Bob Novella. Hey, everybody. Cara Santamaria. Howdy. Jay Novella. Hey, guys. And Evan Bernstein.
Good evening, everyone.
We're recording a day early because we are going to Chicago this weekend to do the extravaganza and to record the 1,000th episode. So when this show goes out there, that will be extravaganza day. And the day after the show goes out, we'll be recording the 1,000th episode. So it's probably too late to get tickets.
Yeah, but try.
So, Jay, today is International Left-Handedness Day.
Yeah.
And you're left-handed.
So what am I supposed to do? Like, let's really think about this. How do I celebrate my left-handedness? Like, what am I supposed to do?
You're supposed to... Give it a day off. The rest of us are right-handed. We have no idea how you think.
Go to the left-handed store, buy a bunch of left-handed items. That's right.
Give yourself a left-handed yank. Drive on the left side of the road suddenly.
I kind of like being left-handed. Really? Why?
I don't know.
Jay... Jay, I say this not to make you feel uncomfortable because this is – you are like my brother, so this is separate to you. I am weirdly attracted to left-handed people.
Really? That is weird.
Yeah.
I agree with you. That is weird.
Has anybody else – Have you noticed that? Yes. And how do you know – But wait a minute. I've noticed that I – I think I date a higher than normal proportion of lefties.
You sure you're not just – That's interesting, Cara.
I'm just wondering what other traits come along with being so – Sinister. Sinister.
Sinistra. Sinistra.
Sorry, Cara.
I didn't mean to kink shame you there, Cara.
Thank you.
No, what's funny is that that was an answer in a recent New York Times crossword puzzle. King shame. I know, king shame. And my wife had never heard the word before and she doubted it was real until I was proven correct when we finished the puzzle.
We got that one right away.
What I'm not sure about is why would some people decide like, hey, we're going to push to have like a national, international left-handed today like – I wasn't teased or anything, so I don't need the support aspect of it. I just don't get it.
Maybe people were back in the day a lot more. I mean, a lot of people were forced to be right-handed.
I don't remember it ever being a thing. I think when we were young, we were already past the anti-left-handed phase. I remember when we were young talking about, oh, in the past, people would force you to write right-handed and whatever, but that was already done.
But to be fair, even though in the past you were – lefties were forced to write right-handed, Jay, you're still just by virtue of the structures that you live in forced to be right-handed about certain things, right? I don't think so. I mean look, I have to use like – Scissors?
You have to use right-handed scissors. I can cut with my right hand because most left-handed people learn to accommodate.
That's exactly what I mean. There are things in this world that are handed, and you just have to learn how to use them.
Yeah. I mean, I could use both hands for lots of different things.
Lefties are more likely to be ambidextrous, right?
I can shoot a gun both ways. I can swing rackets both ways. I can't golf both ways.
No swing, no backswing.
And I golf right-handed, by the way. Oh, yeah? Yep. But you shoot bows left-handed? I shoot bows left-handed. But I could shoot the other way. I could shoot just as good the other way.
So you probably can't remember, but I'm curious about y'all's experiences because Jay's the baby. Yeah. My best friend has a little girl who's about to turn two, and it was obvious so early that she is going to be, but whatever, that she is left-handed. She just does things with her left hand that seem weird to us but clearly are very natural for her. When did you know? Did you guys notice that Jay was left-handed when he was a little baby?
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is International Left-Handedness Day and how do left-handed traits and genetics vary?
0:00–44:59
2
What are common election-related scams and how can voters protect themselves?
44:59–54:50
3
What are the docked spacecraft and battery limits affecting the ISS crew timeline?
54:50–59:26
4
How does framing influence public reaction to climate language like 'global warming' vs 'climate crisis'?
59:26–1:04:10
5
Why is framing crucial in science communication and when does it become deceptive?
1:04:10–1:11:39
6
How accurate is Health.com’s coverage of homeopathy and what are the scientific criticisms?
1:11:39–1:48:58