[I'm in my right mind]
So I know that it's probably the least significant area of systemic privilege, in that left-handers are only 'discriminated' against in ways that are irritating, rather than really limiting or in any way dangerous (at least in the west; and excepting those very few, stupid school teachers who still think that forcing children to do things right-handed is the way forward).
(I am also aware that I am grumpy, largely because I've been on QA for the past day and a half, and it's going horrifically badly - especially in the way of 'engineers won't believe what we're telling them' - and tonight I have to stay late for different QA.)
But I am kind of sick of the tiny, thoughtless taking it for granted that tools are often functionally and ergonomically designed for you, right-handed majority, and the silent assumption that left-handed tools are weird and funny and a novelty, instead of a necessary and reasonable option to allow me to perform manual tasks to the same standard as you.
Therefore. When you ask to borrow my scissors, and I say 'yes, sure; they're left-handed,' I am notifying you as a courtesy. Don't say 'that's OK,' because frankly I couldn't give a flying fuck if that's OK with you; I was just telling you so that you'd know, when they seem to not work very well in your right hand, that that's why.
And do not say 'I don't see the difference, anyway'. Because of course you don't. You're not left-handed. You use a pair of scissors that are mildly awkward, and it's a one-off occurrence, so you assume - subconsciously - that it's that one, particular pair of scissors which has dull blades or a loose screw or some other defect. You don't have this experience every time you pick up a pair of scissors which aren't your own; you don't have to remember to swap hands, when that's the case, and learn to do just as well with either hand because training your right hand is easier than working against tools which aren't designed for your left hand.
But I'm not going to explain it to you any more. Because I am fed up. You're a grown adult, and - in the case that sparked this rant - a scientist, and you should know about symmetry (or lack thereof), and you should be able to extrapolate from this the impact of asymmetric tools.
So I'll just be over here, with my left-handed scissors, and my increased risk of mental illness, breast cancer and accidental injury. Yay.
(I am also aware that I am grumpy, largely because I've been on QA for the past day and a half, and it's going horrifically badly - especially in the way of 'engineers won't believe what we're telling them' - and tonight I have to stay late for different QA.)
But I am kind of sick of the tiny, thoughtless taking it for granted that tools are often functionally and ergonomically designed for you, right-handed majority, and the silent assumption that left-handed tools are weird and funny and a novelty, instead of a necessary and reasonable option to allow me to perform manual tasks to the same standard as you.
Therefore. When you ask to borrow my scissors, and I say 'yes, sure; they're left-handed,' I am notifying you as a courtesy. Don't say 'that's OK,' because frankly I couldn't give a flying fuck if that's OK with you; I was just telling you so that you'd know, when they seem to not work very well in your right hand, that that's why.
And do not say 'I don't see the difference, anyway'. Because of course you don't. You're not left-handed. You use a pair of scissors that are mildly awkward, and it's a one-off occurrence, so you assume - subconsciously - that it's that one, particular pair of scissors which has dull blades or a loose screw or some other defect. You don't have this experience every time you pick up a pair of scissors which aren't your own; you don't have to remember to swap hands, when that's the case, and learn to do just as well with either hand because training your right hand is easier than working against tools which aren't designed for your left hand.
But I'm not going to explain it to you any more. Because I am fed up. You're a grown adult, and - in the case that sparked this rant - a scientist, and you should know about symmetry (or lack thereof), and you should be able to extrapolate from this the impact of asymmetric tools.
So I'll just be over here, with my left-handed scissors, and my increased risk of mental illness, breast cancer and accidental injury. Yay.