Nigel Posted November 14, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted November 14, 2014 You'd only end up going out wednesday! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Why everyone pronounces the name of John Boehner (US Republican speaker) as "Bayner", when any fool can see it should be pronounced "Boner". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Ah, the Cockburn syndrome strikes again 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingram85 Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 When I became a winged turquoise anime creature 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieZ Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) Okay, I've actually wondered about this for quite some time, and haven't been able to find a satisfying answer. As a left hander, I've always wondered when different places around the world stopped "correcting" for left handedness. And then I'm curious about its implications in the military. That is, what came first: did it start being okay to shoot (or stab) left as a result of a societal acceptance of people being left handed, or was it just an issue of people starting to shoot (or stab) left because tactics or technology allowed it? The Princess Bride is not a valid source for reference. Edited November 26, 2014 by JamieZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JamieZ Posted November 26, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) And along that same train of thought (I was an undergraduate history major), I always thought it would have been smart to incorporate left handedness into infantry formations in the ancient world. The Greek phalanx was famous for drifting right (...right?), as each man would seek the protection of the shield of the man next to him in battle, and it often influenced the course of battle—not to mention that battle lines were often drawn along natural boundaries (rivers, mountains, woods, etc.) to prevent an entire flank from being exposed to the enemy. Now, wouldn't an obvious solution to that problem have not been putting a couple columns of left-handed infantry soldiers on the right flank of the formation? Voilà! No exposed flanks, and less drifting. So, instead of like this: Like this: ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ ////////////////////////// ///////////////////////\\\ This is probably why I don't have a girlfriend. Edited November 27, 2014 by JamieZ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packoman Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 (edited) Maybe that created a larger gap and a weak point where two spears were next to each other? So, instead of like this: It would have been like this: ///////////////////////\\\ /////////////////////// \\\ ///////////////////////\\\ /////////////////////// \\\ ///////////////////////\\\ /////////////////////// \\\ ///////////////////////\\\ /////////////////////// \\\ Edited November 27, 2014 by packoman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieZ Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I wondered about that, too. Anybody got 20,000 friends with trashcan lids and spears? And a field? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I've got a trashcan lid. Well, my neighbour has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I've got a broom I can convert to a spear, and I'm free next Sunday if that's any help. Coincidentally, I'm already dressed as a roman centurion, as I'm at my club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted November 27, 2014 Moderator Share Posted November 27, 2014 Okay, I've actually wondered about this for quite some time, and haven't been able to find a satisfying answer. As a left hander, I've always wondered when different places around the world stopped "correcting" for left handedness. And then I'm curious about its implications in the military. That is, what came first: did it start being okay to shoot (or stab) left as a result of a societal acceptance of people being left handed, or was it just an issue of people starting to shoot (or stab) left because tactics or technology allowed it? The Princess Bride is not a valid source for reference.FWIW you don't shoot a certain way because of your dominant hand, you shoot according to your dominant eye. they are often the same but not always. I'm right handed but with a gammy right eye, I shoot left handed because its the better eye. There's a whole very odd brain thing that goes on when I do this, takes some getting used to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Okay, I've actually wondered about this for quite some time, and haven't been able to find a satisfying answer. As a left hander, I've always wondered when different places around the world stopped "correcting" for left handedness. And then I'm curious about its implications in the military. That is, what came first: did it start being okay to shoot (or stab) left as a result of a societal acceptance of people being left handed, or was it just an issue of people starting to shoot (or stab) left because tactics or technology allowed it? The Princess Bride is not a valid source for reference. FWIW you don't shoot a certain way because of your dominant hand, you shoot according to your dominant eye. they are often the same but not always. I'm right handed but with a gammy right eye, I shoot left handed because its the better eye. There's a whole very odd brain thing that goes on when I do this, takes some getting used to. Afaik the nerves cross over in some way before they run down to your arms, so if you're right-handed your left is usually your dominant eye. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Okay, I've actually wondered about this for quite some time, and haven't been able to find a satisfying answer. As a left hander, I've always wondered when different places around the world stopped "correcting" for left handedness. And then I'm curious about its implications in the military. That is, what came first: did it start being okay to shoot (or stab) left as a result of a societal acceptance of people being left handed, or was it just an issue of people starting to shoot (or stab) left because tactics or technology allowed it? The Princess Bride is not a valid source for reference. FWIW you don't shoot a certain way because of your dominant hand, you shoot according to your dominant eye. they are often the same but not always. I'm right handed but with a gammy right eye, I shoot left handed because its the better eye. There's a whole very odd brain thing that goes on when I do this, takes some getting used to. You been paintballing with Mario again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 (edited) Plus, a lot of people learn to shoot and use melee weapons with both hands and both eyes in case of loss or damage of either an eye or limb. The formation thing is an interesting one and something I've heard discussed before, I think you've all highlighted strengths and weaknesses of trying that type of formation. I think a lot of people, not all, tend to use ranged weapons with their dominant eye and use melee weapons with their dominant hand. It's useful to learn how to do both with both though as I say, in case you're carrying both at the same time or they're both on the same side. Edited November 27, 2014 by 8pints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I've never strayed far from my basic tactic of stun grenades and a decent knife. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Who are the mysterious guests on here? It's nearly midnight and there are 147 of them, they can't all be NSA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troon_villan Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Who are the mysterious guests on here? It's nearly midnight and there are 147 of them, they can't all be NSA. I want to know who Google (1) is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted November 28, 2014 Moderator Share Posted November 28, 2014 As a left hander, I've always wondered when different places around the world stopped "correcting" for left handedness. And then I'm curious about its implications in the military. That is, what came first: did it start being okay to shoot (or stab) left as a result of a societal acceptance of people being left handed, or was it just an issue of people starting to shoot (or stab) left because tactics or technology allowed it?It used to be the case with the SLR, that the rifle ejects the cartridges to the right, so if you shoot right handed the spent cartridges ejected away from your face, but if you used it left handed, they whizzed across your phizzog, which is most disconcerting, to say the least. Therefore people were trained to shoot right handed.Anyway it's out of service now, and maybe there are left handed rifles in use now, as well. But for the SLR and before they were all (unless specially made for snipers etc.) essentially right hand use weapons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 The F2000 is a gun that spent munition goes out of the front of the barrel, meaning it doesn't matter if you are left or right handed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Paddywhack Posted December 3, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 3, 2014 Has anybody ever managed to successfully choose three items that are all part of a meal deal? "Sorry, love, those crisps aren't included." 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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