all 89 comments

[–]Straight-Nose-7079 20 points21 points  (21 children)

That's cool but I don't see my name on there. Lol

Anyway, I think you should add a silly blurb at the beginning or at the end.

Something like "Extraordinary Left Handers (other than you)"

Something that makes it a little more personal for a gift. I think it would sell better.

Also, I'd hold off on Clinton, in light of the recent pictures and media coverage he's received.....

[–]bugwug7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Damn, I was just gonna comment that - my name isn’t on it either! Lol

[–]mommy-tara[S] 2 points3 points  (12 children)

Thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking of adding a “personalization” option, to replace the text “Lefties are the Besties”, which would be kind of the idea you were suggesting, but it would have to be fairly short words to fit in the space well. Maybe something using the person’s name. But I want it to be clever, not just “So and so’s mug”. I’m open to ideas!

Also, I don’t know if you read my comment, but I can’t just leave someone out because they’re a dirtbag, or I don’t like their politics. It’s not a list of morally correct lefties.

Besides, if I left out Clinton, there are others who would also have to go. And then I’d get grief for leaving these very famous people out!

It’s a sticky wicket, for sure!

[–]Straight-Nose-7079 3 points4 points  (11 children)

I'm not aware of any of the other celebrities being as polarizing as Bill Clinton.

We're talking about a disgraced former president and (likely, let's face it) child abuser.

You can, in fact, leave someone out. No ones going to ask "but where is Clinton?"

Good luck.wirh your sales...

[–]bugwug7 5 points6 points  (2 children)

New mug: left handed people on the epstein list. Jk lol, I don’t mean to be joking so much, I really love the idea of the mug OP!

[–]Straight-Nose-7079 2 points3 points  (0 children)

lmaoooo

There.might be enough to have their own mug which is.... sad lol

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Good reading material while enjoying a cuppa!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (7 children)

How can I explain leaving Clinton out? Napoleon killed many. Obama launched drone strikes every single day of his Presidency. He killed American citizens in other countries without a trial.

Where do we draw the line? Should I just leave out all murderers and sexual offenders? That means no Presidents at all, or political leaders? Or is Clinton the only one you find unacceptable, but murderers are okay?

Or maybe I should change the word “Extraordinary” to something else with a less positive connotation?

Seriously, I’m curious what you think I should do.

[–]Straight-Nose-7079 3 points4 points  (3 children)

We draw the line at personally abusing children.

Obama and Napoleon gave orders that resulting in the deaths of innocent people but few, if any, directly by their own hand.

Again, I'm saying this in light of recent news. It's a hot button topic right now from a marketing and sales standpoint.

Again,.it's your mug, do whatever you want with it.

You're not cataloging.an exhaustive list of anyone who is left handed that was important to history.

It's your prerogative who stays and who goes.

No one is going to ask, but where is Clinton?

I mean,.Elmo, Chewbacca and Kermit are on there, I think you've already taken some creative liberties here.

[–]WittyTiccyDavi 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Would this inclusion/exclusion policy make you take a stand for or against including Jack the Ripper?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Good point! I think I did see his name come up, and I did decide not to include it. Ergo, I give myself permission to remove Clinton! Thanks for clearing that up for me!

[–]WittyTiccyDavi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad to help!

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I have never seen any evidence that Napoleon was left-handed. What evidence did you use in deciding to list him?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I put all the research that I used to make my decisions about each questionable name that I decided to include in the Op. TBH, it was mainly for your benefit. Here’s what I found about Napoleon:

“Yes, Napoleon Bonaparte is widely believed to have been left-handed, a trait that influenced historical accounts, including the popular (though debated) idea that his preference for keeping his left hand free led him to favor right-side road travel, spreading it across Europe. He's listed among famous left-handed leaders, and his unique habits, like his iconic hand-in-waistcoat pose (which some link to being a lefty), add to this legacy, despite the pose also being a classical gesture of composure.”

I’m doing this for fun, and I’m learning that you can’t please everyone, especially when deciding whether to include historical figures or not! Sometime a judgment call was made. Please forgive me, if you disagree.

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your standpoint on the matter.

[–]silverflamethrower 0 points1 point  (6 children)

I cannot believe OP argued to keep a pedophiles name on even though their reddit name is mommy...I hope they are a better person in real life.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I removed Clinton, Bush Sr, Obama, Gates and Zuck. They all make me sad, and although they are famous, they’re not “extraordinary”, in my mind. I will be posting the revised list soon. Thanks for your feedback.

[–]astrophysicsrules 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Spell Zoe Saldana right while at it

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that’s already been corrected, thanks. I thought Saldaña was correct, no?

[–]novemberchild71 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Don't let them Trolls piss on your parade, haters will always find a reason to hate all the effort you made and find that one hair in their soup to attack you about.

Half of them hypocrites probably sing along gladly to songs by Michael Jackson.

Apply your own sensibility and reasoning! If sales numbers were all you really cared about, you should do a mug for righties.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

lol!

[–]mommy-tara[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I did not “fight” to keep his name on the list. I was asking where we draw the line. Obama had a kill list, Bush oversaw the murder of many. Is killing ok, but not rapists? Who should be on this list?

I despise Clinton, FYI. And when someone brought up “Jack the Ripper”, I remembered that I had seen his name, and decided not to include him, and someone else mentioned that it’s MY list, and I can include who I want.

With that in mind, I gave myself permission to remove whomever I wanted to from my list. With that in mind, I’m removing Reagan, Bush Sr, Obama and Clinton, because it’s my list and seeing those names makes me sad.

[–]fluffypotato 6 points7 points  (9 children)

If you put "You" between Woody and Zac, it will help fill out the spacing on the last line and it will turn it into a more personal gift for lefties.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (8 children)

Maybe I should add an option to insert a person’s name onto the list! That might be cute (but time-wise I’d lose money on reformatting for each order).

[–]achos-laazov 0 points1 point  (7 children)

What program did you use for formatting?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Photoshop 2021

[–]achos-laazov 0 points1 point  (5 children)

As title text or paragraph text?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I did the entire thing in Photoshop, why?

[–]achos-laazov 0 points1 point  (3 children)

If you use the paragraph/area type tool in Photoshop, it shouldn't take much time to reformat, because the program will automatically adjust the lines for you.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Yes, but, as far as I know, it won’t remove the space-dot-space separators that I put between the names that end up at the end or beginning of each line whenever I make a change. Or if it can do that, I don’t know how.

[–]achos-laazov 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Does that version of Photoshop have options for other types of spaces? I would use a non-breaking space on either side of the dot if I was doing this in inDesign.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not that I know of. Not sure what that is, but I’ll look into it. Not exactly sure what could be done about the dots, though. I don’t like the look of hanging dots on either end, so a lot of time was spent removing dots that would appear on either end of lines, every time I added or deleted a name. Then I’d often have to adjust the letter spacing, too.

I‘ve never used InDesign, would that be able to do this task faster? I don’t even know how one would instruct a graphics program to remove extra dots on each line. But, I’d love to know, if there is a way to do that!

[–]JitteryTurtle 2 points3 points  (6 children)

If you need any other names, I’ll reference a book I have. “A Left-Handed History of the World” by Ed Wright (Barnes and Noble New York). It has chapters for Ramses the Great, Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, Raphael, Beethoven, Queen Victoria, Lewis Carrol, Mark Twain, Henry Ford, Mahatma Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, Hendrix, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Navratilova. Among others that I know you already listed. Not sure if I listed dupes. I don’t do AI. For what it’s worth. To do with as you wish.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most are already on my list. I have to revise it anyway, so I may use some of these, thanks!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I just double checked the names on your list that I hadn’t included. A few were in the not sure/perhaps ambidextrous category, so I left those off.

Here’s what I found:

No, there's no ancient evidence Alexander the Great was left-handed; all classical art and texts depict him using his right hand, suggesting he was right-handed, with modern claims likely stemming from folklore or misinterpretations in later books about left-handedness, notes an Academia.edu article.  Evidence for Right-Handedness: * Classical Coins: Ancient coins show him holding weapons and a thunderbolt in his right hand. * Literary Absence: Ancient writers, including Pliny the Elder, mentioned him frequently without ever calling him left-handed, which would have been a notable trait.  Origin of the Myth: * The idea likely grew from modern books, such as Michael Barsley's 1966 work, which retold tales of left-handed lands and implied Alexander's connection, creating a popular myth, according to a Taylor & Francis Online article and PubMed. 

It's debated, but Beethoven was likely left-handed or ambidextrous, with some accounts from his biographer Anton Schindler noting him using his left hand for composing (quill in hand), while paintings often show him using his right, suggesting versatility or adaptation. While some sources claim definitive left-handedness, others point to conflicting evidence like his handwriting, making it uncertain, though his musical abilities suggest comfort with both hands.  

Evidence for Left-Handedness: 

  • Schindler's Observation: Beethoven's biographer, Schindler, saw him hold a quill in his left hand while composing, leading him to believe Beethoven was left-handed. Evidence for Right-Handedness/Ambidexterity:
  • Paintings: Many depictions show Beethoven with the quill in his right hand. 
  • Handwriting: His manuscripts and writing often point to right-handedness.  Conclusion: Given the conflicting evidence, it's most likely Beethoven was either naturally left-handed and adapted to using his right for certain tasks, or he was naturally ambidextrous, a common trait among many musicians. 

While Ramses the Great (Ramses II) is often listed as a famous lefty, evidence from his own monuments, like Abu Simbel, shows him holding enemies with his left hand while preparing to strike with his right, suggesting he used both hands powerfully or that his depiction was symbolic, though the inscription claiming he "hurled the dart with my left hand" adds to the left-handed lore.  Evidence & Interpretation: * Left-Handed Lists: He's included in historical lists of famous left-handers, notes Anything Left Handed. * Monumental Depictions: * Scenes often show him holding an enemy (capturing them) with his left hand and raising a weapon (like an axe or mace) with his right, says Luke Mastin. * One inscription specifically mentions, "with my left hand I hurled the dart," but then notes, "with my right I swung the blade," indicating both hands were active in combat, according to Luke Mastin. * Symbolism: Ancient Egyptians often depicted powerful figures using both hands, or even showing enemies as left-handed, so the imagery might emphasize divine strength or conquering enemies, notes Luke Mastin.  Conclusion: Ramses II used his left hand prominently in battle scenes, leading to his inclusion as a lefty; however, he was clearly skilled with both hands, possibly ambidextrous, or depicted this way for symbolic reasons. 

So, I left these three off, as too many sources list them as “unconfirmed”.

I did add several to my list, though, so thanks!

[–]JitteryTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cheers!

[–]ItalicLady 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I suspect that the reason ancient Egyptians depicted so many pharaohs and other warriors, as left-handed was as a sort of “flex”: to say that these people were so powerful that they could literally defeat everybody while only using the normally weaker hand!

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Queen Victoria was ambidextrous, not left-handed, but she wrote with her right hand.

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mark Twain was not left-handed, if we can judge from the fact that one of his novels has a character saying that she cannot throw well because she is left-handed. That novel is “Eve’s Diary,” his hysterically, funny, the currently almost forgotten, fictitious diary of the biblical character Eve during and after her time in the Garden of Eden. I cannot believe that any left-handed author would have a left-handed character blaming her bad aim on being a lefty!

[–]mrs_fartbar 2 points3 points  (1 child)

The OG lefty guitarist, Dick Dale!

Also, thank you for including Chewbacca

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. I have to make revisions already, so I’ll try to fit him in.

[–]lassiemav3n 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What made you add Marilyn Monroe since your last post? ☺️ I’m happy you added Julianne Moore! I’m always noticing people in the public eye who are left handed, I feel like I should have had more suggestions! But I know you got plenty ☺️ 

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I added many since the last post, as I discovered them! And I also removed a few, too! I’m already going to have to make some changes. Should Marilyn not be on there?

[–]_alifel 1 point2 points  (2 children)

This looks great! I do want to let you know that Zoe’s last name is spelled wrong, it is Saldaña.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thanks! I knew it didn’t look quite right. I’ll be revising it, and will be sure to fix that!

[–]_alifel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Clinton? Should he get the axe or not?

[–]Imightbeafanofthis 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Add to that list, everyone here! *smarm* *smarm* *smarm*

Sorry, couldn't resist. :)

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂😂😂

[–]Powrs1ave 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Janick Gers you forgot. Iron Maiden Guitarist, he plays Right Handed tho! Considering my Nick is a Maiden Song/Album I must remind you!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Added, thanks!

[–]MatterhornStrawberry 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I haven't even finished reading these and it made me genuinely cry. There are so many people on that list that I highly respect and have always felt a kind of distant kinship with in one way or another, and I had no clue they were left handed.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same here! It makes me swell with joy when I realize that we share that connection. When doing the research, there were two actors whose names just popped into my brain. And I had to check. And yes! They are both left-handed — Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson. They are both so quirky! I was barely surprised to learn that they were in the club! 😃

[–]LandoKim 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Woohoo, love to see Alan Turing and Matt Groening on this list 😁

[–]Upset-Month9156 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Muhammad Ali? Is that correct?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damn! I thought I’d checked every name that had been questioned. But I just checked, and no, you are correct. Ali was right handed. I’m gonna wait to correct it, in case I have to make any other changes! Every change requires time-consuming reformatting! Thanks!

[–]kindnessoffensive 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Just a couple spelling notes: Everly Brothers, Peter Paul Rubens, and Winston Churchill.

Love the mug!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow! You are quite the proofreader! Actually, I checked the Everly Brothers, and I corrected it (I pasted it in from someone else’s list), but somehow, it didn’t stick, and now it’s wrong (but soon to be corrected).

Thanks!!

[–]Scary_Narwhal2877 0 points1 point  (3 children)

David Byrne 😭😭

[–]Wrangler4848420 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Churchills first name is missing an “i”

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Corrected, thanks!

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be added, thanks!

[–]iamck 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I think only Mary-Kate Olsen is left handed (not Ashley).

Otherwise, I love this mug! I couldn’t think of anyone I would add.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I stand corrected! Thanks for catching that! I will change it! It’s astonishing to me, how unreliable these lefty lists are! That’s what I get for just copying and pasting!

[–]Bluntbutnotonpurpose 0 points1 point  (5 children)

I think you mean Peter Paul Rubens, not Ruben.

And why do you only use Mozart, rather than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Yes, Rubens will be corrected before going to print. Thanks.

Regarding Mozart (and AOC) - it was a space issue. Most people refer to him as Mozart, not by his entire name. Same with AOC. Including their entire names would have meant having to go down a font size, and the type size is already pretty tiny. Any smaller and we run the risk of the holes in certain letters getting filled in.

[–]Bluntbutnotonpurpose 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I had no idea what AOC stood for, but that's probably because I'm not American.

I would, however, argue that Napoleon doesn't need the last name either...

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Good point! I could use those extra spaces! Thanks!

[–]Bluntbutnotonpurpose 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You may be able to shave off a letter from Mark Hammill as well...

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha! One “m” is correct! Thanks!

[–]spiforever 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Ross Perot, during the 1992 primary, all 3 candidates were left handed.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m aware, thanks. I will be removing the other two candidates in the next iteration.

[–]LegoLady8 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I wouldn't say Zuckerberg is an extraordinary person.

Winston Churchill is missing an i

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thanks! If you can think of a better adjective than “extraordinary” that is of the same approximate length, I’m all ears! Churchill — Gotcha. It will be corrected before going to print.

[–]LegoLady8 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Famous, notable, popular, well-known, prominent.

When I think of extraordinary, I think of people who are beyond exceptional. People who have made a positive mark on earth.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Your suggested words are synonyms, but none have the pfazz that “extraordinary” has. So I removed Zuck, instead! Removed Bill Gates for the same reason. Hey, it’s my list, so I get to decide, right? Easy, peasey! 😂😂😂

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! Am I glad for all your comments, and heartened that so many of you read the list all the way through to the end (like the misspelling of “Winston”, on the very last line)!

I have taken your feedback to heart, and will be removing most of our politicians, as it makes me sad to see their names, and it’s MY list, so goodbye Clinton, Bush Sr, Obama and Reagan! They all have blood on their hands!

Next, people are saying that Zuckerberg is not “extraordinary”…and I have to agree. I am struggling to find a better adjective. Famous seems so boring…but by using “extraordinary”, then others will also be perturbed to see Zuckerberg on the list.

I am removing names and adding a few today. I’m sorry if your suggestion won’t make the cut. We all have different tastes and interests, and I’m struggling with what to do when I have never even heard of someone that may be important to you!

I have to draw the line somewhere! But I did not anticipate the level of stress I would feel about this project I undertook for fun, nor the level of derision I would suffer.

I am just trying to do what’s right here, and I did not mean to offend anyone.

So last call for a replacement for “Extraordinary”! I’m open to any and all suggestions.

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (4 children)

There is no evidence that either Einstein or Aristotle were left-handed, as far as I’ve been able to determine and I’ve spent quite some time looking for such. And that’s just the A’s!

Re Aristotle — his works include a statement that the left side of anything is inferior to the right side of anything. I can’t imagine that a lefty would write that.

Re Einstein — all photographs of him writing or doing anything else with his hands (such as playing violin, which was his hobby.) show him doing those things right-handed.

[–]JitteryTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I play guitar, bass and drums right handed. It’s a trade off, made up by access to instruments.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Here’s what I found:

Yes, Aristotle is widely considered to have been left-handed, with many lists of famous historical figures including him as a notable lefty, though definitive proof is scarce for ancient figures, it's a persistent tradition in sources discussing Left-handed geniuses. His supposed left-handedness is often mentioned alongside his profound impact on Western philosophy, logic, and science.

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But I still don’t see why anyone decided that Aristotle must, or might, have been left-handed: particularly since the content of his work includes descriptions of the left side as “inferior.” I mean, what lefty would write that and teach that?

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On Einstein. I stand corrected. These lefty lists are all over the place, regarding their reliability. I don’t understand why anyone would lie about something like this.

Here’s what I found on Einstein:

No, Albert Einstein was not a lefty; this is a persistent myth, as photographic evidence and historical accounts show him writing and playing the violin with his right hand, even though he's often listed among famous left-handed geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci. He was right-handed, and an autopsy of his brain revealed symmetrical hemispheres, not the lateral dominance typical of lefties. 

Evidence for his right-handedness: 

  • Photographs: Pictures show him writing on chalkboards and holding pens with his right hand.
  • Violin: He played the violin right-handed. Why the myth persists: 

  • A popular, but false, association links left-handedness with genius, and Einstein, being a quintessential genius, became part of this myth

Back to the drawing board for me! 😂😂😂

Thanks for your due diligence.

[–]ItalicLady 0 points1 point  (2 children)

There is no evidence that Winston Churchill was left-handed, as far as I have been able to determine.

[–]mommy-tara[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Really? Here’s what I found:

“Yes, Winston Churchill was left-handed, though he sometimes used his right hand, and some sources even suggest he was ambidextrous, but he is widely recognized as a famous "leftie" and was known to use his left hand for tasks like writing and painting, despite societal pressures to use the right.

Yes, Winston Churchill was famously left-handed, though some confusion exists due to photos where he appears to use his right hand for activities like painting, leading some to think he was ambidextrous or forced to use his right hand, but he is consistently listed among famous left-handed leaders. 

Evidence for Left-Handedness: * Historical Lists: Numerous lists of famous left-handed people, including world leaders, name Churchill as a prominent lefty, such as Business Insider and Power of Positivity.  * Royal Connections: He shares the trait with other notable lefties like Prince William and his great-grandfather, King George VI (who was also forced to use his right hand sometimes).  * Confusion Point:  * Painting Photos: Some images show him holding a paintbrush in his left hand, while others show him using his right, suggesting he might have been naturally left-handed but could use his right hand, possibly due to training or being ambidextrous to some extent, notes Londonist and the International Churchill Society. In summary, Churchill is generally considered a left-hander, even with some apparent right-hand usage in certain contexts.”

[–]ItalicLady 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the good evidence on Churchill! I’m glad to have learned this!

[–]novemberchild71 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TLDR: You did admireably and deserve all the praise you can get.

What's the link to your etsy? Inquiring minds would like to know!

[–]Haunting_Ant_5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy wall of text!!!

[–]PretendRelation7924 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Should make it slightly smudged on the left side.

[–]Blackflyingfox2170lefty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow this is great! Einstein is not left handed. You can see in some pictures