the "Why?" thread

[lilithu]

I am a big fan of the question, "Why?", one of the many annoying traits that I inherited from my mom.

Anyway, I am starting this thread as a place where people like me, who like to ask "Why?", can put our questions out there and see what interesting answers might come back from all you learned folks at RF. The only thing that I ask is that the "Why?" question not be directed against any person or persons, tho sincere curiosity is always welcome!

So here goes, my "Why?" question for the day:
Why are left-handed people called "southpaws"? And a related question: In the southern hemisphere, are lefties called "northpaws"?

 

[Jaymes]

Why do giraffes have horns?

 

[michel]

Why do giraffes have horns?

jensa, I think Lilith was hoping for an explanation...not another 'why' to take up her thinking....:biglaugh:

BTW is it so they can hoot at other Giraffes who get in the way ?

 

[Jaymes]

Hey, she said other people can post their whys here...

I've never heard the phrase 'southpaw,' though. It doesn't make too much sense to me, either. :areyoucra

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I heard from aqualung that ...

Early fields were constructed such that the batter faced East (away from the sun). As pitcher, I would therefore be facing West with my left side to the South.​

 

[michel]

Is there anything you don't know about Jay ????:clap



I assumed it was an American thing; means nothing to me - BTW, sorry Jensa; at least you got your answer to yours..........

If our bodies are made to have organs duplicated (eyes, ears, lungs, kidneys) why only one heart ? why only one stomach ?:bonk:

 

[Aqualung]

Early fields were constructed such that the batter faced East (away from the sun). As pitcher, I would therefore be facing West with my left side to the South.

Jay stole my answer. I was all busy typing that up, and then when I previewed my post I saw that Jay had already posted something. C'mere Jay Knockout

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Jay stole my answer. I was all busy typing that up, and then when I previewed my post I saw that Jay had already posted something. C'mere Jay Knockout

Sorry ... I'll edit my post.

 

[Aqualung]

Is there anything you don't know about Jay ????:clap



I assumed it was an American thing; means nothing to me - BTW, sorry Jensa; at least you got your answer to yours..........

If our bodies are made to have organs duplicated (eyes, ears, lungs, kidneys) why only one heart ? why only one stomach ?:bonk:

Our body isn't made up to have duplicates, except when it needs it. We have two eyes so we can see in 3D. We have two ears so we can here stuff all around our body. I don't know why we have 2 kidneys. I think 2 lungs are just more efficient than if you had to use one huge lung. But we have more single organs than double (heart, liver, stomach, intestines, bladder, skin, etc.)

 

[Aqualung]

Sorry ... I'll edit my post.

:woohoo: That's awesome! :jam:

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

On a man's shirt, the buttons are on the right.
On a woman's blouse, the buttons are on the left.

Why?

 

[Engyo]

On a man's shirt, the buttons are on the right.
On a woman's blouse, the buttons are on the left.

Why?

So neither side puts on the wrong one, of course. Remember, it's illegal in some places......:tsk:

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Nope ...

 

[Mr Spinkles]

Why the middle finger? Why not the index, or pinky?

 

[Faint]

On a man's shirt, the buttons are on the right.
On a woman's blouse, the buttons are on the left.

Why?

Here are two possibilities, but I can't confirm the validity of either:
1) Buttoning left over right--the man's way--is supposedly easiest for right-handed people. According to legend, women button right over left because in medieval times they were dressed by their right-handed maids. Although wealthy men may have had servants to lay out their clothes, they generally dressed themselves, and so the buttons on the right side of men's garments made more sense.
2) Men had to keep their right hand tucked into their coats so as to be ready for cold-weather swordplay, whereas women always breastfed with the left breast and protected their babies by covering them with the right side of the dress or coat. Or similarly, the first button jackets for men were modeled after the latching designs of armor, which were designed to stop a right-handed opponent from jamming a pike through the seam.

What do you think?

 

[Faint]

Why do our emotions respond so well to music?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Here are two possibilities, but I can't confirm the validity of either: ... What do you think?

Very impressive! I never heard #2.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

..., whereas women always breastfed with the left breast

Come to think of it, this sounds somewhat unlikely ... and ... well, never mind.

 

[lilithu]

Wow! who knew this thread would generate such interest?

Why do giraffes have horns?

The same reason we have appendixes? Maybe not. Do giraffes use their horns? Like for example during mating rituals?

I heard from aqualung that ...

Early fields were constructed such that the batter faced East (away from the sun). As pitcher, I would therefore be facing West with my left side to the South.​

Thank you Aqualung and Jay! I was afraid that it was yet another reference to right-handed superiority, since those of us in the northern hemisphere tend to think from the northern perspective. (Hence my question about the southern hemisphere.) I am glad to have this innocuous yet colorful explanation.

On a man's shirt, the buttons are on the right.
On a woman's blouse, the buttons are on the left.

Why?

Good question!

Here are two possibilities, but I can't confirm the validity of either:
1) Buttoning left over right--the man's way--is supposedly easiest for right-handed people. According to legend, women button right over left because in medieval times they were dressed by their right-handed maids. Although wealthy men may have had servants to lay out their clothes, they generally dressed themselves, and so the buttons on the right side of men's garments made more sense.
2) Men had to keep their right hand tucked into their coats so as to be ready for cold-weather swordplay, whereas women always breastfed with the left breast and protected their babies by covering them with the right side of the dress or coat. Or similarly, the first button jackets for men were modeled after the latching designs of armor, which were designed to stop a right-handed opponent from jamming a pike through the seam.

What do you think?

I agree with Jay. The first explanation is impressive and plausible. The second one is All the women that I know who breastfeed, do so on both sides. (Wouldn't one get lopsided?) Whereas if one bottlefed, I can see how that would be done with the baby's head more often towards the left, leaving the right hand free to hold the bottle. But that wouldn't affect which sides the buttons are on, would it?

Why the middle finger? Why not the index, or pinky?

Umm... isn't that because of the shape the two surrounding fingers make? Or am I missing something here?

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Why has the backyard goose decided I'm his lady love?