Confusion about left and right

[Roger C H]

Or in Hawai'i:

Mauka
Along with makai, mauka means mountain and refers to the opposite direction of makai. When you’re told that the direction to take is mauka, you’re driving or hiking toward the inner parts of an island, away from the ocean, toward the mountains. While learning these terms, you’ll also hear leeward for the western and dry part of an island.


A co-worker from England told me how in driving to work one day in the States very early in the morning as he pulled out of the driveway of a petrol station, he pulled to the left of a police car waiting in the left turn lane. Naturally, he was pulled over but his very British accent saved him. He said he don't know what happened, he just reverted.

He also got some notoriety for requesting a "rubber" from the secretary when he first started working in the US. (A "rubber" in England is what Yanks call an "eraser".)


One of the things I found very strange working for an aircraft manufacturer is that they will draw the left side of an airplane and then just allow that the right side is identical only the opposite hand. I found when working that right/left handedness is one of the most difficult concepts and causes great confusion. Actually I think that computers have eliminated this practice since it is simple to have the computer reverse the view.

[stefman]

Originally Posted by Gilda

Has anyone considered that we are mostly speaking to folks on the forum who drive on the right side of the street? Everything is mirror-image if you are in countries where they drive on the left side of the street. Recently we, Americans, were driving in New Zealand and it took some adjustment, especially the stick shift!

Been there, done that. I had the cleanest windshield in New Zealand but almost never used a turn signal.

[OneOleMan]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

He also got some notoriety for requesting a "rubber" from the secretary when he first started working in the US. (A "rubber" in England is what Yanks call an "eraser".)

And a former neighbor lady from England, when someone knocked on her door early one day, asked, "Why are you knocking me up so early?"

[whip2001]

Port, starboard, fore and aft solves the problem with the least verbage.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by whip2001

Port, starboard, fore and aft solves the problem with the least verbage.

Only if you are on air or water though. These terms are not used with vehicles that go on roadways.

[whip2001]

They are land yachts. If you don't like the terms don't use them. they have been proven over centuries. also most are so tight they would float.

[Wayne Collins]

Originally Posted by Ian G.

The standard in the transportation and automotive industry it is always in relation to facing forward or sitting in the operators seat (as mentioned above).
Therefore left is streetside and right is curbside.

Of course you are all referring to North America, and or Europe, where we drive on the right and park against the right curb.
Brits, Japanese, Ausies would all dispute our claims of Right/Curbside; Left/Street side. Still, the convention as to right-left is as you sit behind the wheel and look forward, in the direction of travel. /wc

[Glenn Baglo]

Nothing left to discuss, right?

[whip2001]

Originally Posted by Wayne Collins

Of course you are all referring to North America, and or Europe, where we drive on the right and park against the right curb.
Brits, Japanese, Ausies would all dispute our claims of Right/Curbside; Left/Street side. Still, the convention as to right-left is as you sit behind the wheel and look forward, in the direction of travel. /wc

that of course is my point. even though they drive on the other side of the road
they use the terms port, starboard, fore and aft.
thus no confusion if you accept the terminology.