[April Fool's] LEGO to introduce left-handed instructions

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LEGO has today announced that as part of the company's diversity and inclusion initiative, it's going to introduce left-handed versions of its products.

Højre Venstrehåndet, head of LEGO's new anti-handism department, explained "In our recent Play Good survey, 63% of left-handed respondents said they had difficulty following 78% of our instructions. We have therefore decided to address this by creating left-handed versions of our products."

We've been sent a left-handed sample of the recently released 10343 Mini Orchid, which we examine after the break, comparing it with the right-handed version.


Højre Venstrehåndet went on to state that "to avoid any confusion, sets containing left-handed instructions will be differentiated from those with right-handed ones by the position of the LEGO logo on the box. Boxes containing right-handed instructions will have the LEGO logo on the left, and on those with left-handed instructions inside it'll be on the right. "

This will make it obvious when you see them side-by-side on the shelves, as shown below:

The instruction book cover in our sample is mirrored in the same way.

Normally, instructions show subassemblies on the left of the page, because right-handed people hold it in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right. The new manuals will show it on the right which should feel more natural for left-handers.

I am right-handed, but I managed to build the left-handed version of the model OK, although it did feel a bit weird at times. Here it is side-by-side with the right-handed version. The left-handed one is on the right, and the right-handed version on the left:

To make it easy for you to buy the correct one at LEGO.com you'll be able to specify whether you are left-handed or right-handed in your user profile. You'll then automatically be sent the appropriate variant each time you place an order.

Left-handed versions of sets released after April 1st will start to appear in LEGO stores from today. We'll be adding them to the database in due course.

Are you left-handed? Do you have difficulty with the current instructions? What do you think of this initiative?

116 comments on this article

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By in United Kingdom,

"I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!"

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By in United Kingdom,

Left-handed sets announced 32 March by LEGO’s section head, Right Left-Handed! :~D

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By in Netherlands,

Their Mario Kart sets unlocked "Mirror Mode" for them I suppose.

Mirrored sets are still a cool concept, as especially with those plants, the way you can display 2 of them.

Also looks to be a way to get people to buy at their LEGO stores, as the text seems to suggest they are only sold there.

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By in Germany,

This after the news that LEGO dialed down or outright scrapped their inclusion efforts in their latest yearly report strikes harsher, making this not funny but eerily distressing.

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By in United States,

Man, I was really holding out for ambidextrous instructions, now THAT would be a breakthrough.

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By in South Africa,

@Huw, I always look forward to your special post on the 1st of April, and again I am not disappointed. :)!

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By in Hungary,

I was happy at first, then I looked at the calendar and translated that gentleman's name.
Now, I am offended! Left-handness is no joke!
;)

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By in Ireland,

Would be better to switch to left handed and dump the right handed sets completely.

Let the right handed people suffer for once.

(Not that left handed people suffer with the current instructions.)

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By in United Kingdom,

If they wanted to fully inclusive, then where are the instructions for people who want to build with their toes ?

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By in Croatia,

Yeah, it's going to be exclusive for RHD markets, UK, India, Japan,...

( @Huw, you need to make comment section addition for adding emoticons)

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By in Puerto Rico,

Man, I know this is April 1st but that concept might look good sometimes.

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By in Hungary,

This would be very useful for cars.

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By in United Kingdom,

That's better!

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By in Germany,

Even though it's just a joke (and a good one I think), lots of products are indeed available in left-handed versions, like scissors, or many other kinds of tools.

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By in United Kingdom,

@Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""

I prefer capoferro, but find thibault cancels it out

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By in Austria,

diversity running amok again! Thanks Obama!1!!!

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By in United Kingdom,

So, having got to 9am and thought we'd been spared this nonsense this year, we actually get it twice.

Can't work out if this makes it twice or half as unfunny.

Though there is some slight irony in that had there been an article a couple of years ago on April 1 to say that Lego would produce dozens of plant/flowers sets I'd have reacted in the same way.

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By in Netherlands,

Now when so we get left-handed minifigs huh?

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By in United Kingdom,

@merman said:
"Now when so we get left-handed minifigs huh?"

1 April 2026?

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By in Netherlands,

Finally! I've felt so discriminated all my life! I never could built anything! Still, why is the design mirrored as well? Now all those smug righties will still know I am deviant, and I still feel left out!

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By in Belgium,

@TeriXeri said:
"Their Mario Kart sets unlocked "Mirror Mode" for them I suppose.

Mirrored sets are still a cool concept, as especially with those plants, the way you can display 2 of them.

Also looks to be a way to get people to buy at their LEGO stores, as the text seems to suggest they are only sold there.
"


Are you aware what day it is today?

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By in United Kingdom,

Coming soon to 'Gear',
A Lego branded mirror.

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By in United Kingdom,

As a left handed person, I'm not sure if this is funny or offensive. Growing up, I knew one left-handed person, and family members who were forced to use their right hand. I always felt it was another thing to be judged over, that people never said but implied that it was something else that they could use against me to bully and excuse themselves from their inability help or instruct.

I sick of keeping silent about things and fed of up being called out when I speak my mind.

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By in United Kingdom,

I built my Downtown Diner mirrored to fit my layout better. I used an actual mirror on the instructions. Could have done with a left-handed booklet.

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By in United States,

@Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""
"You know something? I'm not left handed either!"

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By in United Kingdom,

You joke about it but for those with a visual impairment in their peripheral vision (especially on one side), the placing of those boxes can be very problematic.

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By in United Kingdom,

If it's good enough for electrons, it's good enough for me....

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By in Australia,

Good because I always build my City vehicles to have right hand drive :)

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By in Germany,

I just wish they'd decide upon whether they wanted to make either right-handed or left-handed food trucks and campers. The default atm is LHD and forcing customers to stand on the street to buy snacks. NOT educational!

@Belboz It's also good enough for molecules, but not good enough for their receptors =(

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By in Australia,

I've been campaigning for a left-handed brick separator for years now, perhaps Lego is finally listening!

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By in Austria,

This seems like a very bad business decision given the Trump administration's anti-Danish and anti-DEI stance. I expect hefty tolls on Lego products.

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By in United Kingdom,

@dudeski said:
" @TeriXeri said:
"Their Mario Kart sets unlocked "Mirror Mode" for them I suppose.

Mirrored sets are still a cool concept, as especially with those plants, the way you can display 2 of them.

Also looks to be a way to get people to buy at their LEGO stores, as the text seems to suggest they are only sold there.
"


Are you aware what day it is today?"


Sunday.

(ha, ha - April Fool)

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By in Netherlands,

As a leftie. This is great, I can't wait for them to hit shelves

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By in United Kingdom,

In case anyone was wondering, Højre Venstrehåndet's name directly translates into "Right Left-handed"

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By in United Kingdom,

@LD_Brickmaster said:
"In case anyone was wondering, Højre Venstrehåndet's name directly translates into "Right Left-handed" "

But a convincing Danish name nevertheless :-)

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By in Denmark,

The fact that the name makes no grammatic sense in danish is fun.

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By in United Kingdom,

@daniellesa said:
"As a left handed person, I'm not sure if this is funny or offensive."

I'll help you out... It's funny!

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By in Czechia,

Looks like a April fools day joke...but it is not. A true part of LEGO woke policy.

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By in United Kingdom,

"Normally, instructions show subassemblies on the left of the page, because right-handed people hold it in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right."

...am I in the minority who doesn't hold the instructions while building and instead lays them on the table / other surface that I'm building on, so that I can use both hands to attach pieces? Or is that part of the joke?

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By in France,

@Robot99 said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""
"You know something? I'm not left handed either!""


I would just as soon destroy a precious painting as yoursel. Yet, I can't have you following me.

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By in United Kingdom,

@ThatBionicleGuy said:
""Normally, instructions show subassemblies on the left of the page, because right-handed people hold it in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right."
"


"because right-handed people hold [the subassembly] in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right."

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By in United Kingdom,

@Brainslugged said:
" @daniellesa said:
"As a left handed person, I'm not sure if this is funny or offensive."

I'll help you out... It's funny! "


Or more truthfully - neither.

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By in Norway,

@AustinPowers said: "lots of products are indeed available in left-handed versions, like scissors"

Aargh . those are a bloody nuisance, as the handles always has this "ultra-ergonomic" design (far more extreme than the corresponding standard version), ensuring maximum discomfort when using them right-handed.

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By in United Kingdom,

This April Fool doesn't work considering that Lego actually did this with 10282

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By in United Kingdom,

Despite this being an April fool, on last year's Inside Tour one of the guests explained how they actually do test instructions with left and right-handed people to ensure the set is buildable by most people.

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By in United States,

@jh84007 said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""

I prefer capoferro, but find thibault cancels it out"


Well, unless you have studied your Agrippa.

Which I have.

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By in United States,

smh this is so absurd

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By in United States,

Yeah, I dunno about this one - on one hand by the end of the article it became obvious it was a joke due to sheer absurdity - a company that won't splurge on more prints or more Constraction parts because of "muh inventory robots" suddenly deciding to *DOUBLE* their SKU count like this suddenly after the better part of a century just didn't make any sense, especially as they push for the Builder app so much and were so close to discontinuing printed instructions outright - but on the other hand, this joke is a mockery of actual accessibility and inclusivity efforts, which doesn't sit right with me in the current political upheaval in the real world where marginalized groups are being screwed with by governments because things would be more convenient for them if they disappeared. Considering that left-handedness *was* systemically hunted down in the past and these political leaders are trying to restore things to the "way they used to be"... it's in bad taste.

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By in France,

@ohrmazd said:
" @jh84007 said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""

I prefer capoferro, but find thibault cancels it out"


Well, unless you have studied your Agrippa.

Which I have. "


Would you mind telling me if you have six fingers on your right hand?

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By in United Kingdom,

@StyleCounselor said:
" @ohrmazd said:
" @jh84007 said:
" @Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""

I prefer capoferro, but find thibault cancels it out"


Well, unless you have studied your Agrippa.

Which I have. "


Would you mind telling me if you have six fingers on your right hand?"

Do you always begin conversations this way?

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By in United States,

The best thing about this isn't the April Fool's Day joke (it can't hold a candle to Duplo Design or Super-Sized Tim), it's that the first comment was a Princess Bride reference.

@CCC said:
"You joke about it but for those with a visual impairment in their peripheral vision (especially on one side), the placing of those boxes can be very problematic."

Indeed. Due to my stroke, I have field cuts in the left side of my vision, and something like this would be genuinely helpful, as I've been known to miss entire steps when there are multiple steps on a single page.

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By in United States,

I have to admit, I forgot it was April 1st and this article got me. I read the entire thing up to the pictures before I figured it out. Well done!

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By in United States,

@Yooha said:
"I was happy at first, then I looked at the calendar and translated that gentleman's name.
Now, I am offended! Left-handness is no joke!
;)"


Only us lefties would understand

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By in Austria,

Nice one. :-)

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By in United States,

As someone who is left-handed, I taught myself to be ambidextrous primarily to understand Lego building better, so this news feels a bit too late for me. I guess now I can stop using my right hand, though, so that's nice

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By in Netherlands,

Off with his hand!

Now that I think of it: the current style of 4+ instructions, clearly showing two hand for each step, are not very inclusive either. I bet kids with just one jand or no hands at all feel completely ignored by Lego!

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By in United Kingdom,

@Alia_of_AGL said:
"Yeah, I dunno about this one - on one hand by the end of the article it became obvious it was a joke due to sheer absurdity - a company that won't splurge on more prints or more Constraction parts because of "muh inventory robots" suddenly deciding to *DOUBLE* their SKU count like this suddenly after the better part of a century just didn't make any sense, especially as they push for the Builder app so much and were so close to discontinuing printed instructions outright - but on the other hand, this joke is a mockery of actual accessibility and inclusivity efforts, which doesn't sit right with me in the current political upheaval in the real world where marginalized groups are being screwed with by governments because things would be more convenient for them if they disappeared. Considering that left-handedness *was* systemically hunted down in the past and these political leaders are trying to restore things to the "way they used to be"... it's in bad taste."

You're overthinking it.

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By in United Kingdom,

Ha-ha! @BlackFalconBirdman recently referred to building using the "left-hand rule". What is that precisely...? Is it when you just use your left hand to make the build process last longer...?

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By in Canada,

@Alia_of_AGL said:
"Yeah, I dunno about this one - on one hand by the end of the article it became obvious it was a joke due to sheer absurdity - a company that won't splurge on more prints or more Constraction parts because of "muh inventory robots" suddenly deciding to *DOUBLE* their SKU count like this suddenly after the better part of a century just didn't make any sense, especially as they push for the Builder app so much and were so close to discontinuing printed instructions outright - but on the other hand, this joke is a mockery of actual accessibility and inclusivity efforts, which doesn't sit right with me in the current political upheaval in the real world where marginalized groups are being screwed with by governments because things would be more convenient for them if they disappeared. Considering that left-handedness *was* systemically hunted down in the past and these political leaders are trying to restore things to the "way they used to be"... it's in bad taste."

Very inclusive to include both hands in your observation! :))

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By in Austria,

@sjr60 said:
"Coming soon to 'Gear',
A Lego branded mirror."


HAMMMMONNNNDDDDDD

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By in Netherlands,

As a life-long southpaw I feel slightly offended that my special ability is being used as a lame April Fool's joke. I cringe at every April's Fools joke I come across anyway. They're just not funny, and clearly only meant as an easy attempt at a cheap PR stunt. It's so childish, disingenuous, and uninspired, and I wish companies would just cut it out. You're not clever. You're really, really lame.

That said: SOUTHPAWS RULE!!!

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By in United States,

@ShinyBidoof

Man, I almost fell for your "pretend to be an April Fools curmudgeon" prank again this year, but I'm onto you! Don't worry though, your secret's safe with me.

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By in United Kingdom,

@Brainslugged said:
" @Alia_of_AGL said:
"Yeah, I dunno about this one - on one hand by the end of the article it became obvious it was a joke due to sheer absurdity - a company that won't splurge on more prints or more Constraction parts because of "muh inventory robots" suddenly deciding to *DOUBLE* their SKU count like this suddenly after the better part of a century just didn't make any sense, especially as they push for the Builder app so much and were so close to discontinuing printed instructions outright - but on the other hand, this joke is a mockery of actual accessibility and inclusivity efforts, which doesn't sit right with me in the current political upheaval in the real world where marginalized groups are being screwed with by governments because things would be more convenient for them if they disappeared. Considering that left-handedness *was* systemically hunted down in the past and these political leaders are trying to restore things to the "way they used to be"... it's in bad taste."

You're overthinking it."


Rule 87 of Brickset, someone must find some way to bring American politics into the discussion.

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By in United States,

This was a pretty good pick for the day! It was far more believable than the hair. My favorite is probably still the Majestic Horse though.

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By in New Zealand,

I'm left-handed, and this will make my life so much easier. Ever since I was a kid, building has been very tough, it's so good to finally be getting this, you don't know how much it means to me.

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By in United Kingdom,

@Huw said:
" @ThatBionicleGuy said:
""Normally, instructions show subassemblies on the left of the page, because right-handed people hold it in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right.""

"because right-handed people hold [the subassembly] in their left hand and add pieces to it with their right.""


Oh, I guess I misinterpreted the sentence, whoops! ^^;

That said, I'm wondering whether that's true for everyone. I'm right-handed, but when I think about building it feels much more natural to me to imagine holding the model in my right hand and adding parts with my left hand... I don't know if that's the way I *actually* do it though, I've legitimately never given it thought before. I suppose I just add pieces with whichever hand is nearest to the parts pile, which can vary based on the angle I'm sitting at at any given time...?

Hm. I may need to build another set soon to test this out...!

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By in Brazil,

Please don't let these chirality aberrations reach the market!

Just imagine the nightmare of sorting your pieces by handness direction. Not to talk about all the other issues, such as brick separation, sticker sheets and everything else...

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By in United States,

About time us lefties got our due from LEGO!
(At first, I thought the instructions were changing from the English left to right format and into the Japanese right to left format, but hey this works too.)

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By in United States,

Honestly, I don't think these should be separate entries in the database. Maybe add a note to future sets that they are available in both left- and right-handed variations? The only differences are in the box art and layout of the instructions; even the set number is the same.

Including both the left- and right-handed instructions as properly labeled PDFs for each set (and images of both box variations) is obviously necessary, of course, but given the otherwise identical nature of the variations, I think that a simple tag or something that states that the set is available in both left- and right-handed versions would be sufficient.

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By in Venezuela,

@Spike730 said:
"This seems like a very bad business decision given the Trump administration's anti-Danish and anti-DEI stance. I expect hefty tolls on Lego products."

don't worry, LEGO's making well sure not to piss them off on their latest report... :/

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By in United States,

@ToysFromTheAttic said:
"As a life-long southpaw I feel slightly offended that my special ability is being used as a lame April Fool's joke. I cringe at every April's Fools joke I come across anyway. They're just not funny, and clearly only meant as an easy attempt at a cheap PR stunt. It's so childish, disingenuous, and uninspired, and I wish companies would just cut it out. You're not clever. You're really, really lame.

That said: SOUTHPAWS RULE!!!"


My dad's brother is left-handed. He likes to say that since the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body and vice versa, this means lefties are the only people in their right mind.

@ThatBionicleGuy said:"I'm right-handed, but when I think about building it feels much more natural to me to imagine holding the model in my right hand and adding parts with my left hand... I don't know if that's the way I *actually* do it though, I've legitimately never given it thought before. I suppose I just add pieces with whichever hand is nearest to the parts pile, which can vary based on the angle I'm sitting at at any given time...?

Hm. I may need to build another set soon to test this out...!"


I'm pretty sure that before my stroke, I held the model with my left and added parts with my right, unless the model was built on a baseplate or otherwise large enough to just sit on a flat surface and build on it that way. Now, due to having limited use of my left arm and hand, I know that that's what I do, although now I build more models on a table than I would have before.

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By in Canada,

As a left handed person, never in my life I noticed something is wrong or off with their instructions. I don't understand why is it even needed.

But right handed scissors, tin can openers and Keyboard+Trackpad combos ... I really hate these!

Edit: Face palming with my left hand after just notice the date :)

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By in United States,

As a right-handed person I say all are welcome!

Ha!

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By in Canada,

I hope the local Leftorium will start stocking Lego sets now, that’d be okely-diddley-dokely in my book!

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By in United States,

@whiteghost said:
"This after the news that LEGO dialed down or outright scrapped their inclusion efforts in their latest yearly report strikes harsher, making this not funny but eerily distressing."

What the hell is "inclusion"? just build your LEGO and be happy!

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By in United States,

@faster345 said:
" @whiteghost said:
"This after the news that LEGO dialed down or outright scrapped their inclusion efforts in their latest yearly report strikes harsher, making this not funny but eerily distressing."

What the hell is "inclusion"? just build your LEGO and be happy!"


I don't care about political/social commentary by Lego, they make fun sets I buy fun sets.

Companies add/remove this stuff just to keep up with whatever social trends will make them the most money. There's that meme of companies with rainbow profile pictures for their NA/EU social media, and no rainbow for their middle east social media. It all comes down to money lmao

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By in United States,

Well done.

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By in United States,

April fools?

Now if they do tarrif or price articles.... I will be so upset! NOT joking.

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By in United States,

@elangab said:
"As a left handed person, never in my life I noticed something is wrong or off with their instructions. I don't understand why is it even needed.

But right handed scissors, tin can openers and Keyboard+Trackpad combos ... I really hate these!

Edit: Face palming with my left hand after just notice the date :)"


omg scissors. but they might have a point... might be 1 or 2 sets that are harder to put together for left handed people.

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By in Germany,

@faster345 said:
" @whiteghost said:
"This after the news that LEGO dialed down or outright scrapped their inclusion efforts in their latest yearly report strikes harsher, making this not funny but eerily distressing."

What the hell is "inclusion"? just build your LEGO and be happy!"


This is a seriously reductive world view. Thankfully, I can deide where I spend money at or what values I stand by and decisions like these by LEGO influence my decisions. And no, I'm not happy building sets now.

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By in United States,

In the meantime, LEGO has updated their building app with a button that allows left-handed users to mirror past digital instructions in-app and replicate the experience of this exciting new instruction format!

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By in United States,

@daniellesa:
My brother was the only one in my immediate family who is left-handed. Growing up, our kitchent table hugged the interior wall, so he was permanently forced to sit at the left end of the table to keep his eating arm from getting tangled with any of us right-handers. Eating out, it's less of an issue, as long as he never sits to the right of a right-handed person.

@jkb:
Huh? My Good Humor ice cream truck is left hand drive, and the steps to walk down and serve customers are on the right, exactly as they are on the real thing. Every food truck that I see at our summer shows is left hand drive, and has the counter built into the right side of the vehicle. These two are not mutually exclusive.

@axeleng:
I've used left-hand scissors right-handed, and it's a lot harder than you think. Normally, you pull inward with your fingers when actuating the scissor mechanism, so to switch hands with the same pair of scissors, you have to consciously push the lower handle away with your fingers, which is not even remotely a natural process.

@TheOtherMike:
Indeed. TPB is the only movie that I own (runs downstairs) eleven copies of.

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By in United States,

@elangab said:
"As a left handed person, never in my life I noticed something is wrong or off with their instructions. I don't understand why is it even needed.

But right handed scissors, tin can openers and Keyboard+Trackpad combos ... I really hate these!

Edit: Face palming with my left hand after just notice the date :)"


sorry 2nd post, they make left handed scissors :) I need get some.

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By in France,

@Banners said:
"Ha-ha! @BlackFalconBirdman recently referred to building using the "left-hand rule". What is that precisely...? Is it when you just use your left hand to make the build process last longer...?"

I don't know about the 'rule.' However, I was recently putting together the quite impressive 31212 over the course of a couple evenings. My index finger on my right hand became so sore from all the sharp small bricks that I began utilizing the middle finger or switching to 'the stranger.'

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By in United States,

Well I thought it was funny.

But I have always enjoyed dry British humor. Er… humour?

Anyway, the bit about the obviousness of the placement of the logo had me in stitches!

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By in United States,

Rights for lefties! It's about time, we're always expected to convert things from right-handed ways, to our left hands. Things like knives, scissors and hand can openers, are the worst, along with spiral ring notebooks, that stupid wire is always in the way. As a lefty I have suffered from right-handed objects throughout my life. I taught my right hand to cut with scissors since my teachers wanted to "cure" me of being left-handed, and wouldn't give me left hand scissors.
As for left-handed instructions, too funny, but even funnier is that the flower is built mirror image, like building with your left hand would make the item look any different. I also love the Lego logo on the other side of the box for us lefties, how special.
I'm a lefty but I give equal building time for my right hand, so that it isn't left out of the build experience, that would just be cruel. Lego builds are usually pretty much symmetrical, so my left & right hand both get to add the pieces to the appropriate side of the build, except for applying stickers. That job is strictly for the left hand.
Thanks for including us lefties on this April fools day fun, it made me laugh.

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By in United States,

You got me for a second!

Thank you! ;-)

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By in New Zealand,

"Here it is side-by-side with the right-handed version. The left-handed one is on the right, and the right-handed version on the left". Just like the [L]eft and [R]ight keys on my keyboard - I have to use my left hand to type an 'R' and my right hand to type an 'L'. Is LEGO emulating the real World more closely now?

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By in United States,

@kwickbrick said:
"
As for left-handed instructions, too funny, but even funnier is that the flower is built mirror image, like building with your left hand would make the item look any different. I also love the Lego logo on the other side of the box for us lefties, how special. "


Funny you should mention that. I'm right handed. Since childhood, attempting to write with my left hand leads to most of the letters being flipped. Nothing else. I'm still writing left-to-right, but the letters face backwards.

I'd say the letters were mirrored, not backwards, but I don't want to know what dark universe that sloppy handwriting could possibly be mirroring.

Ahem, anyway... I oughta try looking that up again. I'm sure I've done so in the past, but I don't remember anything.

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By in United States,

@Spritetoggle said:
" @kwickbrick said:
"
As for left-handed instructions, too funny, but even funnier is that the flower is built mirror image, like building with your left hand would make the item look any different. I also love the Lego logo on the other side of the box for us lefties, how special. "


Funny you should mention that. I'm right handed. Since childhood, attempting to write with my left hand leads to most of the letters being flipped. Nothing else. I'm still writing left-to-right, but the letters face backwards.

I'd say the letters were mirrored, not backwards, but I don't want to know what dark universe that sloppy handwriting could possibly be mirroring.

Ahem, anyway... I oughta try looking that up again. I'm sure I've done so in the past, but I don't remember anything."


I can read upside-down. And I can read mirrored. I have trouble with upside-down mirrored. And none of that works with numbers because there's no context in numbers.

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By in United States,

Something just occurred to me about that flipped orchid. That joke would have been funnier, IMHO, with 75375 or 75389.

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By in United States,

at least they didn't say set...be too obvious... this one think could be built going left or right

Owwww since like 10% population that is left handed. Those sets would be worth a lot money.... too bad they are not doing it.. put on box lefties

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By in United States,

@StyleCounselor said:
" @Banners said:
"Ha-ha! @BlackFalconBirdman recently referred to building using the "left-hand rule". What is that precisely...? Is it when you just use your left hand to make the build process last longer...?"

I don't know about the 'rule.' However, I was recently putting together the quite impressive 31212 over the course of a couple evenings. My index finger on my right hand became so sore from all the sharp small bricks that I began utilizing the middle finger or switching to 'the stranger.'"


Hahahah! I didn't see anyone comment on it last time and didn't expect it here! Great memory @Banners !
Well, I am left-handed, but that's not what I meant by the left handed rule.
We actually learned about a left-handed rule in engineering school. It's different, but where I got the idea from!

This is the 'Left-handed rule' I made up to 'enjoy' the building process more - for sets I'll probably NEVER disassemble, like 79003 ! or 10000 :
- If you use your left hand with index and thumb extended and your middle finger pointing inward, it forms 3 "L"s (one straight on, one from the top, and one from the right side). You then can align the 'Lego' logo in each piece to correspond with the Ls from your left hand.
- Yes, it makes the building process take FOREVER - that's kind of the point!
- Yes, it's definitely NOT possible on all pieces, since some must have a certain orientation to build the set correctly (like most cheese wedges). Some might have only 2 options, like a 2x4 plate, but with 2 or more options you can usually align to one of the 3-Ls from the left hand.
- All pieces have the Lego logo, but some are on the bottom side (cheese wedge) or hard to see (1x1 round piece).

Who would do this?!? - People who think the building process is too short and want to make it longer, ...like me sometimes. :)
I probably wouldn't ever do it for a Technic set (even though I am loving 42180!), but I'd love to do it for something special to me like the 6487474 !!

Gravatar
By in United States,

@merman, As a left-hander, I do note when Lego puts weapons / accessories in the left-hand in the build instructions, which is becoming more and more common. In the past, it was very uncommon. I can't think of any case of pre-2000 Castle sets with a left handed weapon. Yes, that's mostly true to history, but I also think most town, space, and others were also all right handed. I was just more into castle.
Pirates, sure, because they sometimes had a sword and a gun or two guns, etc.

Gravatar
By in United States,

At last! Instructions that are sinister in nature. Enough of the rectus-biased booklets. If we dissolve them in water, will they produce a levorotatory solution?

Let's sell them at the local leftorium.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@missedoutagain said:
" @elangab said:
"As a left handed person, never in my life I noticed something is wrong or off with their instructions. I don't understand why is it even needed.

But right handed scissors, tin can openers and Keyboard+Trackpad combos ... I really hate these!

Edit: Face palming with my left hand after just notice the date :)"


omg scissors. but they might have a point... might be 1 or 2 sets that are harder to put together for left handed people."


Yes, "...scissors...might have a point..." lol, nice.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Banners said:
"Ha-ha! @BlackFalconBirdman recently referred to building using the "left-hand rule". What is that precisely...? Is it when you just use your left hand to make the build process last longer...?"

I don't know about the 'rule.' However, I was recently putting together the quite impressive 31212 over the course of a couple evenings. My index finger on my right hand became so sore from all the sharp small bricks that I began utilizing the middle finger or switching to 'the stranger.'"


Hahahah! I didn't see anyone comment on it last time and didn't expect it here! Great memory @Banners !
Well, I am left-handed, but that's not what I meant by the left handed rule.
We actually learned about a left-handed rule in engineering school. It's different, but where I got the idea from!

This is the 'Left-handed rule' I made up to 'enjoy' the building process more - for sets I'll probably NEVER disassemble, like 79003 ! or 10000 :
- If you use your left hand with index and thumb extended and your middle finger pointing inward, it forms 3 "L"s (one straight on, one from the top, and one from the right side). You then can align the 'Lego' logo in each piece to correspond with the Ls from your left hand.
- Yes, it makes the building process take FOREVER - that's kind of the point!
- Yes, it's definitely NOT possible on all pieces, since some must have a certain orientation to build the set correctly (like most cheese wedges). Some might have only 2 options, like a 2x4 plate, but with 2 or more options you can usually align to one of the 3-Ls from the left hand.
- All pieces have the Lego logo, but some are on the bottom side (cheese wedge) or hard to see (1x1 round piece).

Who would do this?!? - People who think the building process is too short and want to make it longer, ...like me sometimes. :)
I probably wouldn't ever do it for a Technic set (even though I am loving 42180!), but I'd love to do it for something special to me like the 6487474 !!"


Pffft. I prefer my logos balanced. Model POV for stuff that's alive, observer POV for stuff that's not, stuff that's on the left or right oriented in those directions, and stuff that's in the center alternating so the same number of studs face each way. Gets real fun when I'm building Beholders because there are a bunch of jumpers and long jumpers in the face, and I have to lay the parts out before I assemble them because I can never remember which way the jumper in the center has to face. Ooh, I could make an LDraw pattern in red and green!

Gravatar
By in United States,

@PurpleDave said:
" @daniellesa:
My brother was the only one in my immediate family who is left-handed. Growing up, our kitchent table hugged the interior wall, so he was permanently forced to sit at the left end of the table to keep his eating arm from getting tangled with any of us right-handers. Eating out, it's less of an issue, as long as he never sits to the right of a right-handed person.

@jkb:
Huh? My Good Humor ice cream truck is left hand drive, and the steps to walk down and serve customers are on the right, exactly as they are on the real thing. Every food truck that I see at our summer shows is left hand drive, and has the counter built into the right side of the vehicle. These two are not mutually exclusive.

@axeleng:
I've used left-hand scissors right-handed, and it's a lot harder than you think. Normally, you pull inward with your fingers when actuating the scissor mechanism, so to switch hands with the same pair of scissors, you have to consciously push the lower handle away with your fingers, which is not even remotely a natural process.

@TheOtherMike:
Indeed. TPB is the only movie that I own (runs downstairs) eleven copies of."


eating out in Asia (especially Japan), is problematic as 97% of Asians eat with their right-hands and the tables in Tokyo are very crowded. I was always locking arms with colleagues and friends, so I'm rather picky about where I sit at a table now, aiming for the corners where my left elbow can fly around freely.
This trouble can be further increased with customer dinners because there are 'correct' procedures for where you vs. customer / supplier sits in a restaurant (or in a meeting room, or in a car, or even where you stand in an elevator... )

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By in United States,

@Jack_Rizzo said:
""I know something you don't know. I'm not left handed!""

There's something I ought to tell you. I am not left-handed either.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @merman, As a left-hander, I do note when Lego puts weapons / accessories in the left-hand in the build instructions, which is becoming more and more common. In the past, it was very uncommon. I can't think of any case of pre-2000 Castle sets with a left handed weapon. Yes, that's mostly true to history, but I also think most town, space, and others were also all right handed. I was just more into castle.
Pirates, sure, because they sometimes had a sword and a gun or two guns, etc."


Funny thing about the Jelly Bean Knights is the large Constraction versions were all left-handed because most kids are right-handed. The logic was that a kid would hold the character in their right hand and use their thumb to actuate the attack feature. If the character is also right-handed, it would keep smacking the kid on the knuckles. Switch the character to a left-handed attack, and it clears on the fingertip side a lot easier.

@BlackFalconBirdman:
At least in an elevator, the only person who needs to be able to freely swing an arm around is whoever presses the floor buttons. But being the younger brother of someone who is left-handed, growing up there were a few times when I ended up being arbitrarily placed to his left, and I had a four year disadvantage in growth when things got physical. I think my parents really only started making sure he got a left corner seat because they didn't want to clean up the blood that was eventually going to result.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @missedoutagain said:
" @elangab said:
"As a left handed person, never in my life I noticed something is wrong or off with their instructions. I don't understand why is it even needed.

But right handed scissors, tin can openers and Keyboard+Trackpad combos ... I really hate these!

Edit: Face palming with my left hand after just notice the date :)"


omg scissors. but they might have a point... might be 1 or 2 sets that are harder to put together for left handed people."


Yes, "...scissors...might have a point..." lol, nice."


I did not catch that, lol, I guess that works both "...scissors...might have a point..."
and might have a point might be 1 or 2 sets that are harder to put together for left handed people"

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

I thought this was excellent, thank you. Very well written!

Gravatar
By in United States,

still unsure, if brickset would post rumors...........(jokes?)
maybe after april 1st, to squash rumors.
thought I've seen this before April 1st, maybe posted early?

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By in United States,

Real or fake?
(BILLUND, DENMARK / ZIRNDORF, GERMANY – 31 March 2022) — Bringing together two beloved brands in an unprecedented collaboration, today The LEGO Group and the Brandstätter Group, makers of renowned LEGO building toys and PLAYMOBIL toys respectively, announced the first sets from the PlayGo theme, a limited-edition release for North America, Europe and Australia, to be released later this summer. The PlayGo theme is the culmination of a historic partnership between these iconic toy companies, both of which have enjoyed commercial and creative success for decades.
A presentation graphic showing the preliminary scales tested for the Playgo figures. The final choice was the .75 scale.

“For years, fans of Playmobil and LEGO have asked us for sets like these, and we are pleased to finally offer our limited run PlayGo sets, designed to highlight the best play qualities of our products,” said Steffen Höpfner, CEO of Horst Brandstätter Holding GmbH, the parent company of Playmobil. “These sets pay homage to collective nostalgia, but also represent a bright future of collaboration between our two companies. We look forward not just to our fans’ enjoyment, but also to creating more PlayGo sets in the near future.”

Scale sheet with promotion packaging for Toy Fair Nuremberg and New York. The promo was not used, since both events were cancelled.

The LEGO Group CEO, Niels B. Christiansen said: “I am grateful our loyal consumers and also to Playmobil for engaging with us in this historic partnership. Both LEGO and Playmobil teams are passionate and committed – just like our fans. It will be satisfying to see children and adults worldwide enjoy the fruits of our labors in the form of PlayGo sets and we cannot wait to for everyone to see these products on store shelves worldwide.”


A test render of promotional figure, used for packaging.

The collaboration is also unique in that several LEGO Users Groups, or LUGs, were granted early access to the PlayGo sets, as part of The LEGO Group’s and Playmobil’s desire to produce a toy line to meet the highest expectations of its consumers. This resulted in the potential number of sets pared down from 19 possible offerings to the following seven, with input from LUG members across three continents:

Due to supply chain issues, packaging photos were not available at presstime.

90009341 PLAYGO® Archaelogical Dig  
RRP: 9.99 EUR/ 9.99 USD
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 23

90009342 PLAYGO® Paranormal Pat 
RRP: 19.99 EUR/ 9.99 USD
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 176
Measures: Over 9 in. (24 cm) high, 22 in. (58 cm) wide and 13 in. (34 cm) deep

90009343 PLAYGO® Sinner’s Well
RRP: 79.99 EUR/ 79.99 USD 
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 912
Measures: Over 6 in. (16 cm) high, 11 in. (29 cm) wide and 6.5 in. (17 cm) deep 

90009342 PLAYGO® Stellarium
RRP: 49.99 EUR / 49.99 USD
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 516
Measures: Over 18 in. (48 cm) high, 11 in. (29 cm) wide and 13 in. (34 cm) deep

90009343 PLAYGO® Firefox Arwing & The Nostromo
RRP: 549.99 EUR/ 549.99 USD
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 4,182
Measures: Over 6 in. (16 cm) high, 11 in. (29 cm) wide and 6.5 in. (17 cm) deep (Arwing); 20 in. (50 cm) high, 20 in. (53 cm) wide and 48 in. (120 cm) deep (Nostromo)

90009343 PLAYGO® Rusted Root Concert (Featuring “Light & Sound” Bricks)
RRP: 129.99 EUR/ 139.99 USD
Age: 18+ | Pieces: 1,484
Measures: Over 40 in. (100 cm) high, 40 in. (105 cm) wide and 12 in. (30 cm) deep 

90009351 PLAYGO® Recycling Plant & Chevy Volt Factory (Featuring “Light & Sound” Bricks)
RRP: 449.99 EUR/ 499.99 USD
Age: 18+
Pieces: 6,917
Measures: Over 60 in. (150 cm) high, 60 in. (156 cm) wide and 18 in. (45 cm) deep 

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By in Netherlands,

@missedoutagain, I bet Playmobil at the moment could only wish this was real.....

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By in United States,

@PurpleDave said:
" @BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @merman, As a left-hander, I do note when Lego puts weapons / accessories in the left-hand in the build instructions, which is becoming more and more common. In the past, it was very uncommon. I can't think of any case of pre-2000 Castle sets with a left handed weapon. Yes, that's mostly true to history, but I also think most town, space, and others were also all right handed. I was just more into castle.
Pirates, sure, because they sometimes had a sword and a gun or two guns, etc."


Funny thing about the Jelly Bean Knights is the large Constraction versions were all left-handed because most kids are right-handed. The logic was that a kid would hold the character in their right hand and use their thumb to actuate the attack feature. If the character is also right-handed, it would keep smacking the kid on the knuckles. Switch the character to a left-handed attack, and it clears on the fingertip side a lot easier.

@BlackFalconBirdman:
At least in an elevator, the only person who needs to be able to freely swing an arm around is whoever presses the floor buttons. But being the younger brother of someone who is left-handed, growing up there were a few times when I ended up being arbitrarily placed to his left, and I had a four year disadvantage in growth when things got physical. I think my parents really only started making sure he got a left corner seat because they didn't want to clean up the blood that was eventually going to result."


I think the jelly bean knights is where I first noticed it, but I can't be sure. It was a shock for me to see Lego 'recommend' weapons in the left hand. I suddenly felt special (in a good way).

Standing in the elevator in Japan isn't about swinging arms but about who's most important (the boss) and where the best spot for him to stand, then the next most important, etc. It's based on samurai times and protecting the boss by killing off the least important people first... so, yeah... actually, it is about the ability to freely swing arms about, lol...

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
"I think the jelly bean knights is where I first noticed it, but I can't be sure. It was a shock for me to see Lego 'recommend' weapons in the left hand. I suddenly felt special (in a good way)."

I believe the reason accessories are often shown in the left hand in instructions is so that they do not obscure the actual minifigure, which are shown as if viewed from the right.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@Huw said:
" @BlackFalconBirdman said:
"I think the jelly bean knights is where I first noticed it, but I can't be sure. It was a shock for me to see Lego 'recommend' weapons in the left hand. I suddenly felt special (in a good way)."

I believe the reason accessories are often shown in the left hand in instructions is so that they do not obscure the actual minifigure, which are shown as if viewed from the right.

"


Ouch. That brings us lefties back down a notch, lol.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @Huw said:
" @BlackFalconBirdman said:
"I think the jelly bean knights is where I first noticed it, but I can't be sure. It was a shock for me to see Lego 'recommend' weapons in the left hand. I suddenly felt special (in a good way)."

I believe the reason accessories are often shown in the left hand in instructions is so that they do not obscure the actual minifigure, which are shown as if viewed from the right.

"


Ouch. That brings us lefties back down a notch, lol."


Overall 40% of us are left-eared, 30% are left-eyed and 20% are left-footed.
But when it comes to handedness, only 10% of people are lefties.

Gravatar
By in New Zealand,

I'm right handed and have instructions on my right when building because my left eye is stuffed, but I hold subassemblies in my right hand while adding pieces with my left. Can I have instructions and pieces all non-handed? Every set and its instructions mirrored straight down the middle and perfectly symmetrical in every way would be ideal. Ta very much.

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By in United States,

How sinister!

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By in United States,

@Elytra said:
"How sinister!"

That wasn't a very dexterous pun.

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By in United States,

hmm was edited? april fools in the title.

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By in United States,

@missedoutagain said:
"hmm was edited? april fools in the title."

That's usually how it works. You post it like it's real on the day, and then, if you're the responsible type, you disarm it sometime afterwards. Not everybody does. I once ran into an article that I thought was legit because I was reading it in October. It was at least a few months before I pulled it up again and noticed that it had been posted on April 1st, and nobody edited it to clarify that once the day was done.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@PurpleDave said:
" @missedoutagain said:
"hmm was edited? april fools in the title."

That's usually how it works. You post it like it's real on the day, and then, if you're the responsible type, you disarm it sometime afterwards. Not everybody does. I once ran into an article that I thought was legit because I was reading it in October. It was at least a few months before I pulled it up again and noticed that it had been posted on April 1st, and nobody edited it to clarify that once the day was done."


yeah just waiting see if new article in few months mentions april fools ones...

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