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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 10th, 2023

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  • I hate righty-tighty lefty-loosy. Depending on whether you’re looking at the top or bottom of the screw, you can see movement to the right or the left. I hate whoever came up with it, and I wish I had been taught the right hand method. It works exactly the same as the electromagnetic right hand rule:
    an example of the right hand rule as it relates to a screw thread

    Basically, you take your right hand, stick your thumb out, and curl your fingers like you’re grabbing a broom handle. Point your thumb in the direction you want the screw to move to. Want to screw something in? Point your thumb towards the thing. Want to unscrew? Point your thumb away from the object the screw is currently in. Then, just look at the way your fingers are pointing! If it helps, squeeze your fingers into a fist and see which way they move. Alternatively, bend your wrist in, and observe which way your fingers are moving. Works every time.

    It sounds complicated, but there are plenty of people who are unable to intuitively differentiate from right and left the way they can differentiate up and down. I am one of those people. Thanks to this method, I’ve been able to develop the muscle memory/intuition to know which way to turn a screw.

    It’s important to note that this only works for screws that are “right hand threaded.” If the screw is only getting tighter when you’re using this method, then it’s likely reverse threaded, or left hand threaded. If that’s the case, just use your left hand instead of your right hand.


  • People ought to be careful with the going outside thing. Like, if you’re just going out into your yard or apartment complex then it’s fine. If you’re commuting and there’s the possibility that you might end up stranded where there’s no climate control, then please at least stick that extra layer in your backpack or something.

    I had somewhat severe hypothermia once, and it’s an insidious thing. I got colder and colder until I just stopped noticing it, and then I stopped noticing most things. I didn’t realize what was happening to me, and I would have died if I had been alone. I had others who saw my slack, dumb face and my kinda blue lips and helped me, but I’m not going to risk ever going through that again, and I’d encourage everyone to please be careful. Keeping a coat or hat or whatever with you is worth the hassle.