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Tattoo (thelemmy.club)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world
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Tattoo
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[–] 7 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Because port/starboard refers to the left/right side of the ship, regardless how the person orientated. If you are facing the front of the ship, then yes, port = left. If you are facing the back of the ship, port = right. So it is very handy to have words that always refer to the same part of the ship.

(All the other terms, like front/bow and stern/rear, who cares? I dunno.)

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  • [–] -1 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    If I turn my head around and look backwards the right and left side of my body don't change. It's always in relation to the front of me.

    If I referred to something being on the right side or left side of my car, anyone would know which side I meant.

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    In a car, sure, since 99% of the seats face the front. Same for an airplane. Left is left, right is right.

    How would you do that with for instance a classic rowboat? Then your left is on the right side, no matter how you turn your head?

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  • [–] 0 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    your car also has a left and right side / driver's right and driver's left, mechanics are often looking at the engine bay from the front looking back so left is their right.

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