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Order and orient the keys on your keychain

(practicalbetterments.com)
67 points surprisetalk | 4 comments | 22 Oct 24 16:29 UTC | HN request time: 0.823s | source
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matrss ◴[26 Oct 24 22:57 UTC] No.41958338[source]▶
> Locks typically open clockwise [...]

Is that so? My intuition is that it should depend on the side of the door the lock is mounted on. Most locks I have seen open by turning them away from the side where the latch is on, to move the bolt in the direction it is being turned, and that feels pretty natural to me. Isn't that the norm?

My apartment key opens 7 different locks, 1 of which opens clockwise, 5 counterclockwise, and 1 I don't know right now because it isn't actually mounted on a door and doesn't move a bolt.

replies(1): >>41958523 #
stavros ◴[26 Oct 24 23:32 UTC] No.41958523[source]▶
Yep, you move the top of the key away from the door casing, and that's the natural way. Counterclockwise if the lock is on the right, clockwise if it's on the left.
replies(1): >>41959610 #
1. SamBam ◴[27 Oct 24 03:16 UTC] No.41959610[source]▶
All locks ought to work that way.

Some don't, and it pisses me off every time.

replies(2): >>41959616 #>>41960639 #
2. philsnow ◴[27 Oct 24 03:18 UTC] No.41959616[source]▶
I feel the same way when twist-ties on bread from the store are twisted the “wrong” way (for the 90% of people who are right-handed)
replies(1): >>41960025 #
3. pchristensen ◴[27 Oct 24 05:15 UTC] No.41960025[source]▶
raises left hand defiantly :)
4. Hunpeter ◴[27 Oct 24 07:58 UTC] No.41960639[source]▶
I've encountered an old safe which required two keys to open, one of them turning the "wrong way" - perhaps it's an attempt to slow down a possible burglar by making it "surprising"?