How's your handwriting??

[RayIN]

Me too.. But I broke my arm in 4th grade.. My Mom always blamed my poor hand writing on that… But like you, it was atrocious before and after… I’ve had essential tremors for the past 20 years in my right hand.. So I’ll sign my name, but I won’t fill out any paperwork, unless it’s with a keyboard…
Butch

A professor of neurology told me I have essential tremors. Several years later a doctor of neurology told me I have non-essential tremors. Essential tremors means Drs know the root cause, non-essential tremors means they don't know. ( have it in both hands.)
Another Dr told me there is no such thing as non-essential tremors.
Anyway I plan to have the microwave brain surgery that eliminates tremors- except for Parkinsons tremors.

 

[Arch Hoagland]

RayIN Let us know how the "microwave brain surgery that eliminates tremors" turns out. I have familial tremors as did my three older sisters. Very maddening for sure.

 

[jymbee]

A professor of neurology told me...
Several years later a doctor of neurology told me...
Another Dr told me...

All too familiar a scenario when seeking medical help these days...

 

[Joezeppy]

I remember these.

View attachment 1320093

Used one of these in the liquor store I worked in while in college. We also got a publication - weekly, I think - of bad credit card numbers. Had to look up every one before making the sale.

 

[BizCrate]

So much for writing SEE LICENSE on the signature line of my CC. I would say less than 5% of cashiers actually ask.

Yep. I know lots of people that do the same thing. My cousin is one and she thanks the cashier very sincerely when they do ask to see an ID. Somehow this practice got really popular even though it was never valid or recognized by banks or credit card companies. The authorization on the card is just that - you agreeing to the statement that is just above the line. It never was intended to be an ID check. The cashier checks the back to see if card has been authorized but not see if the signature is actually yours. Technically, if the card does not have a signature then they can refuse the transacation. You are covered by things like Reg E should your card become lost or stolen.

 

[Oldgator73]

So much for writing SEE LICENSE on the signature line of my CC. I would say less than 5% of cashiers actually ask.

The cashier doesn’t handle your CC since the vast majority of CC transactions at stores are completed on a machine you either insert, swipe or tap your CC on. This applies to debit cards also.

 

[Boat Bum]

I do see your point but there are still many times I hand my CC to someone and they process the transaction, mostly restaurants and the like.

 

[Domo]

In 75 years I have never, ever, had anyone ask me to verify my signature on any document.

So, when faced with the electronic signature pad I tend to draw things, such as the beach, flowers, trees, little stick people, etc. No one complains and my credit card still pays for the item with no questions.

 

[John From Detroit]

Me too.. But I broke my arm in 4th grade.. My Mom always blamed my poor hand writing on that… But like you, it was atrocious before and after… I’ve had essential tremors for the past 20 years in my right hand.. So I’ll sign my name, but I won’t fill out any paperwork, unless it’s with a keyboard…
Butch

5th for me. Turns out I wrote better Left handed (More effort however) Then I broke the left. It did not heal as well as the right did.

My handwriting depends on how hard I concentrate Normally..... I type

 

[ButchW1]

..... I type

Welcome to the club…
Butch

 

[DonTom]

Person in front of me at the checkout was signing their name on one of those electronic signature gizmos for credit card purchases. Looked to be taking care to carefully sign their full name very neatly.

Is "neatly" even possible on one of those signature thingies? No way could I recognize my own signature on one of those!

-Don- Ave of the Giant Redwoods, CA

 

[Domo]

Is "neatly" even possible on one of those signature thingies? No way could I recognize my own signature on one of those!

-Don- Ave of the Giant Redwoods, CA

Don't worry, in today's environment they probably have a video recording of you signing!

 

[DonTom]

Don't worry, in today's environment they probably have a video recording of you signing!

In places where recorded, you do not need to sign these days. AFAIK, the signatures are only required where it is not being recorded.

Haven't you noticed that these days many places do not want your signature to use a credit card?

-Don- Near Redcrest, CA

 

[Excalibur1]

The nuns (and public school teachers) would walk down each row and tilt your paper at an angle so your letters would get the slant they wanted. No consideration was given that lefties should slant the other direction. By tilting the paper, the teacher made it even more difficult for the southpaw to achieve the desired result.
This is why many lefthanders crank their arm/hand around in a circle when they write, myself included (nuns with rulers and wooden pointers).

Ah yes...Sister Mary Holy Water with the steel ruler up that big sleeve.......remember it well.

 

[Domo]

In places where recorded, you do not need to sign these days. AFAIK, the signatures are only required where it is not being recorded.

Haven't you noticed that these days many places do not want your signature to use a credit card?

-Don- Near Redcrest, CA

True - but I seldom pay much attention since I think everyone already know what size underwear I have - so the rest is all downhill after that as far as security goes. LOL

 

[Wasillaguy]

Ah yes...Sister Mary Holy Water with the steel ruler up that big sleeve.......remember it well.

There was one in her 80's that still used the white rope with the knots in it that hung from the side of their penguin outfit. Those knots would leave a mark.

 

[jymbee]

I agree with AI's take on the situation:

Signing for credit card purchases is mostly security theater at this point.

Bottom line:
The signature is dead weight. It's outdated, ineffective, and in almost all practical cases, just a pointless step. Biometric verification, chip-and-PIN, and tokenization (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) are far more secure.

If you're still being asked to sign, it's not about security—it's about inertia.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Since my strokes, my signature looks nothing like it used to. My hands shake so much that even my printing can be hard to read. Most of the time, my wife signs credit slips, etc., for me.

 

[DutchmenSport]

My hand writing was never "great", but it was readable. I noticed over the last 20 years my hand writing has disintegrated into oblivion. At those check out counters, swiping the credit card (signature), I just started drawing a straight line.

About a year and a half ago, I started volunteering at a state historic site in Louisiana. One of the many things I did was to help inventory the artifacts inside the historic plantation house. Along with a photo record, a written account had to be done.

Long story short, I forced myself to start writing neat, and oddly to say, my hand writing style has actually changed (drastically) from when I was much younger. I think it's much better now.

Necessity does cause us to develop or retain unused skills. There's an expression that says, If you don't use it ... you loose it! And that is so true.

Start writing love letters to your "significant other". The practice will help you and your "other" will love it too!

 

[Tulecreeper]

My grandchildren, who have graduated from high school, cannot read or write cursive. I'll have to ask what they do when a document requires a signature. I do remember an uncle who signed everything with an "X".

Mine are 6 and 10. The 10 year old is being taught cursive in school.