Is There A Right Or Wrong Way To Stir Tea/coffee?

[AndiFlatland]

Which way do you stir your tea or coffee - clockwise or anticlockwise? And is it right or wrong either way? I can't see that it matters at all. But the reason I ask is because when I was a kid, about an aeon ago, sitting down to my evening meal with my family, my mother suddenly let forth a howl of disapproval at me. When I asked what was the reason, she said, without a hint of irony, "You're stirring your tea the WRONG WAY!!"
I had always unthinkingly stirred it anticlockwise, and never noticed that both my parents and my sister stirred theirs clockwise. It felt normal and natural to stir it in that direction, and I've done it that way all my life.
Any thoughts?

[237SJ]

Blimey LG - can`t you see that Clanad was having a joke about how to stir a cup of tea? and the reference to the old myth about the water going down the plughole in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere was just that - a joke.

[DaisyNonna]

Hopkirk, would never dream of putting cream in coffee.

[LazyGun]

I got the reference, although I didn't think it especially funny. Clanads response to someone not getting the reference was to insult the British. Since I am British, I was insulted.

[237SJ]

In my experience, there are far more insults to the Americans on this site but hey ho, each to their own.

[mibn2cweus]

Who would have imagined a question concerning which way to stir ones cup might have managed to stir up so much controversy. Heaven forbid anyone should initiate a discussion over an issue of truly monumental importance . . . http://goo.gl/XdC5P1

[LazyGun]

@Mibs Heh. The great debate to end all great debates :)

[ferlew]

My dear Swedish friend berated me over the way I stir tea/coffee.
I sort of whip it, bottom to top of the cup.
At least it gets it all melded together.

[pernod]

I just noticed I stir anticlockwise and wondered why?

[Lateral-Thinker]

It's obvious! You must open a crisp packet at the top.

If you open it at the bottom, then the contents will immediately fall to the floor! QED.