Question: [![lotr meme](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SsEzO.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SsEzO.jpg)
i know smeagol and gollum are basically the same person, but what does it mean in this meme?

Answer: 
When somebody is standing in front of a crowd and they say *left* or *right*, it's almost always in reference to the perspective of the crowd that is being addressed.

A teacher may turn and point to the blackboard, indicated something to the left or right as they are *now* facing.

In theatre, if an actor or director wants to talk about things from the perspective of people *on the stage facing the audience*, they use the phrases [**stage left**](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage%20left) and [**stage right**](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage%20right) (from Merriam-Webster). Note that that is not spoken to the audience; it's for stage direction behind the scenes and during rehearsals. The audience uses the normal words.

So, the assumption is normally the perspective of the audience.

But if it's unclear, clarifying language can be used.
> 
> *If you look at the diagram on the left-hand side...*
> 
> 
> 

If there is only **one** diagram, this phrase refers to **the left-hand side of the diagram**:

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dJHzU.png)

However, if there are **two** diagrams, the phrase refers to **the diagram on the left**: 

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/07hKF.png)

So, **if you look at the *first* illustration on the left-hand side**, you can see the carbon ring in the molecule. **If you look at the *second* illustration on the left-hand side**, you can see the normal foot and arch. 

As other answers have pointed out, most often, this is from the perspective of the **viewer**. 

---

Therefore, in your example, 

> 
> ...if you look at the diagram on the left-hand side, it explains what these intercalacted disks are.
> 
> 
> 

That is referring to the diagram with the purple and yellow columns: 

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rVddR.png)