turning fastener left firsts prevents cross threading a wheel nut?

Turning left means you “feel” for the rise and sudden drop as you encounter the end of the thread.

If you don’t feel it then try again.

Once you find that point you gently turn right or clockwise to engage the threads.

Obviously, if these are left-hand threads then it is all reversed...

It's the right idea but you have to keep the nut square-on to the bolt, don't let it rock or tilt. If the nut is in a socket, especially a deepwell, that helps you keep it square-on.

When you do it right, the whole nut just "drops in" by a whole thread pitch. You really feel the bump if you are paying attention.

While it's useful in threaded steel bolts, it's far more useful with screws going into wood or plastic. If you inadvertently cut a second thread there, you'll chew up the wood or plastic. Go at least twice around... sometimes you get a double-bump, little bump then a big bump. You want the big bump.