Maybe he means something like the FPE breakers where the handle operated the opposite from every other breaker I can think of.
Though they don't seem quite right, they are not in violation of any code if the handles operate horizontally. If they operate vertically, then up must be "closed" or "on" and down must be "open" or "off".
I don't know when this rule was introduced in NEC but I have seen occasional old panels that were not designed to comply with this rule. I'm guessing they were made before that rule was put into code.
