3 ms·

Seeing Double

24 points by Hooke 10y ago

Jun8 10y ago
"For this reason, the use of a mirror entailed a set of safety guidelines and instructions" Interesting to see common superstitions about mirrors span cultures: In Ottoman times wall mirrors were commonly turned around at night to block evil spirits, so the backside of mirrors were richly decorated (e.g. https://www.rubylane.com/item/151662-1826/Turkish-900-Silver-Embossed-Wedding-Mirror https://www.rubylane.com/item/151662-1826/Turkish-900-Silver...).
david-given 10y ago
Have you noticed that your reflection always appears to be staring you straight in the eyes? The reason is obvious, of course. But once you start noticing, it never stops being creepy.
- labster 10y ago
  Optics is the creepiest of sciences, closely followed by nematology.
  - johnchristopher 10y ago
    Nematology ? Why ? From WP: In short, if all the matter in the universe except the nematodes were swept away, our world would still be dimly recognizable, and if, as disembodied spirits, we could then investigate it, we should find its mountains, hills, vales, rivers, lakes, and oceans represented by a film of nematodes. The location of towns would be decipherable, since for every massing of human beings there would be a corresponding massing of certain nematodes. Trees would still stand in ghostly rows representing our streets and highways. The location of the various plants and animals would still be decipherable, and, had we sufficient knowledge, in many cases even their species could be determined by an examination of their erstwhile nematode parasites."[19]
- kazinator 10y ago
  Not always; sometimes you use a mirror from a very close vantage point whereby one eye is searching for an object lodged in the other eye. You can also look at your reflection at an angle, using peripheral vision. Your reflection then likewise appears to be peering elsewhere.
kazinator 10y ago
> But before there was any such thing as a mirror, human beings were still self-aware There was never such a time, because in the span of our existence we've always had calm water surfaces to peer into.

24 points by Hooke 10y ago

Jun8 10y ago

"For this reason, the use of a mirror entailed a set of safety guidelines and instructions" Interesting to see common superstitions about mirrors span cultures: In Ottoman times wall mirrors were commonly turned around at night to block evil spirits, so the backside of mirrors were richly decorated (e.g. https://www.rubylane.com/item/151662-1826/Turkish-900-Silver-Embossed-Wedding-Mirror https://www.rubylane.com/item/151662-1826/Turkish-900-Silver...).

david-given 10y ago

Have you noticed that your reflection always appears to be staring you straight in the eyes? The reason is obvious, of course. But once you start noticing, it never stops being creepy.

labster 10y ago
Optics is the creepiest of sciences, closely followed by nematology.
- johnchristopher 10y ago
  Nematology ? Why ? From WP: In short, if all the matter in the universe except the nematodes were swept away, our world would still be dimly recognizable, and if, as disembodied spirits, we could then investigate it, we should find its mountains, hills, vales, rivers, lakes, and oceans represented by a film of nematodes. The location of towns would be decipherable, since for every massing of human beings there would be a corresponding massing of certain nematodes. Trees would still stand in ghostly rows representing our streets and highways. The location of the various plants and animals would still be decipherable, and, had we sufficient knowledge, in many cases even their species could be determined by an examination of their erstwhile nematode parasites."[19]
kazinator 10y ago
Not always; sometimes you use a mirror from a very close vantage point whereby one eye is searching for an object lodged in the other eye. You can also look at your reflection at an angle, using peripheral vision. Your reflection then likewise appears to be peering elsewhere.

kazinator 10y ago

> But before there was any such thing as a mirror, human beings were still self-aware There was never such a time, because in the span of our existence we've always had calm water surfaces to peer into.