Random Question of the Day (not political in any way, shape, or form)

October 16, 2007 21:35 pm

by Erick · 18 comments

Which way does the lady spin for you? It’s weird. I always get tested as left brain, but she mostly goes clockwise for me.

{ 18 comments }

candlerpark October 16, 2007 at 10:45 pm

That is incredibly strange . . . . She was spinning counterclockwise & then as I was reading the article she appeared to be spinning the other way.

Doug Deal October 16, 2007 at 11:11 pm

After experimenting with it a while, I can now pretty easily control the way she appears to spin by covering her feet and her upper body so that only the area around her knees are visible. Then, as the legs oscillate, if you imagine them spinning in the direction you want, reveal the rest of the body and it will also seem to spin in that direction.

Pretty freaky.

Carpe Forem October 16, 2007 at 11:43 pm

Clockwise only, even when I try Doug’s trick. I’ll try again tomorrow with less beer.

Bill Simon October 17, 2007 at 12:10 am

She spins both ways…it’s a trick.

That, and she has a nice rack….you know, for a CARTOON silouette, I mean… :-)

griftdrift October 17, 2007 at 1:53 am

I can make it go either way at will.

The optical illusion is based on how the brain interprets light and shadow.

Here’s an easy trick to keep your brain from being fooled. Focus on the shadows on the floor. Specifically the small one which is the shadow of the foot in the air. As its spinning in the direction you are currently perceiving, consciously try to imagine what that particular shadow’s position would be if she were spinning the other way. It may take some practice but pretty soon you should be able to make it go either way pretty much on command.

I’m actually to the point where I can make here sway gently back and forth from 3:00 to 9:00.

drjay October 17, 2007 at 8:31 am

maybe you’d like a little time alone w/ her grift?

drjay October 17, 2007 at 8:32 am

she was counterclockwise for me–but i can tell her to spin the other way and she will listen

Raymond McKinney October 17, 2007 at 8:46 am

CW even after reading the definitions of Left side and Right side. I guess that puts me in the minority.

Erick October 17, 2007 at 8:53 am

This is like Jedi mind training.

Mad Dog October 17, 2007 at 9:50 am

Erick,

How do whole brained people see the images?

MD

rugby_fan October 17, 2007 at 9:57 am

Mad Dog:

Interesting how you had to ask.

I was wondering myself to be perfectly honest.

Doug Deal October 17, 2007 at 10:08 am

MD and Rug,

It’s junk pop psychology that means nothing. From my experience with the “l’il lady” it all just depends on where she is in her turn when I first catch site of her. Originally, I saw her moving counterclockwise, but then she shifted to clockwise, and I could not see her going the other way, until I did my trick with blocking everything except her knees. Now I can move whichever way, just by thinking about it.

If there truly was some bias to your “brainedness” you would not be able to perceive it both ways so easily.

I think it was just a story created to demonstrate a very interesting illusion.

memberg October 17, 2007 at 10:38 am

I figured it out.

1) Focus only on the leg/foot that creates the axis she is rotating on.

2) If you want her to rotate clockwise, focus on her foot and try to perceive that it starts its rotation on the right side, coming toward you.

3) If you want her to rotate counter-clockwise, focus on her foot and try to perceive that it starts its rotation on the left side, coming toward you.

Buzz Brockway October 17, 2007 at 11:07 am

You guys really are a bunch of lonely nerds. Of course I only stared at her for a few hours…not like some of you.

jillchambers October 17, 2007 at 1:42 pm

she’ll spin both ways for me, too. she keeps going back and forth, back and forth.

Is this legal in Georgia? there should be a law – but then I would have to vote against it.

rugby_fan October 17, 2007 at 3:18 pm

I was thoroughly convinced reading this, that “which way does the lady spin for you” was some euphemism.

Mad Dog October 17, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Rugby and Doug,

I was afraid to ask, really.

MD

Mad Dog October 17, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Bill Simon,

When ‘she’ spins to the left, Betty Rubble.

To the right, Wilma!

MD

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