I'm a Maths teacher by profession, and I absolutely love optical illusions. Here are a couple of my favourites - post your own!
How many circles can you see?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.forbes.com%2Fmedia%2F2009%2F02%2F17%2F0217_Coffer_illusion_05.gif&hash=05cf21b8c0999570b56b3d11af5638779cd8fede)
Are you sure that's a triangle?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fiknow.net%2Fimages%2Fkanisza.gif&hash=9a2250229078612679dd92257a1e67bd48fd6929)
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi647.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu198%2FRamblingSyd%2FOPTILL3.jpg&hash=485e2808be853c144b4b92ab93370dd72f66446a)
Quote from: OldGit on June 11, 2011, 09:03:07 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi647.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu198%2FRamblingSyd%2FOPTILL3.jpg&hash=485e2808be853c144b4b92ab93370dd72f66446a)
That's a nice one, I particularly like this version:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_FVyp9i1Vtus%2FSihkSpbNmnI%2FAAAAAAAADUI%2FBdvMgGLFKTw%2Fs400%2Fillusion5.gif&hash=65e46c7468d78439676cb29c36070b1c0c9bc33d)
I see no circles, I see a triangle or two and a partial duck.
I'm starting a big fire for anyone who says differently.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on June 11, 2011, 09:26:41 PM
I see no circles, I see a triangle or two and a partial duck.
I'm starting a big fire for anyone who says differently.
This is the thing with you atheists - you have no patience. :P
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 09:27:46 PM
This is the thing with you atheists - you have no patience. :P
We have the patience to read the bible, unlike most Christians. ;)
Here is my contribution:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.woedepot.com%2Ffred_phelps.jpg&hash=f4337d40da6b2ee2ecbbe1d48b3ee7504c1111cf)
When you first look at it, all you see is a chafed and gurgling rectum, but when you stare at it for a little while longer it becomes a self-loathing homosexual.
Edit: This is Fred Phelps, by the way.
Quote from: original_gender on June 11, 2011, 09:32:54 PM
We have the patience to read the bible, unlike most Christians. ;)
This is true - one of the reasons why I'm here actually, because atheists (by definition) have rejected some kind of thought about God in order to call themselves "atheists", whereas it is possible, I dare say common, to call yourself a "Christian" and have no thoughts about God whatsoever. In other words, the "Christian" label can itself be an illusion. :)
QuoteFred Phelps
Comes to mind...
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
Quote from: original_gender on June 11, 2011, 09:32:54 PM
We have the patience to read the bible, unlike most Christians. ;)
This is true - one of the reasons why I'm here actually, because atheists (by definition) have rejected some kind of thought about God in order to call themselves "atheists", whereas it is possible, I dare say common, to call yourself a "Christian" and have no thoughts about God whatsoever. In other words, the "Christian" label can itself be an illusion. :)
Reminds me of Dennet's 'belief in belief'...
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
Quote from: original_gender on June 11, 2011, 09:32:54 PM
We have the patience to read the bible, unlike most Christians. ;)
This is true - one of the reasons why I'm here actually, because atheists (by definition) have rejected some kind of thought about God in order to call themselves "atheists", whereas it is possible, I dare say common, to call yourself a "Christian" and have no thoughts about God whatsoever. In other words, the "Christian" label can itself be an illusion. :)
This is actually backwards. It is religion which presents us with the idea of a god. That is the supposition. That is the pre-supposition. An atheist doesn't necessarily reject a god after first believing in a god. People are born without the idea or knowledge of a god. Many Atheists really just lack a belief in a god naturally.
That is, unless we were reared by parents who taught us that there was a god, just like they taught us about other things. And at some point, we simply decided there was no evidence to support that belief. You can argue that this is rejecting a thought about god, but that misses the fact that we were first taught to believe that there was a god. In that is the acceptance of a belief, which is a conscious act.
As for christianity, it is impossible to be one, according to the definition of a christian (i.e. believer in christ) and not think about god actively. Christ said he was the son of god. The god of Abraham. And to believe in him is to believe in god the father son and holy spirit, together.
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 08:42:37 PM
How many circles can you see?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.forbes.com%2Fmedia%2F2009%2F02%2F17%2F0217_Coffer_illusion_05.gif&hash=05cf21b8c0999570b56b3d11af5638779cd8fede)
Are we even supposed to see circles in this one? ??? I don't see even one.
Edit: nevermind, I see them now. There are 16.
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
QuoteFred Phelps
Comes to mind...
Google him. I try to hate the Christianity and not the Christian, but I would force-feed him a salad of his own genitalia at gunpoint.
Quote from: McQ on June 12, 2011, 02:06:23 AM
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
This is true - one of the reasons why I'm here actually, because atheists (by definition) have rejected some kind of thought about God in order to call themselves "atheists", whereas it is possible, I dare say common, to call yourself a "Christian" and have no thoughts about God whatsoever. In other words, the "Christian" label can itself be an illusion. :)
This is actually backwards. It is religion which presents us with the idea of a god. That is the supposition. That is the pre-supposition. An atheist doesn't necessarily reject a god after first believing in a god. People are born without the idea or knowledge of a god. Many Atheists really just lack a belief in a god naturally.
That is, unless we were reared by parents who taught us that there was a god, just like they taught us about other things. And at some point, we simply decided there was no evidence to support that belief. You can argue that this is rejecting a thought about god, but that misses the fact that we were first taught to believe that there was a god. In that is the acceptance of a belief, which is a conscious act.
As for christianity, it is impossible to be one, according to the definition of a christian (i.e. believer in christ) and not think about god actively. Christ said he was the son of god. The god of Abraham. And to believe in him is to believe in god the father son and holy spirit, together.
I agree with what you say, but it isn't the opposite of what I said - I'm talking about
thoughts (as in, thinking) about God as opposed
beliefs/ideas about God (which are the objects of thought) and
applying labels to oneself (i.e. identifying oneself as an atheist or as a Christian) as opposed to
being an atheist or a Christian. A child can be an atheist (taking the definition as "one who lacks belief in God or gods) without knowledge of or identification with the label "atheist". But rarely will you find someone who knows about and accepts for themselves the label of "atheist" if they have not subjected theistic beliefs or ideas (of others or of themselves) to some kind of thought which led to a rejection of those beliefs or ideas.
Contrarily, one can accept the label "Christian" without having ever applied thought to one's beliefs or ideas about the Christian God. Now, whether one must have thought actively about the Christian God in order to
be a Christian is, for me, an open question. In a very significant sense, Nietzsche was right when he said "In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross." No self-described Christian ultimately meets all the standards to be a (rationally, morally, existentially) consistent follower of Jesus (if, indeed, such consistency is possible). On the other hand, neither were those who first called themselves "Christians" at Antioch - it was simply the name for those who were part of the church, the Christian community, bound together by faith (that is, trust) in God through Jesus. One can trust in God without having applied any thought to what one means by "God".
Back to the thread... ;)
Are tiles A and B really different colours?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.hubimg.com%2Fu%2F1035050_f520.jpg&hash=1f363b338c1b50af8353531f3ce421b586a919a9)
Quote from: original_gender on June 12, 2011, 04:13:05 AM
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
QuoteFred Phelps
Comes to mind...
Google him. I try to hate the Christianity and not the Christian, but I would force-feed him a salad of his own genitalia at gunpoint.
I know who he is - he is exactly the kind of person who "comes to mind" when I think about the terms "self-described Christian" and "lack of thought about God (or, indeed, much at all)".
I love 3D street art optical illusions.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crystalxp.net%2Fnews%2Fimg%2F1836.jpg&hash=f67feb1c2c4c73e2993811309f07059824cee552)
^ 'Fraid I can't see it. ???
Quote from: NimzoAre tiles A and B really different colours?
No, they're the same. The only way I could tell is by taking samples with the excellent Windows7 "Snipping Tool" and pasting them side by side onto a blank image. Very strange.
This on's as old as the hills:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi647.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu198%2FRamblingSyd%2FOPTILL2.jpg&hash=82ec06d33a0c0c95a954e584228488e3b6924b18)
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 12, 2011, 12:42:42 AM
Quote from: Nimzo on June 11, 2011, 10:31:17 PM
This is true - one of the reasons why I'm here actually, because atheists (by definition) have rejected some kind of thought about God in order to call themselves "atheists", whereas it is possible, I dare say common, to call yourself a "Christian" and have no thoughts about God whatsoever. In other words, the "Christian" label can itself be an illusion. :)
Reminds me of Dennet's 'belief in belief'...
Yes, he says some similar things, though in the context of people believing that God exists independently of their assessment of what is true (e.g. believing because of the social unacceptability of atheism in particular cultures) rather than the context of people believing that God exists independently of
any thought (e.g. Fred Phelps).
Here's a famous one called "Curry's Paradox (http://'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfR-oBk0mCE')" - where did that extra square come from???
Quote from: OldGit on June 12, 2011, 01:37:44 PM
^ 'Fraid I can't see it. ???
I didn't get it either - and it doesn't seem to be "street art"... can you help us out, Crow?
QuoteQuote from: NimzoAre tiles A and B really different colours?
No, they're the same. The only way I could tell is by taking samples with the excellent Windows7 "Snipping Tool" and pasting them side by side onto a blank image. Very strange.
Or, you can just use the "pick colour" tool in Paint. ;D
Interesting thread.
The movement illusions are pretty cool - here's an example:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmistupid.com%2Fpsych%2Fimages%2Foptical2.gif&hash=4c93f79d452ede15620b80865a41104c515192be)
Can you find the hidden tiger in this picture?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.moillusions.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2007%2F06%2FHidden-Tiger-Optical-Illusion.jpg&hash=40c5fd5ff526b4787fb345c2f10f7780be29536a)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lN8vWm3m0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lN8vWm3m0)
Here's an audio/visual illusion called the McGurk effect.
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2011, 05:29:00 PM
Can you find the hidden tiger in this picture?
Nope - Server not found (both)! ;D
EDIT: Sorry - they are visible now. Perhaps it was a glitsch my end.
Quote from: NimzoOr, you can just use the "pick colour" tool in Paint. Grin
Hey, that works.
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2011, 05:29:00 PM
Can you find the hidden tiger in this picture?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.moillusions.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2007%2F06%2FHidden-Tiger-Optical-Illusion.jpg&hash=40c5fd5ff526b4787fb345c2f10f7780be29536a)
LOL
It's invisible.
Both very nice ones, joeactor! (I'd seen the first one - it's a popular poster - but not the second.)
xSilverPhinx - interesting video, I wonder if there are similar phenomena for other phonemes?
YouTube has a collection of audio illusions which are lesser known (when you think 'illusion', you're more likely to think 'visual'), mostly a sound that continues to increase or decrease in pitch even after you replay the video. There are also smell/taste and sight/taste illusions.
I find these things fascinating. It gives a lot of insight into the brain and perceptions.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 12, 2011, 05:33:39 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2011, 05:29:00 PM
Can you find the hidden tiger in this picture?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.moillusions.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2007%2F06%2FHidden-Tiger-Optical-Illusion.jpg&hash=40c5fd5ff526b4787fb345c2f10f7780be29536a)
LOL
It's invisible.
Honest... the hidden tiger really *is* in that picture...
Is it in the rain drop on the leaf?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwoedepot.com%2Ftiger.jpg&hash=85f63e36245634538a248c786bffcf9cb9a6d9f3)
Quote from: original_gender on June 12, 2011, 09:09:14 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwoedepot.com%2Ftiger.jpg&hash=85f63e36245634538a248c786bffcf9cb9a6d9f3)
Haha! Nice work.
Warning! Blunt-force trauma hint for The Hidden Tiger below:
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Final Warning!
(where's our spoiler tag?)
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... Look closely at the stripes - now do you see?
Quote from: joeactor on June 13, 2011, 01:20:30 AM
Warning! Blunt-force trauma hint for The Hidden Tiger below:
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Final Warning!
(where's our spoiler tag?)
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... Look closely at the stripes - now do you see?
Oh, lol. I thought this was a joke.
LOL! Seen it.
Which way is this balancing table tilted?
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_nlB2iavXqvs%2FSZrMeA30aFI%2FAAAAAAAADL0%2FK5Wx8Mz4BEA%2Fs400%2FTilting%2BTable%2BOptical%2BIllusion.JPG&hash=ccb1e086c04a02e2b63bd314b10ff5ebbec4a63b)
Have a play with it here (http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/ang_tiltedTable/index.html).
Quote from: Nimzo on June 13, 2011, 05:26:40 PM
Have a play with it here (http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/ang_tiltedTable/index.html).
Thanks - that site has a lot on it!
Yep, there's loads and loads of great stuff on there - the flash players in particular are great and very illuminating.
(Ooh, 50 posts - now I get to preach! :P)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index)
This may look fake, but it's not. Really cool.
Here's a new freaky face illusion from Gizmodo:
http://gizmodo.com/5819584/this-weird-optical-illusion-turns-beautiful-girls-into-horrible-monsters
Wow! On the A and B tiles illusion I assumed you were talking about the tiles the letters were sitting on. Now that I see you were talking about the actual letters it makes a lot more sense. Without using a computer though wouldn't it be impossible to tell if they were the exact same shade of grey though.
P.S. Sorry about the atrocious grammar.
P.S.S. The first time around I spelled grammar wrong.
Sorry about my above post I only thought there was one page. I'm gonna say the scale isn't tipping. Right?
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 12, 2011, 06:48:13 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index)
This may look fake, but it's not. Really cool.
That was badass. I didn't realize what had happened until I read the description after. Amazing.
Quote from: Ihateyoumike on July 14, 2011, 09:39:27 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 12, 2011, 06:48:13 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7knnO4vKgXg&feature=feedrec_grec_index)
This may look fake, but it's not. Really cool.
That was badass. I didn't realize what had happened until I read the description after. Amazing.
Me too. At first I thought it was a prank.