tainter@ihlpg.ATT.COM (Tainter) (01/30/88)
In article <551NU109703@NDSUVM1>, NU109703@NDSUVM1.BITNET writes: >The reason I think a mirror reverses left to right instead of up and down: >The mirror itself has no 'preferences' as to which way to reverse. It is >only a simple reflection of light. The reason that we may "say" it reverses >us is because we see the difference between the way we see ourselves and the >way others see ourselves. We say a mirror reverses left to right because the symmetric axis of a person is the horizonal. If you think about it you will find that 'reversal' in this case means if you do a rotation of your body around a vertical access to orient yourself to the image facing you that your right hand is where the images hand seems to be and so forth. However, if you use a horizontal rotation you find the top and bottom are 'reversed'. Note, this doesn't seem natural because there is not symmetry on this axis so like components of your body do not align themselves. However, it is just as a valid of a rotation. Further discussion should be taken to a qualified psychologist. --j.a.tainter
) (02/05/88)
From article <4725@ihlpg.ATT.COM>, by tainter@ihlpg.ATT.COM (Tainter): >>The reason I think a mirror reverses left to right instead of up and down: . . . >>It is only a simple reflection of light ... >>... because we see the difference between the way we see ourselves and the >>way others see ourselves. > > We say a mirror reverses left to right because the symmetric axis > of a person is the horizonal. Try this -- Go to a dressing room in a store with those mirrored booths -- _______ / \ / \ / \ X Stand at the "X" and put your hand over one eye. With the other eye, look into the crack where the mirrors meet -- the image of yourself will intersect you vertically where your open eye is. Reverse eyes -- pretty interesting. -- AMB