cjh@petsd.UUCP (Chris Henrich) (01/22/88)
In article <760@aucs.UUCP> 820785gm@aucs.UUCP writes: > > So just why DOES a mirror reverse left and right, but not up and down? Here's an explanation I find satisfying; I read it in some fairly level-headed magazine. The mirror, by itself, reverses front-to-back. Our sense of vision, seeing the result, mentally applies a rotation to the mirror image. (Why? I suppose, to get it as close as possible to one's "body image.") The axis chosen is from head to feet, in most circumstances. The combination of the front-to-back reflection and the vertical rotation is a left-to-right reflection. Regards, Chris -- Full-Name: Christopher J. Henrich UUCP: ...!hjuxa!petsd!cjh US Mail: MS 313; Concurrent Computer Corporation; 106 Apple St; Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Phone: (201) 758-7288 Concurrent Computer Corporation is a Perkin-Elmer company. "Life is what the least of us make most of us feel the least of us make the most of." -- Quine
NU109703@NDSUVM1.BITNET (01/28/88)
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. If people normally stood on their heads to look at
each other (I know it couldn't make sense with more than 2 people), then the
mirror would be seen to reverse your image up and down. You would then be
asking, "Why does a mirror reverse your image up and down and not left and
right?" The only difference, in my point of view, is the difference in
reference (of your image) between you and all other people.rwood@polyslo.UUCP (Robin Wood) (01/29/88)
ok. let's try to finish this discussion and get back to 'humor'
(I do remember what that is, I think). The real reason you perceive
yourself 'backwards' in the mirror is because little green men pick up your
image and turn it around really fast just to confuse you. It is quite
similar to the refrigerator light effect.
and if you don't believe that, there is also another common theory that
has to do with the fact that most of us have two eyes. If our eyes were placed
one above the other, then the little green men would make us look upside down
in the mirror, not backwards. REALLY.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste on,
--
o< - robin
\_/