Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Residual Self-Image

Y'know, there's something I realised the other day when looking at a picture of myself. I perceive myself exactly backwards to how other people perceive me. My self-image is based on what I see in the mirror, but the mirror is backwards to reality. What I see in the mirror as being to my left, other people see as being to their right, and vice versa. When I part my hair on what in the mirror seems to be the left, other people see it on the right. All this time, when I've looked in the mirror and raised an eyebrow, it's been the wrong eyebrow. It's a very disconcerting thing to realise.

I think this is part of the reason why seeing yourself in a photograph or a home video always seems slightly strange. We're used to seeing ourselves in the mirror, so when we see ourselves in the way that other people do, the two images don't quite match.

It seems like such an obvious thing. I can't believe I didn't realise until now.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm... Nifty.

Benjamin said...

I wonder if it would be somehow possibe to arrange mirrors so that the reflection is the other way.
Probably not.
But it would be neat, or a sputnik would say... Nifty.

Becca said...

Um.... maybe it's just me, but if you have all this time to just sit in front of the mirror and ponder such things, maybe you should get a hobby? There are many things you could take up in regards to hobby-ing, perhaps you could write a book! :P
Now there's an idea. ;)

Anonymous said...

That's a good one, Becca!

Benjamin said...

I agree "sez", Mr. Krig could probably write a pretty good book too. . .

Krig the Viking said...

Hey, I can't help it when I think about things! It just happens! :P

Gebohq said...

Actually, I'm pretty sure I look strange in videos/photos compared to the mirror because I'm not watching myself when I'm recorded. And I've never much found my visual self very odd to look at, at least compared to my VOICE. Bleh.

And as for hobbies, you all should bother him about doing more [url=http://nes.sorrowind.net]NeS comic[/url] stuff, or NeS in general ;)

Krig the Viking said...

Oh, and, by the way Benjamin, it is indeed possible to arrange mirrors to see yourself normally. Just hold one mirror at a right angle to the other one It's quite nifty.