Member of the Month

je_t.aime_canard
January, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Red = yellow = purple = green = blue?

profile picture
Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9095 - Karma: 3,073
We are born.
We see things. All sorts of crazy things.
We go to school for the first time.
What do they teach us? Colors.
"This apple is red. This sun is yellow."
We match what we see with the name we have been given.

What if, we all saw yellow as a different visual representation as everybody else?
What I see as red might be purple to you, but you don't know any better because there's no way for you to see what I see.
We are seeing the same object, but perhaps for some girl, the object is covered in horizontal stripes.
She calls those stripes "red" because she matches those stripes with the word "red".
She assumes that everybody sees this so-called "red" as horizontal stripes.

Each individual human might have a completly different "personal color spectrum" than every other person on this Earth.


Think about it...
Jun 16 2009 9:10PM
0 0
profile picture
gnarshrelpt
Posts: 572 - Karma: 15
i got one word: trriiippppyyyy
Jun 17 2009 2:23AM
0 0
profile picture
mmallender.
Posts: 5805 - Karma: 936
ive always been interested in things like this, like what about how people think in general. i used to find it completely crazy that people who spoke spanish for example, thought in spanish, and then what if said spanish person was multilingual, what language would they think in, would the language they think in depend on what language they were planning to speak in? im not sure if that makes sense at all....
Jun 17 2009 2:49AM
0 0
profile picture
BFFset.
Posts: 2210 - Karma: 12
You belong in thinkers cult.

I completely agree with your original theory. I think everyone sees (the actual pigment their eyes pick up) each color differently. However, we all perceive them as the same. Every set of eyes is different. We are trained what green is, or blue is, and we learn that. It is in this same way that a color blind person can know green from red by varying shades of gray (sometimes). That said, I think there must be many common similarities with how we see the colors. Most of us must see the same thing. Why else would programs on tv about brightly colored rainforest bird species, or brightly colored artwork, be so pleasing to us? If i saw a bright green poison dart frog as gray, i wouldn't be nearly as intrigued. There must be commonalities.
Jun 17 2009 3:11AM
0 0
profile picture
pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
^ furthering this

let's just pretend for a moment that people all have unique perception of color

 this entails;
everything we refer to as being a particular color (lets take red for example) stop signs, firetrucks, are perceived  as the whole gamut of colors by a room full of people.

now sometimes we have arguments about whether someone's shirt is red or maroon, or dark green or dark blue, which is totally normal. but if the above situation were real, people could have disagreements over whether something looked purple or yellow, red or blue, black or white. Obviously this isn't the case. color blind people may be our closes example to mixing up perceived color and actual color, but on the norm, with average people in mind, this mix up of radically different colors does not happen.

The reason we can expect strange mix-ups between colors when individuals have their own radically unique perception of color is because we have to expect that for some, what they'd perceive red to be and what they perceive blue to be could be very similar colors. Just like when we have arguments over whether something's aqua marine or teal, these individuals would debate others who perceive the colors to be quite the opposite. This would lead to mass confusion, no one would really be able to describe what they were seeing and have others understand it.

this isn't how we interact with one another, this isn't the sorts of problems we have with colors and our perception of them so we can assume that we all see and perceive some common ground. Perhaps one person's perception of red is a little different from an other's, but it's not the case that people perceive totally opposite colors from one another. That'd just be too confusing
Jun 17 2009 4:00AM
0 0
profile picture
AlexGaynor
Posts: 947 - Karma: 148
This is the first girl i have ever given karma to..... maybe its the first time a female has ever made sense on this site.

And yes i have thought this exact thing and thought about exactly how hard it would be to put into words. Good job... unless you just copied and pasted that like some one suggested.
Jun 17 2009 4:47AM
0 0
profile picture
basa
Posts: 85 - Karma: 10
i think about this colour debate all the time
Jun 17 2009 6:48AM
0 0
profile picture
h_bar
Posts: 1611 - Karma: 506
The apple is blue and the banana is orange.
Jun 17 2009 6:57AM
0 0
profile picture
slevin_kelevra
Posts: 416 - Karma: 13
ive thought about this before.  And odds are that we dont perceive things in the exact same color or size. 


Jun 17 2009 8:14AM
0 0
profile picture
comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
thank you. some people in this thread aren't fully grasping the concept. i think this is a really neat thing to think about though, and that it could be highly possible. some kid sees a red ball and i see it as what's considered yellow. but we both are taught that that color is green. technically we would still be able to function fine thinking it is green, and nobody would ever be able to find out.

but how about this one guys?

you could easily describe the color you see as dark or light, warm or cool and other adjectives so you would know you have a relatively close color perception. right?
Jun 17 2009 10:11AM
0 0
profile picture
neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
im really not as dumb as people treat me. and i wrote that all by my big self.
Jun 17 2009 10:51AM
0 0
profile picture
neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606

^^ except for right there posting in a thread by accident is pretty dumb. but all in a good lol.

anyways, i think this exercise is purely a metaphor.

Jun 17 2009 10:55AM
0 0
profile picture
mattridesskis
Posts: 635 - Karma: 17
acid trip.
Jun 17 2009 11:00AM
0 0
profile picture
Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9095 - Karma: 3,073
winner
Jun 17 2009 6:12PM
0 0
profile picture
amo
Posts: 6709 - Karma: 1,248
This.


I've thought about this a bunch, never thought so many others would also have considered this. It's a pretty cool thing to think about it if you understand what it's all about.
Jun 17 2009 6:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Ian.Ham
Posts: 1700 - Karma: 1,206
tell the blue vs red halo guys, they will freak out
Jun 17 2009 6:26PM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
ok wait, there are a lot of mixed things going on here

some people are saying peoples brains see thing that are orange (like an orange) as blue and would never know

then there is being taught that the orange is the color blue, although you see orange, you associate the color everyone else sees as orange with the word blue.

so which are we talking about? people see colors all the same. green objects reflect the green wave length. there are thing in your eyes that receive this wavelength and, unless something is wrong with your brain, it is received the same as everyone else.

now if you were brought up being told that the color blue is actaully called orange, and then you say the ski is orange although you see the blue everyone else does, then this is possible. otherwise its not

but this is the same for anything. if Dogs were cats, and cats we're dogs from the very beginning of time, then that's how it would be, cats would be mans best friend and dogs would chasing mice.

how bout foreign languages, this blows my mind. someone whos bilingual who can recieve Gatto as gatto and not cat like i would. when someones says como estas? they think they are asking me come estas, not hows its going?

Jun 17 2009 6:45PM
0 0
profile picture
yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,215
you're quite obviously not too capable of abstract thought and probably twelve years old.
Jun 17 2009 6:48PM
0 0
profile picture
gbirrd
Posts: 1475 - Karma: 20
drugs are bad mmkay
Jun 17 2009 6:55PM
0 0
profile picture
_steezefiend8
Posts: 659 - Karma: 271

same

Jun 17 2009 6:55PM
0 0
profile picture
Brows.
Posts: 1497 - Karma: 13
dude dont even worry about it i thought of this exact thing a long time ago
Jun 17 2009 7:19PM
0 0
profile picture
Skiingslikewhoa
Posts: 426 - Karma: 12
It's all just wavelengths doesn't matter what you call it. This is the stupidest fucking thread ever and whoever reads/created it and thinks they're deep and philosophical has a 9th grade education at best.

LIKE OMG PEOPLE IN FRANCE THINK RED IS THE COLOUR ROUGE OMG!!!111!!!
Jun 17 2009 7:25PM
0 0
profile picture
Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
 
Jun 17 2009 7:49PM
0 0
profile picture
musick13
Posts: 913 - Karma: 44
I've though about this too and there is no way to test that theory at all because it is your specific interpretation of the color that you see

it would be cool if you could change your color perspective at will
Jun 17 2009 8:17PM
0 0
profile picture
andrew.
Posts: 2349 - Karma: 165
yeah, but that happens with everything.  if we had to teach ourselves everything, nothing would be universal.
Jun 17 2009 8:20PM
0 0
profile picture
soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
i follow, but if we are all to taught to see grass as green we all interpret green as green regardless of how we are really seeing it
Jun 17 2009 8:20PM
0 0
profile picture
TheQuailman
Posts: 7382 - Karma: 146

The only thing is that color has a feeling associated with it too.  I think we can all agree that red is a 'warm' color while blue is more of a 'cool' color.  If you asked 1000 people to take a crayon color that symbolizes anger, I think a strong majority would choose red.

This is strong proof that colors are not interchangeable among humans.  If we all saw colors differently, then how can the one thats red always symbolize anger?

Jun 17 2009 9:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
bro, if im 12 then you must be fucking 6 years old. how does my analysis of whats going on and my lack of abstract thought, that all you stoners have, make me 12 years old? if you are at the reading level of a 10 year old, you will see what im talking about. names are associated with colors, those names could be anything. but no matter the name, what the person sees will be the same as everyone else through the way the body is made up.
you fucking idiot. im sick of people trying ot be fucking smart asses and thinking they are the shit when they are flat out wrong.
Jun 17 2009 9:16PM
0 0
profile picture
FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,889
I thought of this when I was 7 years old
Jun 17 2009 9:52PM
0 0
profile picture
Ickis
Posts: 376 - Karma: 119
you're post is full of win.
Jun 17 2009 10:44PM
0 0
profile picture
NilsJ
Posts: 102 - Karma: 15
I'm pretty sure i see slightly more greens out of my right eye
Jun 17 2009 10:56PM
0 0
profile picture
yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,215
abstract thought is synonymous with reasoning. you cannot reason a completely plausible idea of perception therefore you are incapable of abstract thought. the world and science is always changing, for some reason people like you are pretentious enough to assume that the level we have progressed to right now is omnipotent and infallible.

without people pressing and challenging science where would we be right now? the earth would still be flat and at the center of the universe. nevermind that we would still be foraging nomadic peoples if no one ever challenged and presented new ideas.

abstract thought is essential towards the progession of mankind. this is why i called you a 12 year old.
Jun 17 2009 11:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Bab.
Posts: 766 - Karma: 23
ohh shit man, ive always thought about this and every time i do i start trippin on other things and it makes my head ache...
Jun 17 2009 11:20PM
0 0
profile picture
JosephStalin
Posts: 1673 - Karma: 100
this makes me think way too much
Jun 17 2009 11:20PM
0 0
profile picture
jayo.
Posts: 5015 - Karma: 34
this reminds me of the concept of signifier/signified. it basically talks about is objects or ideas (signified), the words which we use to describe them (signifier), and the gap that there is between words and what we actually see. its hard to explain, but you should look it up for a batter and more in depth description.
Jun 17 2009 11:23PM
0 0
profile picture
comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
this is what i'm thinking too. we could easily conclude that people see relatively the same colors by asking them to pick "warm" colors or a color that symbolizes anger or peace etc.

although i'm pretty sure that not everyone sees the exact same colors as everybody else. if it's based on wavelengths then if you take that in even slightly later or earlier than somebody else, the perception of the color you see would be slightly skewed compared to person B. right? or am i off here?
Jun 17 2009 11:26PM
0 0
profile picture
sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
Meh, i guess this point holds some weight, but you could also argue that the reason we see blue as 'cool' and red as 'warm' could come from other observations that we recall when we see those colors. i.e. red fire, lava, etc. and blue/ish ice. Yellow is often thought of as a 'cheery' color, could be connected with people's perception of the sun. More likely than not, the feelings associated with color come from past experiences with colorful things we encounter that make an impression on us.
Jun 17 2009 11:29PM
0 0
profile picture
garygohard
Posts: 1463 - Karma: 2,871

dude

ive always wondered if people see/smell/taste/hear the same way i do (like maybe a boom is bang to someone else lol)

Jun 17 2009 11:36PM
0 0
profile picture
Skiingslikewhoa
Posts: 426 - Karma: 12
^speeking of pretentious idiots


Jun 18 2009 12:04AM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
I dont see how my belief in the firm science we have today makes me a 12 year old or unable to reason. The human eye has been studied over and over and over and is still being studied im sure, that is why i dont think this "idea" is plausible. i never said what we have is what we have and it will never change, but what we have firmly supports the fact that we all percieve colors in the smae manner and analyse them the same way.

this is no way proves i am incapable of abstact thought, and maybe you stubborn attitude towards others beliefes makes you a seem to not think very abstractly.
Jun 18 2009 12:17AM
0 0
profile picture
yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,215
you're completely rejecting an idea without thought. i'd call that being unreasonable. i accept all studies done on the eye and then on top of that am accepting of additional theories or ideas. i'm accepting, you're rejecting the only one being stubborn is you sir.
Jun 18 2009 12:37AM
0 0
profile picture
VT_scratch
Posts: 8809 - Karma: 6,348
ya i think about this shit alll the time
Jun 18 2009 12:38AM
0 0
profile picture
dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
well actually there is a way to prove it, and the poster above did. Its not like brains are magical crystal balls, they are more like motor engines
Jun 18 2009 11:08AM
0 0
profile picture
DavidHonda.
Posts: 662 - Karma: 711

Colorblind people.

Jun 18 2009 11:14AM
0 0
profile picture
klax06
Posts: 1761 - Karma: 211
omg I have thought of this since I was only like 5 and remember trying to explain that to my doctor for some reason? he didnt understand what i was saying I remember but finally some one else thought of the same thing!!!!!! plus k for u for making my day
Jun 18 2009 11:46AM
0 0
profile picture
Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
ok, so because something is proven and known in science, i am stubborn for rejecting an idea that goes against these proven facts? that just stupid. pigs cannot fly, does that mean i should accept someones idea that pigs can fly?

the only argument i could see you making is in terms of qualia. If i were to try to describe the color red to a person who has never experienced color, there would be no way to describe my experience and no way for that person to experience it themselves. you can make analogys for the color red like hot or give quantitaive informtion about it such as wave length, but there is no way they will ever be able to experience red without having experienced it themselves.
In a more scientific manor, there is a theory that Mary knows everything there is to know about color and how people react to and recieve color, except she lives in box that only allows her to see this in black and white. When she steps out of the box into a color world, no matter how much she knows, she will learn something when she first truely experiences color.

as convincing as that theory is, i think the opossing theory is stronger. If she truely knew everything about a color, lets say the color Red, then she would be able to understand the color red without ever seeing it. If one recognized color based on reactions and behavior, and she had knowledge of the specific behavior and reaction for the color red, she would be able to recreate those behaviors and reactions in her own mind, allowing her to understand inturn, allowing her to experience the color red. and when she leaves the box, these reactions and behaviors will be created again in her mind when she sees the color red, but since she's already expereinced it, mary won't learn anything new.

i'm not rejecting the theory of qualia, im simply disagree with it
Jun 18 2009 12:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Lemuel
Posts: 14535 - Karma: 11,049
this is one of the oldest discussions. everyone has thought about it. we talked about it in psychology, there is no way to prove that people see the same or different colors. In all honesty, I do not think everyone has a different view for each color. I think everyone sees red as red, from everybody's standpoint. There are some colors that I do not think could e seen any other way, such as gold and silver and chrome and such.
Jun 18 2009 12:59PM
0 0
profile picture
Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9095 - Karma: 3,073
Haha k.
Jun 18 2009 3:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9095 - Karma: 3,073
I love how nobody even commented on me saying this haha
Jun 19 2009 1:56PM
0 0
profile picture
thisandthatfilms
Posts: 7714 - Karma: 526
i lol'd
Jun 19 2009 1:57PM
0 0
profile picture
billferd
Posts: 128 - Karma: 14
how do you explain color to someone who has been blind their whole life?

that shit has always bugged me
Jun 20 2009 1:30AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)