Bill and Roger Tie One On

Mar 23 11:30 UTC 1992

"If a mirror reverses right and left, why doesn't it reverse up
and down?" asked Roger of his companion.

The two of them were sitting at a back table, away from the bar.
It was late; few customers remained.  

Bill sipped his scotch, pondering Roger's question.  After a
moment's thought, he replied:  "Mirrors really do reverse up and
down.  But the brain compensates and we think we're seeing the
image right side up.  It's a survival trait.  The brain doesn't
correct on the right-left axis because it's not as important
to do so."

Roger lit a cigarette, considered this for a little while, then
said:  "I'd think it would be important if you wanted to read some
writing in a mirror.  But when you look at writing in a mirror, it
appears backwards.  Not upside down, just backwards.  So why
don't we compensate for the left-right reversal too?"

"Have you ever read any of the results of brain research?" Bill
asked him.  "Reading is processed by an entirely different and
much newer part of the brain, evolution-wise, than is recognition
of people and other objects.  In a few hundred thousand years,
this new part of the brain will evolve and become more versatile,
like the older part already is, and will able to do all kinds
of compensatory tricks that it can't do now because it's so new.
So just give it time, give it time."

"Yeah, but I don't expect to be around in a few hundred thousand
years.  Do you?"

"I'm working on it," Bill replied.

response 2 of 19:

Jun 28 01:02 UTC 1992

Partly.

response 4 of 19:

Dec 11 07:41 UTC 1992

It's not that hard, really.  A mirror doesn't reverse right & left
*or* up & down, but rather front & back.  Write something on
a piece of glass with a magic marker, and turn the glass so
the writing is readable from the side facing you.  Now hold
it up to a mirror -- the writing is also readable in the mirror.
If you flip the glass front & back, so the writing is facing
away from you, then the writing will be backwards in the mirror.

Sorry, is this response too serious and straightforward for this
conference?  Hmm.  I'll have to spice it up a bit.

So anyway, once you're done with the piece of glass, you can draw
a picture on it and then replace someone's car window with it as
a practical joke.  Wouldn't that be a hoot?"

Heh.

(Well, not really.)

response 6 of 19:

Feb 19 03:46 UTC 1993

Why is it that some people feel obliged to comment at every oppertunity?

response 8 of 19:

Feb 19 12:39 UTC 1993

I don't know.  Why?

response 10 of 19:

Feb 19 13:28 UTC 1993

Well, I won't be picky.  A response is a response, and my items were
getting pretty lonely.

response 12 of 19:

Mar 24 08:48 UTC 1994

        Stay tuned for the next installment: Bill and Roger Get Tied Up

        After continuing their discussion of optical phenomena and cryogenics,
Bill and Roger realize that they've overstayed their welcome at the Sluggard
and Dullard Pub.  An angry crowd has gathered.  They are annoyed that such
folk as Bill and Roger would dare to discuss things sufficiently arcane as
to require intelligence within their pub.  Our poor heroes are taken captive,
and brought up on charges before the Kangaroo Court.  Charged with
propagating poor self esteem among innocent eavesdroppers, Bill and Roger
must successfully argue their case to win their freedom.  Tune in next time
for the exciting conclusion to: Bill and Roger Get Tied Up!

response 14 of 19:

May 27 23:19 UTC 1995

What would you rather have, truth or consequences?

response 16 of 19:

Aug 2 02:23 UTC 1998

At least give us a quote on the package deal.

response 18 of 19:

Sep 17 04:22 UTC 2002

If a mirror reverses front and back, why I can't see the bump on the back of
my head?