Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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On the Subject of Colours (self.Blind)
submitted by BunnyOppai
I once heard that it's impossible to describe colours to a blind man as w**e** tend to attribute them to subjective experiences. Is there any way to describe them in an objective sense and actually have a d**e**cent understanding of the colour that you're talking about?
I didn't know how else to word it, but basically, how can we describe colours without comparing th**e**m to anything (ie baby blue without using "lightly-coloured" or an emotion)?
I didn't know how else to word it, but basically, how can we describe colours without comparing th**e**m to anything (ie baby blue without using "lightly-coloured" or an emotion)?
claudettemonet 2 points 6y ago
This is not mine. I just read it on reddit a while ago. I liked it so much I copied it to my device so I could read it later. I tried and failed to find the original on reddit. But here is what one wise redditor said. If anyone can find that original post, please link it. Here it goes:
Red - it's the colour of eating a hot chilli. Fast and angry. Like a person when they are determined to go somewhere.
Orange - orange is different to red. It's like a cup of ice tea on a summer afternoon. It's been around for a while, it is in no hurry. But it is excited for the moment all the same
Yellow - yellow is a spring morning. Warm, but with a pleasant crispness. It has sharp undertones, like eating a lemon. But a sweet warmth to it, like a slice of pie.
Green - green knows what's up. Its happy to be here, and to keep on doing what it's doing. Green is like the taste of an apple, crisp and sweet. But also like a cucumber, mellow and subtle. It is progress, like walking down a road and counting each step
Red - it's the colour of eating a hot chilli. Fast and angry. Like a person when they are determined to go somewhere.
Orange - orange is different to red. It's like a cup of ice tea on a summer afternoon. It's been around for a while, it is in no hurry. But it is excited for the moment all the same
Yellow - yellow is a spring morning. Warm, but with a pleasant crispness. It has sharp undertones, like eating a lemon. But a sweet warmth to it, like a slice of pie.
Green - green knows what's up. Its happy to be here, and to keep on doing what it's doing. Green is like the taste of an apple, crisp and sweet. But also like a cucumber, mellow and subtle. It is progress, like walking down a road and counting each step
SWaspMale 2 points 6y ago
IMO most objective would be engineering / scientific terms: Like 'Wavelength of 400 nanometers and intensity of 3 Lumens' or something like that. You could also try over at /r/ColorBlind, to get input from those who see, but not as many colors as most.
BunnyOppai [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Yeah, that was really the only way I was thinking of, but I guess it's like trying to visualise an equation without experiencing the result of said equation.
1gsb8 2 points 6y ago
What about using sensations, like cold or hot, or emotions?
BunnyOppai [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Both of those are attributed to subjective experiences though, right? Let's say you're blind, how would you know that red means anger or heat through your own experience? I don't think it can be experienced through either of those in a subjective sense for blind people.
1gsb8 2 points 6y ago
http://m.wikihow.com/Describe-a-Color-to-a-Blind-Person
BunnyOppai [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I understand that. I guess I really don't know how to explain myself. You can honestly associate anything with anything else. For example, I personally associate the scent of baby powder with my bathroom. I guess what I'm trying to ask is "Can we make a blind person sense colour in the same way as us?" or, in a different context, "Is there any way to determine that your red is different than mine?".
drury 1 points 6y ago
Nighthawk321 1 points 6y ago
The best way I've described colors is by comparing them through textures. Other than that, It's really impossible.
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