derf's signature image

[ToyMan]

am i alone in thinking that this is a flawed example of the property it looks to illustrate?

for me, it's definitely turning clockwise, because when her outstretched foot is coming towards you, given that it was presumably rendered in 3d, and therefore imparts some level of perspective, meaning that her foot looks slightly larger as it comes towards you.

i mean, don't get me wrong, i understand the principle that they're looking to illustrate here. in some of the oldschool 8 bit videogames, you'll see items floating in midair, like coins, where because they've only created 2 frames of animation showing the coin rotating, that is- face, ridge, face ridge, repeat - you could assume that the coin is turning either way.

so, like i said: i understand the priciple that the figure means to illustrate, i just think that because of the manner in which it was rendered, this is a flawed example. anyone else see what i mean?

*edit*

hahahahaha. wait. nevermind. now she's "definitely" going counterclockwise. classic example of my over-thinking something. silly me.

[LilCerberus]

I think it's that hop she does that kinda' throws you off.
When I first look at it, she's going counter-clockwise, but when I look away for a moment, if I concentrate, when I look back at it I can make myself see her going clockwise, but after I stare at it for a few seconds, she seems to flip & start going counter-clockwise again, & I can't get her to go back the other way unless I look away again.

Oh, wait a minute, I just did it... No, she's going back the other way again.

So tell me again which brain I'm using? The one in the top, or the one in the front?

[asimpson2006]

It changes for me.  She starts going counter-clockwise, then if I focus on something else, and then look back, BAM clockwise then.
 

[RCMerchant]

I've tried it dozens of times. It never has gone anyway but cockwise....ever! 



She must be getting really dizzy.


I know I am by staring at it.


Hmmm....this is getting boring.






She has a nice figure. I'll bet she's lonley too. I could be her boyfreind.









Still clockwise.



(sigh...)
Dam...I gotta make coffee...get ready for work.

[Jack]

I see her going counterclockwise no matter how long I stare at it. 

[RCMerchant]

Coffee's done....dizzy broads still spinning the same direction. Meh.

I see her going counterclockwise no matter how long I stare at it. 

I wonder why? I was about to post just when you posted...and she hasn't changed direction at all! Creepy!

[Ash]

I've tried refreshing the page and then coming back after 5 then 10 then 15 minutes and she always goes counterclockwise.

I don't think it's a mental trick at all.
She just spins counterclockwise for some and clockwise on other people's screens.

[Derf]

I'd seen this a while back, then someone e-mailed it to me with the claim that if you can make her switch directions, you're a genius with a 160+ IQ. That part was bogus, but it's an interesting perception tool. I can usually get her to switch directions, but initially she usually turns clockwise. I've noticed that if I concentrate on reading the next post below the image and then look at it using my peripheral vision while I'm reading, she's always turning counterclockwise (the left side of the brain is the language/logic center, so this makes sense). I'm glad to see it's gotten some discussion time, though. I'll probably change it to something else in the near future.

[Jack]

She's still going counter-clockwise 

[Andrew]

She always spins clockwise for me.  I've "seen" her going counterclockwise once, and that was just recently (it really caught me by surprise - I blinked hard and she changed back).

[Jack]

Okay, now she's going clockwise.  You guys must have changed it. 

[Mr. DS]

I get clockwise and if I really sit and stare I get counter. Its almost a joyful feeling to see her go counter. 

[Allhallowsday]

She always turned clockwise for me... until just now!  Whoop!  She's back to clockwise!   

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I've got her going both ways....hmmmmm

What?

Oh wait I mean she spins both clockwise AND counterclockwise.  Yeah, thats it.
-Ed

[Shadow]

Sometimes it's clockwise and sometimes it's counter clockwise for me. Some times I will close me eyes, picture her turning the other way and open them to find her doing exactly that. For me, the key to getting her to switch back and forth while staring straight at her is to look at the shadow of her foot that is closest to the ground. By watching that shadow, I can imagine it turning the opposite way and then she follows.

BTW, glad to see I'm not the only one who has wasted away minutes staring at that thing!