Welcome to the interwebs, the place that the color of a dress and an argument over the words “Yanny” and “Laurel” become existential value judgments.
On Sunday, TikTok user Eric Tupper re-posted an old clip of his from a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska. It features someone on a swing, in the snow, going up and down—back and forth. But was he facing the camera or the building? It quickly divided loyalties online.
“Re-post cause it blew up on tiktok, which way is he facing?” he asked the internet at-large.
https://twitter.com/ectupper/status/1208835148587790337
The muddled footage in the snow and lack of definition in park equipment make this a tough call.
The science of his swing quickly became a hotbed of speculation.
https://twitter.com/esnycuddles/status/1208472991354503175?s=20
https://twitter.com/esnycuddles/status/1208595599341367296?s=20
Another user inadvertently points out how the “illusion” works via illustration and the caption: “Yeah he’s clearly facing the camera lol.”
https://twitter.com/MyNameIsZach/status/1208966298786504704?s=20
This is so weird. I showed it to my girl and she says building. I had her explain and I saw what she saw and then I could only see it that way for a minute. I wish I could explain how, but it’s still clear when u look at poles. Bizarre!
— RageAgainstTheVaccine (@orangemanismean) December 23, 2019
The grainy footage and constant motion without much variance don’t help in the selection. That didn’t help people from making sketches and diagrams.
The secret is in perspective pic.twitter.com/P2j14mHvw8
— Rimbambitch🌈🇵🇸 (@RimbambitchsHDA) December 22, 2019
However, the question was answered, apparently. Remember: It’s an old clip.
“We drove up to him, he was facing us,” Tupper tweeted on Feb. 20.
Just in case people are still checking on this and this account is where I first saw this video (which came out in February this year I just learned) here’s the solution from the guy who was there. pic.twitter.com/Wr8HBTLPi2
— SJ.♟️ (@STYLESGAMBIT) December 22, 2019
A sleuth has already made a whole detail video. Nothing quite like just going outside into the snow and checking it out yourself.
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