Today’s Prognosis on Magic Eye Puzzles
December 26th, 2004
It is a conversation as old as time:
Him: Can’t you see it?
Her: I don’t see a damn thing.
Him: Yeah! It’s four dolphins playing poker under water!
Her: It is NOT.
Him: Yeah! You can’t see it?
Her: I don’t see anything!
The Magic Eye puzzles/books/posters/keychains have been plaguing society for about 10 years now, having been introduced in the mid-90’s, and have made about one-third of the American public feel like either (a) a bunch of idiots, (b) the subject of an elaborate “you are stupid” scam, or (c) insane.
I usually felt as if I was the subject of an elaborate scam where everyone around me was told ahead of time where the cameras were hidden and that they should all tell me that they could see a picture of a diver under the ocean with some crabs and a shark nearby. I would be told that all I needed to do to see such an amazing 3-D vision was to squint my eyes and it would all come into focus.
First of all — I have amazing eyesight. Why do I want to train my eyes to learn how to un-focus and see things in a blurry state? Why why why why why? I prefer to live an uncomplicated life with perfect vision and never have the honor of seeing the underwater 3-D diver.
I think I could live with that.
Lately, however — the Magic Eye Corporation has seen fit to release a compliation book with their most famous Magic Eye puzzles for a new generation to disturb themselves over, and I must put my foot down and say that THIS MUST STOP. Our country is already behind in education, technology and a slew of other industries — why must we train our children and their eyes to see blurry-like?
There’s a conspiracy somewhere in there, I just know it.
But for those who are competitive and never want to be the person who is “not in on the joke” I give you the TOP 3 Magic Eye Puzzle Solutions for you to spout out when someone asks you if you can see it. With a 33 1/3 percent chance of being correct — you’re bound to only look stupid 2/3rds of the time.
1. Underwater sea life.
2. Ocean view.
3. Dogs.
These three “guesses” should be preceded by one of the following phrases:
1. Oh my gosh!! That’s amazing! It’s –
2. Everything just came into focus! It’s –
3. (Incoherent Scream, coupled with hysterical crying) Then, “It’s –
There’s no need to thank me. I feel your pain.
I hate Magic Eye puzzles. The worst experience I ever had with one was when a nice old couple to whom my husband sold a trailer insisted on showing us what they had done with the place and I had to spend 10 minutes in the bedroom with them attempting to see the hidden image. Thank you for giving me a clue as to what to say if I am ever in this awkward and horrible situation again.
Comment by Fully — December 26, 2004 @ 7:27 pm
Oooh, I haaaaaaaaaaate those Magic Eye things!! I could never see them either. Instead I took great pleasure at mocking those people who would stand and stare at them when they were on display at the mall… a whole bunch of people just staring blankly for long periods of time.
Seems to me, I could get the same effect from somebody trying to explain complex math theorems to me. Why pay a bunch of money for some squiggly lines that are supposed to show a duck and a moose doing the tango? (or whatever)
Comment by Erin — December 27, 2004 @ 12:36 am
Grrr! I hate those things!! They make me feel so stupid because I can never see ANYTHING!!
Comment by Dawn (webmiztris) — December 27, 2004 @ 4:58 pm
Okay I have to admit, I can tweek my eyes out to see those artless pictures! But then again I can also see dead people, so maybe who knows if I’m really seeing an actual picture of a ram standing on the mountain side when I let my eyes go all goo-goo or if I’m just imagining it?
Comment by groovebunny — December 27, 2004 @ 5:35 pm
I played the 90’s edition of Trivial Pursuit and I’ll be damned if I couldn’t remember the name “Magic Eye”. Especially since it nearly caused my blindness in the mid-nineties.
Bastards.
Comment by Lena — December 28, 2004 @ 7:56 pm
Well, I actually have a good excuse for hating those things. Because of my strabismus (no, I didn’t make that up), I am unable to see those 3-D pictures (3-D glasses don’t work for me either). I always felt a bit left out, but then I found other things to occupy my time…such as…hmmm…I’ll get back to you on that.
Comment by April — December 29, 2004 @ 9:10 pm
Not that many of you care, I’m sure, but you just cross your eyes until two repeated parts of the pattern line up with one another. Thats it. You don’t need to start laughing at people who have already worked this out. You know that making fun of people because they have more knowledge or ability than you is really sad. Are you all American or something?
Comment by Will — February 22, 2005 @ 3:15 am
It looks like one of us is going to have to find a new alias, eh “New Will”?
Comment by The "Real" Will — February 22, 2005 @ 11:41 am
the only thing i have ever seen in the magic eye puzzles are second and third toes longer than the first,,,hams and asparagus…im still waiting for the miraculous encounter of magic candy apples…i will be made whole..but it was especially exciting to see ol man wanaker with a car pulled over top of him in a ditch…r.i.p
Comment by pinky — February 22, 2005 @ 4:45 pm
I can’t believe Will said “making fun of others with more knowledge than you”… well let me make fun of you. Its not knowledge, 12% of the population is not able to see them not because they are too dumb, but because of issues like lazy eye and amblyopia and strambismus. Problems with the stereo and binocular vision. These people without treatment will never see them, and even with treatment may never see them. So gain a little KNOWLEDGE yourself- not being able to see magic eye puzzles doesn’t make you stupid, or sad for being annoyed at your inability to see it- no amount of “eye crossing” or blurring their vision will make them capable of seeing it.
Comment by Pam — September 15, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
I’m starting the Foundation for Inability to See Magic Eye Puzzles
FISMEP.
send donations.
Comment by Kathleen — September 16, 2007 @ 1:14 pm