# Dendritic patterns slightly repulsive **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 6, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305 "2018-02-06T14:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/21 "2018-02-06T19:50:23Z")
I can’t answer you, because I find polls posted as “post your answer” rather than as an actual poll are repulsive. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/22 "2018-02-06T20:06:01Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Based 100% on anecdotal evidence. Eight of the nine people in the office happened to agree. Perhaps there is a lot of mold in your office?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/23 "2018-02-06T20:12:57Z")
I’d give 'em an 8 or 9. BTW, dendritic patterns are definitely ‘hard-wired’ in our brains. They ARE the ‘hard-wires’ of our brains, love 'em or not. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/24 "2018-02-06T20:14:18Z")
> [@naita](#): > > I can’t answer you, because I find polls posted as “post your answer” rather than as an actual poll are repulsive. I only find such polls only mildly repulsive, can’t say why, prob just wired that way. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/25 "2018-02-06T20:25:42Z")
They’re no [trypophobia](https://www.google.com/search?q=trypophobia&tbm=isch). ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/26 "2018-02-06T20:32:56Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Precisely this fact, that we are used to see trees so much that we have the pattern more or less imprinted on our retinas We do, in fact, have a “[tree](http://www.cns.nyu.edu/~david/courses/perception/lecturenotes/retina/retina.html)” imprinted on our retinas. Most of the time you can’t see it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/27 "2018-02-06T21:56:09Z")
I’ve got a youtube video on how to make dendritic patterns with paint and two panes of glass - so I have some actual gathered stats on whether people like them: 39,000 views 1187 likes 6 dislikes 66 comments, all appreciative So I would say it’s not hardwired into our brains to find them repulsive, unless those that did, all ran away without saying anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/28 "2018-02-07T03:33:54Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > My buddy just made a kitchen table where he used a high voltage transformer to burn random dendritic electrical patterns into the tabletop. Looks pretty great if you ask me. I’m going to say high score, 7-9. > [@cmyk](#): > > I’ve seen this done. The fractal, tree-like patterns can be very cool. Some resemble traditional Japanese art. I love watching [videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzmyMRJL0aA) of this process. So cool! I’d rate my dendritic affection at a 9. I’d boost it to a 9.5 (not painting one on my house) only because some moss agates with dendritic patterns look rather gross. Even worse than the nasty molds they resemble. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/29 "2018-02-07T11:44:51Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > They’re no [trypophobia](https://www.google.com/search?q=trypophobia&tbm=isch). Funny–[that’s the one I thought of](https://slugchicksscans.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/thwoji-volume-7-chapter-4-the-chill/), too. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/30 "2018-02-07T13:03:54Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Based 100% on anecdotal evidence. Eight of the nine people in the office happened to agree. Boss, or maybe office-guy-who-is-always-arguing, or maybe office-weird-guy (sorry!) says, “You that know that the sun rises in the west?” Other guys in office trying to get some work done, “Yes, sure! Whatever you say.”  😛 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/31 "2018-02-07T13:39:29Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Based 100% on anecdotal evidence. Eight of the nine people in the office happened to agree. Well, yeah, but you work at [TreeAreScary.com](http://TreeAreScary.com). ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/32 "2018-02-07T18:38:00Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Funny–[that’s the one I thought of](https://slugchicksscans.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/thwoji-volume-7-chapter-4-the-chill/), too. Made me think of ‘lotus boob’, which curiously doesn’t show up on a google search anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/33 "2018-02-07T18:50:35Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > They’re no [trypophobia](https://www.google.com/search?q=trypophobia&tbm=isch). Jesus. Holy. Fuck. Kill me now. Dear God. Now how do I erase that from my brain? Carrying on: the dendritic patterns are okay, but [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=fat+caul&num=100&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv4NnOu5TZAhUk94MKHRANDuwQ_AUICigB&biw=1167&bih=659)make me gag. Don’t know what to call this pattern. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/34 "2018-02-07T18:51:06Z")
I’ll be the first to vote an exact 5.5 - precisely in the middle. I don’t care about them either way. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/35 "2018-02-07T18:56:18Z")
> [@Hopeful\_Crow](#): > > I love watching [videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzmyMRJL0aA) of this process. So cool! [These guys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Po35g23fYI) make 3D Lichtenberg figures in blocks of transparent plastic by irradiating them in a particle accelerator (shown around 1:15) and then tapping with a metal pin to trigger a rapid discharge, i.e. lightning. Discharges are shown around the 3-minute mark. Final products shown around 4:15. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/36 "2018-02-07T19:16:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Jesus. Holy. Fuck. Kill me now. Dear God. Now how do I erase that from my brain? Not by searching YouTube for “mangoworms.” ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/37 "2018-02-07T20:04:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Carrying on: the dendritic patterns are okay, but [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=fat+caul&num=100&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv4NnOu5TZAhUk94MKHRANDuwQ_AUICigB&biw=1167&bih=659)make me gag. Don’t know what to call this pattern. I’d call it [reticulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulation) (the crosshairs in a rifle scope are called a [reticle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticle)). [Google-Images result for “reticulation”](https://www.google.com/search?q=reticulation&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi46NKgzJTZAhUHc98KHXHZDWgQ_AUICigB&biw=1264&bih=874) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/38 "2018-02-07T21:55:42Z")
No google image searching for me! I’ve learned my lesson! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/39 "2018-02-07T22:39:12Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’d call it [reticulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulation) (the crosshairs in a rifle scope are called a [reticle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticle)). > > [Google-Images result for “reticulation”](https://www.google.com/search?q=reticulation&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi46NKgzJTZAhUHc98KHXHZDWgQ_AUICigB&biw=1264&bih=874) As in the [Reticulated Giraffe.](https://puxccbo05z-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/img/girafferet.jpg) From Latin _reticulum_, a small net. Perhaps better known than reticle is a [reticule,](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Reticule.tif/lossy-page1-1200px-Reticule.tif.jpg) a net handbag. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305/40 "2018-02-08T05:32:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > As in the [Reticulated Giraffe.](https://puxccbo05z-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/img/girafferet.jpg) > > From Latin _reticulum_, a small net. Perhaps better known than reticle is a [reticule,](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Reticule.tif/lossy-page1-1200px-Reticule.tif.jpg) a net handbag. From Dr Samuel Johnson’s _Dictionary of the English Language_ (1755): **Network:** Any thing reticulated or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections. **Reticulated:** Made of network; formed with interstitial vacuities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dendritic-patterns-slightly-repulsive/808305.md?page=3)