# Poll: Do you think fall colors are great? Are you colorblind? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366 "2020-11-11T20:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/21 "2020-11-11T23:41:49Z")
Yellow is not an issue that I can tell. Blue is dim to me, often looks gray, navy blue is the same as black to me. The main thing I noticed all my life is that I see any blue/green mix as green, the blue just doesn’t come through. Also, I have a feeling that ‘sky blue’ is not gray. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/22 "2020-11-11T23:52:59Z")
I thought the fall colors were going to be disappointing in our new Kentucky location, but it turns out they were just delayed from what I was used to. There’s been a ton of decorative maple plantings along streets and commercial properties in the not-so-faraway big city (Lexington) which were particularly spectacular from mid-October through early November. On our property trees didn’t really hit their stride until early November; sweet gum is one of the latest trees to turn here but worth waiting for. I suspect the degree to which anyone appreciates fall foliage is influenced by location. Long warm summers and increasingly chilly fall nights tend to produce better color. I hear that Augusta National (the site of the Masters golf tournament starting tomorrow) is supposed to produce memorable foliage - we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/23 "2020-11-12T00:01:41Z")
I loathe the Ishihara. It’s one of the reasons I changed eye doctors. My last one’s techs kept administering the bloody thing every fucking year. “NO, I CAN’T SEE THE FUCKING NUMBERS ANY MORE THAN I COULD LAST YEAR, AND THERE IS STILL FUCK-ALL YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER!” I finally told them that I refused to do it any more. They were offended. I left. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/24 "2020-11-12T16:13:17Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I loathe the Ishihara. Heh, a friend of mine was given that test. Each time he said he didn’t see a number. Eventually they told him his replies made no sense. Then he explained that he saw _numerals_, not _numbers_. Yes, he’s like that. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/25 "2020-11-12T17:39:27Z")
I’m not colorblind, and I liked Fall colors when I lived up in Maryland. But they weren’t so great that I want to go anywhere again that gets cold enough to produce them. Leaves that gradually change in various shades of dull brown and fall off sometime between November and February are just fine with me now. It’s also easier to just mulch them when I mow the lawn if they don’t come down all at once. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/26 "2020-11-12T18:34:29Z")
Not colorblind, and quite like the fall colors when it isn’t all just yellow. It does make sense to me that people with any red-green color blindness might see the changes as less vivid, and thus be less likely to enjoy them. Those who are completely Red/green colorblind, can you tell the difference? Particularly between red, green, and brown leaves? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/27 "2020-11-12T19:16:00Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Those who are completely Red/green colorblind, can you tell the difference? Particularly between red, green, and brown leaves? Not being able to tell the difference between red and green defines that type of color blindness. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/28 "2020-11-12T19:36:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not being able to tell the difference between red and green defines that type of color blindness. [Not necessarily](https://www.colourblindawareness.org/colour-blindness/). > Being ‘red/green colour blind’ doesn’t mean people with it mix up red and green only, it means they can mix colours which have some red or green as part of the whole colour. So someone with red/green colour blindness will probably confuse blue and purple because they can’t ‘see’ the red element of the colour purple. This describes me perfectly. I can easily distinguish primary-color solid blocks of red and green; it’s blends of colors that give me trouble. I don’t think I truly know what purple looks like. It’s not the same for everyone though, there are infinite degrees of severity. As for fall colors, I’ve always found them totally meh. I just literally can’t see what everybody else thinks makes them so spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/29 "2020-11-12T19:43:09Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > As for fall colors, I’ve always found them totally meh. I just literally can’t see what everybody else thinks makes them so spectacular. I feel vindicated… j ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/30 "2020-11-12T20:17:35Z")
Sorry, that was a sweeping statement. As I’ve found out, there is a very wide range of of results in people with non-typical color perception. It can be a major problem for people who can’t distinguish between red and green at all, they can be disqualified from some jobs and licenses, and have to depend on standard stop light configurations. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/31 "2020-11-12T20:41:41Z")
I just voted. Female. Fall colors are okay. I am not colorblind. I don’t live where they have these kinds of autumn scenes, but I like them, especially the fiery colors contrasted with the greens and a bright blue skies. I always wanted to see Lost Maples. [https://www.google.com/search?q=fall+scenes&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjggtv06f3sAhWLtZ4KHYOLBHgQ\_AUoAXoECAQQAw&biw=1504&bih=889#imgrc=J6dETKTu-Q4\_CM](https://www.google.com/search?q=fall+scenes&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjggtv06f3sAhWLtZ4KHYOLBHgQ_AUoAXoECAQQAw&biw=1504&bih=889#imgrc=J6dETKTu-Q4_CM) My favorite scenes are these. [https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+flower+landscape+images&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi589vk6v3sAhWNATQIHSDyCpwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=spring+flower+landscape+images&gs\_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoECAAQQzoCCAA6BQgAELEDOgQIABAYOgYIABAIEB46BAgAEB5Q2\_MDWN2\_BWDv0wVoCHAAeACAAXqIAYUakgEEMjkuN5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=kpmtX7niK42D0PEPoOSr4Ak&bih=889&biw=1504&client=firefox-b-1-d](https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+flower+landscape+images&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi589vk6v3sAhWNATQIHSDyCpwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=spring+flower+landscape+images&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoECAAQQzoCCAA6BQgAELEDOgQIABAYOgYIABAIEB46BAgAEB5Q2_MDWN2_BWDv0wVoCHAAeACAAXqIAYUakgEEMjkuN5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=kpmtX7niK42D0PEPoOSr4Ak&bih=889&biw=1504&client=firefox-b-1-d) [https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+flower+landscape+images&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi589vk6v3sAhWNATQIHSDyCpwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=spring+flower+landscape+images&gs\_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoECAAQQzoCCAA6BQgAELEDOgQIABAYOgYIABAIEB46BAgAEB5Q2\_MDWN2\_BWDv0wVoCHAAeACAAXqIAYUakgEEMjkuN5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=kpmtX7niK42D0PEPoOSr4Ak&bih=889&biw=1504&client=firefox-b-1-d](https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+flower+landscape+images&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi589vk6v3sAhWNATQIHSDyCpwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=spring+flower+landscape+images&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoECAAQQzoCCAA6BQgAELEDOgQIABAYOgYIABAIEB46BAgAEB5Q2_MDWN2_BWDv0wVoCHAAeACAAXqIAYUakgEEMjkuN5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=kpmtX7niK42D0PEPoOSr4Ak&bih=889&biw=1504&client=firefox-b-1-d) ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/32 "2020-11-13T17:37:41Z")
I find fall colors meh, but that’s not really meaningful - I find _all_ colors meh. I find the outdoors meh. I find beautiful vistas meh. I find glorious sunsets meh. I find the views from mountaintops meh. (Unless I had to hike up there to see them, in which case I hate them with the fire of a thousand suns.) It’s not that I lack an esthetic sense, but I just don’t _care_ about the outdoors, and my esthetic sense is calibrated accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/33 "2020-11-13T18:02:29Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > Those who are completely Red/green colorblind, can you tell the difference? Particularly between red, green, and brown leaves? > > Not being able to tell the difference between red and green defines that type of color blindness. But that doesn’t mean they can’t tell the difference between green and red leaves, if the greens and reds are different shades to them. Same with brown. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/34 "2020-11-13T18:19:25Z")
Yes, you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/35 "2020-11-13T20:45:02Z")
INTERIM ANALYSIS AFTER 100 RESPONDERS ETA - oops, screwed up - back shortly j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/36 "2020-11-13T20:54:47Z")
INTERIM ANALYSIS AFTER 100 RESPONDERS (Because 1% = 1 person. Sorry – a touch of tidy mind syndrome.) (Apologies for the false start - I had a shaky moment on percentages vs ratios). **Demographics** Total color blind men: 12 Total non-color blind men: 62 Total color blind women: 3 Total non-color blind women: 23 Color blind responders were over-represented, which is kind of what I would have expected – because it’s a self-selecting population and this a more interesting question if you’re color blind (IMHO). And as you would expect, there are more color blind men than women (but not by as much as you would have thought – color blind women seem to be really over-represented, albeit on tiny numbers). **Results** Male color blind like/meh ratio: 1 Male non-color blind like/meh ratio: 3.4 Female color blind like/meh ratio: 0.5 Female non-color blind like/meh ratio: 4.75 OK, it’s a small, self-selecting population, so there are obvious limitations in study design. But this I find genuinely interesting – amongst color blind men there is a 50:50 split between those who really like fall colors and those who are not so impressed. Amongst color blind women it’s 33:67 but the numbers are small – so I’d call that similar. Amongst non-color blind men, really liking fall colors is 3.4 times as common as not being so impressed. Amongst color blind women it’s 4.75 times but, with small numbers in this – ahem – pilot study, again, I’d call that similar. **Discussion and Conclusions** Well, there are small numbers, self-selection and all that – but even so I’m impressed that these figures do appear to suggest that being color blind is a significant impediment to enjoying fall colors. j PS #1: Any statisticians who are dissatisfied with my level of expertise – I don’t blame you, me too. Anything further to be teased out from the data? PS #2: I’m sure I’ve seen someone on this board who’s an expert at funding applications. How do we stand after a successful pilot? ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/37 "2020-11-13T21:03:01Z")
PPS - I should add, it’s just an interim study - **the poll remains open**. j ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/38 "2020-11-13T21:11:09Z")
I love fall colors, and we generally get good ones where I am. I am not colorblind. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366/39 "2020-11-13T21:36:43Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > it’s just an interim study Grrr - that should be **Interim Analysis** , obviously. j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-think-fall-colors-are-great-are-you-colorblind/925366.md?page=1)