# Visual misinterpretations **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804 "2009-10-14T16:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/41 "2009-10-15T17:04:47Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I was driving behind a pickup with a [deer decal](http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/106/403/717/tjVs.jpg) today. For the longest time (and still if I don’t force myself to see it right) this looked to me like a little man, clutching his chest with his right hand, while his head is engulfed in flames. > > As a kid, I couldn’t figure out the [old post office logo](http://www.unhmub.com/gsshipping/usps_logo.jpg). My mom told me it was a bird, which made me think of robins and such, not an eagle with a huge uplifted wing. And I just could not figure out how that was a bird! > > What images have you misinterpreted? Oh my, we might be the same person! I hadn’t finish reading your post when I clicked on the deer logo, and thought, “Uhh, that looks like a guy on fire.” It clearly wasn’t that, but I also didn’t think anyone else would see it that way. As a kiddo, I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why the post office would use that stupid looking hook thing for a logo. Then one day, I suppose viewed from the right angle and in the right light, it dawned on me. _It’s a freaking eagle!_ I never mentioned it to anyone (until now) because I figured it was embarrassingly stupid, but I suppose it isn’t after all. And if it still is, we can be embarrassingly stupid together. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/42 "2009-10-15T17:08:22Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Long after the Pontiac icon _elsewhere_ on their cars had gone to the [V-shaped](http://www.universaldecals.com/DECALS/GMC/images/pontiac_emblem.jpg) emblem, the red hi-beam indicator on the dashboard was still an outline of the [old Indian head logo](http://www.universaldecals.com/DECALS/GMC/images/pontiac_emblem.jpg). With no features, just the (simplified) outline of a head with neck and the headdress, it mostly looked like a manufacturing accident. I always wondered why they couldn’t manage to make a nice round hole for the red light to shine through instead of that jagged thing. Dangit. As **KneadToKnow** points out, those are both the same link. sorry. [old indian head logo](http://www.grandamman.com/uploads/old_pontiac_emblem.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/43 "2009-10-15T17:14:49Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > [This](http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/files/images/warning-signs.png) is supposed to visualize the warning signs of diabetes according to the [World Diabetes Day](http://www.worlddiabetesday.org) website. > > The first icon - the blue one - is just weird. The green one, on the other hand, makes me think “OMG where’d my schlong go!” not “OMG I’m losing weight”, which I figured out it was supposed to mean after reading a bit. My first thought on the green one was something like “I’ve eaten a sailboat!” And the ribs looked like either wind or “action” lines. I thought maybe they were trying to imply nausea (seasickness). But no, he’s just emaciated. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/44 "2009-10-15T17:37:09Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > [deer decal](http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/106/403/717/tjVs.jpg) FWIW, it’s the [Browning](http://www.browning.com/) logo ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/45 "2009-10-15T17:41:05Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > The old post office logo always reminded me of an airline captains hat. I don’t know why. I didn’t want to post that because I thought no one else would see it! But good god, that’s what I thought it was for WAY too long. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/46 "2009-10-15T17:49:23Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The Saturn logo always looked like a series of abstract curves and swoops, until someone here (in a oddly similar thread) pointed out that it was a partial representation of the planet in question. It’s also a cursive capital S. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/47 "2009-10-15T18:56:26Z")
I always thought the old Post Office logo looked like some bizarre human-like thing with a gigantic oddly-shaped head that was facing the left (or ‘his’ right). Like the head swooped entirely into a gigantic nose. I finally figured out it was a bird when I wondered what that stupid thing on the right (his back) could be… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/48 "2009-10-15T19:28:46Z")
I’d never seen the USPS logo up till now, but how can you see anything OTHER THAN an eagle? ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/49 "2009-10-15T20:36:51Z")
See Wikipedia on [optical illusions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion) . I believe the deer for example is what they call a perceptual organization illuson. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/50 "2009-10-15T23:46:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I see a vase. Oh, and two people kissing. Sir, I regret to inform you that your readings indicate you have _sarcasticulitis unimpressivisus_ syndrome. You will now be labeled as such for the rest of your natural life and attend required mandatory counseling, for which you must appear. Additionally you have been prescribed massive doses of Redoubtalin. Side effects include indigestion, hives of the armpits, and a melting spleen. Also you must have a rectal exam. Bend over. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 15, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/51 "2009-10-15T23:53:03Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > _One of these links is just like the other, > Both of these links really belong …_ This is a bit belated, but you made me laugh ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/52 "2009-10-16T04:47:23Z")
[London Olympics Logo](http://blog.case.edu/james.chang/2007/06/06/2012Logo_LondonOlympics.jpg) : Wacky “2012” or Lisa Simpson giving a BJ. You decide. ---
**Author:** ![Iridescent\_Orb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@Iridescent\_Orb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iridescent_Orb)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/53 "2009-10-16T05:39:41Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > [This](http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/files/images/warning-signs.png) is supposed to visualize the warning signs of diabetes according to the [World Diabetes Day](http://www.worlddiabetesday.org) website… Change the order, and it represents a typical night on the town… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/54 "2009-10-16T06:54:35Z")
[Herky](http://dl004d.blogspot.com/2007/09/herky-hawk.html), the stylized hawk logo for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, turns into Fred Flintstone when rotated 90° clockwise. The British Office of Government Commerce ([OGC](http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/ogc-logo.jpg)) has an elegantly simple logotype that rotates into a simple, yet highly inelegant, drawing. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/55 "2009-10-16T14:58:29Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > FWIW, it’s the [Browning](http://www.browning.com/) logo Hey! Ignorance fought! And I too was trying to parse the usps logo with the wing as a head or something. Probably because I thought bird-\>beak-\>prominent triangular area must be a beak. Or something. I had a really hard time seeing that Herky thing as a hawk, even though I knew that was what it was going in! LOL at OGC. ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/56 "2009-10-16T16:39:00Z")
On the Chessie system logo: I thought it somehow represented Chesapeake Bay, but looking at a map now I don’t see any resemblance. On the Browning logo: I just saw the doe for the first time! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/57 "2009-10-16T16:53:41Z")
There’s a local pizzeria which uses pizza boxes, the illustration on which shows two fellows wearing blazer jackets of some sort and with pastry chef hats. Since it’s a line drawing with no color fill, the meaning of lines is kind of ambiguous. To me it always looks like trick-or-treaters wearing giant bird costumes, with the V shape of the opening in their jacket being the long beak. ---
**Author:** ![G.Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@G.Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Pie)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/58 "2009-10-17T01:18:26Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > More like you’re always peeing. Then how about a bunch of clocks showing slightly different times? ---
**Author:** ![With\_Rye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@With\_Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/With_Rye)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/59 "2009-10-17T06:11:54Z")
For the longest time, I thought the D in the [Disney logo](http://www.pycomall.com/images/P/Disney_logo.jpg) was a backwards G or some sort of six. I STILL see that first before reminding myself it’s a D. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804/60 "2009-10-17T14:39:35Z")
Oh! When I was a kid I always thought the Disney logo looked like “Disnep”. I even rationalized it a little, “the company is called Disney but the logo says Disnep because logos don’t have to be the name of the company”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-misinterpretations/513804.md?page=4)