# "What's your favorite color" is nonsensical to me **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523 "2014-08-14T16:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/21 "2014-08-15T13:30:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > My favorite color is green. > > Now stop overthinking things and just get on with your life. This. (Including the bit about green.) Being unwilling to give a straightforward answer to a simple, trivial question like “What is your favorite color?” does not make you special. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/22 "2014-08-15T15:14:53Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Tell them your favorite color is cerulean. That’ll shut them up. > > [Cerulean - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerulean) Unless they’ve ever owned a big [box of crayons](http://sewlindsaysew.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/112-cerulean-crayon.jpg), I guess. “Oh, you like blue.” ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/23 "2014-08-15T16:15:20Z")
my favorite color is turquoise unless it’s for what to wear - for clothes my favorite color is fuchsia…or maybe pink for my hair it’s ash blonde…or a horse, chestnut - also a good color for a couch. for trees, the bright green of new leaves unless it’s the dark purple bark of a Thunderchild Crab Apple Tree. I do NOT find the question nonsensical but it is complicated! ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/24 "2014-08-15T16:26:16Z")
curse this short edit window!! _fist_ I’ve changed my mind about horses. my favorite [color for a horse](http://gingingray.wantlesspower.com/HorseColors.html) is now “red taffy”! [check this out](http://www.horsecolors.us/dilutions/silver/silver%20images/Dollar.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/25 "2014-08-15T16:29:45Z")
I work at an art supply store. I see more color options in a day than most people see all year. I see colors named for the pigment chemical used, historical names, whimsical names. Then we have the mat colors in the custom framing department. But when people ask about favorite color, they’re generally referring to the six basics of Yellow, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, and Purple, plus a few that don’t fit easily in there, like Pink or Brown. All have their purpose. I generally look good wearing blue, so I usually go with that. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/26 "2014-08-15T17:38:54Z")
My folks had three kids. We had favorite colors of red, pink and green, so they could buy things for us and we’d know whose stuff was whose. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/27 "2014-08-15T17:53:50Z")
When we were kids, we had the big box of Crayola crayons. One color, since retired by Binney & Smith, is raw umber–not really an appealing color. Our Dad called it “s\*\*t brittle brown.” ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/28 "2014-08-15T18:17:56Z")
I don’t mind the favorite color question since it’s easier for me to come close to having a favorite, although I usually just say blue it’s really more blue-green that’s my favorite. I guess I’d still end up being tossed off the bridge by Tim. My favorite actually changed though, when I was a kid yellow was my favorite. But don’t ask me my favorite food, TV show, band or any other number of things because I either can’t pick a favorite or my favorite changes with my mood. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/29 "2014-08-15T18:31:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > …A: I hate colors… This answer could be misconstrued in a rather unfortunate way. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/30 "2014-08-15T20:36:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Knowing yours comes in handy when searching for the Holy Grail. Especially if you have to cross a bridge. Favorite colors, songs, movies, books, etc. tend to change with my mood. When I was a child, I’d sometimes have a favorite color for months or years. Now it depends on the exact hue and my mood. If you’re looking to buy me clothes, though, go with any shade of purple and most shades of blue. Those look best on me. I’ve gotten feedback from several people that I trust on that. If someone’s asking for small talk or some kind of a survey, I’ll either say blue or purple. Blue is more innocuous. Some people react to people saying purple. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/31 "2014-08-15T21:03:33Z")
I’d rather have to state my favorite color any day, than decide what my favorite movie is for my bank’s website. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/32 "2014-08-16T02:15:06Z")
I used to say “clear”. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/33 "2014-08-16T13:52:26Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > When asked, I usually say that I wear more blue, so I guess blue must be it. But I really have no preference for blue over other colors. > > So is this common, or a symptom of some deep neurological deficit? 🙂 Anyone else feel this way? > > J. Maybe you have some degree of color blindness. It’s pretty normal not to be aware of this if you are not completely color blind. If you are curious, there are tests that go beyond the basics of routine screening. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/34 "2014-08-16T14:07:12Z")
This is really more of an IMHO discussion so off we go there. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/35 "2014-08-16T14:11:55Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Maybe you have some degree of color blindness. It’s pretty normal not to be aware of this if you are not completely color blind. If you are curious, there are tests that go beyond the basics of routine screening. Good suggestion, but I don’t have color blindness. I’ve taken multiple color blindness tests without any hint of color blindness (including one for a pilot’s license). J. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/36 "2014-08-16T14:32:45Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Good suggestion, but I don’t have color blindness. I’ve taken multiple color blindness tests without any hint of color blindness (including one for a pilot’s license). > > J. But then how is it possible that you don’t see how much better blue is?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/37 "2014-08-16T14:56:29Z")
I remember an episode of Barney Miller in which Dietrich is interviewing a woman who has amnesia. He asks her name, address, occupation, and gets a sad, blank look each time. Finally, he says, “What’s your favorite color?” She brightens up. “Blue!” He says, “Good, we’ll work from there.” My favorite color is a certain shade of red with just a hint of blue and…oh, let’s say purple. (Except it’s not!) ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/38 "2014-08-16T17:55:44Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Good suggestion, but I don’t have color blindness. I’ve taken multiple color blindness tests without any hint of color blindness (including one for a pilot’s license). > > J. I suspect the answer is that some people are more impacted by colors than other people. I’m like **TrueCelt** , just looking at the periwinkle link makes me “feel” good. I’ve always been far more impacted by color than my wife. I describe my memory of the color of a squirt gun (kind of a blue see-through) or the christmas lights on a tree (at night, the colorful glow on the needles) and how powerful the feeling is that comes over me and she looks at me like she has no idea what I’m talking about. But she does the same thing with the sense of touch, she notices different textures far more than I do and has memories associated with that sense, I have none. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/39 "2014-08-16T18:40:26Z")
There’s a group of [guys](https://www.youtube.com/user/thedicetower) that review board games on YouTube. One week they did a panel of things that make a good game design. Among other more significant factors mentioned, one guy said he likes games that have yellow pieces because he likes playing yellow. That to me is a good working definition of a favorite color. If you were playing a board game, what color would you want your pieces to be? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523/40 "2014-08-16T20:36:08Z")
I remember telling someone a few years ago that I didn’t have a favorite color. He pointed out that I wear a lot of purple (lavender, specifically), so I started going with that. But now my wardrobe doesn’t have any purple. So I don’t know what to tell people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-color-is-nonsensical-to-me/695523.md?page=3)