This is more of me trying to understand how people imagine things, as I almost certainly have Aphantasia and didn’t realize until recently… If this is against community rules, please do let me know.

The original thought experiment was from the Aphantasia subreddit. Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Aphantasia/comments/g1e6bl/ball_on_a_table_visualization_experiment_2/

Thought experiment begins below.

Try this: Visualise (picture, imagine, whatever you want to call it) a ball on a table. Now imagine someone walks up to the table, and gives the ball a push. What happens to the ball?

Once you're done with the above, click to review the test questions:
  • What color was the ball?
  • What gender was the person that pushed the ball?
  • What did they look like?
  • What size is the ball? Like a marble, or a baseball, or a basketball, or something else?
  • What about the table, what shape was it? What is it made of?

And now the important question: Did you already know, or did you have to choose a color/gender/size, etc. after being asked these questions?

  • 2ugly2live
    1•2 hours ago
    My answers:
    • What color was the ball? Red
    • What gender was the person that pushed the ball?: seen from the bust, but a masculine physique
    • What did they look like?: Grey shirt, light skinned, clean nails, hands looks slightly worn.
    • What size is the ball? Like a marble, or a baseball, or a basketball, or something else?: Tennis ball size. Smooth and has a good bounce, but sounds solid.
    • What about the table, what shape was it? What is it made of? Rectangle. Wooden. Smooth, but had a knot in it.

    And now the important question: Did you already know, or did you have to choose a color/gender/size, etc. after being asked these questions?

    I already knew? . I had to visualize it first to answer any questions.