How Do You Describe Colors To Somebody Who Is Born Blind?
By yuna15
@yuna15 (2706)
Philippines
October 6, 2008 1:48am CST
This is another interview question. Although I wasn't asked this question when I applied the job. This is usually asked when they are testing how critical you can think. A few friend's of mine shared this experience. Anybody here remember being asked this question? If you do, how did you answer it? If you don't, how would you answer it?
2 people like this
7 responses
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
I have watched this film before that got that question around which was cleverly answered by the protagonist who was getting acquainted with this blind girl that he met.
At first, he wanted to entertain her and knowing that she was blind, he tried to decribe the scenery but, mentioning white and blue was really difficult to depict the sky but, the girl understood his intentions and was glad that he tried. She them mentions that alot of others tried to describe things to her but, they all couldn't.
Then suddenly, the guy invited the girl later on to the kitchen where he had already boiled a couple of rocks. He gave it to the blind girl and at the very moment that she mentioned that something was warm, the guy said, 'that's pink' and by the time she was able to touch the hot rock, of course, exclaiming pain and surprise, the guy apologizes and immediately mentions, 'now that's red..' took out some cottom balls and handed it to the girl as he says, 'this is white like clouds'
That simply was interesting (^_^ ) and the next thing that came to my mind after recalling that scene from the film and an interview question like that would be, 'what do blind people dream of?'
@yuna15 (2706)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
Wow I'd really like to watch that movie. Do you recall the title of the film? That a very good way of describing the colors. What do they dream of? Interesting, probably anything that they hear and think translated to something that they can see. I think they would dream about seeing something. I mean as to how they feel the rock since it feels round their brain can probably translate it. Hmmm...tough...
1 person likes this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
Well, I'll try to give an answer like that if I do get interviewed and got asked with something that requires description for someone whose blind..
Title? Sorry, couldn't really recall details like that.. the scenes would mostly be the ones that get embedded on memory when it comes to films than the actual title.. (^_^")
It is rather difficult to guess whatever it is that blind people dream of.. maybe if I get to meet one, I'd take chances on asking them about it (^_^ )
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
I have not been asked such question, but, I will try as much as possible to describe the color by using other senses in which the blind individual could relate. If I think that he has great auditory senses, I would bank on that and tell the person on how it would feel seeing the color by relating it to music.
. So how would you describe like the color pink through music? or to make it easier, the color red?@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
7 Oct 08
Haha! Red is like rock music. The moment you hear it there's an impression marked right away.
1 person likes this
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
29 Oct 08
I don't know how blind people regard color. But one of my friends told me that blind people have a sixth sense and they can recognize color by touching it. Each color has a different heat which ordinary people can never detect. I am not sure whether this is true or not. But if I have to describe about color to a blind person, I will bring his hands to touch different types of color and then I would tell them the name of each color he touches.
After that when I want to tell him it is green, he would know by remembering which color he had touched when I gave it to him before.
1 person likes this
@yuna15 (2706)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
They don't necessarily have a sixth sense. Everybody can actually have it we just don't know how to use it.
You're right the best way to describe it to them is by taking advantage of the sense of feeling. How about the sense of hearing, smelling or taste? Would you be able to describe it that way?
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
There are always people who have the job of inventing questions which we almost never encounter in real life. I wonder what is to be gained from such a question. Will it make us more critical in our thinking? Hmm..
1 person likes this
@braver1987 (239)
• Italy
6 Oct 08
mmm..nice question..i could try to describe..but if he can't see than it's a bit impossible for him to have an idea of it..
1 person likes this
@yuna15 (2706)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
Actually there is no way for us to describe it if we use our eyes. Are you fond of marvel heroes? or have you watched daredevil? He wasn't born blind but his sense of hearing was greatly improved. He "sees" with his ears. So if we want to describe it to a blind the color red, what are the things that are usually associated to red? For example through music, we could probably make them listen to a love song or make them listen to a movie, something like "Saving Private Ryan" (because of war theme, and war often means bloodshed).
@gamechief (80)
• United States
6 Oct 08
You can't describe color to the blind any more than you can describe taste to the tongue-less or sounds to the deaf. If you don't have one of the senses, it's beyond your imagination as to how that sense is experienced.
