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kenisu3000
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19 Apr 2012, 3:20 am

Pottermore has finally gone up, and after I read J.K. Rowling's thoughts on Number 4 Privet Drive (it's right there at the very beginning), something was sparked in my memory. At the end of this little nugget, Rowling says: "For no very good reason, I have never been fond of the number four, which has always struck me as a rather hard and unforgiving number, which is why I slapped it on the Dursleys' front door."

At first, I thought to myself, "Well, it makes sense to dislike numbers collectively, especially considering how hard math can be, but how could anyone dislike a specific number, without any reason having to do with mental association from an unpleasant experience earlier in life?"

Then I remembered about something I myself do unconsciously, and have done since I could count: I've always personified numbers, and assigned them genders. When I think of the number 1, I imagine a strict old lady schoolteacher (the old-fashioned 1800s elementary school type) complete with pointing-stick and sneer of disapproval. Weird enough for you?

Well, let's go on to the other numbers, through 10.

2 I always pictured as male and rather jovial. I've always seen 3 as a "nice guy" type, though awfully wimpy at the same time. 4 brings to my mind a strong masculine type, 5 I somehow have trouble separating from 1 (there's that nasty teacher again), 6 is a laid-back guy, 7 is a harsh man (and ever since reading the Harry Potter books, I've started to associate 7 with Severus Snape for some reason... don't look at me like that, this is all normally below-the-surface stuff I don't even notice), and 8 is a kind young girl, though a little vulnerable. 9 is a male prankster, and 10 is like the father who keeps them all in line.

Oh, and I've always seen zero as male (no misandric cracks, please).

Every time throughout my life that I've openly thought about this little quirk of mine, I've wondered if I'm not alone, and if everyone else also does this, just unconsciously. Now that I know I'm on the spectrum, I have to wonder if it's an Aspie trait.

Thoughts, anyone?



PTSmorrow
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19 Apr 2012, 3:41 am

My quirk with numbers is, i love 8, like 6, 9, and 3, am indifferent towards 1 and 7, but strongly dislike 2 and 5 due to the combination of straight lines and curves. But i can't connect a person to anything. Animals would be the only option.

When it comes to letters, i hate Q. No idea why, but i would never want a number plate or anything with a Q on it, G comes next to it. C and V are my favorites. Guess it's related to the same problem as above. Things should be either round or straight, not both. That's confusing.



Ettina
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19 Apr 2012, 8:40 am

This is a form of synesthesia.



E27
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19 Apr 2012, 2:05 pm

I have this type of synesthesia too. 9 is really tall, 5 is a motherly lady and reminds me of Ms. Pots from Beauty and the Beast, and my favorite number is 27. I don't like 4 very much, it's not the worst but I don't love it, interestly I really like 3+1 but not 4 even though they are kind of the same thing.



Rascal77s
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19 Apr 2012, 3:04 pm

7 is my favorite number. I'm almost obsessed with it. I like 2, 4, and 5 a lot. Strangely, my number preferences change sometimes with the exception of 7. For example, when I was dating this crazy redneck girl from Texas I seemed to like the numbers 6 and 9 for some reason.



IlovemyAspie
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19 Apr 2012, 3:25 pm

I have always done this and this is how I see things:

1 is male and is about 20 something
2 is female and is about 50ish
3 is male also about 50ish and is married to 2
4 is female single and lives alone
5 is male and about 30 or so and is close friends with 4
6 is male also in his 30's and is buddies with 5
7 is female in her 40's
8 is female and a littler older than 7, they are best friends
9 is male and is about 30 or so and is like a son to 8



keira
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19 Apr 2012, 3:29 pm

My numbers have colors and personalities. I also have strong likes and dislikes.
The associations aren't that strong with letters. I really dislike C and it's always orange in my mind. Maybe because I hate orange color. I love letter L. It's green.
My mind is a strange place :lol:



fefe333
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20 Apr 2012, 12:10 am

Its called synesthesia :D i have grspheme- color (words, numbers, letters, names, monthes, days all have a specific color to me)
and i see pain as color. ( headachs are spring green ect.)
and i have personification to numbers.
I love the number 4 lol. Shes bright yellow and very out going. But 3 is my favorite because he is orange and shy :)i hate 6 because she is maroon and very snobby and stuck up.9 is super annoying cuz shes pink and a girly girl. And thee list goes on...

I love having synesthesia. It lets me see the world in a different way then most people do.
( some synesthetes can taste color or see music :D that would be awsome)


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OddDuckNash99
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20 Apr 2012, 7:16 am

I strongly believe I have spatial-sequence synesthesia. I do not have full-blown ordinal personality synesthesia, but I do have traits of it. I have always been able to VERY easily assign personalities to inanimate objects/letters/numbers. The reason I don't have true synesthesia in this area, though, is that most of my letter-number personalities are not set in stone. It's more of a "right" feeling at the moment rather than an unchanging phenomenon. But I always have been good at creating characters, because I just can think of a name and personality to fit them that "feels right." Same with picking a birthday for people based on their personality and name. I love the way names and words sound, so this is another reason I think I have mild synesthesia in this area. This is why I decided to make full biographies for all of the microwave girls on "Is It a Good Idea to Microwave This?" Each girl instantly evoked a personality in me, and I either liked or disliked them. A lot of this was based off of their name and other factors. Love Helga. Loathe Lacey. :lol:


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kenisu3000
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21 Apr 2012, 2:46 pm

Synesthesia, huh? Well, I guess that explains that. Thanks, guys! :D



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21 Apr 2012, 3:56 pm

The numbers 1965 seem pleasing to my eyes for some reason.


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biribiri20
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21 Apr 2012, 4:17 pm

I can't stand the number 3, and aside from 5, I dislike odd numbers in general. They feel odd and unwelcoming to me. I'd rather not use three spoons of something in my drink, or take three items if I can help it. However, I love the number 6. It's such a nice even number and I love writing it and using it. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who does this.


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Stargazer43
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21 Apr 2012, 9:13 pm

I've always heard that 1 is the loneliest number, and that 3 is a crowd