How many synesthetes are there on Fluther?

It sounds as if you are asking a very similar question that Jeruba did earlier today. Is this off-base?

I really didn’t know what one was until today, when Jeruba posted her question. I attribute colours to letters, numbers, days, months, seasons and even people names. Unlike her though, I had no problem reading the paragraph she provided.
So I ain’t got no bloody clue. :D

I don’t think so. I’m more of the slightly ADHD type, the free associator from hell here, but, I don’t see colors in my minds eye when thinking of numbers, and the only colors I have seen when listening to music were in the 70’s while tripping on acid. lol

One here.

How would you know that there are many synesthetes on Fluther, @PhiNotPi, by just reading posts?

I am one and I’ve never met one in real life. It’s not something that gets regularly talked about, but a couple of my friends think it’s really cool always share the fact that I have synesthesia to others and no one ever seems to share that they have it as well, so I’ve never met anyone else.

For me, it’s grapheme synesthesia in regards to the single-digit numbers and some letters and it’s also number form synesthesia with lists of numbers of various lengths, including years.

I have met about four or five people who have it.

We don’t agree on most colors (except that A = red is a widespread commonality, or so I’ve read), but we all agree that it is especially pronounced in proper names, and that days of the week and months seem to have their own colors. I mean that the name of the month as a whole is all of one color rather than being a composite of the letters. January, for instance, is as red as the letter A.

@Jeruba

I’m sure A and January being red has to do with red being the first color of the rainbow and those all being the “first” of something. Either way, I don’t see any fully red numbers, only 9 is red-orange…

Oh, I doubt that, @DominicX. I don’t think there’s any connection at all to the rainbow. For me, March is also red (different shade), May is rosy pink, and December is forest green, and those don’t correspond to the rainbow. And no day of the week is red. It simply isn’t a logical association of any kind, just an internal perception that seems to have its origin in an external thing but doesn’t.

For me, 3 is about the same color as A, and 5 is dark red. Again, nothing to do with order of occurrence.

@Jeruba

I just think that there has to be some significance to the fact that a lot of people see “A” as red. It can’t just be a coincidence; it has to mean something, don’t you think? I’ve often had people ask me if it originated in colored blocks when I was growing up, but I have no recollection of such a thing. I’m not saying everything fits a pattern, but some common patterns must have some significance…

I think there’s some significance, yes, but not related to the rainbow. A rainbow is a natural thing, and an alphabet is not. I’d sooner see a claim that it represents the widest opening of the mouth, and the mouth is red inside. Or that it is pronounced at an auditory frequency that corresponds to something going on with the blood. Or even that the head of an ox that was its original graphic representation was somehow innately invested with a red value. But I don’t think any of those things is so. Rather, I think we simply don’t know the reason, not yet, but one day neuroscientists will probably figure it out.

I have this impression that synesthetes (I am not one) are usually highly intelligent. Is my impression correct? If so, that may explain why there seems to be a higher concentration here than in the general public.

I have it somewhat but not really all that profound. When I hear music I see different shapes and colors in my my head but its never something very defined. IE a guitar doesnt always make me see pink or something its more the feel of the song overall so i can exactly give examples like jeruba and dominicx can. I experience far more profound synesthesia under the influence of LSD though. Taste the color of sound :)

@augustlan I have heard that synesthesia boosts creativity, and I have also heard that it might boost intelligence.

Present! Words have flavors.

@ubersiren thats got to be really friggin annoying when you’re hungry and reading something.

@uberbatman It is. If it’s something I really love, then I’ll crave it like crazy. I hate watching “Breaking Bad” when I’m hungry because something about the way Skylar says “Walt” makes me want so badly to eat a pickle and cheese sandwich. I’m trying to diet!

@ubersiren bwahahah that’s amazing. Coincidentally i’m watching Breaking Bad right now lol I dont think id let that ruin breaking bad for me, id just chow down on some sammiches :P.