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all 145 comments

[–]nolamunchkin 40 points41 points ago

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Who's the artist?

[–]RandomExcess[S] 50 points51 points ago

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The artist's name is James Hopkins. Here is the original source of the image with a view form another angle (bottom of the page). There are also a couple other of his "perspective sculptures" from popular animated series.

[–]down_vote_magnet 15 points16 points ago

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Ah, so you saw the front page post the other day about the Tom & Jerry one.

[–]DNApolymerase 3 points4 points ago

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Link?

[–]iazaroff 6 points7 points ago

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[–]RandomExcess[S] 1 point2 points ago

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actually I missed that one, I was searching on Richard Wiseman's blog for Optical Illusions, he has some pretty good ones and saw this one and thought I would share. It is pretty cool stuff.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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The Tom and Jerry one that has knives and bombs and a gun is wicked.

[–]nolamunchkin 2 points3 points ago

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Cool, thanks for the info. Very interesting.

[–]AlexBurnsRed 0 points1 point ago

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I smoked pot with Johnny Hopkins.

[–]thundershaft 1 point2 points ago

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You don't know anyone named Johnny Hopkins...

[–]OsamaBinDead 252 points253 points ago

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thats not actually an optical illusion.

[–]fireburt 49 points50 points ago

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Yeah it's a lot less subtle than something like the vases and the faces or the duck and rabbit or old woman and young woman ones. While cool, it's just using the trees to make an outline which I would call more art than illusion.

[–]Ph0X 1 point2 points ago

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Great remification.

[–]tofurocks 0 points1 point ago

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It took me quite a while to see it. Longer then the vases anyway.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]courage_wolf 21 points22 points ago

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he's not implying that at all

[–]fireburt 11 points12 points ago

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I honestly cannot figure out how you came to that conclusion from my post. In fact I may say that all illusions are by definition a form of art. What I was saying was that this specific example is not an illusion, it is a different form of art. Wikipedia's definition for an optical illusion says it is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. That's not what is happening. There is a very well defined outline of two people fucking and that's what you see. This is an optical illusion. It appears that parts of the image are moving when in reality, the whole thing is static.

tl;dr Not even a little bit. Read my comment again.

[–]DrAnhero 8 points9 points ago

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You wasted far too much time educating a lost cause.

[–]fireburt -1 points0 points ago

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Someone on the internet is wrong. If I don't do anything he'll just go around continuing to be wrong!

[–]DrAnhero 0 points1 point ago

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You know, you have a point. As a bonus, you made him delete his post, so right now you are a winner! I hope your hands are in the air right now, because they should be.

[–]fireburt 0 points1 point ago

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I'm like Rocky at the top of the stairs.

[–]RenegadeGeophysicist 7 points8 points ago

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Please Michael, an illusion is a thing an artist does for money.

[–]NaziButler 0 points1 point ago

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It makes my day when I hear an Arrested Development reference.

Seeing as they are almost constant on this site, I almost always have a good day!

[–]hmmwellactually 5 points6 points ago

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[–]Rakali -3 points-2 points ago

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Ew.

[–]iissqrtneg1 2 points3 points ago

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It's negative space.

[–]poiro 1 point2 points ago

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It's more like tree shaping and at most forced perspective.

Tree shaping is awesome though. [1] [2] [3]

[–]Kardif 9 points10 points ago*

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You brain is making the shape more real than it is. If you can't recognize the image you wont see it, you'll just see trees. Maybe not an optical illusion exactly, but a trick of the mind. It's similar to this image http://i.imgur.com/TOYn6.jpg

[–]drtyfrnk 31 points32 points ago

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Anyone want to go play some pac-man now?

[–]hmasing 9 points10 points ago*

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Reification. Yay! I got to use my graduate degree!

[–]pytechd 6 points7 points ago

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I'm still waiting on my cheeseburger. For fuck's sake, how hard is it to make a god-damned cheeseburger?!

/s?

[–]hmasing 6 points7 points ago

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We're still waiting on your fries, Sir.

[–]pytechd 7 points8 points ago

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Oh, OK. That would explain the cheesburger in my hand, then.

[–]agbullet 3 points4 points ago

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+1 cuil

[–]DashingLeech 0 points1 point ago

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The funny thing is that the reification section refers to the phenomenon as coming from illusory contours which are described as "a form of visual illusion which re-directs to (and "also called") ... optical illusion. In fact, the contour "Gestalt" illusions are given as a form of optical illusion from perceptual organization.

Hence, I would argue that, yes indeed, the linked art here is a form of optical illusion, of which reification is a specific subset.

[–]mx- 2 points3 points ago

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That's called "Gestalt", your image is just four pacman shaped object, but your brain fills in the rest of the image and you "see" a white rectangle.

[–]valkyrio 2 points3 points ago

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This is not the same case as in the image posted. Here you see the square, and the illusion is that you can actually see lines or an actual square.

The trees on the other hand, are actually outlining the silhouettes of two people. There's nothing to make more "real", the trees don't make the silhouettes more tangible and your eyes don't have to see anything more than the silhouette. Yeah, you might not recognize what it is if you've no knowledge of sex but that applies to more than just suggestive images.

[–]jakebluu 0 points1 point ago

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I don't see anything

[–]Nyght 2 points3 points ago

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Square :)

[–]Kardif 9 points10 points ago

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Rectangle.

[–]ProudToBeAKraut 5 points6 points ago

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[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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Pac-Men

[–]hmasing 0 points1 point ago

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[–]aXehanD_ler 0 points1 point ago

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Circle?

[–]beanswiggin 1 point2 points ago

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Potato salad.

[–]Wazowski 0 points1 point ago

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Well, the tree part is an illusion too. The 3d shapes are just suggested from a matrix of different colored liquid crystals.

[–]AlexanderSalamander 1 point2 points ago

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Jokes on you, I've got a cathode ray!

[–]ZeekySantos 0 points1 point ago

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But that's not the case. These coloured liquid crystals aren't suggestions, they're forming an image gathered from data and the light is sent to my brain. There is no miscommunication or illusion about it.

[–]Wazowski 2 points3 points ago

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The person sculpting the tree wanted to make an image from the negative space. It's overt, not illusory.

[–]DangerClose1 0 points1 point ago

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NEVER a miscommunication...

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Accidental viewpoint?

[–]hapuchu -2 points-1 points ago

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Once seen, will not be un-seen.

[–]pogg 35 points36 points ago

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Not for some kids, who would just see branches. Relevant: children who see this bottle describe it as depicting several dolphins.

[–]abbe-normal1 12 points13 points ago

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Oh, that's so awesome! I had to try pretty hard to see it but when I did, whoa dolphins everywhere!

[–]well_met_sir 1 point2 points ago

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Where are the dolphins? Perhaps some red lines in Paint to highlight them?

[–]AnotherProxy 7 points8 points ago

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[–]well_met_sir 2 points3 points ago

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oh wow thanks!

[–]Beachcoma 4 points5 points ago

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[–]well_met_sir 2 points3 points ago

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thanks!

[–]Tiak 0 points1 point ago

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You missed one.

[–]Beachcoma 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah just noticed her crotch is a dolphin tail.

[–]Rakali 2 points3 points ago

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Ugh. I saw both, strobing. What's wrong with my brain?

[–]DeliciousKiwi 4 points5 points ago

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I was so sad I could not see dolphins, but now I am happy.

[–]TheoQ99 1 point2 points ago

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"Mommy, why are there dolphins in my sex scene?"

[–]Fa1nT 1 point2 points ago

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Eh.. normal people would focus on the color that there is less of, which would be the white picture, and totally ignore the brown background.

Kids are dumb though, it probably has nothing to do with "innocence"

[–]thestray 0 points1 point ago

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Had to look hard to see the dolphins, but when I did, can't unsee.

[–]Tiak 0 points1 point ago

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Holy shit, took me forever to see the dolphins... The first time I looked at this image however, all I saw was trees. I blame my newly reshaped cornea, that I don't quite know how to focus yet.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points ago

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he's got some wood

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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I logged in just to see if there was a truncated pun thread in here.

[–]ghostnut30 0 points1 point ago

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a trunkated pun?

[–]emjaycue -1 points0 points ago

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I touched it and it was all sticky.

[–]Taldsam 10 points11 points ago

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I'm so de-sexualized it took me nearly three minutes to see it.

[–]KohokuJack 21 points22 points ago

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I, on the other hand, am still looking for the trees.

[–]Funkyy 2 points3 points ago

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See what?

[–]Taldsam 4 points5 points ago

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Oh, you.

[–]jdiez17 4 points5 points ago

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You see him?

[–]UpsetUnicorn 0 points1 point ago

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Then you wood.

[–]HellsKitchen 0 points1 point ago

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De-sexualized meaning...?

[–]klsi832 4 points5 points ago

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Beer bottle on the trunk is a nice touch.

[–]AidanHeartsLFOs 7 points8 points ago

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Woah there. This should be in r/treesgonewild.

Ba-dum tishhhhhhhhh

[–]odintal 2 points3 points ago

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That gave me wood.

[–]aXehanD_ler 0 points1 point ago

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She's got quite the bush.

[–]Joshuncool 2 points3 points ago

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Fuck it can't be unseen ojpowsjgapgrg

[–]Okit 0 points1 point ago

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I was about to say the exact same thing. At first it was, three tree stumps, what's the big deal. Now it cannot be unseen.

[–]solinvictus21 2 points3 points ago

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I approve of this artist's use of negative space.

[–]chasemedown 8 points9 points ago

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...don't think OP knows what an optical illusion is..

[–]Bluemoon_333 7 points8 points ago

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This should go on r/Trees!

[–]Pseudo_Random 12 points13 points ago

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I feel like you might not know what that subreddit is for...

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]Pseudo_Random 0 points1 point ago

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Yes sir/ma'am .^

[–]benvanloon 3 points4 points ago

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This picture is for tree fuckers.

[–]kmofosho 7 points8 points ago

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that's not an optical illusion... it's an outline

[–]CR0SBO 1 point2 points ago

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Watch for splinters..

[–]Seref15 1 point2 points ago

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Last time I tried that position I couldn't walk the next day.

[–]InTheZone1 1 point2 points ago

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CANNOT UNSEE

[–]jonpak 1 point2 points ago

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can not unseee

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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i actually saw trees first....didnt realise what it was until i rememebred it was NSFW tagged and squinted

what is wrong with me

[–]LORDJEW_VAN_CUNTFUCK 1 point2 points ago

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Can we see it from a different angle?

[–]Johnofthewest 0 points1 point ago

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[–]LORDJEW_VAN_CUNTFUCK 0 points1 point ago

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Thanks. This guy is amazing.

[–]dixond 1 point2 points ago

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That is not an optical illusion. It is a piece of art specifically designed to be viewed and to give a specific and obvious image from a specific direction.

[–]sureitsSean 1 point2 points ago

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clicked after i scanned over trees and nsfw. i did not think it was an optical illusion, maybe a piece of art or maybe photoshopped?

[–]redditor3000 0 points1 point ago

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[–]sayrith 0 points1 point ago

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For a second, I thought it was an abstract Eiffel Tower.

[–]GeneratedAnomaly 0 points1 point ago

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It took me so long to notice that it was something other than just trees that I was actually startled once I realized what I was looking at. Wasn't expecting that.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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They're all sticky.

[–]Omenege 0 points1 point ago

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Once you see that sucker there's no going back.

[–]FranMan32 0 points1 point ago

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Probably should have knocked first.

[–]5ft11flip 0 points1 point ago

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What museum is this in? Someone tell me the Met, Louvre, or the the fancy museum in nyc that starts with a G

[–]neito 0 points1 point ago

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Am I the only one who double-checked to make sure that all the branches worked out right?

[–]bibowski 0 points1 point ago

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What the... once you see it, it's IMPOSSIBLE to not see it.

[–]mhallgren5 0 points1 point ago

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awww its a father holding his newborn baby....oh....wait.....thats not....CANNOT UNSEE!!

[–]KallistiEngel 0 points1 point ago

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Perspective sculptures are pretty cool. This reminded me of one of Sappho I saw in Skala Eressos. It's two large stones, separated a bit and if you look at it right, you see the figure of a woman who is supposed to be Sappho (like most of the statues in Skala Eressos), as in the image.

That image isn't mine, by the way. Just one google image search turned up. Didn't feel like digging through my vacation photos to find the one I took of it.

[–]Truesday 0 points1 point ago

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I believe that's what they call "pulling guard" in the ju-jitsu world...

...erherm.

[–]hassenbinlaid 0 points1 point ago

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I didn't see it the first time but then i was like "WOH"!

[–]bonjoe 0 points1 point ago

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Upvote if you read that in George Takei's voice.

[–]TrashAudio 0 points1 point ago

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I fapped.

[–]Harioharima 0 points1 point ago

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Wasn't this. . . Just on here. Like not even a week ago?

[–]Pische 0 points1 point ago

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You should say "What are those non-trees doing?"

[–]mattchoo86 0 points1 point ago

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Kinda reminds me of this (nsfw)

[–]biowtf 0 points1 point ago

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I was like "yeah cool close-- wait a second was the female a child ctrl+shift+t".

I just wanna spread the word about ctrl+shift+t opening most recently closed tab.

[–]monkeyme 0 points1 point ago

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this is NOT an optical illusion, and if you seriously see this as NSFW then please grow the fuck up.

[–]bongwhacker 0 points1 point ago

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derp

[–]Drakonisch 0 points1 point ago

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Took me far too long to see that. I need to spend more time on the internet.

[–]Hypersapien 0 points1 point ago

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The trees aren't doing anything. The negative space between them, however, WOOO!

[–]jchicity 0 points1 point ago

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Woke up. Saw this. Morning wood.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]dbenhur 0 points1 point ago

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[–]Stopher 0 points1 point ago

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Why is a picture of 3 dead trees labeled NSFW?

[–]iniquitous_d 0 points1 point ago

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Treegasm.

[–]TrashAudio 0 points1 point ago

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slightly obscure references FTW

[–]HiddenKrypt -2 points-1 points ago

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Read the title in the voice of George Takei.

[–]Traumahawk -1 points0 points ago

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I CAN'T UNSEE IT

[–]Lurenai -1 points0 points ago

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I feel the most innocent person in the world not seeing anything besite trees.

[–]fredfoobar -1 points0 points ago

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Please cross post this to /r/trees.

[–]redwinterwolf -1 points0 points ago

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Trees getting more sex then me.

[–]footclan -1 points0 points ago

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WOW why is this tagged as nsfw are you fucking joking?

[–]preston159 -1 points0 points ago

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I was the 1111th vote. You might not give a fuck, but I thought that was pretty awesome

[–]thavi -1 points0 points ago

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A little too perfect..I can understand coaxing a few branches a certain way, but the thicknesses? Shopped!

[–]Johnofthewest 1 point2 points ago

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