TWO-WAY MIRRORS

[Ninjja]

A friend of mine and I went to a diner yesterday and were seated in a booth next to a mirror. At that time, a random tidbit came into my head that I have always believed since I was a kid. Someone once told me that you could tell if the mirror was a real mirror if, when you pointed your index finger toward the mirror, actually touching the surface, there would be a space between the reflected finger and yours. They also said that you could detect that it was a two-way mirror (i.e. the ones used in police questioning rooms, so you can't see who is behind the mirror) if, when you did the same pointing of the index finger on the surface of the glass, there was no space between the reflection and your finger. Has anybody ever heard this before? Or is it just a myth? I've never had the chance to put my finger on a two-way mirror before so I can't validate this.

Sorry if this post is confusing.

 

[lozina]

I think if you put a light source like a flashlight or flame from lighter right up against the mirror you'll see through it if it is 2-way.

 

[Modeps]

I've heard the same thing before. Not sure though as I've never had a chance to do it either.

 

[Legendary]

http://www.snopes.com/spoons/noose/mirror.asp

 

[Gurck]

that would tell you which side of the glass (if there is any glass) the reflective coating is on, but not whether it's a real mirror or a see-through one.

 

[maziwanka]

oddly enough, this same point was brought up last night when i went to dinner. im curious too, as to whether this is true.

 

[xactogirl]

When I was a kid, I used to participate in focus group surveys, but they stopped calling me because I had a habit of looking directly at the people in the next room, on the other side of the two way mirror. These things have never worked on me, and I see through them as well as I would see through a lightly screened window. Don't know why this is.

 

[Ninjja]

Originally posted by: Legendary
http://www.snopes.com/spoons/noose/mirror.asp

aha! thanks!

 

[Ninjja]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
oddly enough, this same point was brought up last night when i went to dinner. im curious too, as to whether this is true.

lol. silly.

 

[Ninjja]

Originally posted by: Gurck
that would tell you which side of the glass (if there is any glass) the reflective coating is on, but not whether it's a real mirror or a see-through one.

yaa, that's what snopes says.

 

[jyates]

Originally posted by: xactogirl
When I was a kid, I used to participate in focus group surveys, but they stopped calling me because I had a habit of looking directly at the people in the next room, on the other side of the two way mirror. These things have never worked on me, and I see through them as well as I would see through a lightly screened window. Don't know why this is.

oooooohhhh scary

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: lozina
I think if you put a light source like a flashlight or flame from lighter right up against the mirror you'll see through it if it is 2-way.

looks like this is false, I saw it in a movie once

The snopes articles says the best method is to cup your hands around your eyes and press against the mirror to block out any light and you should see through it if it is a '2 way mirror'

 

[maziwanka]

snopes is awesome.