UK Government’s Social Distancing Ad Has An Illusion That People Cannot Fathom
Image via Michael Tubi / Shutterstock.com
The UK government’s PSA on staying at home is drawing in the attention of internet users, but it’s not because of the intended message.
The advert by Her Majesty’s Government and the National Health System (NHS), shared on prime minister Boris Johnson’s Twitter account, urges residents, “For staying safe there’s no place like home.” The graphic depicts two women enjoying some popcorn on the couch with their dog.
Stay safe. Stay at home. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/gPxG7krUl0
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 17, 2020
The image is part of an ongoing campaign by the UK government about practicing social responsibility during the COVID-19 crisis.
What strikes out as strange to viewers is the mysterious arm near the pooch. People haven’t wrapped their heads around whose limb it belongs to, because it’d be too contorted to be the arm of the woman on the right and is seemingly too long for the character on the left.
Social media users have questions. “What in the holy hell is this shapeshifter dog doing growing a human arm?” one Twitter user asked. “Why is there an extra hand photoshopped into that photo?” another questioned.
“Hundreds of Britons stayed home figuring out whose arm was whose. Good strategy,” one user joked. Others teased that this particular household might not be observing social distancing measures because the members appear to have hidden an outsider in their home.
Can you solve this unexpected optical illusion?
Whose hand is that with the black sleeve? And who’s hiding under the cushion behind the dog? Any ideas , Twitter?
— Bruce McPherson 🇪🇺🇫🇷🏴 (@brucemcpherson) April 18, 2020
WHOSE ARM IS THAT?!??
— little lady 🧚🏼♀️ (@petitedeceit) April 18, 2020
The nation now needs to know if the extra hand is from the same household.
— MD #FBPE 🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@surfdoctor) April 18, 2020
This picture is weird - what’s happening below the bowl and whose hand is emerging from the dog?
— Peter Phillips (@pmphillips) April 18, 2020
Why are there 5 arms?
— 🌈 Steve 🚹--------------------🚹 (@wohyeahwohyeah) April 18, 2020
What in the holy hell is this shapeshifter dog doing growing a human arm 😱😱😱😱🤮🤮🤮🤮😱😱😱😱
— Cat K 🇪🇺 🏴🇮🇪🇪🇺🇬🇧 (@KitCatK) April 18, 2020
Coronavirus latest mutation?
— Sam Dixon (@DixieSixpence) April 18, 2020
Why are people in the replies struggling with this. They each have one hand on the bowl, the mystery arm is the left hand of the woman in the beige top, you can see the edge of her beige sleeve in the shadow if you zoom in (it’s not a black sleeve).
— Luke Redpath (@lukeredpath) April 18, 2020
[via In The Know, images via various sources]
