Synesthesia is a physiological condition where one of your senses relates to another sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body. The first recorded case of this phenomenon that we know of dates back to 1690, when a blind man said he experienced the color scarlet upon hearing the sound of a trumpet.
A woman took to Twitter to tell people what their names taste like. The responses were interesting, to say the least.
Julie McDowall is a synesthete who lives in Glasgow, Scotland.
"Ask me what your name tastes like, she proposed.
I have synesthesia which means I can "taste" words. Ask me what your name tastes like.— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548624923.0
Of course, McDowall was asked what her own name tastes like:
@JulieAMcDowall What does your own name taste like?— Tim (@Tim)1548628483.0
The answer to that is um, distressing.
@SerialLurker Sadly I'm a watery eyeball.— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548630326.0
Mike wanted to know what his name tastes like:
@JulieAMcDowall Rather hope mine tastes like garlic :)— Living The Dream Yates (@Living The Dream Yates)1548624963.0
And lo and behold:
@CaptMikeYates Mike? That's more of a sensation than a taste. Like the spokes of a bike wheel. Brittle and metallic taste.— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548625072.0
But there's a catch here:
@JulieAMcDowall @CaptMikeYates Does Michael taste different? (This is awesome, BTW!)— Rev. Mike Willoughby (@Rev. Mike Willoughby)1548642244.0
And you bet it does:
@mikeyvegas @CaptMikeYates Salt and vinegar Ringos— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548642306.0
Then there's Craig:
@JulieAMcDowall Go on, if it’s anything by Tunnocks I don’t want to know.— Craig Smith (@Craig Smith)1548625211.0
Who tastes like:
@Smicht You are very sugary shortbread. Specifically the round shortbread. Not fingers.— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548625384.0
And then there's Emily:
@JulieAMcDowall What does my name taste like? Is it carbonara, it’s carbonara, isn’t it.— Emily Andras (@Emily Andras)1548689717.0
Who tastes like:
https://twitter.com/JulieAMcDowall/status/1089928959423406081
And Antonio:
@JulieAMcDowall I almost don’t want to know. But... okay...— An20n19 Lulic (@An20n19 Lulic)1548634853.0
Who tastes like (awww):
@AntonioLulic Antonio is a bowl of Frosties, turning soggy.— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548636186.0
Stephen was in for a surprise.
@JulieAMcDowall Do me, do me!— Stephen Carroll (@Stephen Carroll)1548625781.0
He likely never dreamed he'd taste like:
@StephenTweeted Ahhh, you won't like it. You're a manhole cover...— Julie McDowall (@Julie McDowall)1548626235.0
Are you curious about what your name tastes like? You might as well throw it out there. There's no harm in asking.
