• Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Nah, I figured this out in the military. I was always the last guy to start using my night vision device. Now, to be fair this was 20+ years ago and night vision devices have come a long way since then. Even in my years we got an upgrade that was much better and I used it a lot more. But I was also the one guy hitting all the night fire targets. So there was definitely something there before I went and got old.

    • MalReynolds@slrpnk.net
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      5 months ago

      Likely red/green colour blind, less cones but more rods (better resolution, also night vision). Your ancestors may have done night watch in the village or been hunters.

      duping above so you read.

      • Lorindól@sopuli.xyz
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        5 months ago

        Yes, I do have severe deuteranomaly. Diagnosed when I was 6 years old.

        I’ve read quite a lot about this, there are many cases where red/green blind people have exhibited above average night vision.

        I was also very good at spotting camouflage, since the patterns were designed to fool people with normal colour vision. The only time my colour blindness was a disadvantage was in a contest between regiments, I had to direct artillery fire as fast as possible and the targets were big red boxes in front of the treeline.

        Our lieutenant lost his shit when he realized that he had a colour blind forward observer. We still won the contest, my squad handled the measurements impeccably and I verified them on the map. There was discussion of transfering me to other duties after this, but when I asked “Sir, how many big red box targets are there are in real war?” they quickly dropped the issue.

    • Lorindól@sopuli.xyz
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      5 months ago

      During my military service I also discovered that I had exceptional night vision. I never stumbled in the dark forest and I could even read maps when others couldn’t see shit. I didn’t pay much attention to this quirk, but my commanding officer realized this and put it to good use. The following overnight recon patrols on foot and skis felt endless.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Mmm yes I solved that problem by being a mortar guy in headquarters company. They had access to far better scouts than me.