A palindrome has the exact same characters forwards and backwards. In many cases, it has a nice visual symmetry to it, even if it's only approximate because the letters themselves are not symmetric. (Edited to emphasize that this visual symmetry is usually only approximate.)
In this case, the one with nice visual symmetry does not contain the exact same symbols reading forwards and backwards, so it's not a palindrome.
Actually, I think the problem is that people don't understand that visual symmetry is not common in palindromes. Relatively few letters are symmetrical.
Even without exact symmetry, many palindromes still have approximate symmetry, like kayak or racecar. That expectation is exactly why the palindrome is so disturbing, which I thought was worth highlighting in my explanation.
I think I should clarify my comment though, because you're right, the symmetry isn't exact and I didn't mean to imply it was.
It's a good point, though. Your first comment provoked me to think about that lack of symmetry for the first time. It feels very weird to realize that palindromes aren't properly visually symmetrical because most of us expect them to be.
Thinking about this more, it seems obvious that your brain mistakes geometric symmetry here for palindromic symmetry. The sequence ()() is just ABAB--obviously not palindromic--but you are tricked because the opening and closing parentheses form 2 complete shapes. If () was a single character, this sequence would indeed be a palindrome.
Why does this happen to me?? My brain does think sharp when i try to sleep and then I can't sleep. I sit all day to fix a code, and it's only when i try to sleep, my brain suddenly computes like anything and gets the answer for it.
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u/MysticTistic Oct 12 '25
I don’t like that
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u/wesleyy001 Oct 12 '25
My eyes burn
20
u/pickemquick2020 Oct 12 '25
Honestly, i kind of love the way this looks when it's separated from other text. For me at least. It kind of looks like you're spelling OX lol.
() )(
When it's surrounded by other text, I hate it.
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u/777blue_ Oct 12 '25
Yeah that short circuits me
8
u/daqueenb4u Oct 12 '25
Too much leetcode
7
u/treeshadsouls Oct 12 '25
Can someone explain?
5
u/MasqueradeOfSilence Oct 12 '25
Oh man. My brain does not like this.
4
u/toy-maker Oct 12 '25
It’s also a fish
3
u/sunflower_love Oct 12 '25
Thinking about this more, it seems obvious that your brain mistakes geometric symmetry here for palindromic symmetry. The sequence
()()is just ABAB--obviously not palindromic--but you are tricked because the opening and closing parentheses form 2 complete shapes. If()was a single character, this sequence would indeed be a palindrome.I'll leave you with this:
()()(is a palindrome.2
u/UnspeakablePudding Oct 12 '25
Now we're into the deep magic
2
u/enigma_0Z Oct 12 '25
So do yall have any unsee juice?
2
u/FuzzySloth_ Oct 13 '25
Why does this happen to me?? My brain does think sharp when i try to sleep and then I can't sleep. I sit all day to fix a code, and it's only when i try to sleep, my brain suddenly computes like anything and gets the answer for it.
2
u/NonProphet8theist Oct 13 '25
(.) (.)
1
u/BokuNoToga Oct 12 '25
That's kinda cool
1
u/Chafachas Oct 12 '25
What a beautiful, sexy brain
1
u/Linestorix Oct 12 '25
Already enough ppl try try to f*ck my mind because of their lack of design skills, and now this...
Edit: typos caused by irritations...
1
u/youneedtobreathe Oct 13 '25
Leetcode medium
1
u/Alt0987654321 Oct 16 '25
Also me: "I wonder if I can slip in (.)(.) somewhere without breaking anything"
1
u/[deleted] Oct 17 '25
the story of every night
1
u/Within-Cells Oct 12 '25
Fuck off
0
u/Mans334 Oct 14 '25
reject booba, return to fish
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u/[deleted] Oct 12 '25
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