'I see a line'

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I occasionally stumble upon the conception boards, not just on Mumsnet but going back over many years and several forums. So many people post what is a blatant negative test only for multiple posters to reply with 'I see a line'. Is this a case of not wanting to hurt the OP feelings or do these people actually see invisible lines? Ok, I know some lines are faint, but some tests are so obviously negative yet still people come alone with 'i see a line' - does it save people feelings or offer false hope?

AIBU to ask, why? Have you ever said 'I see a line' when there is clearly no line?

Some people see things others don't. I don't think anyone's lying. I've seen posts where people have said it's negative and I can clearly see a faint line. And I've been on ones where I can't see a thing but others say they can.

Is there a line? Is the dress black and gold or blue and grey (or whatever the colours were, I forget).

I’ve never said I can see a line when I can’t.

Maybe your eyes aren’t that sensitive?

I also agree with @DappledThings - loads of times I’ve seen a very clear, albeit faint, line and there are posters saying they can’t see anything. I always assume they either don’t have great eyesight, or they don’t want the OP to think it’s positive until it’s much clearer.

I think different resolutions on various devices makes a difference too. I've seen lines on my laptop I can't make out on my phone and vice versa.

If you’ve only ever had dark, clear lines on your tests you might not know what others are talking about. But actually you can get an incredibly faint line, loads of people have and ended up with a baby 8 months later.

I think it's misguided kindness...

I would never say I see a line when I don't.

Look up trichromats - about 50% of the population have a fourth cone in their eyes which means they see a wider range of shades than other people. I can sometimes see the pale colour of the line that other people might not be able to see at all. I tested early with all of my pregnancies and could see a very faint line, when my DH couldn't see anything.

Equally, I have had negative early tests and seen nothing. I also do think the device you're viewing the photo on can affect what you see.

I too would never say I saw a line if I didn’t. I would either say I don’t see anything or I wouldn’t post on the thread at all.

Threads where there is a line tend to run a lot longer that those where there’s no line, which means lots people can see the faint lines. Who tf would think it was “kind” to mislead someone in the throes of infertility. Ridiculous comment.

I find it odd when the reply is it's positive OP and they say congratulations. Maybe the OP doesn't want to be pregnant and is looking for reassurance that it's negative. There is always a strong presumption that the OP is looking for a positive answer.

@SideEyeing

I think different resolutions on various devices makes a difference too. I've seen lines on my laptop I can't make out on my phone and vice versa.

This. I never understand the arrogance of people who come on those threads and insist that because they can't see a line, there isn't one when several other users state they clearly see it. Surely the obvious conclusion is that they have better eyesight or it displays differently on their screen.

All three of my pregnancies started with very faint lines that grew stronger, and all have been stronger in person than in photos.

I think this all the time OP.
Sometimes there is the faintest line and loads of people saying it's definitely positive congratulations your pregnant!!
And of course the OP doesn't listen to the ones saying they can't see the lines.
But I can't help thinking how heartbroken they must be if they find out they weren't pregnant.

My advice is if you're not sure wait a couple of days and take another test!

I would never say I see a line if I didn’t.

I’m always amazed when people say they can’t see a line when there is blatantly one there.

Sometimes people familiar with particular tests are more attune to sight of a line.

I don’t think it’s kindness? What’s kind about saying you see a line if you don’t? Get someone’s hopes up for no reason?

I have always tested early and as a result, do tend to see faint lines where some don’t or can’t. Lots of practice I suppose (5 kids, lots of tests). I would never say I see a line if I didn’t, can’t think of anything crueler.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I think it's misguided kindness...

Absolutely not. That wouldn’t be terribly cruel!

Would be.

I think that whole ‘what colour is this dress saga’ (some people see one colour, others see something else) pushed me to release that a huge numbers of factors go into what we actually see and that they vary from person to person, device to device and so on.

I spent years experiencing infertility and staring at arctic white tests. I would never say I could see a line when I can't. Any hint of a line shows some hcg is there.

Seems lots of people don’t realise that a line is a line, no matter how very faint.

Pregnancy tests have different sensitivities. A sensitive test at e.g 8dpo might have a barely visible line. The people saying they don’t see one or, even worse, “get a digital, they’re more reliable” are not the people to be on a line eyes thread.

Fwiw, I also don’t believe in “evaps”. I’ve done hundreds of tests and nothing at all shows if you’re not pregnant. A faint then fading line can be a chemical pregnancy, but that’s still a pregnancy.

Fwiw, I also don’t believe in “evaps”. I’ve done hundreds of tests and nothing at all shows if you’re not pregnant. A faint then fading line can be a chemical pregnancy, but that’s still a pregnancy.

I have had 2 evaps on tests and i 100% wasnt pregnant when i took them so it does happen.

Different resolution on different devices or similar issues. There was a thread a while ago where I thought I couldn't see the line (when others could). Later that day I realised I'd somehow managed to arse about with the brightness on my laptop and that was why I couldn't see it.

@DrDetriment

I find it odd when the reply is it's positive OP and they say congratulations. Maybe the OP doesn't want to be pregnant and is looking for reassurance that it's negative. There is always a strong presumption that the OP is looking for a positive answer.

Well if it’s in the conception or infertility topic then congratulations are probably in order, to be fair. In other topics, yes who knows what the OP wants.