I just assumed the author was trying to prove a point by distracting the heck out of his own readers. Not only was there splatter, but it was animated splatter. What a headache!
I've known about this for a long time because of my interest (hobby) in webdesign. The worst offenders on the web are those who have a dark background and very light text, especially if it's small. (There's a blogger template like this that seems very popular with teacher bloggers - I think because it looks like a chalkboard?) Problem is, my eyes start to scream after the third sentence or so.
And I've been fighting (along with other teachers, luckily) to keep our department from buying these types of textbooks. You wouldn't believe how much splatter you can get on a page in an English book! (We always call it "flair" after the scene in Office Space.)
You have to watch Office Space. It's supposed to be a comedy, sort of in the same vein as Monty Python, but it's really a more of a documentary. Hits a little too close to home.
Yes, you should try to see it. I haven't seen it in a while, so I'll try to get the details correct. Jennifer Aniston plays a waittress at a chain family restaurant. They are supposed to wear all kinds of pins and such on their uniforms to look cheerful and fun. In one scene, her manager berates her for not having enough flair. He himself is covered in pins - blinking, I think, and with little sayings on them. It's pretty funny, but just like page splatter to me.
The official definition of flair: Buttons and other decorative accessories added to a work uniform, esp. at chain restaurants. Almost universally despised by restaurant workers and customers alike.
I just assumed the author was trying to prove a point by distracting the heck out of his own readers. Not only was there splatter, but it was animated splatter. What a headache!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought.
ReplyDeleteI thought the author made a good point, because I found it impossible to read what he was writing due to the animated splatter.
I just skipped to the end and read the conclusion.
I've known about this for a long time because of my interest (hobby) in webdesign. The worst offenders on the web are those who have a dark background and very light text, especially if it's small. (There's a blogger template like this that seems very popular with teacher bloggers - I think because it looks like a chalkboard?) Problem is, my eyes start to scream after the third sentence or so.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been fighting (along with other teachers, luckily) to keep our department from buying these types of textbooks. You wouldn't believe how much splatter you can get on a page in an English book! (We always call it "flair" after the scene in Office Space.)
What is "flair"??
ReplyDelete(Haven't seen Office Space.)
This is one more reason to adopt Singapore Math!
Or Saxon!
NO PAGE SPLATTER
You have to watch Office Space. It's supposed to be a comedy, sort of in the same vein as Monty Python, but it's really a more of a documentary. Hits a little too close to home.
ReplyDeleteYes, you should try to see it. I haven't seen it in a while, so I'll try to get the details correct. Jennifer Aniston plays a waittress at a chain family restaurant. They are supposed to wear all kinds of pins and such on their uniforms to look cheerful and fun. In one scene, her manager berates her for not having enough flair. He himself is covered in pins - blinking, I think, and with little sayings on them. It's pretty funny, but just like page splatter to me.
ReplyDeleteThe official definition of flair: Buttons and other decorative accessories added to a work uniform, esp. at chain restaurants. Almost universally despised by restaurant workers and customers alike.
ReplyDeleteFlair Pic:
http://twocrabs.blogs.com/2crabs/images/jennifer_aniston_office_space_movie_wait_1.jpg