Pretty Words Light Up

Posted by on . 9 comments.

First, there was the Hold Steady. Now, this (and this and this and this and god knows how many other freaks are out there). Question: when reading the dead tree paper, do you run your finger along the text? Murmur the words under your breath? Am I wrong to think that you all are deeply disturbed individuals worthy of public shame?

Note: Ridicule is how I mask my fear of Being Left Out. Still, you’re all nuts.

Comments

  1. the g says:
    February 28, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    You are not alone. The N. has threatened to beat up all us OCD nerds. I believe his exact words were “the rest of world shouldnt be restricted from using new technologies just because a few ritalin poppers can’t focus.”

    Highlighting chunks of text on the web helps me to read more clearly – I think it’s a monitor thing, esp. when it’s lots of black text on white. Hell, I even do it ON YR BLOG, AVENT!

    And people highlight and underline dead tree paper all the time, too, btw.

    I find the NYT feature obnoxious. But I think I’ve figured out a way to turn it off, so, whatever.

    (ps. Hold Steady rulz!!!!1)

  2. ryan says:
    February 28, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    On my blog, eh? Hmm. When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound quite so crazy.

  3. n says:
    February 28, 2007 at 1:33 pm

    it is crazy.

  4. Amanda says:
    February 28, 2007 at 1:48 pm

    Yeah, I’ve always done it too, but I have no idea why. I usually don’t even highlight the part I’m reading, but rather the part above or below. It makes no sense, and I’m glad to discover I’m not alone.

  5. ryan says:
    February 28, 2007 at 3:58 pm

    You are not alone. Apparently, the entire internet does this, except me and the n, who are the only decent folk left in a world gone mad.

  6. Sommer says:
    February 28, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    Ah OK, saw this after I posted on Cappsy’s post. I’m with you, Avent and Nabob. I mean, I suppose I can understand highlighting a paragraph or two, but doubleclicking on a single word for no reason? It’s akin to underlining a sinlge word in a book. Didn’t anyone see Heathers? Eskimo!

  7. the g says:
    February 28, 2007 at 5:30 pm

    but if you triple/rapidly click on a single word, it will highlight the entire line/block of text. Which I do all the time. Which also triggers dem confunding pop-ups on NYT. annoyiiiinnnngggggg.

    hook em Team Capps!

  8. heather says:
    March 1, 2007 at 1:10 am

    What in the world. I thought I’d explored all the vast lands of OCD, but then here y’all come to prove there is so much yet undiscovered. Maybe you can just get some gum or a patch or some overly prescribed medication? I bet you all have very developed muscles in your right forefingers though. Weird.

  9. ryan says:
    March 1, 2007 at 10:37 am

    So now do you you clickers argue that this neurotic compulsion improves your reading ability? Because if that’s the thing, then we should definitely test this hypothesis. We can get normal people on one team and Obsessive Clicking Disorder people on another, and have each take a reading speed and comprehension test. When we win, it will reveal this “screensifting” for the dangerous, but probably treatable, mental health issue that it truly is.