10 FUCKERING LIGHTS
January 23, 2017 8:39 PM Subscribe
20 Times Font Choice Mattered
Bonus: A Compilation Of Happy And Excited Dogs [piano synth bg music] Because of the Women's Marches*
*not really but let's pretend
Bonus: A Compilation Of Happy And Excited Dogs [piano synth bg music] Because of the Women's Marches*
*not really but let's pretend
That fifth one is a kerning and punctuation problem. Not a font problem.
I really don't see anything wrong with the rest of them.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:49 PM on January 23, 2017
I really don't see anything wrong with the rest of them.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:49 PM on January 23, 2017
It got me at SHIT YOURSELF
posted by Existential Dread at 8:50 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 8:50 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
Also, Pepsi APE is an...odd branding choice at best.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 8:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I really don't see anything wrong with the rest of them.
Doesn't look like anything to me.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
Doesn't look like anything to me.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
can someone explain "wherever you go I will find you"? I don't get it...
posted by pingu at 9:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by pingu at 9:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Romantic font versus horror font
posted by (Over) Thinking at 9:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by (Over) Thinking at 9:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Remarkably, some of these can go both ways. I once saw a package of "CLIT ICE" that it took me a moment to realize actually said "CUT" because of the font choice
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:06 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:06 PM on January 23, 2017
Everyone in comics knows to be careful about Clint.
posted by Artw at 9:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
o god i am 7 years old again
posted by um at 9:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by um at 9:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Alas, a few of these are bogus. "dick lovers" is an in-game joke sign from GTA V, and the actual e-surance sign didn't have keming quite that bad.
posted by jackbishop at 9:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by jackbishop at 9:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
In a similar vein, I always thought there was something wrong with and perfect about the text styling on The Onion's clickhole.
posted by emelenjr at 9:16 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by emelenjr at 9:16 PM on January 23, 2017
The greeting card made me laugh out loud.
It's like Wittgenstein's duck/rabbit, some people see one, some people see the other, and the lucky ones see both, and possibly get a good laugh.
posted by njohnson23 at 9:17 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's like Wittgenstein's duck/rabbit, some people see one, some people see the other, and the lucky ones see both, and possibly get a good laugh.
posted by njohnson23 at 9:17 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Some of these are fake? OK, I'll stop cl i c k i n g around
posted by rouftop at 9:18 PM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by rouftop at 9:18 PM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
This is from the (delightful) dog one, but I'd like to be friends with the guy who has the full-throated showtune-style song to tell his dogs their dinner is ready. (And maybe then we'd get to hang out with his synchronized dancing dogs.)
posted by jameaterblues at 9:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by jameaterblues at 9:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh but I am a special aunt
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
OMG I worked at that Mac Store! We adored that sign. Everyone from the CEO down knew it was very funny. Sadly, it vanished, no doubt lifted by a lucky employee when it was removed during some renovation project or another.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 10:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 10:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
While this may be a bit of a stretch for others, a combination of font and lack of punctuation has always made me do a double take at "Penises on Broadview"...
posted by ilana at 10:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ilana at 10:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Johnny Wallflower: "A classic: WTF MAC STORE"
los pantalones del muerte: "OMG I worked at that Mac Store! We adored that sign. Everyone from the CEO down knew it was very funny. Sadly, it vanished, no doubt lifted by a lucky employee when it was removed during some renovation project or another."
Could someone MAYBE repost that image on Imgur or something as it is now forbidden?
posted by Samizdata at 10:23 PM on January 23, 2017
los pantalones del muerte: "OMG I worked at that Mac Store! We adored that sign. Everyone from the CEO down knew it was very funny. Sadly, it vanished, no doubt lifted by a lucky employee when it was removed during some renovation project or another."
Could someone MAYBE repost that image on Imgur or something as it is now forbidden?
posted by Samizdata at 10:23 PM on January 23, 2017
It wasn't forbidden for me, but I reposted it on imgur for your WTF pleasure.
posted by zachlipton at 10:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
One of Andy Ihnatko's Mac OS books has a great roundabout story in its font section about how his editors wouldn't let him illustrate proper font usage by relating how he once mis-saw the title of STAR TREK: THE FINAL FRONTIER.
posted by NumberSix at 10:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by NumberSix at 10:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Chris Flick, a cartoonist who has an in-and-off webcomic titled 'Capes & Babes', is personally knowledgeable on certain kerning issues, because his first book collection of comics was titled (in big Comic Sans) "You Can't Print FLICK". Yes, the "FLI" diseases...
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:38 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:38 PM on January 23, 2017
I once saw a package of "CLIT ICE"
That came out after Clit Light but before Clit Dry, right?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
That came out after Clit Light but before Clit Dry, right?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Aside from the unfortunate font choice, whoever did the photoshop on the 'Shit yourself' one should be fired. That poor woman, her poor arm...
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 10:58 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 10:58 PM on January 23, 2017
It’s odd which of them don’t jump out & which you can’t see as anything else. I can’t read “Fart Taco” and “dick brick” as anything else, while “Tubes ‘n hoses” took a second look.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Going To Maine at 10:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'll pass this hair salon on the way to work soon...
posted by tss at 11:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by tss at 11:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
My kids bought my sister a white mug with a black handle and the letters "unt" written on the side of it, which is her special "aunt" mug.
(I thought "click lovers" was a joke from GTA - I suppose that's still funny but not in the same way)
posted by merlynkline at 12:23 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
(I thought "click lovers" was a joke from GTA - I suppose that's still funny but not in the same way)
posted by merlynkline at 12:23 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
There is of course the legendary 'Nagina Tandoori' in Dublin, whose signwriter probably could have chosen a font whose 'N' doesn't look like a 'V' from certain angles.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:28 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:28 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Many years ago, a schoolfriend of mine went to a party where the proud parents had hung up a banner saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLINT". And, yes, they'd chosen an all-caps sans serif font.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 1:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I actually walk past Slix/"Sux" Fast Food every day on my way back from work (it's in Bristol). It's grubby looking.
posted by howfar at 2:49 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by howfar at 2:49 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
FART TACO I'm dead at the first pic hahahahaha.
posted by Annika Cicada at 2:59 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Annika Cicada at 2:59 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
I used to not get food from the No.1 Chinese Restaurant.
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:15 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:15 AM on January 24, 2017
Yep, Sux is somewhat notorious. Stick to Rita's, over the road.
posted by Luddite at 3:18 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Luddite at 3:18 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, to paraphrase Abraham Simpson:
The snow’s melted, we can go outside again!
. . . Oh, I don’t like the looks of that sidewalk.
posted by y2karl at 4:13 AM on January 24, 2017
The snow’s melted, we can go outside again!
. . . Oh, I don’t like the looks of that sidewalk.
posted by y2karl at 4:13 AM on January 24, 2017
The "Flick Off" one is intentional... it was part of an "edgy" marketing campaign aimed at convincing young people to reduce electricity use. They thought it would be a great way to get kids to tell their friends all about it, and post the signs up everywhere. Heard all about the marketing campaign, never saw one in the wild.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 4:13 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by GhostintheMachine at 4:13 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Graphic designer here. I teach Typography at a local college, and every time one of these compilations comes out I get copied, tagged, or CC'd by multiple friends. Two things I want to say here:
1. Fuckering Lights is always funny.
2. I've never seen the Fart Taco sign before. I find that amazing because I also get copied, tagged or CC'd every time something fart related hits the net. I'm impressed. 10/10.
posted by Mcable at 4:22 AM on January 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
1. Fuckering Lights is always funny.
2. I've never seen the Fart Taco sign before. I find that amazing because I also get copied, tagged or CC'd every time something fart related hits the net. I'm impressed. 10/10.
posted by Mcable at 4:22 AM on January 24, 2017 [13 favorites]
Okay, it's been hours now, and I'm still having intermittent, explosive giggle fits over "Shit Yourself."
"Fart Taco" is pretty glorious too, but "Shit Yourself" is on a whole 'nother level.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 4:33 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Fart Taco" is pretty glorious too, but "Shit Yourself" is on a whole 'nother level.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 4:33 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Apparently, they no longer teach aspiring designers that you should always evaluate a sign or billboard design from a distance before approving it. Tight kerning looks great sitting at the screen, but, from ten feet away, shit happens.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Needs a ‘keming’ tag
posted by acb at 4:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by acb at 4:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
I'll bet that the “Special Aunt” cards sold well with blokes whose mates were having birthdays or stag parties. I can think of a few people I'd buy one for.
posted by acb at 4:46 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by acb at 4:46 AM on January 24, 2017
Fuckering Lights
Isn't that the novel by Clint Bronte?
posted by Segundus at 4:58 AM on January 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
Isn't that the novel by Clint Bronte?
posted by Segundus at 4:58 AM on January 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
Finger Fuck Football!
I saw a similar one at a Japanese dollar store once (imgur), but chalked it up to Engrish. No excuse for most of these others though.
posted by p3t3 at 5:08 AM on January 24, 2017
I saw a similar one at a Japanese dollar store once (imgur), but chalked it up to Engrish. No excuse for most of these others though.
posted by p3t3 at 5:08 AM on January 24, 2017
Every time I pass this place, I read "AVAIL" as something else that passes "VAPOR"
posted by bendybendy at 5:35 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by bendybendy at 5:35 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's not exactly the same type of error, but I think you will understand why my family calls our local (excellent) bakery "The Bagel Hospital" and not it's actual name of "Bagels Plus".
posted by Rock Steady at 5:47 AM on January 24, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 5:47 AM on January 24, 2017 [16 favorites]
Story time. I was driving down the highway one day, when a very large box truck type thing starts passing me on the left, with it's ten foot tall "Drape kingS" logo, complete with extremely outsized and stylized D and S.
Definitely not the sort of thing you expect to just casually pull up next to you.
posted by mrgoat at 6:42 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Definitely not the sort of thing you expect to just casually pull up next to you.
posted by mrgoat at 6:42 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
how could I forget "keming"?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:03 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:03 AM on January 24, 2017
I purchased this book when I was thinking about starting a new hobby, prompting my wife to wonder exactly what kind of stop-motion animation films I was planning to make.
posted by nickmark at 7:29 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by nickmark at 7:29 AM on January 24, 2017
Story time. I was driving down the highway one day, when a very large box truck type thing starts passing me on the left, with it's ten foot tall "Drape kingS" logo, complete with extremely outsized and stylized D and S.
See also Therapist's Choice Medical Supplies in greater Toronto, who seem to have stopped using their old web page www.therapistschoice.com .
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
See also Therapist's Choice Medical Supplies in greater Toronto, who seem to have stopped using their old web page www.therapistschoice.com .
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:43 AM on January 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
MEGAFLICKS... Ahh, my first experience with kerning.
That's right by where I grew up and I once got both my Mom and Grandmother to read it to me.
posted by DCCooper at 8:04 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
That's right by where I grew up and I once got both my Mom and Grandmother to read it to me.
posted by DCCooper at 8:04 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
And let us not forget the unintentionally Pythonesque glory of the Lumberman's Exchange.
posted by acb at 8:05 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by acb at 8:05 AM on January 24, 2017
Chris Flick, a cartoonist who has an in-and-off webcomic titled 'Capes & Babes',
So many questions. If he's married, how tired is his spouse of the we're-not-naming-our-son-that conversation? If he's single, how many dates does he wait before asking, "What do you think think of CLINT as a boy's name?"
posted by straight at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
So many questions. If he's married, how tired is his spouse of the we're-not-naming-our-son-that conversation? If he's single, how many dates does he wait before asking, "What do you think think of CLINT as a boy's name?"
posted by straight at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
You're all typing "k e m i n g" instead of "k e r n i n g," right? It's like a typography joke? Because I really can't afford new glasses at the moment.
posted by scratch at 8:33 AM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by scratch at 8:33 AM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
Metafilter: get copied, tagged or CC'd every time something fart related hits the net.
posted by zippy at 8:47 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zippy at 8:47 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
You're all typing "k e m i n g" instead of "k e r n i n g," right? It's like a typography joke? Because I really can't afford new glasses at the moment.
Yes and yes.
posted by Quiscale at 9:00 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes and yes.
posted by Quiscale at 9:00 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
can someone explain "wherever you go I will find you"? I don't get it...
I think it's supposed to show a difference in tonality -- like, "I love you forever!" vs "I'm a serial murderer who's obsessed with you and from whom there is no escape."
posted by alleycat01 at 9:15 AM on January 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think it's supposed to show a difference in tonality -- like, "I love you forever!" vs "I'm a serial murderer who's obsessed with you and from whom there is no escape."
posted by alleycat01 at 9:15 AM on January 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
While waiting for brunch in Chicago a year ago, I spotted this restaurant's sign and it looks like they haven't changed it.
posted by Baphomet's Prime at 9:28 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by Baphomet's Prime at 9:28 AM on January 24, 2017
This Lexus dealership reads like "Merde" on all of its license plate covers, too.
posted by Cheezitsofcool at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Cheezitsofcool at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Gul Madred: How many fuckering lights do you see?
Picard: THERE. ARE. 10. FLICKERING. LIGHTS.
posted by Mike Smith at 10:11 AM on January 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
Picard: THERE. ARE. 10. FLICKERING. LIGHTS.
posted by Mike Smith at 10:11 AM on January 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
You're all typing "k e m i n g" instead of "k e r n i n g," right? It's like a typography joke? Because I really can't afford new glasses at the moment.
There's also kerming – taking keming too far.
posted by zippy at 11:08 AM on January 24, 2017
There's also kerming – taking keming too far.
posted by zippy at 11:08 AM on January 24, 2017
Not 'funny' but we have a bottle of this handsoap in the washroom at work and my brain goes wonky for a second, every single time, reading it as "hive clean."
posted by porpoise at 3:45 PM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by porpoise at 3:45 PM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I still can't figure out what's wrong with the "Tubes n hoses" one.
posted by Mr. Big Business at 9:43 AM on January 26, 2017
posted by Mr. Big Business at 9:43 AM on January 26, 2017
That T looks like a P, doesn't it, Mr Big Business?
posted by Rock Steady at 9:56 AM on January 26, 2017
posted by Rock Steady at 9:56 AM on January 26, 2017
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