I'm definitely a newbie where it comes to typography, but I agree that Comic Sans is horrible. Having said that, I think that Lucida Handwriting is even worse.
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Ban Comic Sans
- Thread starter neildmitchell
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ok, well ive actually met the guy who made comic sans, i actually feel sorry for the guy... He made it while working for microsoft and i guess technically it does what it was intended to do, and now he gets branded with it for life... Its just ignorance of people using it in the wrong place and to be honest, i dont think it should be banned as much as i hate seeing it.... As a graphic design student, im paying money to learn a profession and since the market is being flooded with any old person having a go at photoshop, it kinda points out why people are still needed...
its really only people who dont know about typography who are gonna be making these kind of errors, and from my point of view its only gonna make people who are learning about typography (be it at uni, home or through their job) more important...
I say keep it and just let people who dont know what they are doing use it, so we can all feel a little better for knowing that it shouldnt be used.
its really only people who dont know about typography who are gonna be making these kind of errors, and from my point of view its only gonna make people who are learning about typography (be it at uni, home or through their job) more important...
I say keep it and just let people who dont know what they are doing use it, so we can all feel a little better for knowing that it shouldnt be used.
okay, personally I would have to say ban Arial in favor of Helvetica! I work at a huge corporation that uses Helvetica (and its many, many variations) for absolutely everything; being forced to use it, it can actually look quite nice when combined with different styles, adjusting tracking, etc. IMO, it looks much more professional (or maybe just less over-used) than fonts like Arial...for some reason though, Arial (and of course Comic Sans) have always just grated on me. The world would just be a prettier place without them 
Lacero said:
I was afraid that someone was going to say Skia. Brush Script is annoying (but I've never seen it used), Chalkboard has it's uses, as does Marker Felt, but I really like Skia for chatting (not text documents). As for Comic Sans, I'm not anti-it, but there are better fonts to use in, well, anything.
-Chase
In NS, Canada, we write public exams at the end of high school. Guess what font the ENTIRE BLOODY EXAM WAS SET IN!
That's right. The Public English 12, Physics 12, Chemistry 12, Calculus 12 and Math 12 exams were set in twelve point Comic sodding Sans. It didn't help that they were printed on neon coloured paper, too. After ten minutes of reading, I was thinking about the exam about as much as I was thinking about comitting harakiri by papercut.
I wrote a paper on why Comic Sans should not be used in the classroom, and submitted it to an administrator. We have since agreed, and our concern is soon to be taken to the school board. I kid you not.
You can not fathom the degree of self control it takes for me to not flame you for that comment. I will simply point out that you did not capitalize the word "I". My English prof would fail me for that, and give me a dirty look. As a student teacher who can't spell "I", how can you be trusted to choose a proper font?
Comic Sans is not easier to read.
That's right. The Public English 12, Physics 12, Chemistry 12, Calculus 12 and Math 12 exams were set in twelve point Comic sodding Sans. It didn't help that they were printed on neon coloured paper, too. After ten minutes of reading, I was thinking about the exam about as much as I was thinking about comitting harakiri by papercut.
I wrote a paper on why Comic Sans should not be used in the classroom, and submitted it to an administrator. We have since agreed, and our concern is soon to be taken to the school board. I kid you not.
elizabeth said:
You can not fathom the degree of self control it takes for me to not flame you for that comment. I will simply point out that you did not capitalize the word "I". My English prof would fail me for that, and give me a dirty look. As a student teacher who can't spell "I", how can you be trusted to choose a proper font?
Comic Sans is not easier to read.
JonMaker said:
Ah, don't freak out! It's online, and the rules can be broken! Either way, it's not like your post was perfect English either; look at your use of what's properly named "hara-kiri" and you'll see what I mean (hint: hara-kiri is a noun). BTW (or should I say "by the way"
), I'm not an English professor or anything, so I know you know much more than I do about English, and I'm not being too serious either; this paragraph is kind of meant as a light-hearted joke. As for the post, I believe the student teacher in reference was mentioning that it's "easier to read," but it's not actually easier to read, but it supposedly is easier to read by the kids.
-Chase
Omen88 said:
i just want to point out here that it's not by choice, no siree!
it's whats recommended by uni, and pretty much forced upon you by the various teachers on placements..personally, i think it sucks! edit: i'd also like to add that i don't use it when teaching-there are plenty of other fonts that are better!
JonMaker said:
*blinks*
and here i was, thinking i was on an internet forum, not writing an english essay!
never thought capital letters were mandatory! 
elizabeth said:*blinks*
and here i was, thinking i was on an internet forum, not writing an english essay!
You are on an internet forum, and you are not writing an English essay. Capital letters are not mandatory. It's just that I'm a curmudgeon, and sometimes my posting is less than objective.
Sorry
elizabeth said:
I've heard dyslexics saying it is easier to read too.
Personally I hate Comic Sans. I make it one of my many bug-bears so I make every effort to encourage people to abandon it. I am a scientist, and I've even seen grant proposals - official documents where you have to compete for money - in that darned typeface. And presetations/posters at conferences... just don't get me started, please
I have a contact who not only insists on writing all her emails to me in Comic Sans, but colours it full strength magenta. I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt and think that she only does it to wind me up, but apparently all her email correspondance is formatted in this way...
Alarmingly, there are many people in the world who actually like Comic Sans Apparently, having asked a few of them, they think it looks friendly, informal, cheerful and more 'fun' than more standard fonts.
I do wonder whether the proportion of Comic Sans lovers is in any way related to the number of Windows users...
Apparently, having asked a few of them, they think it looks friendly, informal, cheerful and more 'fun' than more standard fonts.I do wonder whether the proportion of Comic Sans lovers is in any way related to the number of Windows users...
what, this font? <- sucks
this thread cracks me up, glad to know that i'm not the only one who thought it looked cheesy. it could be worse but i definitely am not a comic sans fan.
this thread cracks me up, glad to know that i'm not the only one who thought it looked cheesy. it could be worse but i definitely am not a comic sans fan.
MongoTheGeek said:
You might like a "death to Helvetica" t-shirt - currently out-of-stock due to extreme popularity:
http://www.the-letterbox.com.au/frames_mer_tshirts.html
The guy behind these, Steve Banham, is a Melbourne-based designer/typographer/ant-f****er (you'll need to read the article to understand the last bit) who has a minor campaign against Helvetica and its effect on the homogenisation of culture.
And no I'm not making this up: http://www.the-letterbox.com.au/res_texts_not.html.
Also, How I missed thee! Begone, Aloso!
Worst thing is, I know some people who write like that. Adults. Normally sane ones.
I must confess that I used it extensively when I was (much) younger, but when I see it now, my axe-hand starts to twitch.
Also, there's nothing wrong with the 'dings. They're just symbols.
dotdotdot said:
Worst thing is, I know some people who write like that. Adults. Normally sane ones.
I must confess that I used it extensively when I was (much) younger, but when I see it now, my axe-hand starts to twitch.
Also, there's nothing wrong with the 'dings. They're just symbols.
feakbeak said:
I must agree, Papyrus is overused. An instance of it comes up every day. Copperfield is another abused typeface. As for comic sans, I've totally forgotten about it until today. I think this ban might serve to resurrect a type that was already on it's way out. Way to go guys.
COMIC SANS IS USED MOST IN TEENAGE MSN MESSENGER PROFILES OMFGZ0RZ~!
Seriously, how many times have you seen this:
HI GUYZ! itz me jess and dis iz my PROFILE!!!11!!11!
Tell us a little about yourself:
ummm well im lik 5 ft 1"' an di have baby blue eyez and i luv mountaindew YA!!! ITZ DA BEST!@@!
Interests:
ummmm wlel i luv going to the mall and th emovies with sam and chad and leslie I LUV U GUYZ!!!! and i luv going to the beach BTW BRAD IS HOT!!11!!!!!
Favourite quote:
EXCUZE ME SISTAH!!!!!
Rawwwrrr. Microsoft is the root of all evil. Comic Sans MS.... MSN... MSN profiles... MSNBC (wtf?)... Windows...
But I entirely agree. Comic Sans MS must die. As must all "script" fonts, like Lucida Handwriting. As must that terrible freeware font, Papyrus.
Good fonts:
Lucida Grande
Myriad Pro
Futura Bold
Century Gothic
Helvetica (trust me, it's actually a great font)
Also, I'm beginning to despise Verdana, another product of Microsoft, I believe, and Tahoma. Oh my goodness gracious. Yes, this forum uses Verdana. Change it.
Seriously, how many times have you seen this:
HI GUYZ! itz me jess and dis iz my PROFILE!!!11!!11!
Tell us a little about yourself:
ummm well im lik 5 ft 1"' an di have baby blue eyez and i luv mountaindew YA!!! ITZ DA BEST!@@!
Interests:
ummmm wlel i luv going to the mall and th emovies with sam and chad and leslie I LUV U GUYZ!!!! and i luv going to the beach BTW BRAD IS HOT!!11!!!!!
Favourite quote:
EXCUZE ME SISTAH!!!!!
Rawwwrrr.
Microsoft is the root of all evil. Comic Sans MS.... MSN... MSN profiles... MSNBC (wtf?)... Windows...But I entirely agree. Comic Sans MS must die. As must all "script" fonts, like Lucida Handwriting. As must that terrible freeware font, Papyrus.
Good fonts:
Lucida Grande
Myriad Pro
Futura Bold
Century Gothic
Helvetica (trust me, it's actually a great font)
Also, I'm beginning to despise Verdana, another product of Microsoft, I believe, and Tahoma. Oh my goodness gracious. Yes, this forum uses Verdana. Change it.
cleanup said:
That's freeware? Came with my computer (didn't have to download it). But I actually have to say that Papyrus is a good font. Serves is purpose for headings and what not as it has an interesting look to it, IMO.
cleanup said:
Especially when press Option, Shift, K in an application
cleanup said:
Meh, still kind of a generic font and plain if you ask me. Sorta like Arial. It works, but it's usually the default font, at least with Quark.
xrayzed said:
One day a co-worker for mine walks into our office "did you know helvetica nue isn't a web standard font?"
I wanted to slap her
