I received the following note tonight from a reader named Leonard:
Robin, I enjoyed reading both your Designer Marketplace blog and the “Hell, Fire and Brimstone” musings for difficult clients. This led me to your blog, where I began reading your latest post, the Design on a Dime review. I had thought you educated and well bred until I read the word “sucked” several times. This type of language from a professional designer is a complete turn-off. It may fly with your casual friends or the Austin crowd, but you’ve offended my good taste with your choice of words!
Here’s the deal, Leonard…I find the phrase “well-bred” offensive and not something I would ever aspire to be, so that makes us even.
Furthermore…and this may come as a huge shock, Leonard…even those who have achieved the highest level of education in the world recognize that sometimes there are things that suck.
It takes all kinds of designers to make the world go ’round, Leonard. If you’re the type of person who never utters the phrase, “that sucks,” then count me among the folks who never want to sit next to you at a dinner party. This blog is intended to both inform and entertain…if you are not entertained, the Internets offer a mighty wide-ranging selection of other reading options that won’t offend your delicate sensibilities. You have my blessing to gaze elsewhere and leave this blog to “the Austin crowd.”
Leonard sucks. I don’t think I’d want to associate with a person who can’t seem to have a little fun once in awhile, and I definitely don’t want to associate with someone who looks down their nose at pretty much everything, because people like that just … suck.
If you don’t like it, change the channel. Next.
Oh, and funny he wasn’t offended by the post’s title. Screw is perfectly acceptable but suck crosses the line. Hilarious!
My guess is that Leonard is around 100 years old and doesn’t understand the concept of a blog. Maybe his butler could explain it to him.
Additionally, there is hardly another word that could adequately describe the room makeovers on Design on a Dime before its revamping or the Design Star challenges you were describing. Those reviews were right-on (as usual) in my humble opinion.
Is Leonard familiar with the term “pompous douche bag”?
Y’all are all SO. RIGHT.
Eric, I had chuckled to myself over the same thing (“screw”)…in fact, I also used the word “crap” in the post Leonard’s referring to, but “sucks” just drove him right over the edge.
From now on, I’m going to use “Leonard” as an adjective-slash-curse-word. Fitting, no?
Nice post I’ve bookmarked it on Digg under “Language Barrier | Austin Interior Design by Room Fu Knockout Interiors”. So hopefully our friends can give you a visit. Keep up the good stuff.