Metaphors

As humans with prized possessions, we may often say that something is "to die for" or that we "can't live without it", but in all reality we are not thinking about the literal meaning that comes with these phrases. These examples may seem a little exaggerated, but literally everyday, we compare our belonging or particularly trendy items to the concept of death and extinction without them. In Robert Tufte's article "PowerPoint Is Evil", he compares the widely used Microsoft programs to a drug; "Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication. These side effects would rightly lead to a worldwide product." In this metaphor on PowerPoint presentations, Tufte is comparing the use of a PowerPoint presentation, to the use of drugs. Both can be addicting, bad for you, and make you less intelligent. Ina way it seems as if Tufte is telling his audience that if they knew all the good AND the bad about PowerPoint, like the side effects of a drug, then maybe they would not become so easily addicted. But, then again, a side effect is a negative association with a particular product, therefore Tufte also mentions that the side effects would lead to a recall on the product, and in this case the product is PowerPoint. Another article by Elisabeth Bumiller entitled "We Have Met the Enemy, and He Is PowerPoint states that, "The slide has since bounced around the Internet as an example of a military tool that has spun out of control." Yet again, this metaphor is negatively classifying the use of PowerPoint, comparing it to a military tool. Our Military tools are some of the most advanced weapons ever to be seen. With this thought in mind, it seems that Bumsiller is complimenting the use of PowerPoint by comparing it to a Military tool. Continuing to read though, Bumiller compares it to not just a Military weapon, but to one that has spun out of control. Anything classified as "spun out of control" just implies that it spinning downward. PowerPoint's were, at the beginning of their reign, very useful, and quick to use when only a few points were needed to sum something up quickly. Yet, today they are "spinning out of control" because they are nothing but information overload. In today's PowerPoint every small detail is included, and the slides look crowded and bland because there is no room for creativity. If all that is needing to be said is on the PowerPoint, there is no need for a presenter. Presenters today are lazy, and become reliant on the use of PowerPoint to guide them through their presentations, much like how a crack head becomes reliant on crack to keep their high. So, unmistakable, Tufte and Bumiller both exposed their deepest thoughts on the particular topic of PowerPoint presentations, by associating them with negative metaphors that lead to addiction and mistakes. The Microsoft PowerPoint program can turn into an addiction for those who overuse it, and inevitably become full of mistakes in an effort to feed the addiction.