(Untitled)

[aerodactylus]

So, I was in Borders today again (FUCKING COUPONS), and I saw something. And it made me think

Comments

[essbeejay]

I don't know, when I hear readable I can see it meaning a book that's just less dense or thought-provoking than the heavier stuff. Maybe it uses less big words. But on the flip side, I'd never say a book like that that I enjoyed was "readable" because it sounds kind of derisive (as you pointed out). I'd call it "fluffy."

[aerodactylus]

Exactly! I mean, a book might BE readable, but to call it such just sounds lame. You could replace it with a million other superlatives that carry the same implication, plus more.

[maplelump]

I have actually never heard/seen "readable" before. Maybe because it's so redundant that I'd probably not notice it. I like your example of "edible" and it's a great example, as it gets the point of how ridiculous that word is.

You can't even say "extremely" readable without looking like a dumbass. I think you could say something isn't readable, like the words don't flow, it was choppy and it's like an inedible meal, but outside of that, I don't see how the word could be applied.

Nerdy post is nerdy. And I like that. :)

[aerodactylus]

Like I say, these are the things I think about. XD

[arthoniel]

SALES AND COUPONS. It's why I don't let myself go on Amazon anymore. ^_^;;

I suppose "readable" can be used to describe something that's an easy read, you know? It doesn't have a ton of needlessly difficult, obscure words, it doesn't make references that nobody knows... it's readable. Maybe. For the most part, I agree with you- it's a very passive aggressive term. XD

[aerodactylus]

I guess...but it's still so...there. It's just readable, you know? And who wants their work to be "just" anything?

[aerodactylus]

Yeah, that's the consensus I've gotten from other people...that readable can mean easy to read, but in the context of praise, it generally falls way flat.