QUIT TRYING TO MOTIVATE ME

Filed under my uber-confrontational personality, stuff i hate

Lately, I’ve been seeing them everywhere, but especially on Pinterest. These supposedly-inspirational quotes in stylized letters that are so nice to look at that they kind of make you forget how incredibly pointless they are.

I actually liked them for a while and even briefly considered making my own Pinterest pinboard for the ones I liked most until I just became overwhelmed with how many of them they are and maddened by how . . . just . . . fake it all is. No one’s going to be called to action because of these things. No one’s going to “DO IT” or haul up their anchor on the past because of some dumb poster.

I blame the British for starting all of this, naturally, when their totally hott Keep Calm and Carry On poster was discovered ten or so years ago:

But I don’t think that would’ve worked on anyone, either. At this point, I’m refusing to like anything other than kinetic typography like this illustrated dramatic reading of a video game review that Tracey showed me:

Or any of the not-meant-to-be-inspirational, just-meant-to-be-awesome design Lisa of Elembee.com is doing:

Otherwise, it’s all demotivational posters for me.

19 Comments

  1. Motivational posters are just no fun.
    Without a kitten, anyway.

    • Are you thinking of the same poster I’m thinking of? Because if so, that’s my favourite thing on the Internet ever. And it never gets less funny to me.

  2. karinya says:

    The “Do Life” one still kind of works for me: http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com/

    Mostly because I am sure that the pony-tailed running girl is totally me. Right? Who else could it be?

    • Oh, you’re “doing life” now? Is that what you’re calling it? Weeeird.

      But yes, it is totally you. When you’ve been running so long that your hair gets really sweat-greasy and turns black.

  3. karinya says:

    Also, omg I love the owls!

  4. Shann says:

    Awww bummer. I tried to join but ended up on a waiting list.

  5. I haven’t said anything on the blog yet, but Lisa’s redesigning Bachelor Girl!

    I’m pretty pumped. She’s gonna make that blog look like somebody way cooler than me writes it.

    • Oooooh, that’s awesome! She just has such a great aesthetic. Simple, functional, and so, so pretty. That’s great. Maybe I’ll love it so much I’ll finally get someone real to redesign this mess of mine!

  6. Tracey says:

    GOD, AMENNN about the motivational posters on Pinterest. It seemed sort of interesting at first, but it got old FAST.

    I was hoping that your link to “demotivational” posters would show a bunch of examples that look like the cutesy/artsy ones on Pinterest, but instead say really mean things. You should start making those! I’d pin them.

  7. clubbingdresswearer says:

    ok katie (or tracey, rather) – the video is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while. I’m glad to see that there are others who both notice and make fun of misspellings :-)

  8. Dishy says:

    Katie, the only poster you need, in big bold letters:

    JUST EAT BACON.

    Happy weekend!

  9. Cristy says:

    I go back and forth on motivational things – sometimes they really speak to me, and other times I want to kick them… really hard.

    That video is priceless! Literally. It’s free! :)

  10. Lisa says:

    Awww, thank you!!!

    I don’t actually mind certain motivational posters, but there is a fine line between corny and meaningful. I like the ones that remind me of things I want to do and why I want to do them, but the ones that are all about being in touch with your inner self and whatever just make me laugh a lot.

    Also, Carmina Burana + Awesome Typography = Love.

  11. tasha says:

    I have the Keep Calm poster, a huge one, on the inside of my classroom door. I think being a teacher justifies the occasional motivational poster, though.

  12. Jessica says:

    I read this post in an extremely frustrated and sleep deprived state and I was cheering you on. I think I need to make my own demotivational posters right now.