From where I stand

By Polly Mann

Whenever I attend a presentation and realize it’s going to be a “power point,” I am tempted to leave. I’ve never quite brought myself to do it, but then, I’ve never been sitting someplace where I can slip out unnoticed. These are, without doubt, the most uninspired, dull, non-productive meetings I’ve ever been to. A friend to whom I was fulminating about this said he used them, they were fine, and I should (in effect) loosen up.

But I have been vindicated by one Franck Frommer who has written a book entitled “How Power Point Makes You Stupid,” and his description makes mine look absolutely positive, to wit, “faulty causality, sloppy logic, decontextualized data and seductive showmanship.” I might yet buy the book but I’ll wait a month or so and get a used copy through ABE Books. If you’re not yet impressed as to my logic, the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant recommends it—not that I’d recommend his advice generally, but on this—after all he must know something.

Power Point was the brain child of one Dennis Austin who developed it in 1987.

Microsoft bought it and turned it into the Frankenstein it has become. Austin is probably living a life of luxury on some island in the Pacific where technology is illegal. Its uses are legion. You can study world history through about 80 separate Point Presentations. You can even add special effects such as in European history you could slip in some shots of the Etna volcano—voila! Whether these Points are “fair and balanced” is another question. Are text books? Maybe the teacher adds extra assignments.

If you’re interested in learning more, you could buy Austin’s book or seek Mr. Google who can recommend even other books. I’ve thought about becoming an expert and even giving lectures on the subject. However, I’m afraid that added to my present bias, additional material might turn me paranoid and who knows where that could end?