# Eye-rolling moments at eBay **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070 "2006-03-04T21:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/1 "2006-03-04T21:22:47Z")
I collect shell lamps – lamps that are made with seashells. I started with '50s TV lamps with the shels (and sometimes knickknacks) set into plaster of paris, but the collection (50+ at this point) has gone in some interesting directions. Once a week or so I do a “shell lamp” search at eBay and see what’s available. Which, interestingly enough, is often described as “Art Deco” or “Art Nouveau” – or, as in [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Vintage-Sea-Shell-Lamp-Art-Deco-MASSIVE-SHELL_W0QQitemZ6257409041QQcategoryZ4056QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) case, both. Do these people have any idea … no, wait, scratch that, clearly these people do _not_ have any idea what these terms mean. What on earth do they _think_ these terms mean? And don’t get me started on spelling, and different leet-speak versions of “L@@K!!!111” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/2 "2006-03-04T21:31:30Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I collect shell lamps – lamps that are made with seashells. I started with '50s TV lamps with the shels (and sometimes knickknacks) set into plaster of paris, but the collection (50+ at this point) has gone in some interesting directions. Once a week or so I do a “shell lamp” search at eBay and see what’s available. > > Which, interestingly enough, is often described as “Art Deco” or “Art Nouveau” – or, as in [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Vintage-Sea-Shell-Lamp-Art-Deco-MASSIVE-SHELL_W0QQitemZ6257409041QQcategoryZ4056QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) case, both. > > Do these people have any idea … no, wait, scratch that, clearly these people do _not_ have any idea what these terms mean. What on earth do they _think_ these terms mean? > > And don’t get me started on spelling, and different leet-speak versions of “L@@K!!!111” Oh good god. Mucha, Tiffany and Erte are having one big centrifuge at this. (I absolutely adore Art Nouveau. Calling that…thing…“Art Nouveau” is a crime against humanity. Uh, if you like it, sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/3 "2006-03-04T21:38:47Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Oh good god. Mucha, Tiffany and Erte are having one big centrifuge at this. > > (I absolutely adore Art Nouveau. Calling that…thing…“Art Nouveau” is a crime against humanity. Uh, if you like it, sorry.) Nah, don’t care for that one, particularly – not funky enough. (There’s a serious folk art vibe to the great exemplars.) (Some day I’ll get a digital camera and set up an online museum.) Me, I love Art Deco – which this also isn’t. Seriously, though, what do people think either of those terms means? ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/4 "2006-03-04T21:47:56Z")
People think those terms mean more hits, which means more chance of catching someone who doesn’t really know better. And thus offloading their stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/5 "2006-03-04T22:00:20Z")
Do they have a matching lamp that looks like a clam? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/6 "2006-03-04T22:10:32Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > People think those terms mean more hits, which means more chance of catching someone who doesn’t really know better. And thus offloading their stuff. But wouldn’t people searching with those terms have zero interest in this crap? (er, these fine collectibles?) And do you think people search for “L@@K”? ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/7 "2006-03-04T23:27:33Z")
**twickster** , the lamp you linked to looks, um, perverted to me. I’m relieved to hear you aren’t digging it. It might scare away potential suitors if you had it in your house. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/8 "2006-03-04T23:50:58Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > **twickster** , the lamp you linked to looks, um, perverted to me. I’m relieved to hear you aren’t digging it. It might scare away potential suitors if you had it in your house. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who saw that. **twickster** , I think the point is that some people will search for things that they really don’t know much (or anything) about, in the hopes of getting something good to impress the boss/neighbors/whoever. This person may be trying to catch those people. It’s probably more likely that the seller doesn’t have any idea what the terms mean, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was set up to catch people without much clue. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/9 "2006-03-05T00:00:19Z")
So what do you call them - art rustique, art grotesque? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/10 "2006-03-05T00:41:32Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > So what do you call them - art rustique, art grotesque? Well, first of all, I think we need to debate the appropriateness of getting the perfectly innocent word “art” involved. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/11 "2006-03-05T00:50:03Z")
That is, well, phallic. I’m not sure how else to describe it. Dada, maybe? I have seen **twicks** ’s lamp collection and while I’m not a fan of shell lamps, she’s got good taste in them. This particular lamp would, ah, stick out like the sore thumb it resembles. Robin ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/12 "2006-03-05T07:38:27Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > That is, well, phallic. I’m not sure how else to describe it. Dada, maybe? Nah. Dada would be an ordinary store bought lamp which has been so covered in shells it cannot be turned on, and the shells would block all the light. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/13 "2006-03-05T07:41:13Z")
There’s gotta be a Spongebob Squarepants joke hiding in here somewhere. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/14 "2006-03-05T08:41:04Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Do these people have any idea … no, wait, scratch that, clearly these people do _not_ have any idea what these terms mean. What on earth do they _think_ these terms mean? I don’t know. Chalk me up as an art buffoon then, but when I hear “art deco” or “art nouveau” I pretty much think of: “functional item with an artsy flair to it” and while the piece you link to is not my particular style, I would be none the wiser if I had stumbled across this listing on my own without having read your comments. So what do _you_ think it means? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/15 "2006-03-05T12:54:08Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > **twickster** , the lamp you linked to looks, um, perverted to me. I’m relieved to hear you aren’t digging it. It might scare away potential suitors if you had it in your house. Hm, why do you think I’m still single? I’m holding out for a guy who truly groks the shell lamps. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/16 "2006-03-05T13:04:37Z")
**Rigamarole** : [Art Deco](http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/artdeco.html); [Art Nouveau](http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/artnouveau.html). ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/17 "2006-03-05T14:17:52Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Nah. Dada would be an ordinary store bought lamp which has been so covered in shells it cannot be turned on, and the shells would block all the light. Hmmm… this gives me an idea… Various Art Styles Expressed Through the Shell Lamp. I like it! Robin ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/18 "2006-03-05T14:23:05Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Hmmm… this gives me an idea… > > Various Art Styles Expressed Through the Shell Lamp. I like it! > > Robin Hm, Baroque, no problem – Gothic, check – Bauhaus might be a bit of a challenge… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/19 "2006-03-05T14:39:58Z")
aRt Ne@VeAU and aRt dEcO L@@k! When I see Ebay titles with the above catastrophic lettering, I drive by and do not even visit. What are you, 12? 111!!! One day, just for pure grins, I am going to list something on Ebay as: **Ladies Blouse: OMFG!** Just to see how many hits it get on the auction. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070/20 "2006-03-05T14:41:50Z")
Oh, and Twicky, that lamp is decidedly Male in a certain he light, but the other pictures uhhhhhh it looks decidedly like…umm…a pink taco. Rorschack, anyone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-rolling-moments-at-ebay/347070.md?page=2)