# Unfortunate graphic design; or, is that car doing what I think it's doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492 "2011-12-17T02:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/1 "2011-12-17T02:40:44Z")
So sweetie and I were watching a documentary on Detroit in its heyday, nifty, nostalgic (for him) and a bit sad, and when it was over, the PBS station was running a pledge drive. This time, I had my camera ready, because when they ran it partway through the show, I couldn’t stop giggling. They’re offering a DVD copy of the documentary series if you [donate $50.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/21791091@N03/6523619733/in/photostream#/photos/21791091@N03/6523619733/in/photostream/lightbox/) If you donate $75, you get a nice book of [Detroit history.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/21791091@N03/6523620281/in/photostream/#/photos/21791091@N03/6523620281/in/photostream/lightbox/) But wait, there’s more! If you pledge $100 you get [BOTH!](http://www.flickr.com/photos/21791091@N03/6523620881/in/photostream/lightbox/#/) And that one is definitely the money shot, so to speak. (Note to mods: I’ve removed the phone numbers, I’m not trying to drum up pledges.) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/2 "2011-12-17T02:49:13Z")
I totally Let’s go to the quarry and throw shit down there.'d! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/3 "2011-12-17T02:53:23Z")
Related: Logo of the institute of Asian Studies, Brazil: [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Federal\_University\_of\_Santa\_Catarina,\_Brazil](http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Federal_University_of_Santa_Catarina,_Brazil) ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/4 "2011-12-17T04:00:15Z")
“Turn on the headlights honey, we’re heading into a tunnel!” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/5 "2011-12-17T04:06:55Z")
I’ve always thought the [Doubletree logo](http://www.dgedc.com/Portals/0/Taste%20of%20Downers%20Grove/DoubleTree/DoubleTree%20Logo.jpg) implied it’s lesbian-friendly. All it needs is a couple of crossbars at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/6 "2011-12-17T04:51:24Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Related: Logo of the institute of Asian Studies, Brazil: > > [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Federal\_University\_of\_Santa\_Catarina,\_Brazil](http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Federal_University_of_Santa_Catarina,_Brazil) Oh dear. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/7 "2011-12-17T05:25:27Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Let’s go to the quarry and throw shit down there. 😕 This is now the second time I have seen this, on the Dope, in the last 5 minutes, and from different posters. I never saw or heard it before. What’s the meme, guys? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/8 "2011-12-17T05:32:21Z")
:eek: ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/9 "2011-12-17T05:51:40Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Oh dear. Indeed, but as is often true, the prose can be even more suggestive. From the wikipedia entry. > [@](#): > > The Institute of Oriental Studies offers such a popular area of study that it can be hard to squeeze into, especially at first. Unlike other areas of interest, one cannot just slide right in, even when they’re ready. Although getting in is the toughest part, once you’re in you had better be prepared to push on ahead as you move deeper into the program. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/10 "2011-12-17T05:56:38Z")
That’s not Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/11 "2011-12-17T05:58:52Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > That’s not Wikipedia. Oh dear. Now I’m really embarrassed. They completely faked me out with beg-banner. I’m going to go hide. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/12 "2011-12-17T06:32:14Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > That’s not Wikipedia. While it’s not Wikipedia, I’m pretty sure it is a genuine logo, not a joke. I first saw it about 6 or 7 years ago when it was rated among the top ten of worst logos ever. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/13 "2011-12-17T06:41:10Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > 😕 This is now the second time I have seen this, on the Dope, in the last 5 minutes, and from different posters. I never saw or heard it before. What’s the meme, guys? It’s a brand new meme that started in [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568298&postcount=30) from yesterday. You still have time to get in on it before it overstays its welcome! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/14 "2011-12-17T07:00:15Z")
Too late ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/15 "2011-12-17T08:46:48Z")
Apparently it really was their logo for a brief period in 2005. [Here is what it is supposed to represent.](http://ciphergoth.livejournal.com/241854.html) > [@](#): > > The Brazilian Institute of Oriental Studies > The logo of Instituto de Estudos Orientais, the Brazilian Institute of Oriental Studies, is a stylized pagoda sillhouetted against the setting sun. And that’s exactly what it looks like once you know what you looking. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ripopgome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@ripopgome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ripopgome)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-graphic-design-or-is-that-car-doing-what-i-think-its-doing/606492/16 "2011-12-17T12:00:29Z")
Pretty much what the car industry did to Detroit, so seems accurate.