So I never rant on this blog, but I just felt the need to discuss this topic...
I was perusing Goodreads the other day, looking for my next New Adult title to read (LOVING this genre right now) and I couldn't help noticing- FREAKING GIFs ARE TAKING OVER!
I always use Goodreads (as I'm sure many of you do, as well) to find relevant recommendations that are similar to titles that I have read and loved, and I always like to read reviews of friends and strangers within the Goodreads community to sway my choice of whether or not I will purchase said title. But I'm finding that this practice is getting a wee bit more aggravating as these GIFs become more and more popular, and I'm forced to scroll down two entire pages (in some cases) before I can get to an actual review.
For those of you who aren't sure what I mean when I say GIF (Graphic Interchange Format), I'm referring to those mini videos/Photos that are on constant replay that seem to be appearing EVERYWHERE in the blogsphere. Seriously, I'm not kidding. Try going one day without coming across one on Goodreads. I dare you haha.
Don't get me wrong I actually find a lot them to be entertaining, in small doses (i.e. one or two, hell even three is cool with me) but 12+ in one post, come on. I feel like GIFs are starting to substitute actual words. I counted, in one review post, 10 GIFs against a total of 14 words, which consisted mainly of bleeped out curse words. Entertaining? Sure. That's how they get all their likes, and by extension, the top of the review list. Helpful? Not really, and it's not just one review like this it's TWO FREAKING PAGES full!!!
I'm not trying to say we should get rid of GIFs, and I'm not saying we should restrict the number of GIFs one can use in a Goodreads review, because, as nice as that would be, it would take away the whole right to freedom of expression and such. I just really felt the need to rant and put my thoughts into words, because this flippin epidemic is driving me nuts!
But hey that's me, I know there are a lot of book lovers out there who would disagree with me on this (please don't come at me with a GIF parade *throws up hands to protect myself*) haha, but I'm truly curious, what are your thoughts on this growing trend- Yay or nay?
Thanks for listening (or should I type READING) to my first little rant.
*Side note: I thought about including like 20 random GIFs in this post out of irony, but didn't want this post to take up my whole blog scroll haha.
I totally agree with you! I find it really annoying when people use multiple GIFs in reviews. For me, they don't honestly help much at all, and blogger reviews with a lot of GIFs in them just seem really unprofessional to me. Well, that's just me though. Apparently everyone loves GIFs now!
ReplyDeleteGreat rant :D
Thanks Richa! I find that so long as the blog post contains actual context and WORDS, that discuss the actual merits of the book and relate their GIFs to those words than they can be quite entertaining!
Delete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your rant. =)
Personally, I find GIFs amusing in a review, but then again, I've not yet come across a review with more GIFs than words. I think you're right that these animated images are starting to replace words not just in some readers' reviews, but also in their minds. Maybe when they are drafting their reviews, they actually write, "First I was all, whoa. Then I was all, whee! And then I was, oh"--and then find appropriate GIFs. LOL!
The day may come when I see a GIF at the top of a review and scroll past it because I assume that the rest of the review, while funny and entertaining, won't have much substance. Perhaps other people already feel this way or already do this. In any case, the fad may die out sooner than we think. =)
Haha your response had me laughing! I can honestly say that I just scroll right through reviews with multiple GIFs because I really want to get the meat of a review!
ReplyDeleteNow I feel guilty, because I've used for the first time in my year of blogging 4 gifs in a review to express my feelings :p. It definitely made me feel like I could tell how much I love the book. But I agree, sometimes GIFS are fun (if they are appropriate!) but I don't like it when there are only GIF's and 5 words to accompany them. It's too much.
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
Don't feel guilty Mel! It's your right to use them as you see fit, especially on your blog! :) I just get so annoyed with having to continuously scroll through them on Goodreads.
DeleteI agree! GIFs can be funny in certain situations, like Tumblr, but they're so unnecessary all over the Goodreads reviews. It immediately makes me want to discount anything they say.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim! :)
DeleteAmen, Haley! While adding one or maybe two is all fun and games, I'm seeing some where the GIFs are the review and it's a little annoying. I want to know what the reviewer thought, besides "Hey, look, I think Jared and Dean know exactly what I mean."
ReplyDeleteLike Kim above, I automatically bypass these reviews and hop on to one that looks a little more professional.
Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead
Haha there are a lot of those two, aren't there?
DeleteBut actually. I find it ridiculous. I honestly don't even know how to make a GIF, or where you go to find them (Tumblr?). I just think reviews shouldn't be filled with them. Or posts. Or whatever. I love this rant - I wish more people could see it.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Thanks Alyssa! To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where you would go for them either 0_0
DeleteBwahahaha, love your comment about adding a bunch of random GIFs to your rant post! But seriously, I agree. I have one blog that I love that uses them but sometimes it's hard for me to read the reviews because I'm getting motion sickness because the GIF is going over and over and over. Some are funny but mostly I find them odd. Why are they needed?
ReplyDeleteDana
Haha thanks Dana. It's true though, I get a bit of a headache from the repetition to! :)
DeleteI find GIFs to be distracting, so I can understand your complaint. I only use them in my discussion posts, and only a maximum of two when I do. Great points made. Hopefully we'll be seeing less of them sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Chey! Fingers croseed, haha
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is super sensitive to motion sickness, GIFs are not my friend. I usually have to cover them up with my hand if I want to read a review. It kinda ruins the review for me.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Krista. They can, at times, give me a bit of a headache when I'm trying to focus on the review.
DeleteNope, I completely agree. I think of myself as somewhat of a gif fiend. Although no more than 5 are usually featured in any one post, and I try to keep them decently sized, I make sure to never let them overshadow the review. Sometimes you just need to get your words out there, without so much of the funny being in the way. Some books aren't funny at all, and I think people definitely substitute the gifs for words. Mine usually help drive across my opinion, but they are no substitute for the actual review.
ReplyDeleteThere is hope, though! The gif hoarding seems like more of a fad, and like it should pass shortly :)
Thanks Judith! Haha, we will see (fingers crossed), I think that GIFs can be quite amusing when they're not too distracting.
DeleteYou know the saying "too much of a good thing..."? Well, when it's so much so that it buries you then you're just buried. Over done always loses its sense of intent and meaning. When it comes to book reviews, I prefer words. After all, it's suppose to be a 'literate' community.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you're saying Kamia. I find that GIFs are often overdone and I prefer words in my reviews as well.
ReplyDelete