Show us what has left the back of your eyelids burning. Send pictures
of visual trespass and peculiarities to copyeditor [at] sfreporter.com,
subject “eyedropper.”

Oh the mall: propagator of capitalism and poor spelling. This is an especially atrocious example of, well, both.

I’ll be a modest, forward-thinking copy editor and accept that, yes, some spelling alterations are just quicker, especially for text messages and apparently for making store-window displays on the quick (or the lamb).

What is not acceptable is if these alterations are of equal length or longer than the original (boi, really?), or if they’re just way more difficult to figure out (perhaps I’m retarded, but d8 seemed like a size). Spelling things with numbers is usually just more work anyway.

Actually, I take it all back. This store window sux.

I was in the mall. Remember the mall?  I passed Hot Topic. Remember Hot Topic? And I found a bunch of awkwardly aged goth-ish kids packed in America’s favorite anti-mainstream but de facto mainstream store, awaiting (in that awkward mid-growing-stage way of theirs) a concert.

Remember concerts at Hot Topic in the mall? No. In the good old days these kids would’ve been out vandalizing something, not biding their time at an easy-going concert in Hot Topic no doubt being pacified by music along the lines of Hoobastank.

There was a vigilant chaperon and certainly a strictly adhered to maximum occupancy rule. No graffiti as far as I could tell. Retainers were worn dutifully, shoes tied.

I lingered long enough to get this photo, to see a drum set, a blur of wide-leg jeans (ha, nothing changes, ever), black T-shirts, affected angst and to see a couple fiercely making out with what appeared to be only the tips of their tongues. I left before I could be devoured by pubescence.

Kids, you will be more interesting if you smash something. Start with Hot Topic.