How Many?
I find it odd that without question the single most frequently asked questions I get asked when someone learns: a) what I do for a living (graphic design) and, b) where I do it from (the comfort of my home office) is, “how many monitors do you use and how big are they?”

The conversation usually goes something like this:

“Awe, that’s a cool job. So do you like have a whole bunch of monitors on your desk all going at the same time?”.

“Umm nope. I just use one” I reply, noting the disappointment on the face of my inquisitor.

“That’s too bad, cuz if I was you I would have at least three. One big one in the middle and two smaller ones on either side of the big one”.

“Hmm, and what would you use ’em all for?”, I ask.

“Nothing really, maybe have a television going on one…I don’t know…but it would look pretty sweet”.

“Indeed. Bee’s knees for sure. I’m going to have to think about that one”.

The question of ‘how many’ fascinates me. You can bet the farm that when ‘how many’ drops by his little brother ‘how much’ isn’t far behind (but first he had to stop at the AM/PM for a six-pack of Blitz). Being the new home owner that I am, I get asked the big three all the time. How many square feet? How many garages? How much did it cost? Frankly, this line of questioning bores me to tears. Yet, I find it extremely interesting that this has become the primary cultural currency.

“Hey man, cool ipod. How many songs do you have on it?”

It’s normal now for complete strangers to meet, have a few ‘how many’ conversations, and walk away – still total strangers but with a sense of how they stack up – like dogs sniffing each others assholes. I assume this is pretty much an all male thing and goes back to some kind of hunter-gatherer instinct.

Man, if only people would ask me about table lamps instead of computer monitors, then I’d be back in the game. Also pendant lamps. I want four of these IQlights. Mostly cause the guy who designed ’em has a great look going. And I also want a handful of these Tom Dixon lamps. And shit, while I’m at it I’ll take this Moonwalk carpet.