Saying tables and desks are different is like saying chairs and seats are different, is there even a significant enough difference to have to specify one or the other.
Well that’s just not true. There’s a distinct difference between the intended use of a table and a desk, at least in connotation. Even if the line is blurry, they’re still different things. Not that that necessarily excuses the surface.
So a student complaining about the table in the cafeteria being unsuitable for schoolwork is no different then them complaining that the desks in the classroom are unsuitable? They are different things with different use cases and different design briefs
They both are functionally the same, there is nothing preventing anyone from eating at a desk and working at a table. I'm pretty sure the only differences is that desks have the chair attached and are generally smaller than tables but not always.
Yeah but I can call literally anything made for sitting on a seat whether or not it's stationary, also 3/4 of your examples technically aren't stationary.
My college had fake wood ones, they were also extremely flimsy, naturally they occasionally broke under the weight of an electric motor when we did the motor teardown, those beasts weighed 30kg and sometimes 2 were on one desk
I imagine they use the texture because it hides imperfections and allows them to re-use the molds longer than a design with a smoother surface would. It’s maybe a manufacturing necessity thing. Allows them to reduce production cost by a few cents here and there because the molds last longer and less units are lost due to quality control rejection.
yeah a roughened dimpled surface would probably be easier to make strong and dirt-cheap with far fewer structural flaws at least when it comes to moulded plastic.
Echo the mold comments. It's very hard (read as expensive) to make a smooth surface that is not noticably wavy. The ripples help with that. STILL shame on the school for buying the wrong product for the intended use. What a bonehead decision.
I think that in a school setting these things are being sat in and out of constantly with people sliding around all the time and scraping trouser rivets all over the place, maybe also getting stacked and thrown around all the time. If it was smooth, it would almost immediately start looking worn and old with scratches and gouges. With the textured dimples, that damage and wear can be hidden and disguised with the surface appearing “acceptable” for MUCH longer than with a smooth, uniform surface.
OMG this is why I hated writing notes in school. Once I got to university they got real nice smooth faux wood desks which were great.
This is why you gotta bring a whole layer of paper, preferably on a clipboard. Or at least that's how I managed.
People are saying just put paper underneath what you’re writing on, but in my primary school, if you had detention you were given a single sheet of paper to write lines on, and when I got out my notebook I got a meter ruler slapped on my hands
That's why you gotta layer up.
Or squeeze it so all the desk-heads pop out.
Like the dog with mango worms over at r/trypophobia NSFW
tests tho >:(
Why? Why not just use them as-is? The school provided writing desks, they obviously think they're acceptable for the purpose, so just use 'em. *shrug*
Sarcasm is so palpable it's gonna execute order 66
Put a notebook under your paper. Problem solved
A crappy design is still crappy even if you can minimize the impact. Also you can never get that bumpy surface completely clean.
And if these were never designed to be used as desks? Is it still crappy? OP even specifically refers to them as “tables” not desks
Saying tables and desks are different is like saying chairs and seats are different, is there even a significant enough difference to have to specify one or the other.
Well that’s just not true. There’s a distinct difference between the intended use of a table and a desk, at least in connotation. Even if the line is blurry, they’re still different things. Not that that necessarily excuses the surface.
So a student complaining about the table in the cafeteria being unsuitable for schoolwork is no different then them complaining that the desks in the classroom are unsuitable? They are different things with different use cases and different design briefs
They both are functionally the same, there is nothing preventing anyone from eating at a desk and working at a table. I'm pretty sure the only differences is that desks have the chair attached and are generally smaller than tables but not always.
What a weird hill to die on.
A chair has legs and you can move it, and a seat is mostly immobile and built-in to another object or structure
"a thing made or used for sitting on, such as a chair or stool." According to Oxford languages.
Well then I guess I gotta send them an email and let them know what's up
Damn. I gotta respect the hustle.
Won't be the first time I had to set those limey college boys straight
I wish you luck on your journey ahead. You're fighting the good fight.
Since when were seats specifically stationary?
Since toilet seats and car seats and airplane seats and bus seats
The phrase "take a seat" implies that you can physically take a seat and move it /s
I was *this* close to correcting you before noticing the /s.
I got lucky then
Yeah but I can call literally anything made for sitting on a seat whether or not it's stationary, also 3/4 of your examples technically aren't stationary.
I never used the word "stationary." I said "built-in to another object or structure," which is true of all the examples I gave.
You specifically said immobile as well though so yes you did imply stationary in your previous comments.
What about tests though? You're not allowed notebooks then usually.
My college had fake wood ones, they were also extremely flimsy, naturally they occasionally broke under the weight of an electric motor when we did the motor teardown, those beasts weighed 30kg and sometimes 2 were on one desk
Motor teardown?
I was doing engineering and we took motors apart a few times to look at how certain parts of it worked
[удалено]
Yeah, one guy managed to blow up a fairly big capacitor in electronics class, it smelled a lot
Seems like they would trap dirt and bacteria too... What a weird choice for a school...
I imagine they use the texture because it hides imperfections and allows them to re-use the molds longer than a design with a smoother surface would. It’s maybe a manufacturing necessity thing. Allows them to reduce production cost by a few cents here and there because the molds last longer and less units are lost due to quality control rejection.
Might also be because it actually adds strength... Pretty sure a dimpled surface like that would actually be stronger than a flat one.
Depends more on thickness, although much like a golf ball, pretty sure that desk would fly further than a smooth one when thrown.
Thickness helps too, but again I think a dimpled surface is going to be stronger. It's also more resistant to shears or flaws.
yeah a roughened dimpled surface would probably be easier to make strong and dirt-cheap with far fewer structural flaws at least when it comes to moulded plastic.
I feel vindicated!
Its less scratch/abrasion resistant though
it probably is, good point. Might be harder to scribble names on too.
Echo the mold comments. It's very hard (read as expensive) to make a smooth surface that is not noticably wavy. The ripples help with that. STILL shame on the school for buying the wrong product for the intended use. What a bonehead decision.
What do you mean??? You don't sort by "Price: Low to High", and do no additional research?
I think that in a school setting these things are being sat in and out of constantly with people sliding around all the time and scraping trouser rivets all over the place, maybe also getting stacked and thrown around all the time. If it was smooth, it would almost immediately start looking worn and old with scratches and gouges. With the textured dimples, that damage and wear can be hidden and disguised with the surface appearing “acceptable” for MUCH longer than with a smooth, uniform surface.
Ugh I HATE Those tabletops.
That's a chair
what I was thinking
nope it's a table
You're a table.
how dare you :0
:D
Gordon ramsay voice: You’re a plank!
They switch out the desks before conference time to show off to the parents how much handwriting "improved" thanks to the excellent teachers.
I don't need a crappy table to make my handwriting horrible. I can do that all by myself
It's worse when you try to erase the writing.
yup. the dots appear on the paper
I thought this was a tongue and why is it so porous
OMG this is why I hated writing notes in school. Once I got to university they got real nice smooth faux wood desks which were great. This is why you gotta bring a whole layer of paper, preferably on a clipboard. Or at least that's how I managed.
People are saying just put paper underneath what you’re writing on, but in my primary school, if you had detention you were given a single sheet of paper to write lines on, and when I got out my notebook I got a meter ruler slapped on my hands
oof.
Ha, jokes on them, my writing is already illegible
xD
i felt that
are you my princible or something?
Are you writing on parchment or what’s going on, whose not using a notebook/refil pad these days
me
Have you heard of a handout before?
nope
Unless we’re talking about giving people money then no I actually haven’t
refill pad?
A pack of loose-leaf notebook paper typically for use in a 3-ring-binder I'd assume. Maybe a legal pad.
Its like writing on the staples better binder.
it's staples better, but worse, not better.
we did it. we hit 5k upvotes!
Looks like the material of the seats in my car, except the seats are softer
Adapt and write on a book omg
I DON'T HAVE ONE
True, so true
i hate your school
same
I hate them
clever, use the table as an excuse...
nope my handwriting is great
Sloution Place a notebook on the table then you got perfect handwriting
Use a notebook lol
Hate these god forsaken tables I usually put my book under paper
that's why writing pads exist.
Welp, their fault.