32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra
Editor’s Note: Comedian Adam Lawrence recently compiled the Top 10 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Just Like a Bra.
To prop up the debate a bit, I invited a colleague with a little more first-hand experience with both technologies to provide support to the counter-argument.
Thanks to her, here are 32 reasons a PowerPoint slide deck is nothing like a bra.
- I wear a bra every day, but could do without daily PowerPoint.
- Personally, I think most other women would benefit more from a bra than PowerPoint too.
- You can’t buy a PowerPoint slide deck off the shelf.
- There’s no such thing as a Push-up PowerPoint deck.
- There’s no such thing as a Miracle PowerPoint deck, not even from Nancy Duarte or Garr Reynolds.
- You can’t improve a bra, but you can improve a slide deck.
- You can’t give away your slide deck to someone who would fit it better.
“Nobody ever asks for a copy of my bra after a meeting.”
- Bras don’t have annoying transition effects like “window blinds“, “newsflash”, and “fade out”.
- Bras don’t have annoying sound effects.
- It’s never a surprise when someone pulls out a PowerPoint slide deck in a business meeting.
- People will fall asleep in front of a PowerPoint slide deck.
- No one anticipates the Victoria’s Secret PowerPoint catalog.
- A bra works perfectly even if there’s no projector, screen, or laptop in the room.
- Nobody ever asks for a copy of my bra after a meeting.
- A PowerPoint slide deck is completely useless when exercising, while a bra is only somewhat useless.
- You can’t craft a bra to suit your purpose.
“Your employer will likely issue you a standard slide deck in corporate colors.”
- Bras might be persuasive or motivational, but are rarely educational.
- The Rule of Thirds says a slide contains four “power points”;
human anatomy says a bra contains two “power points”. - Death by PowerPoint is an overused cliche.
Death by Bra is not (yet). - 40 point bold text on a slide deck is acceptable.
On bras? Not so much. - Only one Nobel Peace Prize winner uses PowerPoint, but nine wear bras. (An inconvenient truth or fiction?)

- You can’t use the same slide deck all day long, day after day.
- Slide decks don’t transition well from day to evening.
- Teenagers know how to use bras, but adults still have trouble with PowerPoint.
- Your mom will usually buy your first bra for you.
- With bras, only teen-aged girls pad them with useless fluff.
“Bras might be persuasive or motivational, but are rarely educational.”
- It’s socially acceptable for men to use a slide deck, as long as it’s a good one.
- PowerPoint slides look best when projected on a flat surface.
- Guy Kawasaki has no 10-20-30 rule for bras.
- Establishments that outlaw bras are labeled “trashy.”
Companies that outlaw PowerPoint are labeled “forward-thinking.” - Your employer will likely issue you a standard slide deck in corporate colors.
- A laser pointer rarely accompanies a bra.
Can You Add One?
What differences did we miss? Or maybe you’ve got a similarity to add to the debate?
Send in your suggestions, or add them in the comments.
This is one of many public speaking articles featured on Six Minutes.
Subscribe to Six Minutes for free to receive future articles.
Blog about it...
Bookmark it...
Stumble it!
Save on del.icio.us














Colin McL — Oct 14th, 2009
Brilliant!
Perhaps two further thoughts -
* You may be very proud of both, but for the most part we just don’t wan’t to see ‘em
* Powerpoint is is ‘An Over Your Shoulder Folder Holder’, full of things that mostly only you need.
Adam Lawrence — Oct 14th, 2009
Thanks for the comeback!
My favourite: “Bras might be persuasive or motivational, but are rarely educational.”
But I have another for you. Powerpoint is like a bra because…
with a little practice, you can operate one handed.
D — Oct 14th, 2009
Most men know how to undo a bra with one hand but not a PowerPoint presentation.
THIO — Oct 14th, 2009
When a PowerPoint freezes, one has the option of rebooting…
Liu — Oct 15th, 2009
It’s funny! I hve tranlated your log into chinese, http://excelpro.blog.sohu.com/134110539.html
Alex — Oct 21st, 2009
Well, after reading both lists I prefer yours. It’s way more funnier and to the point.
Mel — Oct 21st, 2009
I use Powerpoint more than bras, personally (and ironically, usually wear the damn bras for things like…giving talks…which also involve ppt!). So as far as I’m concerned, they’re both occasional necessary evils.
But it’s not the best analogy, and your list is much funnier.
Lefty — Nov 5th, 2009
Nobody ever blamed a bra for causing a space shuttle disaster.
Colin McLean @colinwdmclean — Oct 14th, 2009
RT @finiteattention #PPT Bra Wars! Why Powerpoint is Nothing Like a Bra: http://bit.ly/9amLl from @6minutes. > Well worth a diversion!
Benjamin Ellis @benjaminellis — Oct 14th, 2009
RT @finiteattention: Why Powerpoint is Nothing Like a Bra: http://bit.ly/9amLl "Only teenage girls pad bras with useless fluff."
Felix Escribano @felmundo — Oct 14th, 2009
RT: @BenjaminEllis: RT @finiteattention: Why Powerpoint is Nothing Like a Bra: http://bit.ly/9amLl
jens @jensemann — Oct 14th, 2009
32 reasons a PowerPoint slide deck is nothing like a bra.
http://bit.ly/iQcNx
Adam StJohn Lawrence @adamstjohn — Oct 14th, 2009
Bra Wars! Why Powerpoint is Not Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl @6minutes. "“Nbdy aks 4 a copy of my bra after a mtg.” RT @finiteattention
ron houtman @ronhoutman — Oct 14th, 2009
I know this is a risky/rique tweet for me… RT @6minutes 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl -heh
Mike Pulsifer @mikepulsifer — Oct 14th, 2009
RT @6minutes: 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl (NEW from Six Minutes)
Missing Link @presorockgods — Oct 14th, 2009
RT @6minutes: 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl (NEW from Six Minutes)
Susan Mazza @susanmazza — Oct 15th, 2009
RT @MarionChapsal: 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl (via @6minutes) [thx for the laughs!]
Gail Austin Cooney @gcooneymd — Oct 20th, 2009
RT @6minutes 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl
sophielab @sophielab — Oct 22nd, 2009
32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/iQcNx
Marcia Conner @marciamarcia — Nov 10th, 2009
Point/Counterpoint: 10 Reasons Powerpoint is like http://sn.im/a-Bra & 32 Reasons it's http://sn.im/Nothing-Like a Bra.
Eugene Lee @eugenelee — Nov 10th, 2009
RT @marciamarcia: Point/Counterpoint: 10 Reasons Powerpoint is like http://sn.im/a-Bra & 32 Reasons it's http://sn.im/Nothing-Like a Bra.
John Hathaway @johnhathaway — Nov 10th, 2009
RT @marciamarcia: Point/Counterpoint: 10 Reasons Powerpoint is like http://sn.im/a-Bra & 32 Reasons it's http://sn.im/Nothing-Like a Bra.
Paul Richardson @paulfrichardson — Dec 18th, 2009
RT @6minutes 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl <== Linda Wu's response. Excellent!
Caroline @ktcaroline — Dec 18th, 2009
RT @PaulFRichardson: RT @6minutes 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra http://bit.ly/9amLl <== Linda Wu's respon …
Martin Simka @martinkoklingac — Jan 14th, 2010
[fun] Reasons why #Powerpoint is like a bra http://bit.ly/2O2rag or is nothing like that http://bit.ly/6hzpHv
Kristian Salvesen @ksalvesen — Jan 14th, 2010
RT @martinkoKlingac: [fun] Reasons why #Powerpoint is like a bra http://bit.ly/2O2rag or is nothing like that http://bit.ly/6hzpHv
No business like linkspam business (21st October, 2009) | Geek Feminism Blog — Oct 20th, 2009
[...] Adam Lawrence lists his Top 10 Reasons why Powerpoint is like a bra and Linda Wu counters with 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra. [...]
PPT就象女人的胸罩? | 虫虫网 — Nov 26th, 2009
[...] 最近,一个老外写了个很无聊的贴子:PPT就象胸罩的10个理由,另一个女老外写了个更无聊的反驳贴子:PPT不象胸罩的32个理由,而我居然更无聊地翻译了这两个贴子!大家权当周末轻松一下吧。 [...]