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I noticed that too. Since the article is from 7 years ago, I suspected that the site's CSS has changed and that the second one, since it was all by itself, used

I noticed that too. Since the article is from 7 years ago, I suspected that the site's CSS has changed and that the second one, since it was all by itself, used to be a pull quote (an important quotation that is emphasized with large stylized text as a graphic design element and to draw in readers who are scrolling the page without reading). I looked at the page source, and yes, that second instance has a CSS style applied to it called "feature-quote". I guess that style is no longer in their stylesheet, so now it just looks like a mistaken repetition rather than a pull quote.

mulmen 4y ago
Hah, thanks for digging in. I hadn't considered a CSS bug and figured it was just lazy editing. Bits do rot.
projektfu 4y ago
I don't like pull-quotes in web articles. Their purpose is to get you to stop flipping pages in a magazine, where they serve a real purpose. On a web page they just give you a spoiler.
- pessimizer 4y ago
  The only difference between using pull quotes on the web and on paper is that if your web article doesn't catch attention, the reader is a click away from never seeing your site again. If your magazine article doesn't catch attention, it's probably going to be read later because it's already paid for. > On a web page they just give you a spoiler. I don't understand why people want to experience their nonfiction as if it were fiction.
  - projektfu 4y ago
    It's more that a good author is building up a story and you're basically pulling the surprises out of context until they reappear later. Those things stick in your head and can disturb the rest of the writing. There are other ways to grab your attention than pulling something out of its context and interrupting the flow of an article. I don't know, maybe today's audience is so steeped in reality TV that they like the entire show being previews of the rest of the show. But I personally like articles to flow, and that's not limited to fiction.
TaylorAlexander 4y ago
I always dislike the way articles do pull-quotes anyway. I end up reading it inline and get the repetition just like in this article.
- bonestamp2 4y ago
  I agree. Maybe that repetition is intentional for recall -- it is usually a good takeaway point too.

mulmen 4y ago

Hah, thanks for digging in. I hadn't considered a CSS bug and figured it was just lazy editing. Bits do rot.

projektfu 4y ago

I don't like pull-quotes in web articles. Their purpose is to get you to stop flipping pages in a magazine, where they serve a real purpose. On a web page they just give you a spoiler.

pessimizer 4y ago
The only difference between using pull quotes on the web and on paper is that if your web article doesn't catch attention, the reader is a click away from never seeing your site again. If your magazine article doesn't catch attention, it's probably going to be read later because it's already paid for. > On a web page they just give you a spoiler. I don't understand why people want to experience their nonfiction as if it were fiction.
- projektfu 4y ago
  It's more that a good author is building up a story and you're basically pulling the surprises out of context until they reappear later. Those things stick in your head and can disturb the rest of the writing. There are other ways to grab your attention than pulling something out of its context and interrupting the flow of an article. I don't know, maybe today's audience is so steeped in reality TV that they like the entire show being previews of the rest of the show. But I personally like articles to flow, and that's not limited to fiction.

TaylorAlexander 4y ago

I always dislike the way articles do pull-quotes anyway. I end up reading it inline and get the repetition just like in this article.

bonestamp2 4y ago
I agree. Maybe that repetition is intentional for recall -- it is usually a good takeaway point too.