Our culture’s fascination with the old and recycled (more fashionably termed “retro”) has been well documented by authors other than myself. Fashion models/ “it”-girls wear spandex and oversized t-shirts; purposefully amateur web sites (see Borat’s myspace page, which, like his character, blatantly rips off Mahir’s earnest proclamations of internet friendship); and, as I remember screaming at my mother 15 years ago when she gathered my favorite toys into a trash bag, my “My Little Pony” collection would actually be worth something someday.

The one part of retro that I never thought I would quite understand has to do with technology. I pride myself of being on the semi-cutting edge — I have a high-def TV, a next generation game console, and a pre-order in for another
one. Sure, there is a special place in my heart for my Mac Classic, which was old when I got it and basically served as a black and white Solitaire machine, but other than that, I try to embrace new technology.

What, then, is so fascinating about ASCII art? What makes an image made out of random characters so much more exciting than one made out of colored pixels?

I don’t know the answer to this question, but I do know how I spent my afternoon at work:

Marci

DNNBNBBBDs+<~~~~~(((((((((((<((<<<<<<<<<<++++++++=zBNNNNNDzz
DNNBBBBBDz+<(~~~~~((((((((((((((<<<<<<<<<<++++++<+sBNNNNBhhh
BBNBBBBBDz=<(~-~~~((((((((<<<<<<<<<<<++++<<+++<+<++DNNNNDzhh
BBNBBBBDDh=<(~~~~~(((((((<<<<<<<<<<+=sssss=+++++<<+zNNNNDzhD
BBBBNBBDDz=<(~~~~(((<(((<<<<<<<<<+=szhhhzzzs=+++<<<=NNNNBhDh
NNNNBBDBDz=<(~~~~((<<<((<<+<<<<+=zhDDDhz===sss++<<<+DNNBDzzh
NNNNBBDDDh=<(~~((((<<<<<<<++++=shBBBDss========+++<<zBBBDzzD
NNNNNNBDDhs+(((((((<<<<<<++++=zzhhzzs===sss====+++<<=BBBDhzh
NNNNNNBDDz=+<(((<<<<<<<<<+++=szzzss=szDBBBDzss===+<(<zBBBDs=
NNNNNNBDDzs++<<<<<<<<<<<++++=sssssshBNNNNNNBDzss=+<<(=zDDDs+
NNNNNNBBBBDzzs==+++<<<<<++++=sssszBNNNNNNNNNBhzzs+<<(<=DDDs+
NNNNNNNNNNBBBBDzs=++<<<++===szzszBNNDNNNNDBBBDh=++<((~+DDh==
NNNNNNNNNNBBDzzss==+<<<++===szzsDBBssNNNNBBzhhs+++<(~~+DDzs=
NNDNNNNNBDzsss======+<<<++=sszzhDBD=+DNNBBzzz=+<<+<(~~+Bz=s=
NNNBNNNBBzzzzzDzs===+<<(<+=szzhzDBDzzzBBDzzzs=++++<<~~+Ds+++
NNNBNNNNBDBBNNNNNBz=++<((<=szhhzzhzzzzsssszzs+++++<<(~<hz=<<
NNNNNNNNBNNNNNNNNBBz=+<(~<+=zzhzzzsssssszzzs+<<<++<<(~(szs+<
+NNNNNNNNNNDDNNNNBBD=+<~~(<=zzzzs==sssssss=+<<<<+++<(~(zzs=+
-(NNNNNNNNBzzNNNNBBz+<<~~~<=zzzss=+++++++<<(<<<+++++<((zzzz+
+~BNDNNNNNBDszNNBDzs+<(~~~<+szzss==+++<<<<((<<<<<+++<((zhhz<
B+zDzNNNBDBBDDDhzzz=+((~~~<+=szzss=++<<<<<<<<<<<<<+++((zBBz+
-<=zzDNNzzDzzs=szzs+((~~~~(<=sszss=++<<<<(<<<<<++++++(~DBBzs
-<++szNNszz=++=s==+(~~~~--~(+sssss==+<<<<((<<<+++++++<~sBBD=
(<+<==DBzzs===+++<(~~~~~--~(<=ssss==+<<<<<<<<+++====+<(<BBD=
s=s<+=DBzs=++<<<(~~~-~~~--~(<+=ssss==+<+<<<<+++======+((BBh+
(=h+<+zz+<(((~~~~~--------~((++szzzzs=+++++++====s===+<(hBz+
--(((<~~~-----~~----------~((<++szzhzs=+++++==ss=s===+<(=Bz+
~<<=<(----------~~~~~~~---~((<+==++zDhs========sss===+<(<h=<
<+===~-----------~~(((~~-~-((<<++++=hhhs====ssssssss=+<<<=<<
<+++z=----------~~(<=<-----((<++++=shzzzzsssssssss===++<+=<<
<<+sDB=--------~~(<+s<----~(<<+==szzzzzzzzzhhhssss====++==<<
<+=zDBN~----~~~~(<+=s+~---~(++ssshhzzzzzzzzzzhsss==s==++s<<<
szzDBNN+----~~~(<<==s=~~~~(<+sshhhhzzzzzzssszss=s=====+s=<<<
=zDBNNNN(--~~~(<<+=sss+<<++==szzzzzzzzzzszssss===s=====z<(((
szDBNNNz=~~~~((<+=sss=<((<+=sszzzzzzzzzsshhzss==ss====z=((((
DBNNNNN=z<~(((<+==ss=+(((~(<==ssssszsszzBBhzss==s==s=zz<((((
BBBNBNB=++~(<<+==sss+<((((~(<++===zzhDBBBzzzssssss==sh<(((((
DBBBDB=+sz~(<+==szs=+(((~~~~((<+zhhDDBDDzzsssssss==sh+(((((<
DzzDDBs<=z<~(<==ss++<<((~~(<==zhDDDDDDDhzzsssssss=sDs((((((<
+sDBBNBszDD~~(<+=+<<<++<+szzzhhDDhhzhhhzssssssss=sDh<((((((<
sBNNNDDBzBB+~((<<(((+sszzzzzzs====zzhhzsssssssss=DD+<((((((<
DBNNNNssDDBD(~(<((((<+<(<<<(((<=szhhzzsssssssssshD=<((((((<<
BBDBBBzsBNBBz~((((((<<<((<<<++=zzshhzsssssssssssDh<<((((((<<
DzBBBBNNDNBBB+~(((((<<((((<++=ssszzsssssssssssshB+<((((((<<+
szzzBNDBDBNNBB<(((((<<((~((<<+=ssssszzsszssssssDz<(((((((<++
BDDBNNNBDBNNBND(((((<<(((((<<+====szzszssssssszD+(((((((<<++
BBNNNDDNBBNBBBNz(((<<<<(((((<<=====zzzss==ss=shD<(((((((<<++
BBNNNBNBBBNBBBNNs<<<<<<(((((<<+===sss======sssDs<(((((((<<+<
DNNNDBNNNhNNDBNND+<<<<(((((((<+++<<<<++====sszB=<((((((((<<<
BNNzzBDNNNDNzzNNB=<<<<<(((~~((((~(((<<+===ssshD+<((((~((((<<

Aaron

BDhz=+++<<(((~~~---''''.............'''''''''''''---~(<+zDBB
BDhz=+++<<((((~~~---''''''.....'''''''''-----''''''--(<+sDBB
BDhz=+<<<(((~~~~~~--------''''''-'------~-----''''---~<+=DBB
BDhz=+<<<((~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------~~~~~~~~----~--~~(<+=DBB
BDhs=++<<((~~~~~(((((((~~~~------~~((((((<<<<+<<<((<((+++DBB
BDhzs=+<<<((((~(<<<<<<<((~~~~--~~~~((<<+=sszsss=+<+++++++hBB
BDzzs=++++<<+++=====+++<<(((~~~~((((<+=szhhhhhzzzss===++<sBh
BDzzzs===+==szhhhhhhzs==+<<((((((<<++=zzhhhhhzz=====++<(~+D+
Bhzzzs=s==szzhhhhhDhhhzzs++<<((((<++szhDDhs=+====sszzzzz==z=
BhzszzzzzhhhzzzzhhDDDDDhzs++<(~~((<=zhzz==+=ss==hhzzz=zsBNBh
Bhsszzzz===+++=====szhhhhzs+<~---~<===szzhDhhDzs=hhzz=zzhNBB
szss=<+==zzzzzzsszzzsszssz=+<-'''(=zhzzhzzDBDBhhhzhhz=hDzNBD
z=sshhDhhhhhhzshhhDhhhhhDDBDDz+=zDBBz==h=+hDDh=zhhsssshhhBsD
BhzhBBhzhhhDhhDBBBB=shhzhhhBBBBBBBBz=<===++s==+=szzs==zhhh+D
BBDBNDhzzhhhhDzhDDh+=zzszhzDBBBDBBBs=++===++++++===+++zzhz+h
BDhDNDzzzhhhhzs=z=++====zzshBh<~~zBs+++=sss==++=zs+<<+==h=+z
BDhzhB=hsszzhzs==+===ssss==DB<'..'Dh<<<<+szzhhzzz+<<<++=h++=
BhhhzB=zs=zzzs====szzs===+=Bh(-'.'+B<((((<+==ss=++<<<<(h=++=
Bhhhzhz+s=szhhhzzhzz==++++=Bz<-'.'~Bs~((((<<+++<<<((<+zs<++=
BhzzzsD<====szhhhzs=+<+++<zD=<~'.'-sB<~((~(((<(((+=szz+(<++=
Bhzzzshz(========++<<<<<<=Bs+<~'''-(zDz=++=====zzs=<(((<<++=
Dhzzzs=h=++++++++<<<<++=zDh+++('''-~<========+<(~~~~(((<<++=
Dhzzzs==zzzzzzzs==szzhzzzz=<<<(-''-~~++<((((((~~((~~~(((<+==
Bhhzzs==++++=======++<++ss++<((-'''--(++<<(((((~~~~~~(((<+=s
Bhhhzs===+++<<<<<(<<<++=s===<(~-'''--~<<(((~~~~~~~-~~~((<+=s
BDhhzzs=+++++<<<<<<<<<++====<(~-'''-~-<+((~~~-------~~~(<+=s
hDhhzz==++++<<<<<((<<<<+==+=+<(-'''-~~~<<((~~~------~~~(<+==
zDhhhzs==++<<<<<((((((<+s=<++<(-'.'-~~((<<<(~~~~~~-~~~((<+s=
zDhhhzs==++<<<<(((((((<+s+<++<(~'..'~(<(<<<<(~~~~~~~~~(<<+==
shDhhzs==++<<<((((((<<+=z=+=s+<~-''-~+++<(<<<((~~((~(((<<+=z
shDhhzs==++<<<((((((<<+=zzszhz=(~~~~+hhz(~(<+<((((((((<<<+=h
szDhhhsss=+<<<((((((<+++=hhBBDh=<<<+hBD+((((+<((((((<<<++=sh
szhhhhzss=++<<((((<<<+<+=zDBBBBhszzzhhs<((~~(++<<<<<<<<++=sD
zzhhhhzs===++<(((((<<<<++shhDDDBDDhhzs=<((((~(<<<<<<<<<<+=zD
hhDhhhzs===++<<<(<<<<<<++=szhhhDBDhzs=+(((((((<<<<<<<<<<+=zD
hhhhhhhs====++<<<<<<(<<++==szzzhhhz==+<(((((((<<<<<<<<<++=hD
hhhhhhhzs====++<<+<<<<++++===ssssss=+<<<((<<<(<<<<<(<<<+==hD
hhhhhhhzs===++++++<<<<+++==+=====++<(((((<<<<<<<<((((<++=sDD
hhhhhhhzss==+++<<+<+++====++++<<((~~~((((<<++<((((((<<++=zDD
hhhhDhhhzs===+<<<+++==ss===+++<((~((<<<+++=ss+(~~~((<++==hDD
hhhhhDhhzzs==++<<+++=szs==+======++=sszzhhz=+<(~~~(<<++=shDD
hhhhDDhhzszs=++<<<+==zhhhhzhhhzhhzzzhzzs=+(~~~~((~(++++=zDDD
hhhDBBhhhzszs=++<<<+szzhhzzzszzzzz=+<<<<+(~~--~((((++==shDDD
hhDDBBDDhhzzss++<<<++<+===++<((((~~-(<++<(~---~(((<+==szDDDD
DDDDBBDDhhzss==+<(<<((<=====+<(~~~~(<+<<<(~--~~<<<===szhDDDD
DDDDDBDDDhzzzss=+<<((((+=s==++<((((+++<<((~--(<<<+=sszzDDDDD
hhDDDBDDDDhzzzzs=+<((((<======s===s==+<((~-~~(<<+=sszzhDDDDD
hhDDBBhDDDhhzzzs=+<<<((<+=sssszzssss+<<(~~~~(<<+=sssszhhDDDD
hhhDBBDhDDDhhhzzs=++<<(<<+=======+<<((((~~~((<<+==sszhhhhhDB
hhhDBBDhhDDDhhhzz====+<<<<+++++++<(((~~~(~((<<++===szhhhhhhh

Simsim

hhhhhzzhDhhzz=+<<<+<<(~~(<<<(~~((<(~<+<++++++sDBzzzs==szhzz=
DDDhzzzzhhhhhz=+<<+<<(~~(((<(~-~-~<~~<+=++ssszhhzhzs=szhzsh=
DBDDzzzzshhhhzs+==+<<(~~~---~~~--'---(++=+shhh=zDDhzszzzszz+
DBDhzsssszzzhzs=sz=+<(~~~~~--~~~~~--~(<++ssshDhsDDzssssssss=
hDBhz==sssssszsszss=+<~~~~(~~---~(~~~<<+==+=hhhhhhzs==s==s=+
hDDDzs====s==shzzss=<(((<++<(~~--((((<(+=+=s++sszDzssss=ss==
hDDhhzs==+=ssssss=+<(<<<<+==+<~~-~(((((+<<=<<=+<zDhzsss==s=+
DDBDDhz===s=s===+++<<<+=ss===+<(~-((((<<(++<++(+szDhzzz=s===
hDBBBDhzs==ss==+++<((<+==szhs=++(~(((++<(+(<+<+sshDDhDz=szs=
shBBBDDhss==s=++=<<=++++++=szs=++++<(++<<+<+++=ssszzhDhhDDs=
=zDDBDDDz==++=+=++s+<<+++++==z====++<++<+++++=++<+=zDBDhzzzs
=zhDDDhhhsss=+==+s+(<++++++++ss===+<+++++++==<(<==szDDh=ssss
+=hDDBDhzzh=++++=+<+++<+<+++++s+=s=+++++==ss=<++sszsszz=ssss
+=sDDDBDhh=++++===++(<+====+++=+sz=++=+==ssss=s===shhDsszssz
++=sDDDBBDs==++=+++((+=sssss====hz=++zsszzhhDhhzs===zBDzsssz
++==DDDDDDhs==+++<~(<+sszzszszsshz=+=ssshDDBBBDDzss==hDzsszz
+++=hBBBzzs==s++<~~<=szhhhzzzzzzhzs==sszhDBBBBBDDhssss==szzh
+++=zDhsss=shs+~-~<++=hBBBhzzhzzzszs+sszhBBBBBBDDDhss==ssszB
+++=szzzzsszz+~-~(++=zBBsDBhzzzhsszzs===zBBBBBBBDhhzsss=zzBD
++++<==sssss+(--(<+=sDBBBBBDhzss++zzs==sszzDBBBDDhhhzs=szhB=
+++=<++=ss=++~~~<++szhDBBBDhhz=++++s+=sszhhDDDDDDhhzzss=hBz=
++++=<<+++==<~((<+=szzzhzszhhsss==+=sszzzhBBDDDhhhhzzzs=zD=+
++++=(~(<<++~(<<+=sss====zhhzzs++=zhhhzzzszzDhhDhhDhzss=ss=+
++++=+<<((<<~+<<++=s=+++shhzs+++=hDBBDhz=sDDBDDDDDDDhzsss=++
+++++=<~~<((<+<++=s=+++sh=++<+shDDhDBBBBhDBBDhDDDDDDDhhs==++
+++++<~'~~~(++++sz====ss<~~<+zhhDDhhDBBBBDDDDDDhDDDDBDDDs==+
+++++==<-~((+++zz=====+~~<+=shhDDBBBDBBBBBDDhsszhhDDDDDDD==z
+++s=s=''-(<=+zz====+<~(+==shhhDDBBBBBBBBBDDDhhDBDBBDDDDDh=D
+++=s='''(<+=sz====+(~(++==sszDDDDDDBBBBDDBBDBDhDDDDDDDhhD=z
++=s='''-<++=s===s+((+++====szhhhDDBBBBBBBBDBDBBDDDDDDDhhDs<
===s'''~(<<+=s=ss=<~+===+==szzhzhDBBBBBBBBBDDDDBDDDDDhhDszh=
==z-''=(~(<+ss===+~<=======sszDzhDBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDDDDDDhhh=z=
=z(''==''~(+++=++((+=+++=sssszhhDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDDhzh==z
z=''+='''~~+<+==<(=+=++szs==shhhBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDhsss=B
z-'~s''''-(<<+=+~++++=zs===zzhDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDhDDhs=szB
(''=-'''''((<++<(+++=z====zzzDBBDBBBBBBDBBBBBBBBBBBhhhh=+szh
''+<''''''-~<+++<+++s===shhzhBBDDDhDBBDDBBBBBBBBBBBDhhzs==BB
'~=''''''''-(++++++=s==shhzhDhhDhhzhBBDDDDDBBBBBBBDhhzss=zBB
's-''''''''-(+=++++=sszzhhhDhhDDhhhDBBDhDDDDDBBBDBBDzzss=hBD
+~'''''''''-~++=+++=szhzDDhhhDDDhDDDBDDDDDDDDDDDDDDhzz===DBh
+''''''''''-~~+++++=zhhhDhhDDDDhhDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDhhs==sBBs
''''''''''''~~<++++=hDDDDDDDDhhhhDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDz===hBD=
'''''''''''-~~((<++shDDDDDDhhhhDhDDDDDDhDDDDDDDDDDDBhs==BBz+
''''''''''''--~~<+=hDDDDDhhhhzhhhDDDDDDhDDDDDDDDDDDBDs+=BB=+
'''''''''''''---~(+zhhDhhhzhzshhhDDDDDDhhDDDDDDDDDDBh+~sBz+<
'''''''''''''-''-((+=zhhhzzz=zDhhhDhDhhhzDDhhhhhDDDD(--hD+~~
''''''''''''''''--~(<=zzzsz==hhhhhhDDDhDszhzhzzhhhD+''<Dz~''
'''''''''--'''''--~-~(+s=ss+szhhhhhDDDhhzzDz==+szzs~''zBs(=<
'''''''''''''''''-'~~-(+=s=+szhhhhhDhDhhzhDh++<+ssz('(hh~~~<
''''''''''''''''''-(+~~<+s++shzhhhDDDDDhzDBh++<<=s=('=D='''+

Via Typorganism.