a flat panel display having a spacer situated between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure is partitioned into a pair of spacer - adjacent regions adjacent to , and on opposite sides of , the spacer and a pair of spacer - charging regions respectively adjacent to , and further away from the spacer than , the spacer - charging regions . each of the spacer - adjacent and spacer - charging consists of one or more pixel rows . instead of activating the pixel rows sequentially during a frame of pixel information , the pixel rows are activated according to the order that arises when both of the spacer - charging regions are activated after activating the two spacer - adjacent regions . operating the display in this manner reduces charge buildup on the spacer .