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Archinect blows?

samspade

Has anyone ever seen "The Stepford Wives Club"? For those of us who, on occasion, browse this forum looking for shreds of intelligent conversation and useful knowledge, it is disturbing to see how often discussions devolve into inane banter concerning the quotidian habits and personal preferences of a handful of Archinect "regulars." Let some other people, who may not be members of your elite "community," have a say without fear of reprisals, in GSD hallways or elsewhere.

We don't care what some of you had for breakfast. We don't care about the Oscars. We can read about college basketball somewhere else. We care about architecture and architecture culture. Isn't that enough?

 
Mar 21, 07 12:47 am
magic_pie

eh?

Mar 21, 07 12:54 am  · 
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PostDepot

You have no idea how good you've had it. No idea. Not a clue.
You shall pay for this. Why don't you become a member of Sweets Catalog? I am putting my boots on and they are made for walking all over you. You are not an architect, you are not a kindergarden chat. Who told you you can say these things about a group of people who will do everything to get you laid.

Mar 21, 07 1:20 am  · 
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For the most part, us horrible regulars keep this conversation to a thread or two. You certainly don't have to click on them. If you're referring to the recent sabatoge of a couple of threads (titled similarly to this one) by regulars, you should know that they are repeat threads from about a year ago. Last time they got completely out of hand, threads and accounts were deleted, so many of those who remember the disruption are trying to squash the insurgency before it takes root.

Mar 21, 07 1:27 am  · 
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kylemiller

participation in this forum is optional. you're concern for this site is just as irrelevant to me as garwondler's breakfast habits are to you.

Mar 21, 07 1:27 am  · 
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mdler

i had one of those bags of Indian food from Trader Joes for breakfast. I think it had chick peas in it

Mar 21, 07 1:30 am  · 
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kylemiller

trader joes is quite underrated, almost as overrated as tito's tacos.

Mar 21, 07 1:36 am  · 
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nambypambics

When someone trolls a thread with vicious and unsubstantiated claims, I do my best to contribute something useful, positive, and productive to the thread. Sometimes, that positive contribution is a recipe for my favorite hot chocolate. Spicy cocoa is certainly more productive and useful than, for example, bashing an academic institution in a cowardly fashion behind an anonymous username.

Should anyone offer any sincere, pointed, substantiated criticism of a practitioner or a college, and should that person find their argument sufficiently important and valid to be offered under their own real name, I will be completely willing to consider the criticism in a reflective and heartfelt manner. Unfortunately, that sort of forthrightness and bravery does not happen under the auspices of anonymous, obnoxious online trolls.

Basically: if you have something to say, say it and stand behind it publicly. Otherwise, STFU.

Mar 21, 07 1:44 am  · 
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garpike

Is Samspade anything like Gatorade?

Mar 21, 07 1:52 am  · 
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mdler

oh the daffodils look lovely today

Mar 21, 07 2:37 am  · 
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mdler

just call me pac10

Mar 21, 07 2:37 am  · 
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garpike

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

I could use some torilla.

Mar 21, 07 2:43 am  · 
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White T. Rash

I wunce got a hummer from the mayor's daughter. Without going inta too much deail, I'll just say she was out of this world. I took her out on won of my fancy date supremes. I gots all dressed up and took her to my tried and true A+W Root Beer. I ordered my usual (burger and fries) and she ordered won of them salads, something about she was on a diet or sumthin'. We had a big ole time, mostly she was telling me about her best friend Sally and how'd she'd just got fired cause her exboyfriend stole sumthin' from the store room. I wasn't payin' too much attention ause I was thinking about this horror pickture we wus gonna go see after she finished up. It was movie night down at the ole drive in picture show and they had one of those scary movies playing tonight. I think it was called Rosemary's Baby or sumtin like that. Anyways, we finally got done with eatin' and headed over to the show. I made sure to park in the back so's that no won would bother us. Me and Curtis always take our huneys and park in the back so no kids are around hootin' and hollerin'. Damn kids these days run around with no diceepline. If they's was my kids, I'd take a belt to um fer sure. Anyway, the movie starts and I could tell right away it's gonna be a goodun cause it's starts off really spooky like. At won point my gurl grabbed my arm cause it was suppose to be a scary part. It was really only the cat makin' all that racket but you were suppose to think it was this bad man coming to get these two teanagers. Well I put my arm around her and told er everything was going to be all right. That's my move you see. Well about half way through the picture, there was this make out scene with the mom and dad. It was all corny and stuff, reminded me of the Brady Bunch or something. But anyway. I took this oportunity to try out my best moves. Well since I'm not into all that X rated story telling stuff, I'll just say she was out of this world,. Completely insane that girl. I had to stop by the drug store after I'd dropped her off to get me some of that healing oinment to put on the claw marks she left on my back. I got home and drank me a nice cold won and hit the sack.

Mar 21, 07 2:52 am  · 
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garpike

I got whitie rash too. Ironic, since it results in a pink.

Mar 21, 07 2:54 am  · 
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Carl Douglas (agfa8x)

Is this the thread where we're talking about mint thins?

Mar 21, 07 3:22 am  · 
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bucku

saw that coming, though in some respect i agree with whats his face. i do enjoy a real thread here and there where there is no personal banter about this or that though threads never stick to the point. i see what you're saying dude, it does get out of hand, and fuggin annoying as well. it happens. cant stop it..
cant touch this, oh oh oh oh.. oh oh.. oh oh. oh oh oh oh . oh oh. oh oh .all around the world...

Mar 21, 07 3:31 am  · 
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strlt_typ
archinect blows
Mar 21, 07 4:00 am  · 
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b3tadine[sutures]

oh yeah this place will be all the rage if we just talk about nothing but architecture. can you just imagine it now, clients will trip over each other to hire every single one of us to build their 4k sf 2mil dream home - of which we'll surely get 8-10% - um yeah, the dream lives!

like ratio noted, perhaps if those people that came here for the first time actually learned how to use and computer and knew what google was prior to posting some of the same repetitive drivel and taking up valuable server space, then perhaps we'd have more space and time to contribute to the glory that is architecture. until then, give me abra faia, give me thread central, and give me whatever vado retro had for breakfast on tuesday.

Mar 21, 07 5:08 am  · 
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liberty bell

Good post, Stourley.

The discussion forums are like the weather - good days and bad. Archinect itself is like the sky: constant. And glorious.

If the discussions are not turning you on, the [url-http://www.archinect.com/news/index.php]News Section[/url] is always full of interesting, considered, directly-architecture-related topics. I have been spending more time there lately as the grad school storm front has been building. But it will pas and we'll have another helpful delight like 'Ya got a firm..." breeze in.

Mar 21, 07 7:08 am  · 
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liberty bell

Aw crap man - I even previewed and I still screwed it up!! Pre-coffee...

Here's the news.

Mar 21, 07 7:09 am  · 
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archinect isn't about architecture exactly.

it's a place where a loose network of architecture-centric people can talk about ANYTHING.

if you're just using it as a resource, fine. but be aware that this has become a community. like any community, it doesn't jump at the beck-and-call of any newcomer with a problem or question.

think of us as a bunch of people with whom you might have a beer, not the people from whom you're buying a pack of gum and a tank of gas.


who is 'we', anyway, samspade. did you put together a petition of disgruntled lurkers or something?

Mar 21, 07 7:22 am  · 
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treekiller

guilty as charged.

Mar 21, 07 8:39 am  · 
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job job

regulars, newbies, police, trolls, upstairs, downstairs

social stratification is a BITCH, a lot of you are getting fat

Mar 21, 07 9:06 am  · 
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vado retro

with three comments to your credit you are really adding to the mix. or sammy is your lack of commenting due to the abscence of a MalteseFalcon thread? Cuz i can start one.

Mar 21, 07 9:13 am  · 
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treekiller

I'm buying the next round! shots, pints or merlotch?

Mar 21, 07 9:34 am  · 
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brian buchalski

merlotch?...make mine a double

Mar 21, 07 10:15 am  · 
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George Jetson

Mar 21, 07 10:40 am  · 
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JMBarquero/squirrelly

fat? yeah I think I put on a little weight after that chile relleno and tamal last night!

oh boy......I guess I wont be snacking this morning!

Mar 21, 07 11:02 am  · 
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Client

I been told the people who run it are a little retarded...

for instance i added web links to 5 firms i've worked for and only one
was added to the links page..
so what, are they 'moderating' my entries?

same goes for pictures too,,,
what, are they 'moderating' my entries?

everyone's a hater

-on occasion someone has something to say about architecture
but it doesn't feel like an anonymous community of people who are generally interested in design or building
it's more like people who strive for the inside joke or
reiterating a pretensious idea

















drawings by Adolf Hilter
burgers by Godo





Mar 21, 07 11:35 am  · 
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won and done williams

I agree with you, samspade. It definitely is an in-club, and I have a feeling it prevents newcomers from joining the forum with all of the inside jokes, references to threads that occured three years ago, etc. I think it is valid that people do a search before posting a new topic, but at the same time, if a "repeat" topic is posted, just don't read it and don't comment on it; it will go away. Anyway, samspade as a fellow "newbie" (I hate that term.), welcome to the club. I hope you continue to participate.

Mar 21, 07 11:40 am  · 
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jafilder- the problem with the particular repeat topics to which I refer was that they were vicious, and if people tried to ignore the topic, the troll who started it bounced into every topic that hit the top of the first page and spewed his hatred in there as well. This unfortunatley cannot be found by searching, because the archinect powers-that-be saw fit to delete it once it had gotten out of hand for more than a week and would not die down.

Mar 21, 07 11:50 am  · 
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elinor

From Wikipedia--Symptoms of Groupthink:

1. A feeling of invulnerability creates excessive optimism and encourages risk taking.
2. Discounting warnings that might challenge assumptions.
3. An unquestioned belief in the group’s morality, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
4. Stereotyped views of enemy leaders.
5. Pressure to conform against members of the group who disagree.
6. Shutting down of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
7. An illusion of unanimity with regards to going along with the group.
8. Mindguards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting opinions.

I agree, samspade. As a newcomer to this, I've wanted, on several occasions to post information, but was put off by the playground-bully atmosphere. It's good to see that some are responding to your complaints rationally and seriously...not everyone is so anxious to railroad you by talking about girl-scout cookies. Maybe there is hope after all?

Mar 21, 07 11:57 am  · 
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JMBarquero/squirrelly

those are some nice BUNS!

Mar 21, 07 11:57 am  · 
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see my name...I'm in circle 3.142 yes you know its pi love or leave it...

breakfast - haven't had it yet its been a late night....doing something other than architecture....oh yes I do that too. GSD didn't go there - not sure how many regulars did either I think there's a stronger bond newbie.

Anyway time to watch the Oscars with my mistress

Mar 21, 07 12:02 pm  · 
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Dapper Napper

This is not highschool, with the incrowd, and fringe cliques. Anyone can join in any discussion, irrelevant or not. If you want to know what happened three years ago, do a search or ask, it's probably best not to assume that anyone is being purposely excluded from the convo.

I'm fairly new myself, i.e. less than 1000 comments, but I quickly realized that Archinect is a social group, and with any social group there are old friends and room for new ones who put forth the effort. I feel it's also more of a place to encourage each other through the wasteland that is architectural internship. And I for one greatly appreciate that. It's nice to get advice from the Old Fogeys and know that I'm not alone in eating PB&J for breakfast and lunch and drinking office coffee for 9 more days because I'm paid only once a month.

Mar 21, 07 12:16 pm  · 
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won and done williams

squirrelly, i at least thought you'd be above this. oh well...

Mar 21, 07 12:18 pm  · 
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hear hear!

Mar 21, 07 12:18 pm  · 
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hear hear, here's your sign!

Mar 21, 07 12:19 pm  · 
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now, i really don't get it why people are complaining about threads not being about architecture when in fact they are 99% are. i think it would be a very boring forum if every post was strictly about architecture and got erased away if it wasn't. can you imagine bunch of architecture police lurking over the posts and saying this one stays and this one doesn't. i also think this is unfair to regular people who share their work, experience and creativity here. newbie or not, you have to be your own quality control maneger and respond as you see fit but do not expect everybody to agree with you, and if they don't, either explain again or say thank you and move on.

this forum is way better than many in the field and i think now, a lot of the people know each other in person, or know someone who knows another.

i think even this thread is good.

but don't shoot others because you feel like a victim. help yourself with other thousands of threads that are about nothing but architecture and some of them posted by your teachers in school and cassmates in your studio. so this is not so different than the real life, is it?

Mar 21, 07 12:23 pm  · 
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And don't be afraid to post. If you're asking for open-ended advice on a topic, yes, it's polite to search first to see if you can find answers there, do your own research (particularly on schools), but if you still want to post, then do so. All people are asking is that you bring your own thoughts and information to the discourse instead of expecting others to tell you everything.

Mar 21, 07 12:31 pm  · 
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Alackrity

Hijacking a serious thread or question with jokes and nonsense is rude.

It pisses off the people trying to have a real discussion.



If its a for fun topic I dont see any problem.

Mar 21, 07 12:33 pm  · 
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Archinect

A few comments:

Active online communities tend to all have these problems you mention. It's the nature of the anonymous internet, but there are also many analogies to physical communities. For "newbies" it's not always easy to assimilate with an existing social group. It should be noted that the members who complain the most about a community's problems are often the same members that barely contribute anything positive to the community.

Occasionally there are members whose sole intention is to stir up shit. They're fueled by attention, so the less you give them the faster they go away... and vice versa.

Archinect's forum is not intended to be entirely architectural discourse. It's a gathering place for architects, designers, and like-minded people. Obviously a lot of the discussion will be about architecture, but it is expected that much of the discussion will be completely unrelated to architecture or design.

We realize that there is a lot we can do to help make this a better place to communicate, so we appreciate the feedback and comments - good or bad. We're working on integrating new features into the next generation of the forum. It's always more effective to send feedback via email, however, as these posts often go unnoticed.

--

Client - it's unfortunate you think the people that run Archinect are "retarded". But what does that say about your participation here? If you bothered searching the links section before submitting your links you would notice that they were already in our database. And, yes, we do selectively choose what links get approved to be added, based on relevence and/or quality (including news, books, images, etc.). If your links or images haven't been added they are either stiill in the queue waiting to be reviewed, or they just weren't considered good enough.

Mar 21, 07 12:33 pm  · 
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marmkid

its like those people who complain about being fat, but go to mcdonalds every day

speaking of which, its time for lunch

Mar 21, 07 12:35 pm  · 
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marmkid

ps
when i saw the title for this thread, i thought archinect had decided to move their website in another direction

Mar 21, 07 12:36 pm  · 
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^^or they were a repeat. I've seen people submit something to the news, then five minutes later one of the editors realizes that the same thing was posted two days ago, so it gets deleted. So if you just see something and post it without checking what's already in the news feed, then you won't know that someone else already put it up. This is not discrimination- in the news section, there's no reason to have multiples.

Mar 21, 07 12:37 pm  · 
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evilplatypus

The only thing that is really starting to blow around here is the ever increasing this school vs that school and Im so scared i wont into grad school posts. Possibly indicitive of a larger social problem in general. Is it possible that weve created a generation of 'tards?

Mar 21, 07 12:50 pm  · 
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i've always attempted to be generous and welcoming.

i'm not new around here, but i ALSO get flamed on a regular basis. sometimes for honest attempts to be helpful. (sometimes it's deserved.)

don't take it personally.

Mar 21, 07 12:56 pm  · 
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AP

i've had links not make the cut for quality, and also for redundancy.
i've had news get deleted for redundancy.
i've only ever posted 1 or 2 images to the gallery.

to put it quickly, the good far outweighs the bad on this site.

to elaborate...

say 'user A' posts a question that has been answered 1 or more times in the past on this site. their post may initially receive a comment such as "search the forums, this has been addressed as naseum." I don't see anything wrong with that. now, if the comment is sarcastic or rude, well, that's another story.

now, if 'user A' posts a question and includes links (or refers) to past threads on the topic, they've demonstrated initiative, and usually are well received by any member, new or old, with something to offer.

*the de-railing of a thread with off-topic comments is most often the result of an initial post that, by many accounts (newbie, oldie, whatever) is either offensive or not a valid topic to discuss. in the past i've personally avoided those threads (not feeding the troll, i guess). recently, i've taken to making an off-topic comment or two, but only on threads like Yale Blows or equal. maybe that's not the classy thing to do, but in the face of such a thread, it's an attempt to derail a potentially destructive, offensive and baseless conversation.

Mar 21, 07 12:57 pm  · 
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Archinect

Part of our plan is to create three separate forums:

1) serious architecture discussion
2) serious school discussion
3) non-serious chat

With an ability to browse all simultaneously.

Mar 21, 07 12:57 pm  · 
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Archinect

It should also be noted that we get so many link submission that many get missed and buried by all the newer submissions. There have been many instances when a good link doesn't get posted. So, to ammend the earlier comment, "If your links or images haven't been added they are either stiill in the queue waiting to be reviewed, they have been missed or buried by newer submissions, or they just weren't considered good enough."

Mar 21, 07 1:00 pm  · 
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liberty bell

Sounds like a good plan, Archinect.

I have to admit a sense of wonder at anyone thinking their links/images/whatever not being accepted equates to some kind of overzealous moderating i.e. censoring.

Though the forums are available for all to use aka "public", Archinect is privately owned and operated, yes? If I personally create a website/publish a magazine/own a TV station I am allowed to decide what I will and won't air, correct?

Not censorship, editing. I for one am glad for it, because without it we'd see tons of porn.

(Not that porn a bad thing, but it's not appropriate content here.)

((In my opinion.))

Mar 21, 07 1:02 pm  · 
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