Uptight. Let's see. Stiff, rigid, aloof, concerned with their image on a subjective level, overly concerned with being cool, packaged in that you can almost guess their positions on things in checklist form. Well, are they?
Mostly, I'd say yes. I'd say engineers and scientists are more uptight, except for the coolness part. By and large, I'd say lawyers and businesspeople are less uptight. Since they don't have to deal with the artistic and egotistical aspects of architecture and the more black & white and exacting aspects of engineering and science, lawyers and businesspeople seem to live in the big picture, especially the further up they go. Others who are less uptight might be teachers, social workers, and others who work with the public at almost all times.
Different occupations have different collective personalities and norms. How often do you see people cut up in either architectural school or practice? Not often. The discerning finger is up by the chin as they strike a pose ... and they turn into concrete statues. Just kidding. Your thoughts?
I know many fun architects outside academia. But some of the architecture faculty I run across act uptight and unpleasant for some unknown reason. Of these, their demeanors seem to range from "I smell something bad" to "I have a Louisville Slugger rammed up my ass."
UP TIGHT.....every time I go to one of the AIA Seminars....and I walk in wearing blue jeans and a polo shirt and cowboy boots I feel the tension in the room build. Then when I stand up and ask the keynote speaker if he really believes the shit he is saying. I feel the tension in the room build. Then when I inflate my blow up doll girlfriend at the sit down dinner meeting I feel the tension in the room build. Then when i prick her with a pin and she deflates and I say....ah it was only a one night stand....people ease up and realize I was there to have a good time.
I find design architects to be generally uptight and pretentious. Basically, the less the person knows about construction and building science, the farther in the stick goes. (Based on my observation.)
I generally find engineers to be pretty down to earth people.
I find design architects to be generally uptight and pretentious.
Yes. I agree. Architectural faculty can be another pill, especially design faculty. It's faux intellectualism. I mean, if you're a social psychologist, and you conduct a statistical study, you've got something to hang your pyscho-babble on. The generalist architects can be cool, and those are the ones I count as friends, outside of the workplace. And, they have a keen eye on life, and can call things accurately, though sometimes it's done in a very low key and subtle way.
Actually, let me back up on business types. Most of my friends were in marketing. Again, more fun and less tech ... usually outgoing and "water off a duck's back" types, too. Accountants can be an anal retentive and overly conservative. Finance types can be haughty, with investment bankers sometimes bordering on venomous. Did I miss anybody?
So, yes, it depends on the architect, or should I say, the strata of architect.
I don't know if there is a profession that can be generalized anymore. My office has the comedian, the know it all, the pessimist, the social butterfly, the family man, the divorcee, the shoe polisher, the untucked shirt wearer, the prius driver, the 70's chevelle enthusiast, the backstage rocker, the coach... and that's the architect next to me. I don't think it's possible to be one personality.
I've met some real stick in the muds, but then I've also met some wild socialites... I think it just comes down to how willing someone is to throw themselves on the hot coals. I will say that liquor seems to be a common denominator.
Interesting. Personally, I prefer the comedians, the walking encyclopedias, and the "it is what it is"/no bullshit types. They make it palatable. The prima donnas and those who get a rise out of stirring the pot do not.
I will disagree on the alcohol transforming people part. I am myself, sans alcohol, and so are most of the other interesting personalities. One drink ... and I'm asleep. That's why I don't drink. Unless it's an open bar at a wedding or something ... and it's FREE.
We had one really short guy who liked to go to the strip shows during lunch. When he resigned, that's where we took him for his going away party.
Nothing is better than an office that clicks and is very open about things... I can ask just about any dumb question I can think of, and there is typically a very honest answer (mostly positive)
We as a group go out a few times a year, both luncheons or off the clock (luckily in part because we have some very outgoing co-workers who host) and really get a sense of what we are about and do.
It also helps that we do a few restaurant projects and the owners are typically pleased with our hard work, so we try them out as a group... never been a better guarantee for great food and service!
I don't think I fit that description, but observant might.
Well, to those on here who are in the "way cool" / "let's keep it bohemian" set, I probably would be considered uptight ... and a douche bag to boot. So, you're preaching to the choir. But have a nice day, anyway.
Actually I just left the design-side of the profession for the client-side and since the move, I've gained a whole new respect for architects. I appreciate how anal architects are - the need to always get things right. Owners and contractors drive me crazy always wanting to come up with the "solution" over a 5 minute conversation. Yes, sometimes (usually) architects can be painfully slow, but generally, I will take stiff, rigid, and anal as long as it translates to careful, thoughtful, and meticulous in design.
May 14, 13 10:41 am ·
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Do you think architects are uptight?
Uptight. Let's see. Stiff, rigid, aloof, concerned with their image on a subjective level, overly concerned with being cool, packaged in that you can almost guess their positions on things in checklist form. Well, are they?
Mostly, I'd say yes. I'd say engineers and scientists are more uptight, except for the coolness part. By and large, I'd say lawyers and businesspeople are less uptight. Since they don't have to deal with the artistic and egotistical aspects of architecture and the more black & white and exacting aspects of engineering and science, lawyers and businesspeople seem to live in the big picture, especially the further up they go. Others who are less uptight might be teachers, social workers, and others who work with the public at almost all times.
Different occupations have different collective personalities and norms. How often do you see people cut up in either architectural school or practice? Not often. The discerning finger is up by the chin as they strike a pose ... and they turn into concrete statues. Just kidding. Your thoughts?
I know many fun architects outside academia. But some of the architecture faculty I run across act uptight and unpleasant for some unknown reason. Of these, their demeanors seem to range from "I smell something bad" to "I have a Louisville Slugger rammed up my ass."
UP TIGHT.....every time I go to one of the AIA Seminars....and I walk in wearing blue jeans and a polo shirt and cowboy boots I feel the tension in the room build. Then when I stand up and ask the keynote speaker if he really believes the shit he is saying. I feel the tension in the room build. Then when I inflate my blow up doll girlfriend at the sit down dinner meeting I feel the tension in the room build. Then when i prick her with a pin and she deflates and I say....ah it was only a one night stand....people ease up and realize I was there to have a good time.
I find design architects to be generally uptight and pretentious. Basically, the less the person knows about construction and building science, the farther in the stick goes. (Based on my observation.)
I generally find engineers to be pretty down to earth people.
I find design architects to be generally uptight and pretentious.
Yes. I agree. Architectural faculty can be another pill, especially design faculty. It's faux intellectualism. I mean, if you're a social psychologist, and you conduct a statistical study, you've got something to hang your pyscho-babble on. The generalist architects can be cool, and those are the ones I count as friends, outside of the workplace. And, they have a keen eye on life, and can call things accurately, though sometimes it's done in a very low key and subtle way.
Actually, let me back up on business types. Most of my friends were in marketing. Again, more fun and less tech ... usually outgoing and "water off a duck's back" types, too. Accountants can be an anal retentive and overly conservative. Finance types can be haughty, with investment bankers sometimes bordering on venomous. Did I miss anybody?
So, yes, it depends on the architect, or should I say, the strata of architect.
totally but you can't deny after going through school with architects, most people seem hella boring xD
Pretentiousness is the only thing most architects have to cling to. God knows it aint the money.
I don't know if there is a profession that can be generalized anymore. My office has the comedian, the know it all, the pessimist, the social butterfly, the family man, the divorcee, the shoe polisher, the untucked shirt wearer, the prius driver, the 70's chevelle enthusiast, the backstage rocker, the coach... and that's the architect next to me. I don't think it's possible to be one personality.
I've met some real stick in the muds, but then I've also met some wild socialites... I think it just comes down to how willing someone is to throw themselves on the hot coals. I will say that liquor seems to be a common denominator.
The only thing worse than a poor and pretentious architect is a rich and pretentious one.
JayCon:
Interesting. Personally, I prefer the comedians, the walking encyclopedias, and the "it is what it is"/no bullshit types. They make it palatable. The prima donnas and those who get a rise out of stirring the pot do not.
I will disagree on the alcohol transforming people part. I am myself, sans alcohol, and so are most of the other interesting personalities. One drink ... and I'm asleep. That's why I don't drink. Unless it's an open bar at a wedding or something ... and it's FREE.
We had one really short guy who liked to go to the strip shows during lunch. When he resigned, that's where we took him for his going away party.
I don't think I fit that description, but observant might.
@observant,
Nothing is better than an office that clicks and is very open about things... I can ask just about any dumb question I can think of, and there is typically a very honest answer (mostly positive)
We as a group go out a few times a year, both luncheons or off the clock (luckily in part because we have some very outgoing co-workers who host) and really get a sense of what we are about and do.
It also helps that we do a few restaurant projects and the owners are typically pleased with our hard work, so we try them out as a group... never been a better guarantee for great food and service!
I don't think I fit that description, but observant might.
Well, to those on here who are in the "way cool" / "let's keep it bohemian" set, I probably would be considered uptight ... and a douche bag to boot. So, you're preaching to the choir. But have a nice day, anyway.
@JayCon:
Actually, "inside jokes," invented acronyms, and nicknames are the social lubricants, from what I've seen.
snooker wins post of the year.
Actually I just left the design-side of the profession for the client-side and since the move, I've gained a whole new respect for architects. I appreciate how anal architects are - the need to always get things right. Owners and contractors drive me crazy always wanting to come up with the "solution" over a 5 minute conversation. Yes, sometimes (usually) architects can be painfully slow, but generally, I will take stiff, rigid, and anal as long as it translates to careful, thoughtful, and meticulous in design.
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