schoolie's Profile

I've been trying to figure out the floorplan, and just realized why I'm confused. The couch in picture #4 should match the couch in picture #5. But they're different couches, no? Which is there now, and which did you get rid of? Just curious!

I smell someone who's only out to comment negatively on just one place. Now that, with a touch of rosemary and some garlic, that smells like cheating, IT stud. Dave and Melanie, ignore this one sad cad. Your place is stunning and natural. Cheers!

Keep the comments, institute the flagging. Here's my admittedly long explanation:

This online community is a mix of public and private space that defies normal rules of social conduct. If some of these comments were made in a professional setting, the offenders would likely lose their jobs. Made in a private setting like a housewarming party, the host and/or his friends would kick out the offender (take a cab, sober up, and don’t call me tomorrow). Comedy show hecklers, super noisy movie-goers, public disturbers – all are “politely” escorted out by security or cops.

But here, if the webmasters are not going to play that security role, it is up to the community to take care of business. There are always people who go too far...people who react to the photos and think it's important to say in as many capital letters as possible how much they disdain the entry. But those people are inevitably present in any community. They have potentially lost jobs, friends, and movie endings because of their inability to finesse the language and check the bluntness. They can’t lose too much here, which makes it all the more incredible that the community still steps up and handles its own hecklers. We're all a mix of colleagues, friends, and/or strangers in this setting. This community, much more than others, does a great job of determining which comments have gone too far, and an equally great job of standing up for the people who enter their homes in this contest.

As an aside, I don’t agree that when entering a contest you should assume you are subjecting yourself to some of the comments here. That is not necessarily true in other contest settings, particularly ones where judges make face-to-face comments. I’m surprised we’re at a place where we could believe that to enter an Apartment Therapy color contest means you have to have thick skin and expect, well, the worst. Maybe on American Idol, but in that setting the producers are hoping for the rudest comments possible. None of the really rude comments would be accepted in a poetry contest, a pup show, etc. Those people would lose their role as judge and never be asked back. We’re not making sensational TV here. We’re just interested in home design. The website's model relies on community members feeling comfortable enough to show their homes and projects and receive feedback in and out of the contest. The annual contest is absolutely "a time for timidity." Entering any contest can cause anxiety, self-doubt, vulnerability, etc. That's human. Humans actually don't have the "thick skin" some are attempting to claim.

I’m not as frustrated with the rude comments as I am impressed by all the positive comments, both constructive and supportive. One inappropriately negative comment generally elicits a number of thoughtful, interesting, and supportive ones. And for that, I hope to see comments, and the comments ABOUT the comments, continue. The flagging feature is a wonderful way to continue giving power to the readership. If the really “wounding” comments are not going to be escorted out by the AT webmasters, they can be escorted out by the community.

Lifeinvector - It's a 3-day-per-entry contest this year. From the rules and regs: "Registered AT readers will be able to vote once during the 72 hours (3 days) following the posting of each contest entry." After that, survey says...

I keep coming back to look at the 2nd and 3rd pictures...the sunlight you get in your home is pretty incredible. And enviable!

I agree about those chairs...they are wonderful!