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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 12:09:43 GMT -5
First off, don't act like you know me or my type. You don't know a thing about me so don't try to categorize my behavior and pass yourself off as some kind of character expert. It seemed to me the more I said I liked the sign for what it was, the more feverishly you defended your position. I took it as an attempt to trivialize the way I felt.
And now, for your honest debate...
When it came time for the Olympic to put up a new sign, they could have done a number of things. They could have installed a standard sign with a flat colored panel illuminated by florescent light bulbs. Instead, they went to the trouble of designing, or having someone design for them, a custom neon sign. It's obvious that sign isn't some off-the-shelf neon piece that any liquor store can hang in their front window, so it probably took a good deal of time and money. Sure it's bright, and it's not exactly like some of the older neon on the island but at least the owners of the place went for originality instead of taking the easy/cheaper way out. I honestly don't remember what the Olympic looked like before. Maybe if I had a picture, I'd like it even more than I do now. All I'm saying is that I give credit where credit is due, and I think the Olympic deserves a little for their attempt, whether you like it or not.
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Post by shoregirl on Jul 27, 2006 12:15:53 GMT -5
Excellent - intelligent response ;D
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Post by Doowopper on Jul 27, 2006 12:20:10 GMT -5
For goodness sake, it's just a sign. Everyone can have their own opinion on the sign. If you like it, good. If you don't, your entitled to your opinion. At least give credit to the owners of the Olympic who poured out a lot of money for all that neon. Neon signs are extremely expensive, and it does wonders lighting up the slowly darkening street. Wether we like it or not, things will change, but I'd sure as heck take the new neon over the old, which was probably starting to malfunction, over a plastic panel flourescent sign.
Let's all just cool down a moment and remember were all on the same side and everyone can have their own opinion.
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 12:31:43 GMT -5
That's all I was saying. Believe it or not, I was trying to keep this positive!
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Post by dolfinmusic on Jul 27, 2006 12:40:00 GMT -5
We should just be happy that the hotel is still there
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 12:54:34 GMT -5
I agree. I'm pretty much happy to see ANY motel still there, save for the Ship Ahoy
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Post by thelastresort on Jul 27, 2006 13:26:50 GMT -5
"positive"? sure, calling someone an idiot is very positive. I'll have to try that next time I am trying to make a friend. Have you written any books on the topic lately?
ok, I'll stop.
Back to the Olympic issue, I suppose I just found it a bit silly that they would throw up a sign to join the club, when (again this is just my opinion) is seems kind of out of place, and that classic pastel look just seemed better.
Also, I suppose I don't think everything has to be neon. There is something to be said about "too much of a good thing", and we've all seen gaudy, overdecorated houses at Christmas time (just watch Christmas Vacation). Personally, I like having the mix, a few condos here, a few motels there, a little flash here, a little pastel there. They all don't have to be neon to be nice, just the point I was trying to make. The whole town doesn't have to look like someone's nightmare.
Think about it, what if someone threw up a tacky neon sign on "Duffy's on the Lake"? Would that make it so much better? Perhaps there are a few fanatics out there who think it would. I think it would be a tragedy.
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Post by writhinganacondo on Jul 27, 2006 13:30:46 GMT -5
The Olympic Island is a great sign. I can't believe some individuals on this site would criticize it. With the last great surge of motel neons about 5 yrs. ago, that sign was considered the most spectacular by several publications, it also made the cover of Sign Builder Illustrated and Design Forum magazines. There was another article in Sign Builder Illustrated about Wildwood called Those Wildwood Days in April of 2006. It said like 800 structures and 1000 neon signs have been lost over the past five years. As I type this the din of nail guns, flatbed trucks, cement mixers and bobcat diggers continues unabated.
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Post by thelastresort on Jul 27, 2006 13:39:43 GMT -5
1000 signs? 800 structures? gotta question those numbers. I suppose if they include every neon "OPEN" or "VACANCY" sign, and every little hovel that has since been demolished, maybe that is the case. but there weren't 800 motels or 1000 signs on that island otherwise.
Also, I know this is "doo wop heresy" to some people out there, but I like some of the new condos (post 2004). They are just too expensive. I've said this before, unless objectivity has completely been thrown out of the window, some (not all) are vast improvements over what was once on the spot. how can one deny that? It is just the juggernaut movement to "tear down everything" that I oppose, but honestly, some (not all) of those old places are better being part of our past than still cluttering up the town.
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 14:49:45 GMT -5
I didn't say you were an idiot, I said you were acting like an idiot. Big difference. And no, I haven't read any books on how to make friends because I've never found them necessary. Actually, I didn't know they existed. I'm guessing you've read a few since you know about them?
Here's thing thing. I was trying to be positive. I said I liked the neon sign and you start tossing around things like, "it sucks" and "it's bullsh**" and maintain that they installed the neon sign just to join the club... whatever club it is that you're talking about. Did it ever occur to you that the owners weren't happy with the old look of the place and wanted something new? Would you have preferred they painted the building one color and installed a blinking LED sign? Or what if they opted to become a Hampton Inn franchise? If the owners wanted to go for a new look, I'm glad they looked to Wildwood's Doo Wop past and installed something neon- bright, tacky and light-hearted. It fits with the area while not blending in.
Now, can you offer something else aside from your "they did it to join the club" comment? Because unless that is what the motel owners told you, I don't think that is the case... or at least there is a bit more to it.
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Post by thelastresort on Jul 27, 2006 15:07:57 GMT -5
they did it to join the club, period. but hey, it's their money, you obviously think it is your money or you somehow have a personal stake in it, the way you are defending it.
yes, let's add another wack job to the DWPL board who takes every sign and demolition personally, as if we don't have enough that have come and went.
and sure, I can waste more of my time with the word game "I didn't say you were an idiot, I said you acted like an idiot". blah blah. ok, I didn't say you read any "how to make friends" books, just wondered if you wrote any. and on and on we go. but I suspect you've had enough of a mental challenge for the day, you can go back now to watching Toon Disney.
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 15:14:44 GMT -5
I watch a lot of Disney. I think The Lion King is as good a movie as Dogma, Airplane and American Beauty. I love Disney stuff. Is there a problem with that?
I'd like to know what your basis is for the statement about them installing that sign to join the club. Maybe they just needed a new sign? I somehow doubt the owners of the place were sitting around in the shadow of the old sign and said to themselves, "Gee, everyone in Wildwood is joining the neon sign club, don't you think it's time we got on board?" If you're going to keep on playing the same broken record, at least explain why you feel that way instead of criticizing me for finding a reason to appreciate it. You wanted a debate, so you got one. Maybe you can stop finding new and creative ways to put me down and back up what you're saying, just as I'm backing up what I'm saying?
Yeah, I'm defending the sign, just as you're defending your hatred of the sign. One good wackjob deserves another, ya know?
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Post by thelastresort on Jul 27, 2006 15:24:15 GMT -5
"One good wackjob deserves another, ya know?"
Man, now we're talkin! my sense of humor! finally! thanks!
no seriously, it reminds me of at the end of the movie Patton (I hope you saw it -- it's a classic), when he was asked to have a drink with the Russian general (Patton hated the Russians), and Patton said he does not want to drink with "any Russian SOB", then the Russian said that Patton was also an SOB, and Patton smiled and said "ok, I'll drink to that, one SOB to another".
So here it is "one wack job to another".
And again, sorry for all the banter. I tend to have a very acerbic sense of humor, and tend to just "say it" in a very passionate way. Those who know my posts know me by now (I see you are new, believe me, there are others like this, even worse, you will find out). But it's all in "fun" I suppose, I view it as how I would kick it around with the guy at the local pub, sure people get p-ssed, and then they forget about it. There are those who swore they would never talk again, and then are posting things in the other person's interest. It's beautiful man.
Seriously, let's chill. It's only a friggin' sign.
Enjoy the afternoon, and your next trip to the shore. and we can each look at the Olympic sign and have a laugh.
PS, I'm partial to the Disney Pixar's myself. Cars is in my top 25 of all time (although I doubt it will ever get higher in my personal rankings than Godfather and Jaws)
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 27, 2006 15:35:02 GMT -5
You don't have to get me started about passion. I'm passionate about a lot of things, and I suppose I can get a little hot-headed at times. I'm sorry about the "idiot" comment- I guess this is a good example of how things can escalate when there is no way to refer to the things that can be enjoyed in a face-to-face conversation.
I agree, let's chill. It is just a sign, and after reading a lot of your other posts, I see that we are on the same page on a lot of things so it certainly isn't worth throwing stones at each other over this when there is a lot we coulc be agreeing on. I will look at the Olympic sign when I'm at the Cape Cod Inn in August and laugh about all this... and I will make it a point to see Patton!
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Post by thelastresort on Jul 27, 2006 15:43:44 GMT -5
Great, if you like WWII movies, you will enjoy it, I'm sure.
And if you read my other recent posts, I'm going now to get myself some booze, cigarrettes and lottery tickets, and then feel bad since I have to cancel my vacation (sorry, could't resist).
Have a good rest of your week!
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