Why do strip malls/offices in America feel so gloomy, soulless, lifeless?

[zboy1]

Devil Dog has been temporarily banned for a few days for acting like a total troll. I hope he shapes up when he comes back to the forum in a few days....

[Ghost]

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[Teal Lantern]

If you go on Costco or Walmart web sites today, you'd find numerous emergency food products, as well as "Non GMO Seed buckets". I scratch my head at the thought of my coworkers buying $2,000 rifle scopes and seed buckets. As if they're going to turn the small HOA lawns into organic tomato and cucumber gardens and guard it with their rifles in zombie apocalypse? To start, when I asked "what are you going to do when water stops running from the facet?", I get a blank stare. You gonna run to the local park lake with your bucket for water?

If you live in the suburbs, you can buy an older house with a bigger yard, build some elevated planting beds and grow some food. However by the time that you add up the cost of water, it'd have been cheaper to buy the produce from the supermarket. But between paying to water the lawn and paying to water your veggie garden, you're better off converting your backyard lawn into planting beds. Invest some money on soaker hoses and you might save some $$ on your water bill.

For the price of an expensive AR style rifle, you can buy a shotgun and have enough money left for 6 months of emergency food plus a couple water barrels. At local Walmart many ammo types are long sold out, but shotgun shells are still plenty. The shiny AR or AK looks nice but you can't eat it when you're hungry. I suppose you could hunt squirrels with it, but I hesitate to think what's left of the squirrel after being hit.

When buying emergency food, make sure it's edible with cold or room temperature water added. If it requires hot water, ask yourself how you're going to get hot water in an emergency situation. Yes you can buy a solar oven, but you'd be screwed on a cloudy/rainy day.

I'm liking your recent posts, momopi.
Counter-intuitively, if each family prepped for just 30~90 days, there'd never be an issue with a "zombie apocalypse".
Even simply keeping cool headed makes a big difference, too.

Sadly, the same idiots that would have a fit (or mock you) if you turned your HOA lawn into raised plant beds will be the first ones trying to tear your door down begging for (or demanding) food, water, etc., when the grid/supply chain goes down.

See: The Shelter (parts 1 & 2, of 3)



One last thing -- if you have a tank water heater, that will give you 30~50 "reserve" gallons if the utility water stops running.

[momopi]

I'm liking your recent posts, momopi.
Counter-intuitively, if each family prepped for just 30~90 days, there'd never be an issue with a "zombie apocalypse".
Even simply keeping cool headed makes a big difference, too.
Sadly, the same idiots that would have a fit (or mock you) if you turned your HOA lawn into raised plant beds will be the first ones trying to tear your door down begging for (or demanding) food, water, etc., when the grid/supply chain goes down.

Back in 1982 I was digging a wanna-be nuclear fallout shelter with my cousin in the backyard, and storing boxes of instant noodles and .22 ammo. We were in elementary school and it seems kinda silly today, but when I was driving on the 5 FWY in LA, I saw a company selling disaster shelters with full sized product on side of the road, the kind that you bury into the backyard with a hatch opening. But considering that most new construction today are in HOA's with small lots and rules that would prohibit you from installing one of these in your yard, I'm not sure if their business is viable in the long-term here.

Recently I bought an old house with decent sized yard (no HOA!), and put down some planters and few dozen strawberry plants, intending to host my god-daughter's birthday party with a strawberry picking. That is, until I saw the $80+ water bill. Strawberries are $1.50/box at Food 4 Less. Ugh.

[Winston]

Have you guys also noticed that office buildings also have that gloomy, depressing, empty, soulless look? The dark silvery windows of office buildings look they want to suck out your spirit. They also look very prison-like.

Is it normal to feel that way? Or am I just too sensitive and not of this world?

Also, have you noticed that the inside of a warehouse looks gloomy and depressing too? All those boxes and crates along with the dark gloomy lighting, look depressing for some reason, and feel totally mechanized and impersonal. You ever feel that way when inside a warehouse building?

Here are some images of what I mean.









Warehouse interior.

[nicho12]

Winston, you're not alone man, I feel the same way and for me it's even worse because I work in cubicle as a computer programmer, believe me, they're times I thought about changing jobs and working at McDonalds not because I can't handle my job but the cubicle is too depressing and lonely. I have voted with my feet, I would rather be in a war zone than in this toxic society

[Winston]

I think I know why office buildings with dark silvery windows look gloomy and depressing now. It's because they send a message to your subconscious mind that: "Your soul doesn't matter. All that matters is production and consumption. You are a mere "human resource" in servitude of that. Therefore, you must suppress your creativity and passion."

Thus the design structure and what it represents is an attack on your soul, creativity, passion and life force. Is that right?

Also, the dark windows make the building look evil and sinister, as though it were hiding something.

[MattHanson1990]

In America it's mostly about what's inside the store. A shopping experience and materials. Why care about building a nice design when any design will do. It's just a shopping center and in America it's all about profit. Box-like stores and homes are the easiest to build. Building a beautiful building or a quality aesthetic building will be expensive. In America that's the reason why it's reserved for Churches, government buildings, museums, custom homes, luxury homes, resorts, some casinos and some hotels.

Even churches in America are nowadays box-like and have the soulless, gloomy, and empty feel and look to them. Just take a look at the cathedral in Ciudad Juarez (top) and contrast it with Crossroads Bible Church in Los Alamos, NM (bottom).

[IraqVet2003]

Three main reasons:

1. America has no appreciation for quality or tradition of building great works of architecture. Most homes, commercial properties, skyscrapers, and buildings look the same. Mass produced homes with no feeling or creative spark. Churches, expensive homes, custom homes, old buildings (usually built by immigrants or Americans in ages past when there was pride taken in their work and they valued quality). Now it's just getting the job built and conformity. Sometimes in tyrannies and police states there is a defacto vibe that deters creativity. Creativity inspires change, allows people to have unconventional thought, and dream. It allows people to become unique and be inspired. America is a tyranny and a police state, and only those who have money and power are generally allowed to have freedom and have their creativity respected (and usually their creativity is "acceptable" creativity that gets past the censorship and fits the regime's guidelines).

2. Architecture is a form of art. Uniform designs is similar to having people wear the same outfit, have the same hairstyle, and do the same things. Repetition and conformity to think like a hive. Do not question why things are the way they are. Accept them and be use to them. Many people never saw real architecture or they forget about it once they return from a trip. Many old cultures in Eurasia have architecture that inspires creativity and historical buildings. Some places in Africa and South America still have ancient architecture that stands. Many cultures, especially healthy cultures, value architecture as a form of art and take more pride in their designs. Many Americans overlook the subtle details because it's easy. It's almost like how no one really takes time to observe the trees, the sky, or the clouds. It's just there so they don't think about it.

3. In America it's mostly about what's inside the store. A shopping experience and materials. Why care about building a nice design when any design will do. It's just a shopping center and in America it's all about profit. Box-like stores and homes are the easiest to build. Building a beautiful building or a quality aesthetic building will be expensive. In America that's the reason why it's reserved for Churches, government buildings, museums, custom homes, luxury homes, resorts, some casinos and some hotels.

Tsar, you have made some fantastic points!!!! However, not to get off topic here but I think adding point to your list might help and it may have a possible connection to the lack of creativity in building design. And that is I have noticed whenever the school budgets fall short, one of the first things they cut back on are ART, MUSIC, AND PYSHICAL FITNESS. But all three of these areas are very important for brain (right-side) development in which creativity allows to think "outside the box" or unconventional thinking towards problem-solving. In addition, I have noticed that art just as intellectual thinking or content is not really celebrated, encouraged, or as valued in American culture/society as much as in Europe. Instead, modern America wants flash over substance, fads, quantity over quality, cheap and short-term thinking and profits. And I find the bland design of buildings is a REFLECTION OR OUTWARD MANIFESTATION of this sort of thinking in America which I also see it reflected in not only buildings, but clothing, T.V. shows, news, movies, food, and cars (except for the wealthy).

[Ghost]

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[Winston]

America's Ugly Strip Malls Were Caused By Government Regulation

Full article here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottbeyer/ ... f460fb492d

[NPCslammer]

Have any of you noticed that suburban strip malls and office buildings in America have a soulless, empty, gloomy feel and look to them? There is this gloomy ambience about them. It's as if they signify a life of robotic mechanized conformity where you have to put on a fake mask everyday in order to cope.

When I look at a strip mall or office building, I get a feeling of depression, sadness and hopelessness, as though life has no meaning. Any of you get that feeling too? Could it be that since I grew up in the suburbs, that the strip malls are associated with painful negative memories from childhood in my psyche?

It's not just the environment, but the square cookie cutter design of the strip malls and office buildings have an isolated lonely look and feel too. And you know those office buildings in industrial parks with dark silvery windows? Don't they look like prisons?

It's hard to put a finger on why that is. Do any of you feel that way too when looking at them? Or am I too sensitive and not of this world?

There is a feeling of conformity to the design of those structures as well, as though it were telling your subconscious mind to conform like a robot or something. Any of you notice that?

Here are sample images of what I mean:

That first picture looks depressing as hell. The little strip malls with the dollar general, a bank and Kroger. Literally painful to look at. Big malls and strip malls in Asia are a thousand times better, imo. And I know you’re coming at it from a more spiritual, intuitive angle, and yes I feel exactly the same, as if even looking at that place is bad for your health.

[MrMan]

I suspect your feelings about strip malls have more to do with your own memories, feelings, etc. Strip malls don't bump me out. They usually aren't beautiful works of architecture. They are utilitarian structures.

But I think it is a good thing that we have access to these goods and services. Think about living a couple of hundred years ago on a farm where you grew and made almost everything you ate and used. Imagine having a little fat homely farm wife who sat there spinning wool from the sheep you cared for into string and then making cloth on a loom. Then the cloth is treated with animal urine from the farm or your own urine.(I don't remember what the pee was used for, but I think all their clothes had had pee on them at some point.) And your wife make you some plain looking clothes to wear. Imagine trying to cobble your own shoes and wearing them.

And then you've got to eat the same food you grew. Think of what spices and flavors you would have in your food? You'd probably get sick of onions fast.

I'm glad we have shopping centers that sell food other people cooked for us, clothing and shoes made by specialists. I'm glad I don't have to do all those subsistence farmer things and I can specialize, earn money, and trade money in exchange for higher quality products.

Some of these stores are in strip malls. That's fine. I'm happy to have them around. If the businesses are honestly providing services for the community, that is a good thing.

[Winston]

Matt McKinley drives around a Pennsylvania town in this video below and shows you how soulless and meaningless America is, all consumerism with no soul or culture or fun or human connection. @galii where you are now at in Turkey doesn't look this soulless right? See how lucky you are not to be in America?



I posted this for Matt under the video:

@happierabroad
0 seconds ago
Not in Europe or Russia or Latin America, Matt. There people have fun, social connection, REAL culture, flirting, dancing, fun, etc. You gotta get out of America to truly LIVE and be FREE! How many times do I have to tell you that Matt? I already sent you a ton of proof.

[kangarunner]

Matt McKinley drives around a Pennsylvania town in this video below and shows you how soulless and meaningless America is, all consumerism with no soul or culture or fun or human connection. @galii where you are now at in Turkey doesn't look this soulless right? See how lucky you are not to be in America?



I posted this for Matt under the video:

@happierabroad
0 seconds ago
Not in Europe or Russia or Latin America, Matt. There people have fun, social connection, REAL culture, flirting, dancing, fun, etc. You gotta get out of America to truly LIVE and be FREE! How many times do I have to tell you that Matt? I already sent you a ton of proof.

@Winston Obviously not everything is artificial. We got scientists in America doing research. We do have manufacturing. We do have engineers who build the infrastructure. America has some of the best technology companies in the world.