[1707] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] Re: [Sponge-talk] dollar bill mural
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Wally Holland)
Thu Dec 15 01:02:24 2005
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:50:40 -0500
From: Wally Holland <waxbanks@gmail.com>
To: Cathy Zhang <zhangc@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <43A09A1E.6010306@mit.edu>
cc: mit-talk@mit.edu
cc: "Sponge-Talk@mit.edu" <sponge-talk@mit.edu>
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
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the smoot marks are maintained yearly by a fraternity (LCA) and aren't in
the way of any construction projects, wise or otherwise.
now whether you want to refer to them as a 'hack' or the leftovers from a
'hazing ritual' is a separate concern - the descriptions of the event tend
to blur that line. could be oliver smoot thought the idea was just
hilarious. but as with so many other things, the passage of time has made
people less likely to be annoyed by the distinction or lack of it.
that the original markings are augmented yearly by other painting in
celebration of various LCA pledge classes is similarly overlooked by those
who otherwise regulate the appearance of the bridge, presumably because the
smoots are a 'nice tradition' and can be mentioned by tour operators, etc.
cookie-cutter frat boys, you own this town,
wally
On 12/14/05, Cathy Zhang <zhangc@mit.edu> wrote:
>
> Pardon, but hasn't the smoot hack been around for a long while now? And
> it's not like anyone's planning to get rid of the smoot marks...
>
> -Cathy
>
> Jeff Roberts wrote:
>
> >As a member of the evil planning profession I'm probably personna non
> >grata in this conversation, but I thought I'd throw out a couple
> >pseudo-historical, pseudo-spiritual considerations ...
> >
> >1. Someone mentioned the dollar bill being part of "hacking history"
> >and that's certainly true. I'm no expert on hacking but it seems that
> >there are virtually no cases where hacks last forever. They are acts
> >of spontaneity and humor that have a limited lifespan, and then are
> >taken down in anticipation of the next hack that catches people's
> >fancy. Old hacks continue to exist in stories, and in the permanent
> >collection of the MIT Museum -- is that where the dollar bill belongs
> >now?
> >
> >2. Sure the mural looks cool, but will it really have the same effect
> >if the cashier's office is no longer behind it? MIT decided it was
> >time for the cashier's office to move on to a new home -- and students
> >generally did not object -- so is it time for the dollar bill to find
> >a new home as well? Should this new lounge space start with a "blank
> >slate" allowing students to excercise their creativity in new ways,
> >giving it a character more appropriate to what the space is used for?
> >
> >Anyway, that's just something to think about, I'm not really
> >advocating for getting rid of the mural and I'm certainly not saying
> >you should stop trying to save it -- I love it when students rally to
> >save an important part of "MIT history", especially when they don't
> >really know what that history is (anyone who's spent any significant
> >time at the MIT Archives, raise your hand) ...
> >
> >Jeff
> >--
> >Drink Moxie
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Sponge-Talk@mit.edu - The reason Kevin might not graduate.
> >
> >
> >---- For Archives & Subscription: Sponge-talk@mit.edu
> >http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/sponge-talk
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> MIT-talk mailing list
> MIT-talk@mit.edu
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/mit-talk
>
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the smoot marks are maintained yearly by a fraternity (LCA) and aren't in t=
he way of any construction projects, wise or otherwise.<br><br>now whether =
you want to refer to them as a 'hack' or the leftovers from a 'hazing ritua=
l' is a separate concern - the descriptions of the event tend to blur that =
line. could be oliver smoot thought the idea was just hilarious. but as wit=
h so many other things, the passage of time has made people less likely to =
be annoyed by the distinction or lack of it.
<br><br>that the original markings are augmented yearly by other painting i=
n celebration of various LCA pledge classes is similarly overlooked by thos=
e who otherwise regulate the appearance of the bridge, presumably because t=
he smoots are a 'nice tradition' and can be mentioned by tour operators, et=
c.
<br><br>cookie-cutter frat boys, you own this town,<br>wally<br><br><div><s=
pan class=3D"gmail_quote">On 12/14/05, <b class=3D"gmail_sendername">Cathy =
Zhang</b> <<a href=3D"mailto:zhangc@mit.edu">zhangc@mit.edu</a>> wrot=
e:
</span><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rg=
b(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Pardon, bu=
t hasn't the smoot hack been around for a long while now? And<br>it's not l=
ike anyone's planning to get rid of the smoot marks...
<br><br>-Cathy<br><br>Jeff Roberts wrote:<br><br>>As a member of the evi=
l planning profession I'm probably personna non<br>>grata in this conver=
sation, but I thought I'd throw out a couple<br>>pseudo-historical, pseu=
do-spiritual considerations ...
<br>><br>>1. Someone mentioned the dollar bill being part =
of "hacking history"<br>>and that's certainly true.  =
;I'm no expert on hacking but it seems that<br>>there are virtually no c=
ases where hacks last forever. They are acts
<br>>of spontaneity and humor that have a limited lifespan, and then are=
<br>>taken down in anticipation of the next hack that catches people's<b=
r>>fancy. Old hacks continue to exist in stories, and in the =
permanent
<br>>collection of the MIT Museum -- is that where the dollar bill belon=
gs<br>>now?<br>><br>>2. Sure the mural looks cool, but =
will it really have the same effect<br>>if the cashier's office is no lo=
nger behind it? MIT decided it was
<br>>time for the cashier's office to move on to a new home -- and stude=
nts<br>>generally did not object -- so is it time for the dollar bill to=
find<br>>a new home as well? Should this new lounge space st=
art with a "blank
<br>>slate" allowing students to excercise their creativity in new =
ways,<br>>giving it a character more appropriate to what the space is us=
ed for?<br>><br>>Anyway, that's just something to think about, I'm no=
t really
<br>>advocating for getting rid of the mural and I'm certainly not sayin=
g<br>>you should stop trying to save it -- I love it when students rally=
to<br>>save an important part of "MIT history", especially wh=
en they don't
<br>>really know what that history is (anyone who's spent any significan=
t<br>>time at the MIT Archives, raise your hand) ...<br>><br>>Jeff=
<br>>--<br>>Drink Moxie<br>><br>>______________________________=
_________________
<br>><a href=3D"mailto:Sponge-Talk@mit.edu">Sponge-Talk@mit.edu</a> - Th=
e reason Kevin might not graduate.<br>><br>><br>>---- F=
or Archives & Subscription: <a href=3D"mailto:Sponge-talk@mit.edu">Spon=
ge-talk@mit.edu
</a><br>><a href=3D"http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/sponge-talk"=
>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/sponge-talk</a><br>><br>><br=
>_______________________________________________<br>MIT-talk mailing list
<br><a href=3D"mailto:MIT-talk@mit.edu">MIT-talk@mit.edu</a><br><a href=3D"=
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/mit-talk">http://mailman.mit.edu/ma=
ilman/listinfo/mit-talk</a><br></blockquote></div><br>
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