# Function or Design?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 26-Mar-2010 18:05:51

I'm the type of person who almost always prefers practical to decorative things. I like the simple not the complicated. In order for me to buy something, it has to do something, to serve a purpose. Even my religious things, such as books, statues/images, things for my altar (once I get one) and so on are there for a reason, to show my honour and love of The Gods or to aid in my worshipping Them. In fact, the only two things that come to mind that I own which have no real function are one of my tape recorders and my two stones from Syros Greece. The former I bought for $5 at a garrage sale because it was so unusual. It's from Nurelko and uses a size of microcassette that I've never seen anywhere. It also has the strangest controls I've ever seen on a player. So I was intrigued, and bought it. the stones, which don't do anything except sit on my dresser, are a reminder of the country I love and of my favourite island there. I asked a friend if she could just pick them up off the road and send them to me, and she did. If anything, the only way I'd think of aesthetics is if it matched other things, i.e. furnature or, all other things equal, if one product took up less or more space than another, deppending on my needs.
My mother, on the other hand, enjoys decorative things, ones that simply make the house look nice, from paintings, to vases, to ornaments, to little nicknacks. I was always against these things, considering them to be clutter and I always wanted to know if it's because I'm blind or just if it's in my personality. So what about you? Do you prefer functionality and simplicity over luxury and design? If you've seen before, does this affect your choices? Has your opinion changed since you lost your sight? If, like me, you've never seen, do you find it difficult to relate to your sighted peers on this? finally, do you have your own version of aesthetics, as in you like certain textures or shapes more than others?

## Post 2 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 7:42:43

this is an interesting topic. i'm sorry no one but me has responded so far.
When I was a kid I loved to collect things. I had mineatures, spoons, bells, shot glasses, and stuffed animals. After I became an adult and had to move all that crap, I decided practical was much better. If I can't use it, I don't own it. I do have some pictures on my walls, which were given to me but that's about it. My step mom always goes 'honey child, you have thousands of dollars of electronic equipment and you don't own good matching china. what is wrong with you?" She's from the south and her house is filled with all kinds of stuff. I pity her boys. AFter she goes, they will not have a clue in the world what to do with 50 11 sun catchers, and the entire village of stone cotages.

## Post 3 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 7:48:26

hahahaha Well, I did forget a collection of mine, cigarette lighters of just about every size and shape. These are disposables, but unlike the Bicks, they can all be refilled. So if I really wanted to use one, I could make it reusable. Anyway, I've got about 50 of them so far, all in a nice bag.

## Post 4 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 11:23:11

Personally, I think it's a waste of my miney to buy things that don't serve some sort of purpose. Of course, there are so many interpretations of what's useless, and what could be put to use.

## Post 5 by rat (star trek rules!) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 15:33:05

i think there'sa balance, i may buy something for decoration depending if it fits in to my mindset or stuff i like. Most of the things that are just for decoration however that i have have been made by me at one time or another, my clay sculptures, my stone carvings, that kind of thing

## Post 6 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 15:36:45

Yes. If you make it yourself, that's a different story, but it always amazes me how some people will spend over a hundred dollars on something just to look nice, but hey, that's just me.

## Post 7 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 29-Mar-2010 21:59:51

Oh, totally agreed! Anything made by you or given to you that was made by someone is precious. It's one-of-a-kind and should be treasured.

## Post 8 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Tuesday, 30-Mar-2010 12:58:47

Exactly, and, you didn't have to spend a hundred dollars to get it. I mean, I would keep something like that if someone bought it for me. After all, it's the thought, not the money, that counts, but I'm certainly not going to go out of my way to buy something like that myself.

## Post 9 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Tuesday, 30-Mar-2010 13:43:56

i don't get the people who collect beanie babies, teddy bears, stuffed birds, and glass anything. too much stuff to clean. a good friend of mine has something like 17000 beanie babies. they are on her steps her windows, the chairs, the floor. ototally obnoxious..

## Post 10 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Tuesday, 30-Mar-2010 18:22:39

I used to collect beanie babies, but I never had quite that many. LOL

## Post 11 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 30-Mar-2010 19:57:57

Joanie used to collect them too, but of coure, never had that many. Also Elmo and tigger things. Mom used to collect Marolyn Monrow related things.

## Post 12 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Wednesday, 31-Mar-2010 0:03:32

My mom used to love decorating at Christmas time not only with a tree and that sort of stuff, but little nick nacks all over the place. No surface was left uncluttered. Ever since I've been on my own, I haven't decorated at Christmas. I also don't hang paintings on my walls. However, there are some things that are decorative that I like if they are pleasing to me for some other reason. For example, I love old perfume bottles and like feeling their shapes and smooth glass. I also like cute little boxes of all materials. I don't have a large collection because of lack of space, but I would collect more if I had the space and money to buy a lot.
As for whether my lack of vision affects these types of decisions, of course it does. When I could see I loved going to arts and crafts shows and looking at paintings and other items. I'd probably have a much more decorative home if I could see.

## Post 13 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Wednesday, 31-Mar-2010 10:13:35

when i said pictures on the wall, i wasn't descriptive enough. some of the things i have are embroidered pieces from my aunts, a wall quilt, an etching that you can feel, and a native mask from mexico. all stuff that is pleasing to the hands and the eyes.

## Post 14 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Wednesday, 31-Mar-2010 14:10:41

We used to go all out with the Christmas tree, until we got cats, and they decided to have a different kind of fun with it, so now we just don't bother...