Of Bows and Arrows and Machine Guns
I was reading The Economist today. The specific article was on the origins of warfare and about whether humans are inherently warlike. The good news is that we are probably not predisposed to war, unless we are part of the Tiwi people… The article is worth a read. But here’s the quote that got me thinking about our recent discussions:
“The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.”
Sound familiar? Let’s change some words. Swap in BIM, hand drafting or CAD (which I consider essentially the same thing), and change lethal to effective, powerful, communicative, etc.
Now back to bow and arrows. Who took archery in summer camp? Who’s father-in-law, cousin, or brother likes bow hunting? Tools and their usage evolve overtime. A bow went from a tool of survival and war to a past time, a luxury, a hobby. If I’m going to war, I want a machine gun not a longbow. But if it is the weekend and I’m going into the forest with my father-in-law to hunt some dinner (which if we don’t get is no big deal), doing it with a bow sounds nice. Likewise, going to battle verse other architecture firms (I mean competing against other firms for work) and not bringing the most power tools is crazy. Or maybe not crazy, but definitely not a business model that I’d recommend. Hand drafting is great; but it is moving (has moved) from a professional skill to a niche hobby and luxury just like the once mighty bow. Likewise BIM-once perceived as just a production tool-is morphing into a design asset.
For a more in depth look at these issues, why don’t you read It Happened Again: someone reminded me that Computers are Just Tools and Skill vs Power: Learning BIM.
This isn’t the post on architectural tools I meant to write today, but drinking coffee, listening to techno music, and reading The Economist got my brain racing. I also wrote some on a few short stories I’m working on. But it’ll be a while before I have the courage to start sharing those. Subscribe to my blog to read more of my wild ramblings on everything from BIM and Design to the Future of Architecture and Technology: Shoegnome on Facebook, Twitter, and the RSS feed.
Billy Earnest
I guess I may have to quit following ‘Shoegnome’. I’ve been trying really hard…. I really like the content when it’s got helpful tips & such. I can’t stand these ridiculous analogies & person stuff, which seem to lean more on the fantasy world that suits me. I prefer those things in books & movies…..
I would like to remind Jared (& everyone) of the last 3 letters in the amazing software that he loves so much (& has profited directly from, I believe)…..Archi-what? See, to me…..bim IS cad. ‘Computer-Aided Design’…..& throw in the other ‘D’ for ‘drafting’ if you want. It’s still part of the deal. In my 20 years, & as a survivor in this game somehow (I’m not an architect!), & having built a few digital models since the turn of the century, as well.
I do like ArchiCAD, but I still pay more of my bills doing plain old 2D CAD work. Which to me, is surely not hand drafting. I also know that most CAD users have no idea of what AutoCAD can & will do, & the things I do with it……When working in ArchiCAD, the 2D stuff (still part of real work) & the management of the sheets, views, coordination, etc…..is still where it bogs down for me. I can run circle in those areas with AutoCAD, but I’m determined to become as efficient as possible & ‘master’ ArchiCAD. I also have a feeling that in the future, I may be using some offshoot of SketchUp more for a lot of things. Anyway……these kinds of posts get to me….there’s something insulting or disrespectful in there somewhere. I wanted to comment. Now, back to make a few bucks on a real project in 2D CAD….gasp! ByI’ve never been paid a dollar to draw anything by hand. When I started working in ’93, CAD was already pretty much ‘the standard’. If it was still done by hand, I would have never chosen this path in the first place. I love to draw, but I never want to be hunched over a table all day….not that being chained to a desk is much better.
Danny
I just laugh because the first part of that quote, “The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow” is a direct comparison of the two elements, and the second part then tries to say that comparing them is meaningless. As to the content of the post and Billy’s “too much fantasy” criticism, as an Architect for 8 years now and also a big fantasy fan I won’t lie that seeing Legolas made me curious if my LinkedIn feeds got mixed up somehow. 😀
Jared Banks
Perhaps the quote could have said ‘further comparison’, I guess that’d be technically more accurate. Language is a tricky thing. For instance have you been a licensed architect for 8 years or just been working in the field for that long? A HUGE difference. And something that our industry needs to get better at clarifying and defending.
On another note, I’ll have to check out your blog because it looks like something I’d enjoy. For what it’s worth, I think Fantasy and SciFi movies, writing, etc. have a ton to teach us. Weren’t the set pieces in the LotR and Hobbit movies just incredible?
Plus there’s definitely an element of the practice of architecture that needs a certain level of daydreaming and wonder. But more on that another time.
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