[tfld]

I was just curious how any of you may respond to someone who says, "so what?"

What is the value of landscape?

[TrickyDick]

I guess that would depend on what they were saying "So What?" in response to.

[jshilan]

If I recall back to my childhood days, I believe that the appropriate response to "So what" is "That's what". I'm not sure if this is a regionally specific response here in the north east. I can't swear by it, but I'm pretty sure it originated in a school yard in Brooklyn.

As a back up, I believe you can also go with "neh neh neh neh neh". This may be more universally accepted and better understood by the masses.

[papercutter]

sew what? sew buttons.

yes, I'm actually 105 years old.

[jshilan]

In other situations I have used "I know you are but what am I" very successfully. This has worked well for me, especially if there is name calling involved. Most customers calm down when they realize they can't win.

However, if they really get to me I just mimic them. This usually causes mutual anger and frustration, but it's still fun to do.

If all else fails, I hit 'em with "Sticks and stones ..." and then take my Bobcat and go home.

[Fine Edge]

Please don't forget that during a heated arguement with customer, always speak your mind then immediately cover your ears and start saying "I can't hear you" over and over until they leave.

[tfld]

Yes, all very clever and witty responses. Going from being a residential landscape guy to landscape architect in the next couple of years this queation is actually the ine that haunts me the most. For example, take "Riverspirits" question below on how to build a stream. Many of the answers, surprisingly sounded more like engineering than design with little discussion or consideration of the ecological, psychological, economic, and sociological values of creating a stream.

If a client approached you with a need to reroute 500' of a natural stream and their first inclination is to channelize it (because it's quick and effective) what would your response be? How do you assign quantifiable value to the beauty of a meandering stream with lush banks vs. a concrete ditch? (without necessarily talking about the cost of concrete).

-n

[Fine Edge]

So, what are they actually saying "so what" to?

Do you currently have a client that has issues with some of the work that's scheduled to be done or do they want to cut corners and impact the land in a negative way?

[agla]

"So what?" is an invitation to explain something. My response would be to think if I just said something that needs far more explanation than I gave. If it does I would make a better effort at explaining it. If it does not, I think I'd react to the spirit of which it was delivered. In other words, I'd be pissed if it was delivered in a flippant way or I'd be amused that the person is too simple to understand it and try again to get my point across.

I had a professor who said "so what?" when we would have not explained very well why something was in a plan or why it was done the way it was. It was to remind us that we needed to understand why we were doing something and hopefully that reason fit the criteria of the project.

[tfld]

I am really looking for a contractors take on the actual value of landscape. I was hoping for a less "economic" response and more "philosophical" one. I'm trying to get at the heart of why we all believe landscape (ing) has real value, whether it be a few shrubs in someones front yard or a remediated river corridor?

[papercutter]

dude, navel-gazing! What the heck, it's slow around here...

I believe that landscaping has value because done well, it solves a problem. That, to me, is reason numero uno why my services are in demand. If I master the foo-foo crap but the yard still floods every time it drizzles, I'm a flop.

Beyond that... landscaping allows us to reconnect with nature (to varying degrees), and can provide a window-seat for natural processes.

Landscaping draws on a variety of disciplines in the arts AND the sciences. In how many other fields do you own a color wheel AND a laser transit?

In your example with the stream/ concrete ditch, landscaping has value in that it mitigates the effect of the hand of man (or woman- don't read misogyny into that). I think a large chunk of our value comes from designing functional solutions that the client is happy they get to live with.

[natural12]

Whatever

[tfld]

Originally Posted by papercutter

dude, navel-gazing! What the heck, it's slow around here...

I believe that landscaping has value because done well, it solves a problem. That, to me, is reason numero uno why my services are in demand. If I master the foo-foo crap but the yard still floods every time it drizzles, I'm a flop.

Beyond that... landscaping allows us to reconnect with nature (to varying degrees), and can provide a window-seat for natural processes.

Landscaping draws on a variety of disciplines in the arts AND the sciences. In how many other fields do you own a color wheel AND a laser transit?

In your example with the stream/ concrete ditch, landscaping has value in that it mitigates the effect of the hand of man (or woman- don't read misogyny into that). I think a large chunk of our value comes from designing functional solutions that the client is happy they get to live with.

Nice answer.

[tfld]

Originally Posted by natural12

Whatever

Exactly.

[GLAN]

Oh my goodness.....


Thanks for this thread.

I realy needed a giggle




Papercutter........good response