Comments on: Is the "secret" room at Houston's ZaZa a voyeuristic sex-dungeon for rich weirdos? http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: p0wn http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1662535 p0wn Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1662535 I think it's just a marketing ploy. Get people talking about the hotel. It's worked amazingly. I think it’s just a marketing ploy. Get people talking about the hotel. It’s worked amazingly.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1662525 noah django Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1662525 life's pretty cheap to that type. life’s pretty cheap to that type.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1662377 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1662377 Oh, I forgot that we had that completely useless function in the old system for a while. Never mind. Oh, I forgot that we had that completely useless function in the old system for a while. Never mind.

]]> By: blearghhh http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1662347 blearghhh Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1662347 This is the old version, showing the "replied to comment from " text that seems to match up with the nesting. http://web.archive.org/web/20100823014424/http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/20/explain-this-photo.html In other news, I'm obsessive... This is the old version, showing the “replied to comment from ” text that seems to match up with the nesting.

http://web.archive.org/web/20100823014424/http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/20/explain-this-photo.html

In other news, I’m obsessive…

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661886 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661886 There was no Reply button until we switched to Disqus. There was no Reply button until we switched to Disqus.

]]> By: PhasmaFelis http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661469 PhasmaFelis Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661469 What, you don't conduct hush-money transactions via public Reddit? What, you don’t conduct hush-money transactions via public Reddit?

]]> By: technogeekagain http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661361 technogeekagain Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661361 Massively unlikely since, these days, nonconsentual voyeurism would more likely be via camera. _Consentual_ voyeurism might be by one-way mirror because the participants want to know they're exposed, but that puts it back into "if not your kink, don't play" territory. And that's presuming it is a one-way mirror, rather than an unconvincing application of brickface or some equally mundane explanation. ("I can tell by the pixels?") Again, this tells us much more about the fantasies of the folks commenting than about the room. Pile up the assumptions and you have equally bad support for any assumption you like; "if false then" is inherently undefined. And sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Massively unlikely since, these days, nonconsentual voyeurism would more likely be via camera. _Consentual_ voyeurism might be by one-way mirror because the participants want to know they’re exposed, but that puts it back into “if not your kink, don’t play” territory.

And that’s presuming it is a one-way mirror, rather than an unconvincing application of brickface or some equally mundane explanation. (“I can tell by the pixels?”) Again, this tells us much more about the fantasies of the folks commenting than about the room.

Pile up the assumptions and you have equally bad support for any assumption you like; “if false then” is inherently undefined. And sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

]]> By: blearghhh http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661290 blearghhh Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661290 My guess: Because it always recorded what comment you were replying to, and switching to nested comments just changed how they displayed. So all the old ones would just be displayed the same way as new ones? Do I get a prize? My guess: Because it always recorded what comment you were replying to, and switching to nested comments just changed how they displayed. So all the old ones would just be displayed the same way as new ones?

Do I get a prize?

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661264 oasisob1 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661264 I repeat my last comment here. I repeat my last comment here.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661263 oasisob1 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661263 You really are into some weird stuff. (look for me on Craigslist) You really are into some weird stuff. (look for me on Craigslist)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661206 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661206 That raises a bigger mystery. How are there nested comments in a thread from before we switched to nested comments? That raises a bigger mystery. How are there nested comments in a thread from before we switched to nested comments?

]]> By: RevelryByNight http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661203 RevelryByNight Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661203 "for sexual liasons/ S&M prostitution or worse" What the hell is <i>that</i> supposed to mean?  I get the weirdness of banker photo whatnot, but there are many things worse than "sexual liasons/S&M and prostitution". This tone is way too judgy for me to find it amusing. Or, as we say in the scene: "Don't squick my squee." “for sexual liasons/ S&M prostitution or worse”
What the hell is that supposed to mean?  I get the weirdness of banker photo whatnot, but there are many things worse than “sexual liasons/S&M and prostitution”. This tone is way too judgy for me to find it amusing.

Or, as we say in the scene: “Don’t squick my squee.”

]]> By: Marios P. http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661201 Marios P. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661201 I do not have one handy to check, but wouldn't you be able to look behind a two way mirror with a bright light? ie stuck the mobile phone on it, turn the flashlight app on and pierce the darkness behind? I do not have one handy to check, but wouldn’t you be able to look behind a two way mirror with a bright light? ie stuck the mobile phone on it, turn the flashlight app on and pierce the darkness behind?

]]> By: retepslluerb http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661193 retepslluerb Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661193 About 2009, I think. It wasn't the speed of light, though, but the speed of the camera reading the sensor. It's slow enough that fast events can get captured multiple times in the same picture.  Edit: August 2010 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/20/explain-this-photo.html About 2009, I think.

It wasn’t the speed of light, though, but the speed of the camera reading the sensor. It’s slow enough that fast events can get captured multiple times in the same picture. 

Edit: August 2010 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/20/explain-this-photo.html

]]> By: Bruce Arthurs http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661169 Bruce Arthurs Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661169 Pornstache? Pornstache?

]]> By: Jim Barkley http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661155 Jim Barkley Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661155 Am I the only one who thought, "Yay rich weirdos!," as in the thing you yell at the Rocky Horror Picture Show when Brad describes the castle as "Probably some kind of hunting lodge for rich weirdos"? Am I the only one who thought, “Yay rich weirdos!,” as in the thing you yell at the Rocky Horror Picture Show when Brad describes the castle as “Probably some kind of hunting lodge for rich weirdos”?

]]> By: kringlebertfistyebuns http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661147 kringlebertfistyebuns Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661147 That was the consenus in the original Reddit thread. That was the consenus in the original Reddit thread.

]]> By: Incipient Madness http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661131 Incipient Madness Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661131 Putting soap into Mecom Fountain is a traditional prank for Houston youths. Fans of <i>Rushmore</i> might be interested to know that the scene when Max unleashes bees on Mr. Blume was filmed in The Warwick. It was also Bob Hope's favorite hotel back in the 50's and 60's. He thought The Shamrock was too gauche. Putting soap into Mecom Fountain is a traditional prank for Houston youths.

Fans of Rushmore might be interested to know that the scene when Max unleashes bees on Mr. Blume was filmed in The Warwick. It was also Bob Hope’s favorite hotel back in the 50′s and 60′s. He thought The Shamrock was too gauche.

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661082 jere7my Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661082 I think the squicky part was the idea that the one-way mirror might be used for nonconsensual voyeurism. I think the squicky part was the idea that the one-way mirror might be used for nonconsensual voyeurism.

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661077 Funk Daddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661077 Yes but only chump change suspicious. That needed another zero to be worthy suspicious. A thousand bucks is a thousand bucks, but if you've got a decent sized entity by the short hairs then a thousand bucks is rightfully at least ten thousand bucks IMO Yes but only chump change suspicious. That needed another zero to be worthy suspicious. A thousand bucks is a thousand bucks, but if you’ve got a decent sized entity by the short hairs then a thousand bucks is rightfully at least ten thousand bucks IMO

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661069 Funk Daddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661069 When I was a kid that was The Warwick and it was frequented by rich weirdos.  My how times have changed I think wistfully to myself.  There was/is a tunnel connecting it to the more recent Warwick Towers next door, for some reason me and the rats I ran with thought it was great fun to use it to cross the street. We used to sneak into their pools too. Also did an Ivory Snow / red Ritt Dye number on that fountain on Main right outside. Oh, I'm so old, I did enjoy being a delinquent. When I was a kid that was The Warwick and it was frequented by rich weirdos. 
My how times have changed I think wistfully to myself. 

There was/is a tunnel connecting it to the more recent Warwick Towers next door, for some reason me and the rats I ran with thought it was great fun to use it to cross the street. We used to sneak into their pools too. Also did an Ivory Snow / red Ritt Dye number on that fountain on Main right outside. Oh, I’m so old, I did enjoy being a delinquent.

]]> By: rattypilgrim http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661064 rattypilgrim Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661064  Hate? Isn't that a little hyperbolic?  Hate? Isn’t that a little hyperbolic?

]]> By: abstract_reg http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661065 abstract_reg Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661065 Clearly you're not part of the scene. (Hard to suspend a person from nothing.) Clearly you’re not part of the scene. (Hard to suspend a person from nothing.)

]]> By: rattypilgrim http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661059 rattypilgrim Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661059  Yes. I think it was more recent, though.  Yes. I think it was more recent, though.

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661050 Funk Daddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661050 Hurt me once and die? LoL Hurt me once and die? LoL

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661045 Funk Daddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661045 I'm all for people doing each other in the ways they want, but as others have mentioned, the portrait of the rich old disgraced white guy puts it right on over into weirdo terrain.  Not that there's anything wrong with that. - Some Awesome Seinfeld Writer BTW there really is nothing <i>wrong</i> about saying what is is, weirdo is principally defined as eccentrically unconventional.  The negative connotation (dangerous psychopath) is secondary, and wholly represented in the portrait. So Cory was right in any case. I’m all for people doing each other in the ways they want, but as others have mentioned, the portrait of the rich old disgraced white guy puts it right on over into weirdo terrain. 

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. – Some Awesome Seinfeld Writer

BTW there really is nothing wrong about saying what is is, weirdo is principally defined as eccentrically unconventional. 

The negative connotation (dangerous psychopath) is secondary, and wholly represented in the portrait. So Cory was right in any case.

]]> By: rocketpjs http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661040 rocketpjs Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661040 Strange room. I like Cory and have enjoyed most of his novels and posts.  Part of the enjoyment stems from his 'supermarket checkout line' approach to headline writing, which is clearly in evidence here. Strange room.

I like Cory and have enjoyed most of his novels and posts.  Part of the enjoyment stems from his ‘supermarket checkout line’ approach to headline writing, which is clearly in evidence here.

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661038 Funk Daddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661038 I thought that must be a television and that the pic is low rent panoramic since Walgreens isn't in the image reflected on the mirror. Good placement too, no one-way mirrors are 100% opaque and dungeons (I guess) may be wanted darkish, so a TV right across from the one-way helps out. I thought that must be a television and that the pic is low rent panoramic since Walgreens isn’t in the image reflected on the mirror.

Good placement too, no one-way mirrors are 100% opaque and dungeons (I guess) may be wanted darkish, so a TV right across from the one-way helps out.

]]> By: rattypilgrim http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661029 rattypilgrim Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661029 I have this horrible vision of G.W. Bush sitting behind the mirror with his Alfred E. Neuman grin on his face, his shoulders rising and falling as he snickers, an autographed glossy of Angela Merckel on his lap, and Karl Rove lurking in the shadows behind him. I mean, it is in Houston after all. I have this horrible vision of G.W. Bush sitting behind the mirror with his Alfred E. Neuman grin on his face, his shoulders rising and falling as he snickers, an autographed glossy of Angela Merckel on his lap, and Karl Rove lurking in the shadows behind him. I mean, it is in Houston after all.

]]> By: technogeekagain http://boingboing.net/2013/02/20/is-the-secret-room-at-hous.html#comment-1661008 technogeekagain Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214317#comment-1661008 I'm also slightly puzzled that the original poster assumed that "prostitution or worse" was involved... both because there's absolutely nothing indicating paid and/or illegal and/or non-consensual activity (as far as I can tell from what's been described), and because they seem to be under the delusion that prostitution never occurs in the hotel rooms they normally sleep in. (A good hotel does try to prevent prostitution on its property, more to protect themselves than for any other reason, but unless it's an ongoing operation or otherwise obvious it's hard to distinguish from any other double-occupancy room.) And there's the question of why the original poster thinks only the rich are weirdos... I've known folks who were far from rich who insisted on boring me with stories about their bondage games. (I really didn't need a description of the sound made by an electric guitar being used to paddle someone. Not my kink.) If you really feel a need to publicly squick about such things, you can find better examples... but this is telling us more about your hangups than about anyone else's. I’m also slightly puzzled that the original poster assumed that “prostitution or worse” was involved… both because there’s absolutely nothing indicating paid and/or illegal and/or non-consensual activity (as far as I can tell from what’s been described), and because they seem to be under the delusion that prostitution never occurs in the hotel rooms they normally sleep in. (A good hotel does try to prevent prostitution on its property, more to protect themselves than for any other reason, but unless it’s an ongoing operation or otherwise obvious it’s hard to distinguish from any other double-occupancy room.)

And there’s the question of why the original poster thinks only the rich are weirdos… I’ve known folks who were far from rich who insisted on boring me with stories about their bondage games. (I really didn’t need a description of the sound made by an electric guitar being used to paddle someone. Not my kink.)

If you really feel a need to publicly squick about such things, you can find better examples… but this is telling us more about your hangups than about anyone else’s.

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