Design versus DesignS  

I'm with you, Olive--
for the most part, anyway.
I'd say you're a bona fide "Design Addict", except you're a healthy one-- one who doesn't slavishly accept secondhand opinion, one who doesn't bother with games of upmanship, one who lacks the neurotic compulsion to endlessly hoard "archive-worthy" specimens (LOOK KIDS! Collect 'em ALL!).
I'd wager that most of the great designers (worshiped within these threads) were more simpatico with YOUR way of thinking.

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Agree for the most part with your thoughts Olive and am a bit tired of the collectors who seem to thrive on kudos and fashion. They seem to come here, get an ID and then vanish, as though thats the depth of the interest.
I disagree with your defence of large scale production and copies, mostly because of labour conditions, the ethics of that and the importance of unionised labour aren't mentioned much here but its one of the major criteria I use when judging something.
As for the copies, it comes own to the labour and the spectacular lack of imagination on behalf of the consumer and manufacturer. Legal but they do nothing for contemporary design or manufacturing in the West.

Olive
I hope you do not think that it was me who "admonished" you when I disagreed with you assessment of ModHaus' ball clock. I just tried to explain that there is more to fabricating something than one might assume at first glance. I did not argue that the price of the Vitra clocks was a good value. Only that they were reasonably well made and not some cheap crap that was wildly overpriced.
While you and I share some ideals, we may also be cut from different cloth. I agree with many of the things you say, yet I also recognize my struggle with my "collector gene". My problem is that I like so much stuff I struggle with my impulse to keep everything and build a museum showcasing the things I love. Modern art and design is a large part of my life, but there are many other things I collect and have far too many of. It's a personal quirk to be sure, but in my defense, I think I'm rather prudent with my choices and not a candidate for some reality show (at least not yet).
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I've found that as I discovered and delved into things, that the original (i.e. vintage) are the most interesting and honest to me. While many of the objects and furnishings in my home can be attributed to a specific name, I also have anonymous pieces and I do not slavishly worship the "approved" designs or designers. I do have a pretty well developed aesthetic sensibility of my own and respond to designs based on their merits and my own critical assessment. Not because someone else has given them a stamp of approval. Nor do I pay excessive amounts of money (that being relative, of course) for things because they are "collectable". I've long taken exception to the suggestion that something is worth more because it's "collectable". I think I've pointed out before that by definition, you can "collect" ANYTHING. Bottle caps, broken glass, shells, old flip-flops, toenail clippings....
But I do recognize that like artworks by a recognized master, when there is a finite number of things in the world, (Van Goghs, Zenith rope-edge RARs) and a larger number of people who like them and want to own them that it will drive up the price. That there are many people who respond to those master works, only speaks to the greatness of the art or design.
If you are happy to visit the museum and look at the original Van Gogh while you hang a poster of one in your home, that is great. If someone else chooses to pay more money than I'll ever have in my lifetime in order to own an original, I do not begrudge them. I may not think that is a wise choice to make considering what kind of positive impact that same money could have on the world if spent differently, but it's their choice to make, not mine.
I agree wholeheartedly that there are "label whores" who won't buy something with out the approved pedigree or big price-tag. But there are just as many people who see value in good design, even if they do not know who is responsible for creating it, or if it is inexpensive.
I don't think you need to concern yourself with the responses to your posts here on Design Addict. Nor do I think you need feel like an outsider. We all have our own likes, dislikes, perspectives and opinions. I for one value the diversity here. While I might disagree with what someone says, I respect their right to hold that position. Besides, if we all thought the same way, liked the same stuff, and walked lock-step down our aesthetic avenue, I think it would be very boring (and a little scary).
I think the fact that you have been logging on to Design Addict for the past 7 years makes you, by default, a Design Addict.
Welcome to the club.

Well then...
I guess I'm not totally off-base. Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone W-H-C. Anyone from "Freedonia" is one of the good guys in my book!
Heath, I do understand your point. And I actually try to go with it. I don't buy crap and well made item are generally not produced in sweat-shop conditions. I make a distinction between repros and knockoffs. The former is a well made piece that honors the original manufacture/design. A knock off is crap, pure and simple.
Heck no, Pegboard. You actually taught me something! It was that other fellow...