My dad looked at my new deck and said 'you built a stage, not a place to sit'

Lee Barnes · 2026-04-03T07:45:05.26232+00:00

We were having a beer out back last weekend and he pointed out I'd made it all about the look, with no real spots to relax. It hit different because he's right, I spent $1200 on cedar just to make something for pictures. Anyone else get so focused on a project looking good that you forget what it's actually for?

hayden4666mo ago

Sometimes the look is the whole point though.

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the_piper6mo ago

That deck thing is everywhere. People buy those fancy couches you can't actually sit on. Kitchens with crazy backsplash but no counter space to chop an onion. It's like we're building sets for a life we aren't actually living. Form over function, every time. The look gets all the attention and the use gets forgotten.

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parker_park86mo ago

Ever think about how a deck feels under your feet? I built one with perfect boards but forgot to sand down the edges. It looks great but you can't walk on it barefoot without getting splinters.

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