![]() And it sounds comically lame, sort of like “glug glug.” To my ears hot tub is to spa as jalopy is to car. Etymologically speaking, it’s based on the town of Spa, Belgium, which is famous for its natural hot springs.īy contrast, hot tub is an antiquated term that originated in the early 70s counter culture to describe halved wine barrels filled with still hot water used by hippies and swingers. It’s one beautiful syllable that immediately invokes pleasure. Here we have a term “spa” that sounds like “ahhh” – the feeling you have when you lower your body into the warm soothing waters. Never mind that words are allowed to have more than one meaning.ĭespite that rationale, hearing the term hot tub still makes me ill, as in a legionella outbreak. We all now bow to the tyranny of internet clicks. It’s bad SEO, which has become something of a modern communication doctrine if not a quasi-religion. “hot tub.” The rationale for using hot tub is simply that a spa conflicts with “day spa” or “pampering spa” in internet searches. Vanishing edge is less used, but far more adroitly descriptive.Įqually frustrating, although somewhat less mystifying is “spa” v. For my small part, I cringe every time I hear or read it and resist using it in print or in conversation. Yet, that’s the term that’s most commonly used. (I suspect we have the Toy Story movies to blame for that.) It’s a fantasy reference that’s indulged because people like the word infinity. First of all, we know there’s no such thing as an infinite body of water, or an infinite edge. My reaction: what a steaming load of bunkum, falderal, jibber jabber and utter nonsense. It’s been explained to me that it means the water appears to go on into infinity. And it sounds super cool, like a slight-of-hand magic trick.īy stark contrast, infinity edge has no actual attachment to reality, but instead is purely hyperbolic. ![]() The water quite literally vanishes over the edge and when used on a water-on-water view application, the edge itself vanishes from sight. I’ve long felt that vanishing edge is the far superior and more descriptive way to describe this most iconic of watershaping features. Frankly, are there really and truly any such things as a “non-interactive water features”? Isn’t simply looking at a fountain, pond or stream not meant for human immersion also a form of interaction? Point being, it’s a very fuzzy term.įor all my passion and years in a position of communicative high exposure and influence, I must admit that I have thoroughly lost the language wars on two fronts, despite years of advocacy for terms that I’m convinced best fit the features they are describing.įirst, there’s “vanishing edge” v. Consider the term “interactive water feature” – it’s imprecise to the point of nonsensicality. The references are crystal clear.īut we also have many terms that are far, far less effective. The same is true of laminar jet, beach entry or diving board. That’s especially true in the world of watershaping where much of our terminology has always been rather imprecise and even dubious.Įxamples: When we say “competition pool” or “racing pool” the meaning is immediately understood, requires no further explanation or clarification. The terms we use have the power to create an immediate understanding based on shared references. Working as a writer/editor, I’ve always deeply cared about the language we use to describe things. Landscape & Hardscape Materials/Equipment.Outdoor Living, Fire Features, Amenities & Lighting. ![]()
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