Seriously, the stargate is just nasty...

[HooKendo]

Stargate, stargate, stargate!!!  That's all I seem to be seeing around this forum lately.  And to that, I say stargate shmargate!  Don't people here realize yet that by all buying the "stargate" hookah, they are effectively reducing the demand for the more traditional, decorative hookahs.  Slowly, by the dictations of Economics 101, this would mean that other companies are going to start switching over to this design simply because people want it and it sells in high volume. Now I'm going to come right out and say what has been on my mind since this craze started: THE STARGATE IS ONE FUGLY HOOKAH!  Yeah, it's clean looking with its smooth lines and stature, but it basically sucks all of the life and soul out of this Middle-Eastern Tradition.  Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but it seems like you are literally destroying a good portion of the true meaning behind the shisha tradition by using what I consider to be a plain, sterile instrument purely for convenience.  Okay, it smokes well and the build quality is debatable (ranging from poor to excellent from what I’ve read), but there are just as many consistently good-quality hookahs available in a wide range of colorfully unique designs; “flavors” if you will.  Before buying another stargate, please, take some time to consider other affordable options from the high-quality retailers listed and reviewed throughout this very forum.

[ZAP]

I actually agree.  I really do not know what people see in the
Stargate so much.  Many people like to bash every other 'inferior'
chines hookah but the Stargate made by the same company just happens to
be so much better

Oh well... whatever floats your boat.

[Lakemonster]

Sentiment sustained.
When the dust settles.... its just another gimmick to me.
There will be something else cranked out by the Chicoms when the Stargates 15 minutes are up.
 

[yashman19]

Does personal preferance mean anything to you? I own a Stargate, does
that mean I think any less of middle eastern tradition? I own a
Stargate AND two egyptian style hookahs, but this shouldn't mean
anything. I bought my Stargate because I had never seen anything like
it before.

Actually, to tell you the truth, I bought the Stargate purely on
looks.. At the time I bought mine, I only knew of one other person on
these boards who had one before me, and I don't remember ever reading a
review on how it smoked or performed. I just liked the way it looked,
and I liked how everyone would compliment it when they saw it. Whats
wrong with that? Nothing...

I really don't give a poop if you don't like the Stargate, or even that
you want to boycot it, but why would you tell other people not to buy
it? Let people make their own decisions wont you? I'm fairly certain
most people hear can wipe their own ass, so why not let them buy what
type of hookah they want?

I'm not really good at organizing my rants, but just know I'm trying to say, let people make their own decisions?

[tjt486]

*shrug* I say if you like something, buy it.
That being said, its a fairly unique design from what I have
seen.  I have one and I like it much better than my egyptian
traditional hookah (granted its a low quality one).
I dont see any reason to buy more than 2 hookahs of the same
design.  I say 2 because Im sure there are others like me who
bought a cheap hookah at first instead of getting something of quality
and I may purchase a nice egyptian later on.
Honestly, I would be most likely to buy another hookah if I saw another
unique looking one that I liked (i.e. NOTHING like that camo hookah
posted a while back)

Like the old saying, opinions are like ***holes...everybody has one and some of them stink.

[mushrat]

Wonder if the folks thought the same thing long ago when the now "traditional" hookah's came into existance?
[url="http://www.sacrednarghile.com/narghile/en/mystery.html"]http://www.sacrednarghile.com/narghile/en/mystery.html
Lets face it, ideas change, machines evolve, peoples ideas of beauty change. If you like the idea that "non-traditional" places are starting to accept and use the hookah, like the US, Great Britian, and the rest of Europe, then you have to accept that these people will have a different idea of what they want their hookahs to LOOK like. Just look at the differences between Indian and Middle Eastern Hookahs. Which is "traditional" all brass bodies or glass bases?
Besides Hookendo, do you smoke flavoured ma'asell? Its not "traditional." Apparently the fruit flavours didn't come into use until the 1980's. Traditional would be smoking only tombac or zaghoul.
[url="http://www.nakhla.com/docs/molasses.htm"]http://www.nakhla.com/docs/molasses.htm://...cs/molasses.htm[/url]://http://www.sacrednarghile.com/nargh...olasses.htm[/url]://http://www.sacrednarghile.com/nargh...olasses.htm
[url="http://www.sacrednarghile.com/narghile/en/tobacco.html"]http://www.sacrednarghile.com/narghile/en/tobacco.html[/url]
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah%5b/url"]]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah[/url]://http://www.nakhla.com/docs/molasses...wiki/Hookah
So before you start knocking modern hookah's because they are "non-tradional" remember, most of us here are just as "non-traditional" hookah smokers.
 

[tjt486]

Thanks mush, I started to go in that direction but I did not know as much of the facts as you put in your post.

[MR Bubble]

Ah c'mon Ward. Don't be so hard on the Beaver.
I can see where he is going with this. I don't want to boycott anything, but I do understand his concern. Some people on the forum wouldn't want to go into hookah cafes here because of the noisy non-traditional "fad scene." You farts know who you are and I'm included. We want our smoking experience to be "pure" and traditional. Well, machines like the Stargate take away the "traditional" appearance and give it the "fad" spin. And you are correct mush, in pointing out that flavored massell is a rather new item, but most of us never saw it evolve from just tombac into what it is today. Therefor, it seems traditional to us all. Remember all the ranting I did about what an American hookah would be? You know, "The Jeff Gordon collector series Hookah with NASCAR sounds." What do you think of the grenade shaped hookah by Taqseem? A little overboard? Like the tank? I don't take offense with HooKendo's view on the Stargate. I personally wouldn't want one since I like the traditional ones myself. But no, I won't slam the Stargate either. I'm just nice.
MR Bubble

[ThermalZeal]

Most people on here own multiple hookahs.  Whats wrong with
getting a hookah that looks different and even smokes better than most
middle easterns.

[mushrat]

Bubble: I didn't say *I* wanted a novelty hookah mind you...it was just the traditional vs. modern that got me going...Do remember, those of us on the forum are probably a VERY small percentage of people smoking hookahs, and while many of us like the traditional look, I'm willing to bet the average american hookah smoker doesn't give a rat's arse. Heck, with popular culture being what it is today, the wilder, more outlandish hookahs are probably VERY much in demand in many circles.
But what's more important, people smokign hookahs and enjoying the experience or them doing it the way SOMEONE ELSE thinks they should? I mean come on, who are WE to tell people how to enjoy themselves? I'm a 38 year old, recovering Jew originally from New York, now in North Carolina by way of the Virgin Islands, whose great grandparents came over on a boat from Russia at the turn of the century, what the hell do *I* know about traditional hookah smoking? 
Besides, how many of you "traditionalists" use quick lites or even finger coals hmmm? (i use bulk charcoal i have to chop up with a knife, so there... )

[HookahDuck]

I own a stargate, and I like it a lot.

I also like my Egyptian, traditional hookah.

And to say that EVERYONE has one of these, people constantly come up to
me asking me about mine- including those who are "experts" on hookah.

You are only defining the distinction between TRADITIONAL and MODERN
hookah's. Ever notice that many websites which sell narghile's organize
their stores that way? Some people prefrer tradtional hookah's to
modern ones.

I get in the SAME argument constantly with my car buddies. Im very
involved in the local racing scene, and im at the race track every
weekend. I own an old muscle car- and drive it every day. Many of my
friends drive imports as well... We constantly argue over TRADTIONAL
speed(nostalgic muscle cars- ie: traditional hookahs), and MODERN
speed(non- N/A imports).

Just because something is new doesnt mean its better. It is just new.

And just like cars: Its all a matter of preference.

[MR Bubble]

Mush, and HookahDuck, Do understand that my intention wasn't to slam the Stargate. I won't rip anyone who owns one. I am just able to understand Hookendo's and Zaps angle on it and understand the reason for it. I may own one someday, and I may not. Who knows?
MR Bubble

[TaqseemHookahs]

 
HooKendo, I would not be surprised if this was pushed by our competition. If not then it is your opinion against many people who love our Stargate. But it is very fishy the way you worded things.

[mushrat]

Bubble: oh I realize that...no worries. Someday I may own a stargate as well...or not.
I hope NO ONE takes any of this personally. It's not meant as anything other than an exchange of ideas and personal opinions.

[HookahDuck]

Ditto, mush

[HooKendo]

I love how this has stirred up so much controversy.  Seriously, I think its great that everyone has different opinions on this, and how passionate everyone is.  You guys have all put forth very good arguments, and I like how I'm getting a new perspective on this.  (By the way, I know I was a little over the top when I said "boycott the stargate", but I definitely would not have gotten the responses I did if I hadn't said it).  Continue the debate!

[yashman19]

There really shouldn't be controversy. There only is controversy
because you are telling people what they should or shouldn'y like...

[mushrat]

actually I think this has been fun...
Its a change from the usual, "which hookah should I buy" and "what flavours will i like" threads...which are fine mind you but its nice to have something else to talk about now and then. Besides, people come here and ASK us to tell them what to get all the time....

[Boza]

I love my stargate and I would not just by a "Traditional" hookah becuase you think it is the right thing to do. Go play your games some where else.
 

[mushrat]

Boza, lets keep it non-personal if you please....we're all friends here.

[brother812]

doubt if he was trying to get personal mush....no more than anyone else has anyhow.
personally i think the traditional attitude is comical. every tradition out their at one time was something new that the "we fear change crowd" didn't like. change is inevitable and with it comes progress. personally i would rather have a nice new Stargate than a old gas pipe converted into a hookah.

[HooKendo]

Jesus christ!  When did I all of a sudden become Chairman Mao of the hookah?  Of course I'm not telling you what to think, I put forth my argument and my perspective just the same as everyone else has in this thread.  A lot of responses treat it as though I'm out to slander the good name of the Stargate, when in fact (if you actually read my whole rant, which is what I would call it) I said nothing untrue, hurtful, or damaging to anyone.  Look at it this way, politicians do this thing everyday.  They put forth their perspective, and then they don't simply "apologize" for it because others may not agree.  I am telling you what I think, and I still think that more people should jump off the stargate bandwagon.  Boo hoo if you don't like it, this is an internet forum where ideas and opinions are discussed with almost no real life reprecussion.  Put it into perspective my friends.  If anything, mushrat here is the only one who has contributed anything useful and worth thinking about that would actually change my perspective on the issue.  Kudos to you.

[HooKendo]

On that same note, I am disappointed that more people haven't "served" me like mushrat considering this is one of the weakest arguments that I have ever put forth in my life (I like to think I generally communicate and back-up my ideas pretty well, unless I go off on a rant).  I was pretty much asking to be torn apart, and instead all I got were weak personal attacks ("Go play your game elsewhere").  Truthfully, I am kind of cringing when I read over that first post again, but I will stick by it simply because I need to.  Forget the "IMHO" that some people put before they post something, sometimes your opinion is all that you have, and you have to defend it like its your little brother.  Otherwise, aren't you just what everyone else tells you to be (ehhh.... a little bit of irony for you Yash.  Looks like in the end we both agree on the same thing). More deep thoughts from HooKendo in next week's edition!

[Kiwini]

Well guys--you really can find some good topics.
I didn't buy a Stargate because they look pretty unimpressive.  I lean towards what the industry calls 'traditional'; the neo-mod hookahs are just too *bleh*.  They may smoke well, but the eye candy just isn't there.
But to call the Stargate the antichrist of Hookahs is like trying to say Ugg Boots will bring about the apocalypse of shoes.  Its just a style which many people prefer over another--no fire raining down from the sky yet.
The Stargate is just the newest style on the street, and the novelty will wear off soon enough; remember what happened to neon spandex.
With props all around,-Kiwini

[mushrat]

Service with a .