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Revision as of 08:40, 17 April 2006 by Ande B. (talk | contribs) (slight reorganization for continuity)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) On Misplaced Pages, see Misplaced Pages:Barnstars
A barnstar is a decorative motif found on barn structures in the United States and Germany.
Originally a decorative form of wall anchor, barnstars were also meant to represent the mark of the builder; over time, however, they became more frequently used for aesthetic purposes. In the United States, their popularity increased greatly following the American Civil War. Their regular use preceded that time, however, and were commonplace on large buildings, particularly factories, in pre-war Richmond, Virginia.
Barnstars are seen not only on barns, but on many older buildings, often of brick. A long steel rod is passed entirely through the building; a star on either side is threaded onto the ends of the rod and they are tightened. This helps to keep the structure from collapsing. A heavily starred building should be examined for failure of the mortar, and may require tuckpointing or more drastic repairs.
Today, in the Pennsylvania Dutch area, barnstars are known as hex signs but no rods go through the center. Some hex signs still incorporate the star.
Barnstars in Internet culture
Some wiki communities (notably Misplaced Pages and MeatballWiki) have adopted the barnstar as a symbol of good work, specifically in relation to the metaphor of barn raising as representing collaborative effort toward a common goal. The idea is that a user can be "awarded" a barnstar by the image being placed on the page associated with that user, and thus thanked for their work toward the community.
As of November 2005, the satirical website Uncyclopedia introduced the Ninjastar award, a parody of the barnstar. In typical Uncyclopedia style, the available awards include the "Ninjastar is stuck to my hand" star (awarded for excessive awarding of ninjastars) and the "Ninjase.cx" star (a parody of the infamous Goatse.cx image, awarded for "Contributions that are so abominably distasteful they make you want to curl up in a ball and cry").
See also
External links
- BarnStar at MeatballWiki
- Ninjastars, a barnstar parody on Uncyclopedia
- Barnstars on the Homestar Runner Wiki