Readers are not afraid to make their feelings known about the six projects shortlisted to take the title of the UK's worst building, in this week's comments update.

Honours even: Commenters took part in a lively debate over which of the buildings nominated for the 2017 Carbuncle Cup deserved to win architecture's most unwanted award.

"Of the bunch, and there are serious contenders here, 8 Somers Road by Vivid Architects is particularly ill conceived," opened a thoughtful Instablographer. "However, I find Battersea Power Station to be the worst of the bunch because unlike the house addition, it is nearly impossible to correct."

Kay thought it should never have got to this point for the London landmark: "What they did to the elegant, iconic and mighty Battersea Power Station is unreal. I've never really understood how planning permissions work, but I sure now know it's not based on basic good taste"

"Battersea, absolutely no contest. How can the planners sleep at night? Really, really appalling," added Nigel Howard.

AB5493 had another nominee in their crosshairs: "The Preston train station entrance is truly awful. Looks like a bike shelter."

"Indeed – it's aesthetically debauched," agreed Leigh Hughes.

ArchitecturalDesigner believed awarding only one such prize was not harsh enough: "I think there should more opportunities to name and shame. Maybe this way some architects would think twice about what they design. All of these buildings will, unfortunately, remain on this planet for some time."

This reader was swimming against the tide with their comment:

Which shortlisted building should win 2017's Carbuncle Cup? Have your say in the comments section ›

Stand up tall: American affairs took centre stage again this week as readers responded to Phineas Harper's assertion that architects failed to respond to the racist violence in Charlottesville.

HeywoodFloyd felt the opinion piece was out of line: "Inflammatory, hyperbolic statements conflating George Washington's place in history with Robert E. Lee's are the exact same preposterous rhetoric that the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville used to justify their actions. If you are just going to stir the pot without offering any critical insight, then keep quiet. In a nutshell, why architects should stay out of politics as much as possible."

But Geofbob considered it to be necessary: "Phineas Harper's article is intended to be thought-provoking, and it's clearly worked with you. As for the suggestion that architects should be more involved in the issue, surely, architects are as entitled to involve themselves in politics as much as anyone else."

"Many are whining about how the profession is detached from the society. If we don't follow up what's happening in the society, can we design something innovative? Or are we just going to stay in our bubble?" pondered thierryL.

"The architects I know spend so much time working to make a crust that they have no time for much else in their lives, least of all politics," responded Guest.

However, dcbzyxkji decided that there indeed was a link. "Architecture is inherently political," they said. "Your choice to distance your own work or research from current political realities is, in itself, political. How are architecture and design supposed to stay relevant and continue innovating if we ignore context?"

One reader felt they had an answer for the lack of response from architects:

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Disastrous: Readers also discussed disaster expert Ilan Kelman's accusations that Houston's poor urban planning was the sole factor behind the flooding that followed Hurricane Harvey.

With Respect was glad the issue had been raised: "I'd be pleased to hear how the profession plans to respond to this knowledge, when almost every professional today still uses tables last accurate in the 1950s."

But Matthew Kent Fasken seemed to feel that Kelman's theory was too simplistic: "Never mind that it was a perfect storm, one that stopped and turned back around for a second run. A 500- to 1,000-year estimated rainfall event."

Yousef El-berry took a pragmatic approach: "It's very clear to everyone that the urban planning of Houston is in crisis since there are fewer parks than detention centres, but we also have to keep criticising and mentioning the global warmth as a key of disaster not only for Houston but also for all over the world which we should care about."

This reader felt that perhaps a softer approach was needed for such a sensitive topic:

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Not all heroes wear capes: Commenters could not help but be distracted by Canadian architect Jean Verville's fashion choices for the promotional images of his recently completed minimal apartment in Montreal.

Josephine could not take her eyes off the long flowing garment: "Forget the ribbon, let's talk about that cape."

Slime was also a big fan: "That cape is so tight."

This reader knew they could rely on Dezeen's readers for entertainment:

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