am I unprofessional

Tonight I have a serious question for you regulars on TattooNOW Please read the post "ORAL DURING TATTOO" below . See the thing is I have been told that what I posted was "UNPROFESSIONAL" Well at least I THINK that I am one of the people being chastised Read the post!!! Read it again ...do you think either Krystof or myself were being unprofessional in our answers?...Or were we defending the art we love so much by Telling this man off? Please let me know...and thanks!!!!!................TAz

Well, I'm only a newbie to this board, but I will pipe in to say (for what it's worth) that you took the time to email me and go over with me VERY clearly what to look for in an artist and not to rush. You did not slam some artists that I mentioned, but guided me in a few directions of people who's specialty was what i was looking for. I really appreciate it! I found that VERY professional! One thing I did notice on the "oral" blog is the origianl poster "Richard" never came back to respond, not once? Kind of like a shit stirrer to me, but what do I know?

Hey Taz, wow i cant believe how it turned around on you, just for simply defending the simple do's and dont's of a tattoo parlour (sometimes i am happy working in my kitchen, just to get away from freeks like the Oral guy. the bottom line is some people are fixated with Sex and to live thru it vicariously from others......that was a topic that consumed people big and small, to fight about right or wrong, you have to... or else other slightly dented people will terrorize the net. fight the power my brother!!!! eliminate them by anyway or any means

OK but was I in any way unprofessional?

Taz....you guys were set up with his request in the first place. What would the difference have been if he asked his dentist if he would extract a tooth while he was butt raping a sheep? Think it was any diff? You guys were right on with your responses. Good job!

OK john but if the sheep was willing?.........................................

Hey TAZ, I don't know you, but read the forum often, and know gabe. I do think that thread was a little out of whack. The question alone set you guys up to waste your time. I read because I love tattoos, and respect true artists, I don't waste my time with those retarded questions people post on these threads. I have enough problems with keeping up with gbae and that damn shop, I'm going to have to do my own Blowjobs to afford all the artists coming into Off the Map............Don't worry about thinking " unprofessional"...keep smiling.....

Personally, I'm not a tattoo artist, but now I'm part of the brotherhood as you know Taz, and I'd say this. Getting oral during a tat is the goddamned dumbest thing I've ever heard anyone say. It's equally as dumb as saying "I'd like to get some oral during my medical exam" or any other personal and important event. Thing is this. I think tattoos have come a long way and become a lot more acceptable as a means of expression in the last 10 years. Not just your little tribal armband, but now you can sport a pretty good sized piece of real art, and most people are now more intrigued than disgusted. Sorta gives you hope for the human race, doesn't it? Most good tattoo artists are really talented ARTISTS regardless of the medium, and I'm glad to have gotten mine (and it's a big boy) at a time when people are starting to understand that if a highly professional, eloquent, college professor and Department director can have one, maybe they can too, (if they have the stones of course.) Well, anyway, it's fucking dumb comments and questions like that guy's that give people the impression that tat wearers are freaks, Bikers are criminals, both are junkies and perverts, and spend the majority of their time sitting on the front porch with a coon hound, drinking tequila, throwing the bottles up in the air and shooting them with their six gun. I dunno, but based on my limited experience, you could no more get a hummer in a good tat shop than you could in a good hair stylists office. I don't want people judging me or my artwork on the basis of comments like that fucking gomer. What an idiot. Sorry. Gotta take more prozac, and have a diet coke. Cool off...

that damn sheep lies.

Hey Al ..your logo is being printed up now for my shop in st joe... I'll send a pic when they put it on...Also gettin window stickers to give customers for their cars and a bunch of other shit!!!.THANKS!!!

No problem brother man! Hey send me some of that shit! I'll put it on my truck too! Sounds like you could use the publicity if you are coming to fort collins... and I've got your first customer for you... my longtime friend who lives in FC, wants a tat, and doesn't know where to start. When does the shop open?

WE just got the nod on the lease today so not considering variables and bullshit I'm thinkin Don and I will be in the shop in 2-3 weeks then be open hopefully in 2-3 more weeks!!! That is IF everything goes as planned ,which it never does! But it is official ( at least in theory!) Painted Angel Too is comin to colorado!!!...I expect you to be a guest of honor at our grand opening ....Don't make me hunt ya down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TAz

Wow Taz, you are this riled up about 1 line in that post that you think may or may not be about you. Cool off. Now understand, I DON NOT like threats being made in this forum for obvious reasons, and of course I appreciate all your involvement and help, but it makes more needless work for me when those threats pop up from anyone.

Well, it's fine to shoot the shit, but honestly calling people names just because you don't agree with them isn't professional, no matter what aspect you don't agree with them on (be it saftey, health, or other). The point is, is that you (the tattoo artist) want us (the public) to trust you, correct? You are putting permanent things on our bodies, and that's a very sacred task. I've read several things on this forum that have made me give pause to ever entering a tattoo studio again (I'll only stick with my artist who I feel is extremely kind and very understanding, and in fact, doesn't work in a public studio usually). Things said about being fat, about being a girl, different requests, and just the way questions are answered here in general let me know what people in shops are really thinking, and it hurts me. How am I supposed to trust you when you only want "fine hard ass" to tattoo or if I ask politely if something strange might occur (it is strange to have a blowjob during a tattoo, of course) what I will be met with is "no you're a fucking slut" or a whore or whatever. The fact is, questions like this happen all the time, not because I know this through the experience of being a tattoo artist, but because I know that people all over the world are different, and believe it or not, it's ok to be different. You don't have to agree with these people, but what you do have to do is not make them feel like degenerates. Granted, I don't even think that post about tattooing and blowjobs was real, just because if I had a question like that I would direct my comments specifically to the artist rather than risk what just happened on the forum, but that doesn't matter. Would I trust any of you screaming random insults at someone you don't even know to put permanent artwork on my body? I sure as fuck wouldn't. I wouldn't remove any of my clothing with you around, I wouldn't ask any questions from you, and I wouldn't ask to apprentice with you. In general, I would just avoid you. There is a difference between talking with your friends and talking to the general public, and if you can't even see the difference or pretend to have a trust based relationship with the public that you serve and that puts money in your pocket (on the basest of levels, since I think talking about the emotional or spiritual aspects of tattooing is moot) then I'm glad at least this forum has identified who you are. You know what I expected to see in that post? "No, I wouldn't allow that because it would interrupt with my dedicated sterile field." And that would have been the end, perhaps one or two replies confirming how it would ruin your health and saftey standards. What I saw instead was something horrific, disgusting, discourteous, and out and out mean. I thought people matured past kindergarten and grade school, I guess I was wrong.

In the first place I did not call anyone a slut that was Krystof and he apologized although I would not have....And to Gabe ..I threatened NO ONE!!!! that Bob Ross dude WAS threatened by people who know and apparently respect me But Mr Ross DID threaten to " come to my shop and kick the dick out of my mouth" and still all I said was " bring it"....Get your facts straight!!!!...The guy was out of line just asking that question about the blowjob and I will say it once more,,,He insulted the whole profession...And as far as you go if ya want a milktoast kind of artist ,...go for it I am not one !!!!

Umm, Taz, If you didnt threaten anyone then I wasnt talking to you. If you didnt call anyone a slut then Im not talking to you. I read through the post maybe 2,. I dont keep track of who says what, and didnt name any names. I was irked about the initial post, didnt bother with it. Then there were threats and I got really annoyed but didnt bother with it. Then there was a discussion about the original post. I added my 2 cents which was blatent insults and threats arent professional. I dont know many milk and toast tattoo artists, but I do know a coupla hundred crazy maniac tattoo artists (and maybe even a hlf dozen-dozen normal ones...). Be who you are and say what you will.

Ahlyn, of course Im sorry to hear this. There is a lot of talent on the site, and on this board. Its great for folks to hear how the public read these conversations, hopefully they will take that lesson to heart. There are always a lot more lukers than posters, and I bet there are a lot of folks like you out there. Its always sad to hear that people are discouraged to expand their collection, I would definitely suggest finding out who inspires your artist and think about getting work from them. There are indeed a ton of people worth getting tattoos from on this site despite the forum drama.

Ahlyn...I did not see anyone answering a "polite" question with name calling...I saw a deicated and proud artist who was insulted by a degrading question...so read the post again...If someone came to YOUR job and asked a question like that would you not be offended? Granted he could have worded it in a polite whitewashed forrm but he did not...HE WAS OFFENDED. I see some great and patient people on this forum who generously take their time to politely answer many questions every day ...how about some kudos for them??? Instead of targetting one of the few times that one of these usually polite and helpful artists got pissed? HMMMM? Give us a break! Most ( admittedly not all ) but most questions on this forum are answered in a professional manner and I think you should applaud that...lets see you talk about all the positives that exist on this forum.Or are you one of those who love to pick out and display only the rare negatives? I think you may just be one of those judgemental personalities that expect us all to be perfect little soldiers and we are not You speak of mature?...Read the post in question again. You are way off base as far as I am concerned and personally I wouldn't want you and your judgemental attitude in my shop anyway I do appreciate your post...Have a nice day!!....TAz

Thanks Gabe, actually almost all of the people that you've spoken about especially in the CT area have on the most, spoken professionally. My sister used to live in Stonington and I was always impressed by the studios in the CT area and particularly Mystic. I used to live in NJ myself and spend alot of time on the East coast now, but that's neither here nor there. Guy Aitchison tattoo's me, and honestly after the work he's done and the way he treats me I never have to think about going to anyone else. At the most I'd like to collect some work from some of his friends but that'll have to wait until I'm out of college with more of the coin of the realm ;) TAz- Here's exactly what you said in your first post, granted, I wasn't really expecting anything else to be said after Gabe, (whose reply was a bit off-color and aggressive, but I suppose that could only be labeled as a "topic closer") Sure Bob ...I'll take you up on that ...just come on into the shop anytime...We can lock the door and have a GREAT time! ,...at least I will ...Its easy to insult people on the net without runninthe danger of gettin damaged ain't it? Bitch boy!!...TAz The somewhat ironic point is that you did just the very same thing, and then proceeded to threaten him physically. Is that professional behavior? No, it's childish behavior, behavior that in fact made you seem even more childish in contrast with the original poster. Did he deserve it? I don't know, I don't know what was said in email or elsewhere, but picture this if you will: Two attorneys approach each other, one attorney proceedes to say something about the other's mother, and they get into a little girl slap fight. Would you hire either of them after seeing that? Would I hire you? The answer is no. Did you upset me as much as Krystof and others did? No, but I was directing my comments at large because the same action results; I don't trust you, I don't want you coming anywhere near my body, the least of which with sharp needles and permanent pigments. Usually I would let something like this go, I'm not a professional in this field afterall, and I hate getting involved in little boy's screaming matches to begin with. But I think you should all take a serious look at what kind of image you're projecting, and what you want associated with you.

Oh, and as to if I'm judgemental, you're quite correct, If you ask a question in which people ask you to judge you then you should expect an answer to that effect. And my expectations are this; that you have a clean shop, you deal with me in a courteous and appropriate way (I think you would have to whip out your dick and shake it at me, or spew out some slurs of some sort to break the 'appropriate' rule) and that you are knowledgeable and excellent at preforming your artform. These I think, are pretty normal expectations from the public at large, even yourself.

Nothing I said was a threat I simply invited him to my business AFTER he threatened me...I certainly don't consider anything I said childish ...sometimes tho a man needs to stand up and be a man..if you can't understand that ..well ...Sorry..(not really) Not to mention that this guy had been insulting nearly everyone on this forum for days....I was gettin pretty tired of it...as were others I very seldom say anything harsh to anyone...read some of my back posts I am normally polite to everyone but, like anyone else I am not a saint so I said things on the post in question that I probably would not have said otherwise. I will not apologize except to say that I could have worded my reply differently. You should really look at all the other posts I have replied to and make your judgement from the whole not just this one where the man had been provoking us all for a long bit.Don't just see what you want to see...look at the whole picture..you may develop a different viewpoint other than the one you have.I am not the rude childosh posturing ogre you seem to think I am dear but my patience with this character just wore thin And I am soooo jealous that you have work by my FAVORITE artist!...ANd not just a great artist...he is such a nice guy!!! Anyway maybe you could try to understand my point..I have tried to explain as best I can..Give it a go will ya?...TAz

And now I gotta reply to the last post which was not there when I answered the previous...What are you talking about?...You don't know me...I have been in the same location for over 15 years and most of my customers are repeats..I must be doin sometin right What in holy hell does one post have to do with my business? I dunno maybe I'm misreading but...What da fuk?

One post, one showing, one reading, it's all the same. In life and everything else you only get one chance to impress someone. What if someone had come to this forum, and as on many days previous the first message on the list is the message in question? I've read alot of your posts, and I believe only interacted with you on a post on post level once before. You seem on the whole, like a normal person, everyone likes some people, everyone dislikes some people. The thing that tipped me to the other side is the string of replies by everyone to the last message. Yes you have testosterone (an unfortunate fact that has plagued my sex for an eternity) yes, people are short sometimes. But the sort of sustained spiteful agression expressed by a number of people gives me a negative impression, I too am a normal person much like any one else here. In a professional environment you have to take the higher road, the more someone acts like a jackass, and the more you don't, the more everyone else knows the guy is a jackass. It's a kindergarten type rule, but it's true. If you think the internet doesn't matter than why do you have a website? How did I first start learning about tattooists and the industry? (I'd like to say it was from reading, I am an English major, but..) Suprise, Internet. That's why places like TattooNOW exist. If it hadn't been for the internet I never would have gotten into contact with Guy, and had I seen him post something like you did I would have dropped him in a new york minute. Yes, the way someone acts is more important to me than their skill-level in the initial planning process. If he had called me a whore and a slut, or I had seen him act that way with someone else, what's to make me think he wouldn't act that way with me? And then that artwork on my body will always be associated with some dude that was extremely rude, I would rather get that lazered off than keep it, no matter how amazing it was. I'm kind of sorry that I entered into this discussion at all, but I'm trying to express my point of view, much like you are.

One post, one showing, one reading, it's all the same. In life and everything else you only get one chance to impress someone. What if someone had come to this forum, and as on many days previous the first message on the list is the message in question? I've read alot of your posts, and I believe only interacted with you on a post on post level once before. You seem on the whole, like a normal person, everyone likes some people, everyone dislikes some people. The thing that tipped me to the other side is the string of replies by everyone to the last message. Yes you have testosterone (an unfortunate fact that has plagued my sex for an eternity) yes, people are short sometimes. But the sort of sustained spiteful agression expressed by a number of people gives me a negative impression, I too am a normal person much like any one else here. In a professional environment you have to take the higher road, the more someone acts like a jackass, and the more you don't, the more everyone else knows the guy is a jackass. It's a kindergarten type rule, but it's true. If you think the internet doesn't matter than why do you have a website? How did I first start learning about tattooists and the industry? (I'd like to say it was from reading, I am an English major, but..) Suprise, Internet. That's why places like TattooNOW exist. If it hadn't been for the internet I never would have gotten into contact with Guy, and had I seen him post something like you did I would have dropped him in a new york minute. Yes, the way someone acts is more important to me than their skill-level in the initial planning process. If he had called me a whore and a slut, or I had seen him act that way with someone else, what's to make me think he wouldn't act that way with me? And then that artwork on my body will always be associated with some dude that was extremely rude, I would rather get that lazered off than keep it, no matter how amazing it was. I'm kind of sorry that I entered into this discussion at all, but I'm trying to express my point of view, much like you are.

Ha! Ahlyn I take it back, if you get stuck with Guy as your artist I wont be saddened a bit about the lack of diversity in yer collection.

Jeese, these posts are happening quick! Ahlyn, thank you for entering the conversation. Im glad you decided to express your point of view, Im sure there are other folks who feel the same way and your explanation of professional was right on. I for one hope you stick around...

Well thanks for the "world according to Ahlyn"...Ahlyn I gotta tell ya I am soo thankful all the people who have come to my shop in the last month because of my posts on this forum don't have tunnel vision as you seem so proud to display.Lets just let it go cause you and I will never have a common ground and this debate is getting tiresome. Again i thank you for your posts and I will consider them carefully and try to understand your viewpoint. You make it a nice evening!!!.....Respectfully ,TAz PS Please tell Guy I said Hello and thanks for the book!..T

Thanks Gabe, sorry...I am a bit of a rapid fire poster, but I write alot and have little free or productive time, hence my shackle to my computer desk :P. Yes, I basically plan to encoat my body with his tattoos (just don't tell my mom that).

This was just one big Mess...started by Bobb Ross. Things might have gotten out of hand, many points were made and many a fires been lit. I sure hope all will just take few days to cool off. Learn from the resulting posts, and TRY and preserve the friendships made here. Would really hate to Loose Taz and Krystoff from the site! Its These two mainly that keep me comming back.

BUT, really, A guy walks into a bar and orders 10 shots of Jack, starts to down them rapidly, the bartender says "why are you doing that so fast", the customer says, "you would, if you knew what I had ," the bartender asks, "what do you have", the customer says, " About 75 cents"................................

ha! Ive never done that before... hahahah