LISTEN TO TAZ!!

Guys, there's a big problem going on here. I've just re-read about a dozen of these posts, and I'm telling you, the big problem is that people are not listening to what people are writing. Folks are reading some advice from Taz, or somebody else, and they get their panties all up in a bundle because they are skimming over stuff, interepreting it to fit their neurosis of the day, and then firing back some half-assed "YOU HURT ME" response without reading what the artist, or enthusiast is saying. I just read a post where Taz says tattooing is NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY. Then some guy jumps his shit and says basically, "Oh yeah? Then why don't you do it for free?" (paraphrasing... but at least I'm admitting it...) Read it again.... NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY... this is not the same thing as NOT ABOUT MONEY.... What a stupid post I'm writing. I can't believe I've sunk to this level of symantics, or am even addressing it. Can communication skills in this country really be this bad these days? No wonder the world is fucked up. COMMUNICATION is a function of two things guys... TALKING and LISTENING. Try this experiment. Next time, before you fire off a witty remark to something you think you heard, re-read the comment a couple of times. You may find it doesn't say exactly what you thought. And then, that way, Taz and some of these other guys like Doc John, Krystof, Joe, whoever won't be so frustrated with you. Does that mean you have to like all ther work? Of course not. Does that even mean you have to think these old guys work is good? Of course not. But for shit sake, at least LISTEN to what they are saying. They have what you want. They are trying to give it to you. FOR FREE! But first you must open your ears...

Guilty as charged....(not of that specific example though) *hangs head in shame* I hope I can one day be forgiven.

i agree!! but, just to lighten the mood a little.... (it's really funny, and it happened to me...you will laugh! so read it!) Communication is REALLY going down hill. Take today for example. Jake, one of my managers, is currently working on a project which is simply to paint a big yellow spot on the floor in the work room and write "Just Say Hello" in it. Now, istead of waiting until he closes tomorrow and painting it right before he leaves for the night, he decided to paint it today around 11, surround it by chairs, and make an announcement that it was back there. well, 1 o'clock rolls around, i been there since 5am, and i'm walkin back to leave. some STUPID people moved most of the chairs. So, i see the chair as i'm walkin by and i walk to the left of it, not looking at the floor because i'm taking off my walkie talkie and name-tag. Well, i didn't step far enough to the left...because the chair was all the way on the right. I stepped on the edge of the circle and slipped! Thank i got to walk out of the store like that. What fun. O well, maybe i will get a copy of the video and i can send it into home's funniest videos...Hehe! So yea, people don't listen (announcement), and then they do stuff they shouldn't have (moved chairs), and shit happens (me covered in yellow paint) hope that explained it in a fun way! lol

Hear, hear on all points. Another thing that needs a little attention is sensitivity. Any professional artist will tell you that a thick skin (inky or not) is neccessary. Consider: People are entitled to their opinion, and by putting out your work - in whatever form - you implicitly invite opinion. And never never ever will you ever ever satisfy everybody, so it's fair to assume you'll get at least one person who hates it, and says so. The rule of thumb is, if you can't take criticism - no matter how malicious, scurillous or unfair - don't go public. And if you go public, listen to everyone, whether you agree or not. No extra points for graciousness. This is your obligation.

Nobody cares i fell in paint? nobody finds that funny? :(

I thought it was funny Ducky!!...I wanna see the video!!

lol, i'm tryin to get them to burn me a copy

I laughed. It was hilarious!

Professionals do need a thick skin, indeed everyone does. That said, professional behavior does not include insulting people or taking anything personally. The regulars here answer all sorts of questions if you play by their rules and for the most part that works out A-OK. Dont like their rules? Thats ok, the rest of us are here to answer questions too!

Speaking ONLY for myself...I don't have any RULES...I answer as many questions as I can and never insult ANYONE unless they just beg for it....I am starting to get the feeling that someone isn't alltogether happy with some of us regulars...anyone else been noticing that?...hmmmmmm? And to you regulars...Go back through some of the really old archives...WOW!!!...Talk about people being insulting!!...We don't even compare!! Remember guys...there are LOTS of tattoo forums

Ducky - it WAS funny, i chortled, i snobbled and geefled... but when i tried to let you know about it, the @3!)(*## "text" thingy frustrated all the laugh out of me.

Im thankful to you, Taz, and all the regulars. But dont try to pretend you dont have a set of rules cause if a visitor doesnt follow em they get bashed, probably hard! Luckily the rules you have and the rules I have align closely, though, you guys are rougher. thats ok, its what makes the world go around. If you want to go somewhere else, feel free. You know you are always welcome here.

Interprtations will ALWAYS be trouble here. Its all about inflection. You cant hear the tone of someones voice when reading nor see the sparkle of a laugh in the corner of thier eyes. Three people read the same question or responce and come away with three different takes. This will always be. I am a perfect example. I am NOT the most articulate guy. I commumicate with paint better than words. Must be the side of the brain thing.lol Im thinking many other artists are the same way. I like to poke fun or twist things in a fun manner...Im ALWAYS taken wrong. Lighten up a bit.......take in what applies....and ignore the rest. Works for me.

Well thanks for the welcome however I DO NOT have any RULES...thats for courts and cops not me!!...But if someone acts the fool I am takin em down!!...But thats just me!!

I guess the crux of what Im saying is "taking people down" who "cross a line/break a rule/play the fool/whatever you call it" is fine and all, but I dont consider it professional. What has worked for me while building TattooNOW is to teach stupid people with positive reinforcement (as you practice) and never taking anything personally(why would we ever "take someone down"? I want to bring everyone up!). I think that by definition "professional" behavior means taking the "personal" feeling out of the situtation. When people accuse me of something I blow off steam privately, then put my professional face on and deal with it. Maybe a private email. I calmly educate them (or ignore them). Simply put, publicly belittling people for any reason is not professional. Jesus, if I bitched out everyone who accused me of something I would have no time in the day! So, yes, you can take people down here all you want, but it wont make me happy because it isnt professional and Ill say something. If that means you are gonna pick up and move to another message-board cause I'll tell you what I like and don't like, so be it. The "big bad censor" is back. A lot will be lost but fortunately there are a lot of people who will pick up the question answering slack. Drama is what makes the world go around so I guess your welcome to cut people down, but I try to *always* treat people the way I'd like to be treated... doenst work all the time, but its pretty easy to do on a forum...

Gabe, I'm certain I understand what you mean about 'professionalism' but I'd like to point something rather germane to this subject. But I'd like to point out to you some of us are 'old school', play by a little different set of rules and have been at this a very long time and yes, perhaps we can get a bit crusty at times, particularily when provoked and/or having our profession belittled by some of these arguemenitive assholes who won't listen to polite and simply won't listen to any honest suggestions. Then too are some who attack us and some of us old school types respond in kind. We care enough about our profession not to enjoy seeing it made a joke of or taken lighty, we may not always be 'tactful' but we do get the message across. I do agree with your philosophy, I really do but you'll find (if you haven't already) that some people don't respond to polite or intelligent. Somehow I suspect when you've been in this long enough you'll definitely understand. If you think I say something 'out of line', call me on it if you wish, IF I was wrong, I'd apoligize IF apprpriate. But kindly bear in mind, I love this profession, been at it a long time and it really pisses me off about all the untrained/uninformed people who are making a joke out of it, I do not appreciate it and don't condone it, period. I do however welcome all the 'young blood' that are raising the quality and public opinion, they're a different 'breed' completely and I'd do anything in the world to help them out....Doc

Doc, Of course I know that some of you are 'old school' and play by a little different set of rules! Thats almost exactly what I said! Im not crying any tears of people who get torn up, for the most part they could avoid it. Im saying if you want the info thats in the old school guys heads, you have to play by their rules. I also interact with a lot of arguemenitive assholes who won't listen. In the 12 years I have been immersed in the world of tattooing I met met PLENTY of people who dont respond to logic or intelligence. Thats an understatement. I dont find those people to be of much value, and put em in a box, ignore em, and move on. I also care greatly for this profession, and while Im havent been in it for the years you older folks have, my way of bringing the industry up is by always putting the most professional face forward and it has gotten me very very far. I dont give a rats ass about the clueless bastards who care less about tattooing(well, I care for everyone), but I am very aware that my actions will be observed by the public. If I respond to the insulting morons with anger, the public sees that in a negative light. If I respond with kindness or neutrality, then I am helping other people realize just how nobel tattooing really could be. In short, I dont ever think responding to ignorance with public anger, bitterness, distain, or negativity with ever accomplish anything positive. Its also not very professional. Carry on.

No I am maybe just a bit TOO honest because I am gonna call it like I see it period and If I get spanked by the big bad censor then so be it ...I consider my ways and views every bit as professional as yours...you are NOT the only person running a business here...as Doc said I think you will change your attitude when you have a few more years under your belt... In the meantime I will continue being me...giving professional answers to intelligent questions and being as polite as possible but when my art or I am disrespected I will show disrespect whether that fits into your scheme of things or not...censor me if you will but you will only do it once....I donate time to this forum...doesn't make me a damn dime ...I do it for a love of the art ......if my answers offend you then kick me off!!...its YOUR forum.. but never expect me to be anything less than honest!! And sometimes being honest means giving someone a slam...take it or leave I am me and that is just how its gonna be!!

Hey, if your way to deal with stupid people is to slam them, then be my guest. I guess with experience I'll learn to slam stupid people more.

Do you ever get the feeling that sometimes it just seems to get hot in the summer? I just read the last like 5 posts, (or more) and I love all ya guys dearly, but I think this arguement has just sort of grown into something fueled by the 100 degree heat. All of you guys have a different way of looking at things. Some are crusty, some are gentle, but it's the mix of stuff that makes it what it is, and why it's good. To have to sacrifice any of your angles would make the whole thing more boring. It's like having a little angel on one shoulder, and a little devil on the other without the little devil.. or the little angel... er, uh... nevermind. How bout them Yankees?

Al AL AL....Gabe and I do this...its our thing and it seems to work...leave us alone ya fuggin H8TR!!!

I M NOT A H8TR!!!! URA H8TR!!!! H8TR!!!! H8TR!!!! H8TR!!!! And, and, you are a... a.... big old doodey head 2!!

Oh good GOD!! Now ya dun hert mi pheelins!!! h8TR!!!

I'M THE JUGGERNAUT BITCH!!!

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