Why people will take pot shots at Taz and other "deep" thoughts

All this drama is amazing to watch in a stupid sick waste of time kinda way, at first I was ok with it because drama is good viewing, but its been really stupid for a while, lets curb it. I have some hustling to do to make sure TattooNOW remains healthy as it grows, this stupid message-board needs to calm down for my sanity, cant juggle too many things at once. In the same way that Taz justifies "telling it like it is" to people in his rough old school biker way, he allows other people to justify "telling it like it is" to him. He says he can take it, though he seems to get offended and attack back quick. In short, because he is a dick to some people who he feels deserve it, some people are going to be dicks back because they think he deserves it. I get feedback on the site all the time, and while Taz may not conceive why anyone would not post or respond to posts because of the tone he has set, I hear why from visitors every week. The core of the problem is because Taz's version of "telling it like it is" does cross the professional line for a public forum. So, people cross those lines back. As the host of a public forum I try not to take sides, I dont need to or want to and definitely dont care to. My job is to model professional behaviour the best I can, and hope that our regulars and visitors do the same. In a nutshell, everytime Taz is crass to someone who "just wont get it till its drilled in their head", he will have someone else be crass back. I was told in time I'll learn when to be crass, I say thats part of the old school we can leave behind. You can be professional and say exactly what you mean without being crass. In the same way people are calling for Taz's detractors to show their portfolio, Taz has an obligation to do the same. He says its all there, but we have only seen a half dozen photos, many blurry. Its simple, if Taz is going to keep such a high profile here and glorify freehand tattooing, which almost every single professional artist I have talked to about agrees is pretty irresponsible, then people will ask to see the work he is talking about. OffTheMaptattoo.com is my frame of reference, and I admit I am a snob type snob when it comes to tattoos, but I would like our visitors to be able to compare Taz's freehand tattoos to those done with skinscribes and stencils. until we can, then anonymous voices in the night will call Taz out. Taz, Im sorry you dont find the value in what you do here (ie, you said feel you get nothing out of your time here (which is bullshit, you have gathered quite the fan base)). You keep talking about all the other tattoo forums, and one thing Ive learned to do is listen to what people are saying. Maybe it is time for you to move on to another forum (you really should have one of your own!). I dunno, I dont see the use in hinting around it again and again, we get the point.

Koochie: You like to provoke and have done quite a bit of it on this forum, and therefore, you have been provoked right back. Clearly when you want you can be an intelligent person with thought out opinions and ideas but until you tone down your taunts your detractors can throw *intelligent* abortion halloween costume quips back at ya *snicker* My Brooklyn girl nature understands the jabs but Gabe has taught me that you get way more leverage by taking the highroad every-time and leaving the pack with no legs to stand on. Jeremy: You are young and have a LOT to learn. My advice to you is spend more time looking through the gallery of artists on TattooNOW than posting on the forum if you want to someday become a great tattoo artist. Your participation has been positive, glad your here. Oh Jeremy BTW Gabe is the big man on this board not because he's the coolest but because he has given the last 10 years of his life to TattooNOW, its artists and visitors alike and well, ho owns the site! Mike: fucktard??!!!????? wow Daddy Rose: I think I am most disappointed with you, i thought that you were withholding your opinion because you clearly saw the "roughness" and didn't want to insult a friend BUT you liked those rough sometime blurry mediocre pics huh? I guess that looking at Joe Capobianco's pin-up's everyday on Gabe and spending time with Joe and other fantastic artists regularly has made me quite a snob, but you thought that was good and say you are an award winning professor of graphic design??????? Come on you may find merit in the person but don't be a sheep! Vishuskinit: Very interesting work, I like it. Thanks for the generally level headed posts I would prefer this board to be about learning even when people disagree, and less about drama queens needing attention. Doc: While I don't always agree with what you have to say, you have stayed true to who you say you are: a crusty old guy whose been tattooing forever and I kinda have a soft spot for crusty old guys. You have more moments of brilliance than most old timers I know. Being able to change your mind or even apologize for misreading makes me appreciate you even more, it shows that your are a real person and not a caricature of what the old school is/was. JWerk: I too wish everyone would chill out so why don't you use what your work in the nut house has taught you and don't provoke the inmates umm, I mean regulars :-) I know there are quite a few regulars that I didn't address, sorry, but take it as a compliment. And finally, to the one person who has been a constant on this board for years and years with a level head and a never ending stream of information for our visitors: THANK YOU JTATS/TAT SWAMI whoever you are :-) -kmama

What a damn shame you can't see beyond your elitist snobby attitudes and realize just how many people have been helped by Taz on this forum and in real life. I personally know of 4 people he has encouraged and helped to get a start in this business who may never have become tattoo artists if it were not for this man.He has devoted counless hours to giving sage advice to your visitors here GABE and you are completely disrespecting him, bringing up all the negative,twisting his words with never a word of appreciation for his efforts here. Personally I don't really care I think this forum is just a waste of time and a playground for trolls like your buddy koochie sore. You are going to lose a valuable asset here, one that costs you nothing and for that I consider you a fool. I think he should tell you to stick it myself but thats just me,me and quite a few others.Oh I know you consider yourself the high and mighty tattoonow king but I think you need to back up and think about what is going on here. I hope Taz just blows you and your elitist attitude off then he will have more time to share his vast knowledge and experience with people who really deserve it

"Daddy Rose: I think I am most disappointed with you, i thought that you were withholding your opinion because you clearly saw the "roughness" and didn't want to insult a friend BUT you liked those rough sometime blurry mediocre pics huh? I guess that looking at Joe Capobianco's pin-up's everyday on Gabe and spending time with Joe and other fantastic artists regularly has made me quite a snob, but you thought that was good and say you are an award winning professor of graphic design??????? Come on you may find merit in the person but don't be a sheep". Mamacat, here's the deal. I like a lot of art. All kinds. And in many cases, I may buy a piece of art just because there is just one little piece of the whole thing that really appeals to me. In many cases the art doesn't even need to be good for me to LIKE it, in some cases it can be downright offensive... and I can still like it, a lot. And sometimes, maybe that's even why. Just because a piece of art exhibits roughness isn't necessarily a precursor for wether it is successful as art. If that were the case, there are a hell of a lot of extremely famous fine artists dating back for hundreds upon hundreds of years who would have vanished from the pages of history. And yeah, I've been doing this a long time. I can definitely see the roughness. I didn't tell taz his sketches were the best thing I've ever seen, and I defy you to find where I did. I won't betray his friendship though either by cowtowing to you, and your elitist insult to me. I liked the sketches. Like many other sketches on here, I liked them just fine. Especially some of the longer continuous lines, just for what they were. Viva la difference. Liked, or loved are the operative words. And yeah, I liked em'. I also like a lot of the other stuff I've seen on here too by other people, that I don't necessarily care for their personalities very much. But how nice for you to be staring at Joe Capobianco's artwork everyday on Gabe's leg and patting yourself on the back that you are fortunate enough to be in Joe's proximity and portfolio. Have a champagne with that. That's a nice club to be in. How delightful for you. Joe is undoubtedly one of the most fantastic tattoo artists I've seen. (Joe if you are reading this you are awesome to be sure). If that's your standard of "Good Art", then kudos to you. You have great taste. However, nothing is as subjective as the term "Good Art" One man's trash is another man's treasure. Your comment was pretentious and insulting. 2. I have more than a dozen awards for graphic design alone, and have twice in a row in as many years been nominated for Educator of the Year (Art and Design) from a University system with over 25 University families. but I'm not even going to work that ham with you because as any designer will tell you, although there are common elements, design and tattooing are two completely different birds. That's why I am a collector like your fortunate husband. Drawing is not my specialty... never said it was. Computer art is my specialty. Didn't mention any of that stuff before, because frankly, I didn't really think I was under attack and needing to justify anything. So there you go, those are my credentials. And does that make me the king of the Hill? No. I train guys everyday to be better than me. And lest you feel tempted to answer me with something like "See you just proved my point", I'd say that good bad or indifferent, I'd say I've earned the right to like whatever I want. Your statement was elitist and insulting. I'm sorry you are so disappointed in me. I hope I can bear to live with the shame of your disappointment Mamacat. Somehow, I think I'll be okay.

um thats kmama NOT mamakat and good post -kmama

I do have to thank you for one thing though Mamacat. That I even dignified any of your comment with a response at all just goes to show you that although I am working on it, I am nowhere near where I need to be in my life yet with forgiveness, and non-judgement. Looks like I've still got a lot of work to do. I pride myself on being pretty zen, which obviously, I have not been at all of late. So, thanks to your comment, I'll take another good long look at myelf and work at getting above this type of thing. Thanks for the reminder.

Okay. Kmama.

I take pot shots at TAz become he constantly comes across as big mouthed asshole. Not only that, he won't post a portfolio. If he did, maybe I'd lay off on his rambling about "Fuck U I am freehand lolz stfu." Just post your portfolio taz, not two crappy looking sketches on paper. And in the meantime, and we make a search engine that automatically stops any threads with a celebrity name in them, maori, tibetan or arabic in it? I mean shit, I'm dying here.

WOW!!!...I have been called an asshole by The Great Bob Packwood!!....Doesn't that make me famous or something?... Thanks Bobby!....being called an asshole by you is quite an honor...I must be doing something right!!!

Ummm...Love your stuff Bobby ...can I get an autograph?

lol

boardhost.com offers free message boards, it's free, super easy to moderate, you can customize the colors, and fonts.then you can use your message board link to link to your site. don't ask me how i know. ;)

Gabe, I'm curious. Does a site get more "hits" wih drama going on? Is this something you can detect as a wb master? I'm on a mothering meaage board (oh lordy when the shit flies there it makes this stuff seem like childs play, nothing like a bunch of hormonal mamas) and was curious about "lurkers" if they checked back more often when "in" fighting was going on? If that's the case, do (paid) advertisers take notice? I was just curious?

Well, the stats on this site aren't effected at all, the forum is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the site. I havnt drilled down to just monitor forum activity, like I said waaaaaay to busy(shouldnt be here now!). I dont think there is any advantage to advertisers, though, I may be wrong. I have a feeling the people who dont like the drama just pass right on by, oh I'd love to be in their shoes.

...but the world LOVES drama. DOn't you know that? A good ol' Greek Tragedy!