Tyler wrote:Todd,
I appreciate your reply, and I believe I understand (and am sympathetic to) your concern. Before reiterating your concern, let me first say that I do not think, nor was I intending to communicate, that sour grapes is the only motivating factor for the frustration over social-media-hound sales. I addressed that angle because that's what this whole conversation ultimately sounds like, and I am confident for some people that actually is what this is about. (I've had enough conversations about this issue over the last two years to feel comfortable saying that.) I'm equally confident that's not what this is about for you. You don't even compete (significantly) in that market. You are either way higher or plenty lower than $400 for this to be a sour grapes issue to you.
I think that's all fair, and it's difficult for anyone who doesn't know me outside a forum to understand the "why's" of this, so it's attributed to "money," "sales," etc. It's human nature to look for the devious and calculating sub-text of a conversation, but I appreciate the perspective that says "hey, this just looks like sour grapes." Point taken, and I'll not argue what you've already stated, that I really have no dog in this fight.
To summarize your concern it is the erosion of quality, and the apparently lack of respect for the honor and history of the craft that bothers you. (Correct?) I get that completely. I share that though not as passionately as you, naturally, given all you've invested in it. To add to that, I believe we share a concern about customers getting shafted by poor quality at high prices.
Yes, and yes.
My point, though a bit meandering and confusing as I compiled conversational history from outside this thread, was that I don't think a guild solves (to any significant extent) any of the above problems. I think it merely introduces another problem: the insiders versus the outsiders.
I agree, and I almost responded to this a couple days ago. Let me try it now. Were we as pipemakers to make some sort of personal pledge that included some basic, non-controversial commitments to quality and integrity, yes that would create an "us." I get your point, but follow me here. Let's say, for example, the "us" agreed "never to sell a pipe they
know is too thin at the heel." Is it a bad thing for anyone who
won't make that commitment in practice to remain on the "outside," until, in practice, they will? That's a genuine question, not a rhetorical one. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it. Personally, I think the answer is no, it's not a bad thing, because it upholds the integrity of the craft and protects the consumer, whether s/he's a complete novice, a seasoned collector, or some guy's wife that wants to buy him a "nice" pipe for Father's Day.
I think the insiders/outsiders dynamic is only problematic if the borders are closed and it's just a "clique" of people who don't want their turf encroached upon. Maybe there need not be any sort of "group," but rather just a set of tenets that you, as a pipemaker, commit to follow and a corresponding list of explanations for why those things have value. E.g, Tenet: "I will never surface glue an adornment onto a shank," Explanation: "Because this is a joint that has a 100% chance of eventual failure." The consumer then knows never to buy a pipe whose adornment is not attached by means of a sleeve on the briar shank. Knowing that makes him/her a more educated consumer, and knowing that a given pipemaker has already agreed to hold him/herself to the highest set of standards makes him/her a more confident consumer.
Let me also add that I don't feel antagonistic toward the social-media hounds. The reason I think this thread blew up outside our forum is because it has a sour grapes tone that seems to propose the destruction of the "outsiders". My hope, rather than destruction, would be collaboration and friendship. I like the social media guys. I follow them, and I've met many of them in person. I see their successes, and have tried to emulate some of their methods. I have recommended others do the same. On the Pipes Magazine Radio show I spoke at length on the power of social media for pipe makers. It's really quite interesting and amazing. Those that feel similarly and have used it to sell a lot of pipes may or may not understand or fully respect and honor the craft. For those that don't I would attribute that to ignorance more than willful disrespect. My hope is that as those guys grow, they grow to see and appreciate where they have come from. Where they learned the tools necessary and skills needed to do what they do. Where they learned where and how and who to sell pipes to, and what those customers want in a pipe. And I think that will happen naturally most of the time. What I don't want to see happen is the creation of a world that insists they see and fully appreciate this history on a certain timeline, or the else they are unwelcome in the community. That would only generate resentment for the history, I fear, and accomplish the opposite of what I think we all want: pipe makers making great pipes for buyers who get a fair deal and love what they are buying.
I think this is a wise and well-reasoned outlook on things. Perhaps, having had a unique opportunity to observe the "willful disrespect" first hand, it's
all I can see, and that's probably a significant blind spot for me. Lord knows there are others, but this one strikes, perhaps, the loudest chord.
To All:
On a side note, something just dawned on me. There are probably very few people in the pipe making community that fully appreciate Todd's role in American pipe making. I ought to write down all I know about the history I've am aware of, but regarding Todd let me say that a family tree of American pipe making would show that Todd is one of, if not THE, most significant forefather in that tree. The number of guys he's taught, and that they have then respectively taught, is huge. So when Todd says, in the line that is most quote in the discussions in other forums about this thread, that he hopes to drive the turd-makers, "back into the hole from whence they came." I presume he doesn't realize that I'm almost every interpretive sense that hole is HIS SHOP.
Let me just say in response to this that, I'm aware what the tree looks like, and however misguided my attempts at pruning it have been over the years, I care a great deal about the fruit that comes from it--probably too much--and I carry an incredible sense of personal responsibility/guilt when I see rotten or unripe apples carried to market from
that tree, and even more when people stop eating apples as a result.
Oh what a party that will be! (I'm going to be there, and I'll Instagram the whole thing!)
And I will still be trying to connect to wifi in an attempt to join the Google hangouts thing with all of y'all again.
TJ