Interviewing Bassists Stories Pt. 3

[MrLenny1]

Someone here on TB has a little slogan that reads
"Never argue with an idiot, he'll only
bring you down to his level".
FWIW I beleive you.

[bigsnaketex]

Tom, you're so very good about answering all questions, comments, etc. in that amazing thread.

And as you've seen, that may not have been the best thing to do.

I don't understand why people try so hard to cause problems in a world full of problems but let me speak for all but a few followers and tell you that we have very much enjoyed your posts, your YouTube video's and your banter with all of us.

I pray the moderators will see the bigger picture and put that back up and I further pray that you will not "take the bait" from the few that seem to want to poke you with a stick for some reason.

I read TalkBass each and every day and your threads have been a source of profound joy for me.

Are you odd? Yes, you have said that on many occassions - but let's face it, we're all ODD!!!! It's just that you're odd in a very cool way and therefore the rest of us have enjoyed this journey with you.

SO YOU MODERATORS OUT THERE - do the right thing and let's get back to the cool stuff with Tom!!!

Peace.........I'm outta here!

[eb3mike]

This was a good lesson. The attacks are just beginning. I need to adopt a smarter approach to how I deal with them.

That's easy... ignore them and they'll go away. Focus on those of us who have become fans of your writing. So easy a bass player could do it.

[powmetalbassist]

Focus on the future man. This is a forum and there are always going to be idiots trying to drag you into their stupidity. You've mentioned several times in the threads that the this book was about dealing with people like that. Anyway I've thoroughly enjoyed the stories, the insight and the development of a book (which I just pre-ordered). Thanks for everything you've done here man. Your threads have been the most interesting reads I've had.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by smogg

LMAO, I was hoping for a "books on CD" thing with a really cool narrator like Charlton Heston or Orson Welles.

@Tom,
Having followed the original thread quietly since early on in part one, let me say that I became too emotionally vested in the project to ever think it could be a hoax.

So on that note; (pun intended ) whether it be fact or fiction, literary art or embellished entertainment, it is of no consequence to me. I will take it for what I expect it to be. "A good read" and hope to be thoroughly entertained.

What's that old saying? "Truth is stranger than fiction." Now where is that confounded book!

If you pre-order it at Amazon, you'll get it in February, apparently. At least that's what they tell me.

Thanks for your support. It's good for me to work out a coherent response to this challenge, because the book is only ostensibly about my failed career in music journalism. The other subject matter is going to drive plenty of people right out of their skulls with hatred and will subject me to the worst onslaught of mental patients I've ever experienced.

But I knew that would happen. I'm ready. And since I'm housebound, I no longer worry that one of them will express the ultimate hostility by pumping a few rounds into my face as I sign his copy of the book. John Lennon was murdered by someone who got him to sign an album; there's even a photo of it. That always scared the hell out of me. I was deeply conflicted about writing. What if I became successful at it? There was always at least one demented person at the book signings I did for In Cold Sweat. They terrified me. I saw it at book signings for other authors, too.

All of that is gone, because the decision of whether or not to do personal appearances has been taken out of my hands.

It's a relief in a lot of ways. There was only so much I could accomplish in this brief span. I was coming from too far behind to catch up to everyone else. So not being able to make personal appearances is the perfect solution for me. I can now concentrate on writing without worrying that one of those cheerful faces in the audience is a mask, behind which is my death.

Wait'll you read the short story in Ghosts titled "My Fans." You'll understand completely why I feel this way.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by eb3mike

That's easy... ignore them and they'll go away. Focus on those of us who have become fans of your writing. So easy a bass player could do it.

You're 100 percent right.

No question. Thanks.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by powmetalbassist

Focus on the future man. This is a forum and there are always going to be idiots trying to drag you into their stupidity. You've mentioned several times in the threads that the this book was about dealing with people like that. Anyway I've thoroughly enjoyed the stories, the insight and the development of a book (which I just pre-ordered). Thanks for everything you've done here man. Your threads have been the most interesting reads I've had.

Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Like so many others, you're absolutely right. When you read the book, you'll understand my instinct to fight.

But animals operate on instinct. It's time I outgrew it once and for all.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by dbd1963

Well, if I were Tom I'd maybe want to apologize for the "gun pointed" because, as he certainly knows, the language is inflammatory. Even though it's obviously delivered with humor, it was pretty evident by then the recipient wasn't very humorous and not likely to take it well.

I thought the continuing exchange was fairly harmless overall but if you are attracting creepy stalkers and you don't like it, I'd say resist the urge to engage them. The "will do" comment was perfect but if by then you had recognized what was happening, that ought to have been the last time you responded to him. He might have lost interest and gone away.

I think the 'net is full of people who are looking for a certain kind of fight and they trawl around until they find it. What they are doing is trying to exorcise their own ghosts..

You're absolutely right. No argument from me.

I was a huge fan of Christopher Hitchens. The way he demolished his attackers filled me with admiration.

If you read the book, you'll see that one of my greatest shortcomings is staying and fighting when the war is already lost. I do it to try and redress what I see as injustice. I've always been the target of belligerent, irrational people, and I see it as unjust.

But confronting them on their own terms doesn't change anything. Injustice will always exist. And in the end, nothing I'm saying is so important or earth shaking that I have to stand up like some commander of a doomed British expeditionary force and shout, "Come on, lads! We'll not leave this place alive, so let's give them what for!"

That's my own sense of melodrama talking.

Enough. Time to knock it off.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Marial

I missed the other thread so I have no idea what this is all about, but I thoroughly enjoyed In Cold Sweat, so I look forward to your new book.

You're lucky. Too stupid for words. Just me making an unpleasant situation worse by not shutting my yap.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by rockinrayduke

I only discovered the thread last week and actually spent about 2 1/2 hrs reading through almost 30 pages until I had to let it rest for a while and I haven't been back yet. I'm sorry it was closed, I found it fascinating and quite interesting. You got trolled by an internet a-hole and you took the bait. It happens here from time to time and you learn how to deal with them. If that guy is a bass player he's sure not part of the brotherhood.

Tom, you have nothing to apologize for, and it looks like you did finally write the book everyone urged you to write. I look forward to buying it.

Thank you!

And you're absolutely right. I took the bait. There's a time and place for everything. If I ever end up doing a phoner with Piers Morgan I'll pull out all the stops, but there's no put in goading and being goaded here. Plus, it violates the TOS.

Lesson learned.

[bigsnaketex]

Let's get back to the flame-throwers!!! (that'll take care of the a$$holes!!)

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by bigsnaketex

Tom, you're so very good about answering all questions, comments, etc. in that amazing thread.

And as you've seen, that may not have been the best thing to do.

Yup. No question. That was my fault.

My father once asked me rhetorically, "Can you reason with a wasp?"

He was trying to get me to understand that my then-course of action was futile.

I'm still working it out, as you've seen.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by bigsnaketex

Let's get back to the flame-throwers!!! (that'll take care of the a$$holes!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq8CtJSQFL4&t=0m12s

(Skip the rest. Too schmaltzy.)

[bongomania]

FWIW the special person in the other thread has been in my "ignore list" for years. He showed his colors promptly upon joining this forum, so this latest episode is nothing new for that individual, and is not specific to Tom.

[miles'tone]

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

Someone here on TB has a little slogan that reads
"Never argue with an idiot, he'll only
bring you down to his level".
FWIW I beleive you.

Yes that's right MrLenny, it was a quote from the author Mark Twain...

"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and win with experience".

Tom, you have nothing to apologise for and you certainly don't have to explain or prove yourself here. You've touched and inspired many through the previous two epic threads. Funny as hell at times too!

Regarding what transpired in 'Interviewing...pt2' ... well, there's always one isn't there? That 'one' has totally ruined my morning routine! Y'know, get up, check emails, check facebook, check 'Interviewing' for any new installments...

Right, can we just carry on as before now? :-)

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by bongomania

FWIW the special person in the other thread has been in my "ignore list" for years. He showed his colors promptly upon joining this forum, so this latest episode is nothing new for that individual, and is not specific to Tom.

He's on my ignore list now, too. I offered him a free copy of the book, and he not only refused, he said he wouldn't even want to read it. I should've had the brains to stop at that point.

From "Let Them Run," in the chapter Lessons Learned:

"The hardest lesson I had to learn was to identify the runners and not go chasing after them... It took me decades to break my habit of chasing runners. Like a retired foxhound, I still dream of the chase, of course. A certain turn of phrase, expression, or image, and I have the urge to bolt, disregarding the knowledge I acquired at such great cost, hoping that this time I’ll catch up."

I've trained myself to not chase runners. I still have more training to do.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by miles'tone

Yes that's right MrLenny, it was a quote from the author Mark Twain...

"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and win with experience".

Tom, you have nothing to apologise for and you certainly don't have to explain or prove yourself here. You've touched and inspired many through the previous two epic threads. Funny as hell at times too!

Regarding what transpired in 'Interviewing...pt2' ... well, there's always one isn't there? That 'one' has totally ruined my morning routine! Y'know, get up, check emails, check facebook, check 'Interviewing' for any new installments...

Right, can we just carry on as before now? :-)

I'm ready to carry on as before.

I love Twain. This quote of his is appropriate for me in this instance:

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."

I'm done carrying cats by the tail.

[kcole4001]

I didn't read the whole mess before some of it was cleaned up, but obviously someone has an axe to grind.

Do carry on.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

He's on my ignore list now, too.

I suggest creating a keeping a personal "ignore" list that you can refer to thus keeping the retired fox calm and comfortable and the urge to bolt at bay.

[NWB]

Question: How do you prove to someone that the Earth is round when that person will not give consideration to any factual evidence whatsoever?

You can't. You just walk away shaking your head.