But what if there's a reason to tell the truth in a culture where that is considered offensive? Because the expectation is that he not say a shoe is ill-made even when it is. He's actually telling them the true value of fixing the shoe versus investing in a better made shoe.

I have no issue with the man saying that the shoe is ill-made when it is. I do have an issue if he's an insulting ass about it. Which, not having read the Yelp reviews, I don't know that he is, but if that many people are having negative reactions to him, it's entirely possible.

Yeah--I think you can get away with more assholish behavior if you have big talents (artistic or otherwise), but it doesn't excuse it. When you get down to it, being an asshole is treating other people as if they are not as important as you are, and that is the antithesis of art.

Creating art is important and inspiring, and I personally think it's a noble thing and strive to do it myself, but it still doesn't mean you have a free pass to beat your wife or insult people whose only crime is that they don't have your talent.

And I think telling the truth is not being an asshole, even if it's a hard truth. Masybe ESPECIALLY if it's a hard truth. But honesty does not equal rudeness. A doctor who has to tell you that you are going to die can do it in a personal direct manner or in a dismissive and uncaring manner. One is rude and one isn't.

the point of the song is that if you're good enough then being an asshole is beside the point.

Well really, the point of the song is that most assholes are just assholes, not amazing artistic geniuses who also happen to be assholes.

And my take (which I realize is in the minority, especially around here) is: Fuck those people with their shitty shoes. Respect and defer to his genuine depth of knowledge on the subject. He offers incredible value for the cost of his work so take your stupid ass sense of entitlement and cram it. If he tells you that your shoes are crappy and ill-made then take his word for it. He actually knows he's talking about.

I see this as potentially being a different issue. Is he failing to deliver on work he promised or otherwise being unprofessional in his work conduct? Or is it simply that the customers object to his professional opinion? It reads like the latter, in which case the issue is, as you said, the "stupid ass sense of entitlement" that keeps notalwaysright.com in business.

I would note, however, that said stupid ass sense of entitlement turns up on the other side of the table in the Plan B discussion.

But what if there's a reason to tell the truth in a culture where that is considered offensive?

Heh. I can think of at least one such culture, which currently has a majority representation in my household. (Not that this is such an issue with the individuals in question. Actually, it drives Wallybee nuts.)

When you get down to it, being an asshole is treating other people as if they are not as important as you are, and that is the antithesis of art.

And being that sort of asshole leads to Don't You Know Who I AM behavior and entitlement. And I don't care how fantastic of an artist someone is, I refuse to go along with that sort of thing.

I have no issue with the man saying that the shoe is ill-made when it is. I do have an issue if he's an insulting ass about it. Which, not having read the Yelp reviews, I don't know that he is, but if that many people are having negative reactions to him, it's entirely possible.

My insane cobbler here in Seattle is a master at his craft, and he has told his customers when a shoe isn't worth repairing. But he doesn't come across as an asshole when he does it.

Your insane cobbler told me that.

Well, what he actually said was that I'd snapped the shanks in both shoes and, while he could totes (factual note: he didn't actually say, "totes") repair them, it wouldn't make financial sense. He was very nice about and knew what he was talking about and I took his advice.

And this is why I'd bring other shoes to him and pay him money. Because he wasn't an ass.

For God's sake, has everyone forgotten what Wyld Stallyns taught us? BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.

For God's sake, has everyone forgotten what Wyld Stallyns taught us? BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.

You mean, what they taught us IN THE FUTURE?! Because I'm not sure that I've had the opportunity to forget that yet.