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.

One other thing about the Plan B. There is one point. A hell of a lot of artists who had day jobs had lower output because of it. While I'm not as thrilled as Hec about people who won't get one if they need one and have one available, there is a real artistic cost in time and energy to day jobs. Generally we don't expect people to have multiple jobs if they are not in the creative arts; we especially don't expect people to work one job to support their other job. So if someone can find a way to survive as a full time artist, I'm ok with that even if it involves willing and patient support from others - just so long as it really is willing and does not destroy the other person.

I will also note that I see a significant distinction between a person convinced of their own talent in circumstances where they have to give it their all or give it up, and a person who thinks that pursuing their muse means they should be reckless with their future, even if they don't have to. The former may be admirable, the latter just sounds pretentious.

This.

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.

And this.

BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.

And this.

How is being supported by your wife for five years not a Plan B?