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The Tourist
10-16-2008, 11:41 AM
As many of you know, I've been taking a beating on some of the knife discussion posts.

What you may not know is that these posts may be a systematic move by my enemies from a different forum.

However, there is a line.

Any written claims, which are untrue, that seek to damage a man's character or business are considered libel, and such discourse is actionable for remedy. That's fancy-schamncy lawyer talk meaning I can sue your butt into the ground like a carriage bolt.

First off, there is the idea that truth is its own defense. I must address that.

I am a 58 year old resident of Madison Wisconsin, that is true. I am a UW-Madsion graduate, that is true. I am a member of an area motorcycle club, I am now inactive, with 39 years as a member--and five of them as an active member, that is true. I am a retired credit manager with 30 years in finance, primarily for distressed companies, that is true.

Also correct is the fact that I am a professional knife sharpener, and have been for fifteen years. More to the point, I am a tinker, that means I travel to the jobsite and repair kitchen items. In sharpening the v-grind style, I use a number of discplines--that being a guided system (an Edge Pro "Pro" Model), freehand stones, pastes, papers, and my favorite manner, the use of glaziers glass. All of that is true.

I have never, ever, ever, ever had a dissatisfied client. If a client had concerns during the sharpening, we discussed his expectations and I simply did his bidding. In that fifteen year span of being a tnker, I was stiffed a total of six dollars. Not for poor service, the guy just walked away while I waited on the next client. That is true.

Several years ago I began an interest in Japanese kitchen knives and the manner in which they were sharpened. I became a reselling rep for the Japan Wood Worker. I began to study feudal Japanese practices of sword polishing, and when I could, I adapted the tools and skills of polishers into modern renditions I use on my clients' knives. All of that is true.

The posts of late in my opinion are the from the willful, systematic and unified actions of a knife forum where I was a former member. I am incredibly embarrassed to have brought these problems with me here to Net Cooking Talk.

I had planned to sit silently for a few weeks until the posts stopped. However after having read some of the smears I became angered, and I realized an old trusim--bullies don't quit until you face them.

Here's another thing working in finance taught me, and that's the concept of initiating a lawsuit both "jointly and severely." In other words, the owner of the forum is responsible for the minions he put in charge. It helps with the idea of "deep pockets."

I love the Net Cooking Talk forum and its members. This ill is something I alone brought with me. It is my responsibility to end this. And I have taken the first step to that conclusion. Thank you for understanding.

The Tourist
10-16-2008, 01:43 PM
Oh, and BTW, my "spam trap" started to fill up with personal info on these guys almost immediately. I know it took courage to provide things that will be used at trial. My wife and I thank you for your sacrifices.

So far, (and due to my wife's illness, projected shortness of continued employment and projected damage to my business) we are looking at possible monetary loss at 1.3 million dollars plus attorney's fees.

Things like this are no joke, folks.

Deelady
10-16-2008, 03:23 PM
For what ever reasons you were banned from the other site I don't see why they feel the need to follow you here to start problems. I find it extremely immature and they need to go back where they came from!
I do not know you yet Chico but I will not judge you based on anything other than what I see myself. For people to come here to try to start unnecessary drama is just completely childish....grow up people!

The Tourist
10-16-2008, 04:44 PM
My ban lapses in about two hours. I will be sending a PM to the owner of the forum informing him of recent events.

In the meantime, my wife and SIL and I are going out for dinner. I'm in the mood for meat.

Deadly Sushi
10-16-2008, 04:56 PM
For what ever reasons you were banned from the other site I don't see why they feel the need to follow you here to start problems. I find it extremely immature and they need to go back where they came from!
I do not know you yet Chico but I will not judge you based on anything other than what I see myself. For people to come here to try to start unnecessary drama is just completely childish....grow up people!


I agee 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont let it bother you man :thumb:

Doc
10-16-2008, 05:02 PM
I agee 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont let it bother you man :thumb:
Yep, me to Chico. Do what you gots to do. I've never witnessed anything like it before for sure.

Deadly Sushi
10-16-2008, 05:15 PM
Their shit will NOT be tollerated here!!!! Tourist youre a very nice person and add a lot to the forum. Dont let some asshole, wacko nuts bother ya. :biggrin:

The Tourist
10-16-2008, 07:53 PM
Mojito, the problem with being a "nice guy" (and granted, it's a new roll for me) is that you have to fight from higher ground.

Even among my friends we lament that the days of a snoot full of tequila and a pool cue are long over. We now seek the advice of attornies, we discuss numerous facets of behavior with "counselors." We must always be mindful of our image, keep a tight vigil that we do not offend our client base, or the politically correct police and several gender equity committees.

And yet any despoiler with a chip on his shoulder and his mother's computer can destroy my business.

Today, a client's santuko arrived, and as always I Q/C every delivery. It was a beautiful knife, with a slight hint of a grinding error near the tip. While being truly "spooky" sharp, I had to pick up the phone, call the client, and tell him/her that there was a cosmetic mark. This is what you do now, this is the mark I set for my company.

Fifteen years. And one idiot down in his mom's laundry room...

noobietinker
10-16-2008, 08:50 PM
I alway greind near the tip too much on santukus. Can you give me tips Toruist?

The Tourist
10-16-2008, 11:11 PM
Noobietinker, keep your stones very flat. When you come to the edge, do not slide off of the front. Rather, make you last stroke straight down--as if you were making a downward stroke in the middle of the edge.

noobietinker
10-16-2008, 11:19 PM
you are da best thank you for you answer.

can you do chef knifes repair on edge pro?

The Tourist
10-17-2008, 10:41 AM
Yes. As a matter of fact, sometimes an Edge Pro is the best system to initiate a repair.

What I like to do sometimes is use the Edge Pro to fix a chip or repair a flat spot, and then buff with 12,000 grit stones or leather and paste.

The Tourist
10-17-2008, 10:48 AM
BTW, as an update to events, I contacted the sharpening moderator last night on what I had done and the reasons that this action was deemed necessary.

*crickets*

LOL. Man, it's as quiet as a tomb over there! Their moderator has even had to beg for people to post with a 'stickie.'

This is the guise of a bully. When they tried to hurt me/us, it was all in great fun. They scoffed at the damage they did to my reputation and work we are trying to do here.

However, now their actions may indeed cause problems for their forum. Someone is going to have to inform their forum owner what they did, and what happened.

I informed their moderator of my actions by PM. However, it appears by a post count thatjust more folks than him and me have read the discourse.

I don't think they are laughing anymore.

The Tourist
10-17-2008, 11:42 AM
Hey, I just got a little "thumbs up" smilie from the sharpening mod.:thumb:

Gee, I guess everything must be forgiven, and they want to be pals again.

...I don't think so...

Edit: Wow, he must really want to be my buddy, I got a second PM.

Doc
10-17-2008, 04:28 PM
I don't think they are laughing anymore.

Good. It's a shame you had to go that far for them to take you serious but I'm glad it worked. :thumb: Nice Job.

The Tourist
10-17-2008, 07:56 PM
Well, it's not over, yet. I have started talking to their new sharpening mod. He seems to be a nice guy, and frankly, he got stuck with the job.

What most folks have to remember is that I'm only after the "guilty guys," not everyone who calls that place home. There are several folks there just as mad as I am, and who pass us info to find those who are the despoilers.

The faster it's over, the faster we get to normal.

The Tourist
10-19-2008, 08:49 PM
In a strange twist, it now seems that I cannot even get myself banned.

After some discussion with friends and counsel, it seemed proper to severe all ties. Let's be honest, I'm not going back there. By their own prose they believe I have nothing to offer. So be it.

I wrote to one mod and told him to disconnect my account.

He signed on, read the post, and left me connected.

After more than five hours of this, I went to a second mod, and asked for a disconnect. I'm still waiting.

When I speak, I get banned. When I stop speaking I cannot get banned even when I ask.

The Tourist
10-19-2008, 08:52 PM
The super-mod wrote back and said there was no way to delete an account.

I told him to tell everyone I went communist.

Then--in boldface type--I asked him to ban me. The saga continues.

The Tourist
10-19-2008, 08:56 PM
Yikes, finally...

http://knifeforums.com/forums/fusionbb.php?

Locutus
10-20-2008, 12:34 AM
You need to go back there and read the "Tao of the Borg."


When other species annoy us, we simply assimilate them !! :bangin::whistling::whistling:

The Tourist
10-20-2008, 01:54 AM
In this case, ignore them. When the matter is reduced to basic ideas, I like to come here. And you are still known by the company you keep. It was more an act of cutting my losses.