So there has been some interesting flak around my recent obituary posted by Chris Schwarz. I’ve received several phone calls and emails, and been truly and genuinely surprised that there actually do seem to be some people who might be saddened by news of my death. My only regret is about the people who took the blog as true and were saddened by it. That wasn’t the intent. It’s also the reason I posted in the comments of the obituary almost immediately. To make clear that it was a (bizarre/twisted/stupid/genius/droll/unfunny/oddball/kaufmannesque/unforgiveable – take your pick) joke.
Of course, Im not actually dead – other than this blog, at least.
So here’s the skinny: Chris sent me the post before putting it up, asking me if I thought it “went too far”. I said of course not. There’s a lesson in that for anyone (sadly) considering reaching out to me as the voice of restraint. I most definitely do NOT do restraint. You might want to consider taking Chris off your ‘good angel on the right shoulder’ candidate roll as well.
Was it in poor taste? Maybe it was – certainly a few people whose opinions I respect thought so. But part of my defining personality has always been that I have no care for ‘taste’. I am pretty firmly on the irreverent side of any line you care to draw. I dislike sacred cows, and I dislike piety in most forms. I think righteousness in most of its incarnations is one of the great ills of our society, and I think we tend to avoid the uncomfortable to our own detriment. I have never felt more of us ought to be easily-offended, but almost always think most of us take ourselves too seriously. It’s a stance I am comfortable with, and plan to keep.
I also have a thoroughly lowbrow and childish sense of humor.
I also know that I share at least a few of those qualities with Schwarz. It’s one of the reasons we’ve always gotten along well. There’s lots of laughter – usually very inappropriate laughter.
But before you write him off, you ought to consider that his off-kilter personality is the driving force behind his single-minded bulldozing forward of the ‘hand tool woodworking’ world. And anyone who’s been paying attention for more than a few years will have to admit that he’s one of the singular driving forces behind the ‘resurgence’ that we’re enjoying. Without his personality tics and off-center socialization, you don’t get the brilliance of the writing or the obsessive details in learning about this stuff we all care about. You also wouldn’t get the audience that gave him such a powerful megaphone to make the case in the first place. Is it worth it to you?
Before you answer – think back to the days when EVERY magazine cover had a router table plan at the top of the roll, and hand planes never showed up in anything but a logo.
Personally, I tend very strongly to value the differences and quirks in people much more than the things that make them good little members of society. I think it’s the oddballs that move us forward, and that make it interesting.
I’ve never been exactly a conformist cog in the social wheels myself, though, so that’s probably a self-serving stance. But it’s mine nonetheless.
r
James says
Nope. I’m offended.
I don’t think I could possibly be more offended.
Not even if I was a college girl with a cause.
Or a republican in congress.
Or a democrat in Texas.
Nope. Even if I was Michele Bachmann at a flag-burning, tax-funded, abortion clinic Christmas party, for gay people, nope, still wouldn’t be as offended as I totally AM, by Whatever the hell…
Or something.
Well, I feel better. Back to work.
Caleb James says
I couldn’t agree more that Chris is the driving force behind the hand tool movement. He has been for years and those that are new on the scene seem to not have any clue or appreciation for this or his determined and focused push in that direction to the benefit of all lovers of hand tool work.
I also wonder what is behind those that are so quick to condemn and pass judgement when they don’t appear to give a second thought to overlook another ones shortcomings (if you want to view it that way) with the same moral fervor.
I certainly don’t think Chris is anymore imperfect (or perfect for that matter) than the rest of us and I like his willingness to be so personable in such an open format as his blog.
I plan to keep reading it.
Will says
The rumors of my indignation have been greatly exaggerated.
Pete Kelly says
He just put the funny part way too far down. To get to it you had to read “woodworker….father….killed” etc. By the time you got to the jokey part you just felt manipulated. It just wasn’t that funny written as a straight fake newspaper story. He’s pretty funny usually, but not this time.
Charlie Simpson says
Here here! I knew you weren’t dead as soon as I read the article and I thought it was frickin hilarious! We’re only here for a short while and we should enjoy ourselves. I say napalm those sacred cows and let’s eat brisket!
-Charlie
Ryan says
Well I am thoroughly disappointed you didn’t start dead. Really, what a way to go! You could’ve had your case immortalized as a “Mythbusters” episode.
Andrew Gore says
Having seen more death and destruction than I wish to acknowledge in life. There was nothing funny about this. Most people look at these blogs to be educated about woodworking. Not under handed jokes about good people getting dying and families suffering tragic loss.
For those that think these jokes are cute. Or those that won’t drink the cool aid and laugh along. For those that believe you should “napalm those sacred cows” because we lack a sense of humor . Remember that one year ago today, 25 plus people–mostly kids were slaughtered in mass school shooting in Newtown. Families are destroyed for life because of this.
The fact that people die senseless, tragic deaths is a part of life. But it’s not so funny to see death as many believe.
Andrew Gore
Kansas City Missouri
raney says
Andrew,
You kinda lost me when you used a reference to Jonestown (where 300ish kids died, most at the hands of their parents) to make your point.
Shall I launch into my ‘shame on you’ routine now or you want to take a break first?
Andrew Gore says
Raney
Jonestown, Beslan, Columbine, Joplin–maybe we would could all laugh at those tragedies too…
You have a good blog Raney. You seem like a good guy. Post what you want. But people have noticed.
Andrew
raney says
@Andrew Gore
Andrew – I think my point is getting lost here. The root of humor is that life and the world can quite often suck in nearly unimaginable ways. It’s a core facet of existence. We can debate the whys and whatnots, but for the purposes here, let’s just acknowledge that.
One of the greatest defenses that (most) of us have to cope with said horror is the ability to laugh.
Sometimes those jokes cross a line. More often, they’ll cross someone’s line, but not other people’s.
What I’m hoping for is a bit more latitude than some people seem willing to give. The internet is a big big place, and it seems to have a lot of negative effects on human’s personalities. It empowers the lowest common denominator and the angry over the sane and balanced (witness any forum you care to delve into), and it tends to reduce many people to their hormonal, aggressive, and uncompassionate teenage selves. But if we’re going to survive these broad-based interactions, I think a bit more flexibility than “you’re WRONG!” might be necessary.
If you need your woodworking devoid of personality, there are plenty of sterilized corporate profit-center sites and publications that provide that. But if you like a bit more humanity – which I do – then, as with family – I think you’ve got to sign on for the occasional inconvenience of disagreement and people ‘going too far’.
I hardly see how more of us chastising one another for what we don’t find amusing is ever the answer. But if more politically-correct content is what anyone’s after, I think it’s more than readily available. Elsewhere.
Personally, I’m going to continue risking offending someone from time to time because I think it makes for more interesting conversation, and more than anything else I dislike boredom. I’ll keep reading Schwarz’s blog and books because I am fairly confident he’s got a similar attitude.
People not finding it amusing and choosing not to read is totally understandable. It’s the desire to linger and issue self-righteous admonishment that I find distasteful. I’m loathe to change my attitude on this stuff in my own blog because of such a stance, and I’m too old now to turn into a polished, PC maven of sterile morality. It’s just not who I am.
raney says
@Andrew Gore
Andrew – I think my point is getting lost here. The root of humor is that life and the world can quite often suck in nearly unimaginable ways. It’s a core facet of existence. We can debate the whys and whatnots, but for the purposes here, let’s just acknowledge that.
One of the greatest defenses that (most) of us have to cope with said horror is the ability to laugh.
Sometimes those jokes cross a line. More often, they’ll cross someone’s line, but not other people’s.
What I’m hoping for is a bit more latitude than some people seem willing to give. The internet is a big big place, and it seems to have a lot of negative effects on human’s personalities. It empowers the lowest common denominator and the angry over the sane and balanced (witness any forum you care to delve into), and it tends to reduce many people to their hormonal, aggressive, and uncompassionate teenage selves. But if we’re going to survive these broad-based interactions, I think a bit more flexibility than “you’re WRONG!” might be necessary.
If you need your woodworking devoid of personality, there are plenty of sterilized corporate profit-center sites and publications that provide that. But if you like a bit more humanity – which I do – then, as with family – I think you’ve got to sign on for the occasional inconvenience of disagreement and people ‘going too far’.
I hardly see how more of us chastising one another for what we don’t find amusing is ever the answer. But if more politically-correct content is what anyone’s after, I think it’s more than readily available. Elsewhere.
Personally, I’m going to continue risking offending someone from time to time because I think it makes for more interesting conversation, and more than anything else I dislike boredom. I’ll keep reading Schwarz’s blog and books because I am fairly confident he’s got a similar attitude.
People not finding it amusing and choosing not to read is totally understandable. It’s the desire to linger and issue self-righteous admonishment that I find distasteful. I’m loathe to change my attitude on this stuff in my own blog because of such a stance, and I’m too old now to turn into a polished, PC maven of sterile morality. It’s just not who I am.
Brad D. says
Raney, from the little I have been around you, it is clear that you have a big persona and an unconventional and distorted way of looking a things – which is of course a sincere compliment!
Thinking that you had passed on for the 10 seconds or so it took me to figure out that it was a twisted joke was admittedly unsettling – so I can understand how some who know you were concerned and put off.
But after quickly establishing that you were in fact still among the living, I was able to see the point Chris was trying to make. When you put yourself out there the way he does, there will always be people snarking from the shadows. Just how it is.
Although this is not the approach I would take to make a point, I do agree to each his own. As you eloquently stated in your post, if we were all the same, this world would be a very boring place.
Though I must say, after posting your untimely death Chris was quick to move on to Forstner bits and crafting sanding sponge figurines! So hopefully it was named after you!
And the thought of you or Chris (or both) representing “good angels” on someone’s shoulder is laugh out loud hilarity at it’s finest!
Take care, and until next time.
Brad
Brad D. says
Raney, from the little I have been around you, it is clear that you have a big persona and an unconventional and distorted way of looking a things – which is of course a sincere compliment!
Thinking that you had passed on for the 10 seconds or so it took me to figure out that it was a twisted joke was admittedly unsettling – so I can understand how some who know you were concerned and put off.
But after quickly establishing that you were in fact still among the living, I was able to see the point Chris was trying to make. When you put yourself out there the way he does, there will always be people snarking from the shadows. Just how it is.
Although this is not the approach I would take to make a point, I do agree to each his own. As you eloquently stated in your post, if we were all the same, this world would be a very boring place.
Though I must say, after posting your untimely death Chris was quick to move on to Forstner bits and crafting sanding sponge figurines! So hopefully it was named after you!
And the thought of you or Chris (or both) representing “good angels” on someone’s shoulder is laugh out loud hilarity at it’s finest!
Take care, and until next time.
Brad
Bill says
Well. I laughed my ass off at the post Chris put up. I find it absolutely funny that people actually believed the story. I was obviously a response to the comments about Chris’ workbench drying out. Everyone thinking his bench was going to explode. If they would have been paying attention to his blog they would have gotten the joke pretty quickly.
I also find the reactions and belief sad. First to many people believe things without any further thought just because it was on the internet. Second, people joke about death all the time. Why all of a sudden we have to guilt trip everyone because of real world death is just absurd. One has nothing to do with the other. No one is devaluing the deaths of those in great tragedies. And as a Vet (USMC), I am at a loss to why some take offense because you are a vet, and how dare Chris do that, doesn’t he know so many vets kill themselves from PTSD, etc etc.. Again, one has nothing to do with the other.
These people need to pull their heads out from under, and get a grip.
That is all. Carry on.
Bill says
Well. I laughed my ass off at the post Chris put up. I find it absolutely funny that people actually believed the story. I was obviously a response to the comments about Chris’ workbench drying out. Everyone thinking his bench was going to explode. If they would have been paying attention to his blog they would have gotten the joke pretty quickly.
I also find the reactions and belief sad. First to many people believe things without any further thought just because it was on the internet. Second, people joke about death all the time. Why all of a sudden we have to guilt trip everyone because of real world death is just absurd. One has nothing to do with the other. No one is devaluing the deaths of those in great tragedies. And as a Vet (USMC), I am at a loss to why some take offense because you are a vet, and how dare Chris do that, doesn’t he know so many vets kill themselves from PTSD, etc etc.. Again, one has nothing to do with the other.
These people need to pull their heads out from under, and get a grip.
That is all. Carry on.
chuck says
I can’t help but to think of all the contributors to the letters-to-the-editors section of various wood geek mags who spout their opinions about this or that (usually safety or political correctness), and wish they’d realize that there is more to life -and death- than woodworking. If being a wood geek were isolated to only woodworking, and nothing else, I would probably have moved on a long time ago. Instead, there are those who choose to put themselves out there, and write on public internet forums and blogs; those who digress from the commonality of this jig or that set of plans, or the monthly tool review revealing the best rabbet plane money can buy, and write about the fringe. Honestly, I have always looked at Schwarz with a jaded eye until all of this. I thought he was a wood geek media darling. Is this the equivalent to the transformation of Hannah Montana to Miley Cirus? Who is to say? But what I can say is that I hope you all keep on keepin on,; only that you write more often. July? Really? Come on Raney! Write, and potentially offend more often. Your writing is fantastic and keeps the rest of us interested in this geekery during the hours we are not standing in front of our benches. As far as Schwarz goes… Okay fine! you’ll do for now.
Jay Christian says
Hi Raney,
Glad you’re not dead yet.
I had a mixed reaction to Chris’s post, but I didn’t really see it as politically incorrect or tasteless so much as just kinda mean. Not mean to you, since you obviously knew you weren’t dead, but mean to anyone who hadn’t been following along and took the post as true.
Granted, there were plenty of absurdities that should have clued me in right away that this was a joke, but, as Pete mentioned above, that first sentence had enough of an emotional punch that it clouded my initial reading of the funny absurdities that followed. And I know that’s the point, but if the result is making me think that someone I respect and admire has died tragically, even for a few minutes, the meanness of that seems to far outweigh the humor or any lesson about being overly concerned with wood movement. I don’t think conformity and social or political correctness should be a barometer of whether or not to make some statement or comment, but I think the impact it will have on the audience, desired or otherwise, should be a primary consideration.
I agree completely with the point of your post, but I’d argue that there’s a big difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. I think we could all due with a lot less self-righteousness, but more actual righteousness might be a good thing.
Jay
Jay Christian says
Hi Raney,
Glad you’re not dead yet.
I had a mixed reaction to Chris’s post, but I didn’t really see it as politically incorrect or tasteless so much as just kinda mean. Not mean to you, since you obviously knew you weren’t dead, but mean to anyone who hadn’t been following along and took the post as true.
Granted, there were plenty of absurdities that should have clued me in right away that this was a joke, but, as Pete mentioned above, that first sentence had enough of an emotional punch that it clouded my initial reading of the funny absurdities that followed. And I know that’s the point, but if the result is making me think that someone I respect and admire has died tragically, even for a few minutes, the meanness of that seems to far outweigh the humor or any lesson about being overly concerned with wood movement. I don’t think conformity and social or political correctness should be a barometer of whether or not to make some statement or comment, but I think the impact it will have on the audience, desired or otherwise, should be a primary consideration.
I agree completely with the point of your post, but I’d argue that there’s a big difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. I think we could all due with a lot less self-righteousness, but more actual righteousness might be a good thing.
Jay
Mark says
Most of us who’ve followed Chris for any length of time know to expect the occasional diversion to some juvenile humour. I’m one of those who found the post somewhat tasteless but that’s okay. I readily acknowledge all Chris has accomplished over the years and I’m a huge fan of LAP’s publications. Personally, I owe him a certain intangible debt to him for what all of his, and others, hard work has done for me. I think that many others probably feel similarly, to some degree or another, and as a result, we perhaps tend to put Chris on a pedestal he never wanted and probably loathes. That’s our bad, not Chris’, and perhaps it’s our problem if we found his humour gone a bit too far in that instance, though honestly, I probably re-read that post a dozen times and I still don’t get what was funny. Maybe I’m too dense. As far as harsh criticism though, I can only recall one true over-reaction but hey, what can you expect? People are entitled to their opinions and it is a more or less open forum. So, all in all, I’ll take Chris as he is. Sometimes he really is funny and the many things I’ve learned from him both personally and through LAPs books have earned him a lot of credit in my book. I wish him many years of blogging and success, tasteless jokes and all. I hope to be around for all of it.
Mark says
Most of us who’ve followed Chris for any length of time know to expect the occasional diversion to some juvenile humour. I’m one of those who found the post somewhat tasteless but that’s okay. I readily acknowledge all Chris has accomplished over the years and I’m a huge fan of LAP’s publications. Personally, I owe him a certain intangible debt to him for what all of his, and others, hard work has done for me. I think that many others probably feel similarly, to some degree or another, and as a result, we perhaps tend to put Chris on a pedestal he never wanted and probably loathes. That’s our bad, not Chris’, and perhaps it’s our problem if we found his humour gone a bit too far in that instance, though honestly, I probably re-read that post a dozen times and I still don’t get what was funny. Maybe I’m too dense. As far as harsh criticism though, I can only recall one true over-reaction but hey, what can you expect? People are entitled to their opinions and it is a more or less open forum. So, all in all, I’ll take Chris as he is. Sometimes he really is funny and the many things I’ve learned from him both personally and through LAPs books have earned him a lot of credit in my book. I wish him many years of blogging and success, tasteless jokes and all. I hope to be around for all of it.
Jeremy says
@Pete Kelly
Pete,
I totally agree with your point, the funny bit came in too late. I am surprised that anyone read the entire article and believed it, but the first few lines were so deadpan that I had no reason not to fall for it and be saddened. I agree with Raney’s points and will be reading anything Chris writes just like I have for years. We all make mistakes in the things we say. Fortunately for me, thousands of people aren’t waiting to point out my errors.
Jeremy says
@Pete Kelly
Pete,
I totally agree with your point, the funny bit came in too late. I am surprised that anyone read the entire article and believed it, but the first few lines were so deadpan that I had no reason not to fall for it and be saddened. I agree with Raney’s points and will be reading anything Chris writes just like I have for years. We all make mistakes in the things we say. Fortunately for me, thousands of people aren’t waiting to point out my errors.
Keith says
I thought it was real…until today when I saw another post Chris made that referred to you…and it seemed in bad taste. I said “surely Chris is not that insensitive”. Wanting to know more, I Googled your name and this post came up first in the results list.
Wow. You sure had me fooled. You have absorbed a full hour or so of my life in your little joke. I felt for you. I felt for your family. I wondered to myself in my idle time how something so odd could result in your death. I told my wife about it. Jeez. Good joke fella…hope you’re proud of your “non-conformist nature”. Sure wish I could bill you for the time.
Keith says
I thought it was real…until today when I saw another post Chris made that referred to you…and it seemed in bad taste. I said “surely Chris is not that insensitive”. Wanting to know more, I Googled your name and this post came up first in the results list.
Wow. You sure had me fooled. You have absorbed a full hour or so of my life in your little joke. I felt for you. I felt for your family. I wondered to myself in my idle time how something so odd could result in your death. I told my wife about it. Jeez. Good joke fella…hope you’re proud of your “non-conformist nature”. Sure wish I could bill you for the time.
Bruce says
Mr. Schwarz represents a public entity. Raney represents Raney. The two are not interchangeable.
I enjoy crass humor, but do find it less than ideal in public representation. Chris can call rift grain wood “bastard” grain in his bathroom. In a publication it is simply crude, unprofessional, and incorrect by majority consensus. A buffoon with a beer in hand and case at his feet in an Amish setting is no different than high school students smoking in the classroom.
Nuff’ said!
Bruce says
Mr. Schwarz represents a public entity. Raney represents Raney. The two are not interchangeable.
I enjoy crass humor, but do find it less than ideal in public representation. Chris can call rift grain wood “bastard” grain in his bathroom. In a publication it is simply crude, unprofessional, and incorrect by majority consensus. A buffoon with a beer in hand and case at his feet in an Amish setting is no different than high school students smoking in the classroom.
Nuff’ said!
Kremen says
I found this story just today. And I felt really sorry about what happened.Searching for more information guided me to find out it was a bad joke. Happy for his life, sad for this kind of “public” fun. It should remain between close friends who can realize fast but you can have different opinion.
I work on critical care unit most of my life. Severe cases, resuscitation and death are some parts of daily bread. The wood work and wood topics are the place where I go to refresh my mind. I didnt expect joke. You got me.
Nothing serious just.. I said few bad words to respected author in my mind.
Thousands miles away in desert, I’ll be more carefull to read his articles:)
I apologize for the English. I should study more to get it faster.
Kremen says
I found this story just today. And I felt really sorry about what happened.Searching for more information guided me to find out it was a bad joke. Happy for his life, sad for this kind of “public” fun. It should remain between close friends who can realize fast but you can have different opinion.
I work on critical care unit most of my life. Severe cases, resuscitation and death are some parts of daily bread. The wood work and wood topics are the place where I go to refresh my mind. I didnt expect joke. You got me.
Nothing serious just.. I said few bad words to respected author in my mind.
Thousands miles away in desert, I’ll be more carefull to read his articles:)
I apologize for the English. I should study more to get it faster.
Jim says
Wow.
While still alive, I enjoy being a little misunderstood. Even if it’s just to create the setting for explaining myself. Sometimes that leads to humor that only I really appreciate. Other times there is a split in the audience between those who laugh and those who don’t. That is, between those who thought it was funny and those who didn’t. But here, in this case, there seems a split between those who are offended and those and those who enjoy those little moments when even life itself can be seen as less than scared. Even if created just for the fun of it.
Of course we suffer with our fellows when they suffer at the passing of a loved one. But really? We can never publicly laugh at death? Never make light of ourselves? Are we forever to hold ourselves as so sacred that any time the other mask (the one that is laughing) is displayed we must first alert the audience,(an audience that claims to know us) that we are going to be irreverent for the next few moments?
If righteousness is what you seek, then go to those who claim to know about such things. I’ve looked. And I’ve sincerely tried to understand the one who makes the final decision about all things righteous. And I don’t understand. That is surely why I enjoy times of irreverence. Times when there is no doubt about what is and what isn’t righteous. Those moments when the contrast itself enlightens an otherwise (at least for me)murky environment.
But then, I know my fellows. And they know me. They’ve seen my face among the other unfit lovers of goodness when, for a moment, there is a flash of understanding caused by those unconcerned with what the consensus deems appropriate. It’s good to know your audience. It’s better still (and a bit easier to pull off)if the audience knows the performer. You don’t need to laugh at every joke. You don’t even need to stay for the second act. But don’t ruin it for the rest of us
who appreciate such things.
Jim says
Wow.
While still alive, I enjoy being a little misunderstood. Even if it’s just to create the setting for explaining myself. Sometimes that leads to humor that only I really appreciate. Other times there is a split in the audience between those who laugh and those who don’t. That is, between those who thought it was funny and those who didn’t. But here, in this case, there seems a split between those who are offended and those and those who enjoy those little moments when even life itself can be seen as less than scared. Even if created just for the fun of it.
Of course we suffer with our fellows when they suffer at the passing of a loved one. But really? We can never publicly laugh at death? Never make light of ourselves? Are we forever to hold ourselves as so sacred that any time the other mask (the one that is laughing) is displayed we must first alert the audience,(an audience that claims to know us) that we are going to be irreverent for the next few moments?
If righteousness is what you seek, then go to those who claim to know about such things. I’ve looked. And I’ve sincerely tried to understand the one who makes the final decision about all things righteous. And I don’t understand. That is surely why I enjoy times of irreverence. Times when there is no doubt about what is and what isn’t righteous. Those moments when the contrast itself enlightens an otherwise (at least for me)murky environment.
But then, I know my fellows. And they know me. They’ve seen my face among the other unfit lovers of goodness when, for a moment, there is a flash of understanding caused by those unconcerned with what the consensus deems appropriate. It’s good to know your audience. It’s better still (and a bit easier to pull off)if the audience knows the performer. You don’t need to laugh at every joke. You don’t even need to stay for the second act. But don’t ruin it for the rest of us
who appreciate such things.
Jim Waddell says
Hello, Raney. Been many years. Brian Johnson posted the story on FB, and my reaction was horror, I really thought you had died. I don’t know the first thing about woodworking. Was relieved to read through the comments. Not my kind of joke, I’ve seen too many real tragedies to find humor in a fake one. But that’s just my taste, and I don’t fault you for having different taste. Best wishes to you.
Jim Waddell says
Hello, Raney. Been many years. Brian Johnson posted the story on FB, and my reaction was horror, I really thought you had died. I don’t know the first thing about woodworking. Was relieved to read through the comments. Not my kind of joke, I’ve seen too many real tragedies to find humor in a fake one. But that’s just my taste, and I don’t fault you for having different taste. Best wishes to you.
Jonny says
I’m certainly not offended! Just glad it’s not true!
Jonny says
I’m certainly not offended! Just glad it’s not true!