Noodler's Inks relabeling?
What do you make of this? When I first read this, I thought that he was kidding, being snarky. Then I thought that it was angry spite. Now that others have called his apology "sincere," I can't make sense of the whole thing. Has Nathan actually changed his mind on the fundamental matter at hand? Is that possible??
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
I think he can rebrand things to both improve sales and make amends. He sounds sincere but I wait to see his follow through.
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
TSherbs, we are a small, older suburb on the giant new fountain pen megalopolis. The big battle of Tardiff, 2022, has been a BIG topic and groundswell of public action in a number of places. I first saw it in a smaller group, the Pen Addict slack community, but it also took hold of the large, young crowd at r/fountainpes (reddit). Reddit hammered not only Nathan but specifically started going over the vendors, and other groups joined in. A lot of this transpired through the Goulet Pen Company, I think mainly because they have been linked with Noodler's and NT since they started business, and they do a LOT of Noodlers sales to the entry-level pen community.
I was somewhat astonished at the depth of activity, seeing as Nathan has always been political and abrupt, but this time was a bridge too far, as well as how much society has changed. It appears that he did the only thing he could do. Whether it was a clever business move or a truly deep change-of-heart moment, I have not a clue. There is no denying, though, that this change in his product line and attitude is 100% due to public opinion and activism.
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I stopped looking at Reddit when I stopped shopping for pens....
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I just browsed a couple of Reddit threads. Interesting.
I am still puzzled by Nathan's notice that he posted on Instagram. I have trouble reading the tone, and sure enough, there is a reddit debate (for what that is worth) over the sincerity of the "apology." I sure can't tell, but written notices on Instagram aren't the best places for easy reading of tone, especially from a guy who has so often used sarcasm and then has chided people for not recognizing sarcasm (or irony, anyway).
I have been a fan of several Noodler's inks, and I won't be pouring any bottles down the drain. But I have not bought a Noodler's ink in months and don't plan to buy any for a couple of years (I don't go through ink all that fast). I am a believer in the "free market" point of view: the maker can name products however they want, change them whenever they want, and buyers can buy them or not and put pressure on retailers or not whenever they want. That's the "freedom" of the marketplace.
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
I'm unaware of the change. Can you explain it or post a link please?
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Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
That's unfortunate for Nathan. From my experiences, both in person and over the phone, I doubt he meant anything other than disdain for their policies (not their faiths) and put horns on them to contrast against the one whose policies he liked, who he haloed.
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Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TSherbs
Dang! I can't see anything because I don't have an Instagram account. :noidea:
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
I'm the same, can't see it. This whole business passed me by and I would like to know more about it. I like Noodlers inks though I wouldn't have bought the ones with the most obviously political titles. Tardiff was always difficult, even way back when he was a nibmeister but many of his inks are good and good value. His politics wouldn't be my business if he didn't use some inks to push his point of view, or traduce that of others.
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Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
It's ironic, that someone as anti-fascist/ anti-totalitarian as Nathan Tardif be branded as an anti-semite.
While I don't agree with his politics and his antics are oftentimes disappointing, I like his bulletproof inks. I like him being bold enough experimenting /creating unusual inks.
I like that he gives us the best bang for the buck and not a crystal glass jar filled with dye and water, like some brands, call ink and name after "historical" people. Paradoxically, Nathan is quite a socialist :D
I find we live in a world that too much power is given to words. You cannot use this or that word. What about if I think that word, does that need to be controlled to?
It is as if we have a gun at our head and have given everyone else access to the trigger but ourselves. We are not in control. Heck even some else is holding the gun. Anyone can demolish us without impunity with a single word.
What happened to personal power?
I find the new list as sterilized and as uninspired like any other dye mixed with water, might as well by any other "censored" ink..... :(
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Thanks for the screenshot, mizgeorge.
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yazeh
It's ironic, that someone as anti-fascist/ anti-totalitarian as Nathan Tardif be branded as an anti-semite.
While I don't agree with his politics and his antiques are oftentimes disappointing, I like his bulletproof inks. I like him being bold enough experimenting /creating unusual inks.
I like that he gives us the best bang for the buck and not a crystal glass jar filled with dye and water, like some brands, call ink and name after "historical" people.
Well expressed. I value these things too. But he played fast and free with his politics at times, and his labels pushed the limits at times. Turns out that he may have crossed a line, and progressive cultural mores around marketing and capitalism appear to have passed him by.
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yazeh
... and his antiques are oftentimes disappointing
Ha, for a moment I thought he had a side-hustle I was unaware of! (I assume you meant "antics")
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
I saw the apology, hadn't seen the renaming of so many inks til this thread.
(opinion) Apologizing to a mob is always a mistake. Nothing is ever enough. Happens over and over.
You sit tight and don't say shit. It blows over. These people have no real principles except bloodlust and exercise of power. They move on.
It's three minutes, remember?
Renaming and discontinuing inks in response to a woke mob portends failure and doom.
There will be little praise for Nathan for buckling, if any. Just more disdain from people who were never going to accept him anyway.
People who have never built anything in their lives and never will. Nihilists.
Pity.
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Yeah, and I think that Nathan knows this. His statement that he will change any ink name that hurts "anyone" strikes me as pure pique: surrender, but with scornful middle finger raised high. I mean, he has moved from "free speech forever" to "I'll change a label if your grandma is upset". Doesn't feel real to me. I keep waiting for the big "J/K".
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Thing is, Tardif has been turning people off for years. I started in this hobby in 2014 and he was obnoxious then, too.
I don't believe him for one second, but am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Its a ham-fisted approach to relabeling that looks like it was done by a marketing team trying to control any and all possible fallout. Given their relationship, I wouldn't be surprised if Goulet had whoever works marketing for them take over.
To that end, I do not think Nathan understands, or even cares to understand, why people were truly hurt and mad this time.
I mean, the dude caught heat for his Volcker Green like 4 months ago for doing the same thing (putting horns on Jewish people) and is surprised that people are made when he does it again after being told that it was anti-Semitic imagery?
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I actually always liked his attitude. He amused me. In his videos, it became a game for me to guess when he was going to drop into the commentary something a bit hyperbolic about original patriotism, freedom, courage, etc. I didn't mind, because I didn't have to listen to it for long. Might be different if he were my chatty neighbor tho.
Re: Noodler's Inks relabeling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yazeh
... and his antiques are oftentimes disappointing
Ha, for a moment I thought he had a side-hustle I was unaware of! (I assume you meant "antics")
Yep... thanks for pointing it out.... ;)