Heh...I've only been here a short while, but from what I've seen I like Hrant. Of course, I'll never, ever show him any of my designs, I don't think I could take it, but it is fun to watch him critique other people as well as interact with the other strong personalities on the board.

Hrant is cool, ivhmo.

Jon, I agree with everything you wrote in your truly
brilliant open letter, which had me laugh out loud
on various occasions and somehow moved me to a
certain extent, silly me. Because although Hrant can
occasionally get on my nerves as no one else can and
infuriate me to unknown levels, I firmly believe that
this - kinda - tribute is deserved. Because I've got
a gut feeling that Hrant is one of the good guys, and
no amount of online abuse will convince me of the
contrary. Me like him too.

And really, there's nothing Hrant can throw at you
that a healthy dose of self-relativation and a good
sense of humour won't help you through. Some people
need to stop taking themselves too seriously.

P.S. I read and reread this entry numerous times
to make sure that there was nothing that might
elicit a response from Hrant, can you believe it?

Oh yeah, and me also I'd really like to meet him in
person. (Which goes for quite a lot of people I've
"met" around here, but him too nevertheless)

I've always had great respect for Hrant. He's always offered honest, straightforward critiques of my work, and that's exactly what I post my works in progress to receive. Hrant is one of the best things about the critiques section, and I always enjoy reading his discussions and contributions to the other boards as well. His comments are indeed provocative, which in my opinion is the best kind of discussion.

I'm not at all sure what happened on the thread between Hrant and Gerald Giampa, but I've noticed that Hrant has been missing from the discussion and critique boards since then. I hope he returns. If not, Typophile.com will have lost a useful voice.

David

>>Several of us

Jon,

i'm new here, but i agree with you.

[ i just don't understand: we have an interesting discussion, couple posts....then --> nasty name calling. as i said - i'm new here. BUT i'm tired of that.]


David Hamuel

Personally, I've only had useful and helpful comments from everyone on Typophile.

I've found Hrant to be very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. He's one of 3 or 4 members here whose posts I read no matter what the topic is.

Paul

I have to disagree. Hrant is an insufferable tedious bigot. He regularly makes me regret asking the simplest question or offering help to anyone on this and every other type board.

I like the few type designs I've seen from Hrant. I'd really like to see more. I wish he would stop talking out of his arse and instead get some work done and come back with some new fonts.

You know, it's easy to say stuff when you're anonymous, but if you would say that under your actual name people would respect you more...coward.

I've known Hrant for a couple of years now on the various lists and met him in the real when he enrolled in one of my letterpress classes. I'd like to think we are friends. He is honest, trusting, trustworthy, generous, kind, and forgiving. And quite mild-mannered!!! He is geniunely interested in intellectual effort and a search for truth. There is no ego-centric crap going on with him. He is quite genuine. If he says it, you can take it as his word.

Gerald

Folks,

I heard you chaps don't like my humour. Then you are really going to like this. It's not funny.

First of all I think all of us respect and have heard of John Hudson. I am sure he too is sympathetic with your buddy, probably he too thinks I am a little pissed off and you know something. He just might be right about that.

But if you think John Hudson and Ross Mills would be involved in type making without my encouragement you are wrong. Does that tell you anything?

If Hrant keeps people like Erik Spiekermann, Joseph D. Treacy, Jim Rimmer, myself and only God knows who else that does not bother to contribute because of his puerile, ego centric, insulting attacks just because they don't believe the unbelievable, you are better off without the clan member.

One thing I can assure you all this tear jerking is just a lot of wasted drama. Hrant does nothing but write in the Forum his two cents on virtually anything, and everything he knows nothing about.


His work is truly boring at best and rest assured that he is thoroughly addicted to this culthood of button pushers that I predict he could never be gone for long enough.

His Pascal "fantasy" is crap supported by a letterpress spokesman that could never have ever found gainful employment in a real print shop. His press work is good but it is done, from what I can make of it, on a press that is idiot proof by design. I hope I am wrong, a proof press. I would be much happier if it were something more.

He should try a 32 page book forme on a 44 inch semi automatic cylinder press and see how he cuts the mustard, any bets? Believe me, it will quickly separate the men from the boys. He is an enthusiastic hobby printer at best resting on his laurels. He obviously knows nothing about Linotypes, Monotypes, or he would not spout such uninformed material in his teachings to boo hoo Hrant. He knows little to nothing of type cutting which is clearly indicated by his sitting in the bleachers of Hrants cheering section. If he believes what Hrant tells him then he too, is just passing wind. If he believe in the "Pascal Fantasy" the man is an idiot.

I put more impressions through my hands in one month that he ever did in his entire life span. He prints mainly by polymer which does not give authentic entitlement of any expertise as a letterpress printer. I know, he has played with a little type in a California job case, maybe printed Christmas cards on a treadle hand fed platen press. Nothing wrong with that. But his preference towards polymer leans towards what I deem to be low grade material. Or more rudely put, "buyer beware material".

Putting it bluntly how many ems per hour can this man set? I know my money would not go on Gerald Lange in a typographical horse race. People you have never heard of outperform and know more than he. Common run of the mill letterpress printers.

That been said I think Gerald Lange had a great opportunity. Now, after his tear jerking to comes to pass, if he ever comes to his senses, he will of wished he had been a little more diplomatic in his handling of myself in particular. I am not a nut case belonging in an institute thank you all very much. I have made a tremendous contribution to this industry and further if he considers me to be "a has been" as does his bossum buddy boo hoo Hrant, may I suggest the following, he is "a never has been". So he will never have anything to be "nostalgic about". Get my point. So before it is to late, you cry babies should welcome Jim Rimmer, Joe Treacy, and myself to speak our piece. Gerald Lange should have welcomed us. You know why he did not, he is too busy protecting his pecking order. But is about to miss, taking you with him, a rare opportunity to leap frog your knowledge far beyond what previously has been available to you.

The opportunity is passing before your very eyes, an opportunity that will never again show its face because some of us "middle aged" "Honky" "White "Male" punchcutters are going to give up on you all.

So do not waste your time with a phoney 60 hr letterpress expert. There is no such thing.

I KNOW LITTLE OF THE CULTURE OF THE DELETTANTI

Bite me

1) I was in the Bay Area the past 2.5 days.
2) http://www.typophile.com/forums/messages/72/4694.html
3) All you need is self-confidence. It might help to always remember that I know far less about type than I don't.
4) Please talk about type instead of me.
5) But nonetheless thank you Jon for teaching me a bit more about myself.

hhp

Welcome back, Hrant.

As an inexperienced type designer, I'd like to think
that I have a lot to learn from everyone on the list,
including Hrant H Papazian, Gerald Lange,
Gerald Giampa, John Hudson, Erik Spiekermann,
Joseph D. Treacy, Jonathan Hoefler, and others
far too numerous to name, whether they have
70 years of experience or are just starting.
I certainly hope more professionals with share
their knowledge and experience with us.

But for anyone, experienced or not, to say "if x
person posts, I won't" seems to me to be a
shallow sort of intellectual blackmail. Far too
few professionals seem willing to share their
knowledge with those of us who are less
experienced. I value those who have. Hrant has.
John Hudson has. Others have as well.

I'm not na