Any News

[Trout120-1]

Any news on Bob Taylor regarding how he is doing ? We're not even half way there on the Go Fund Me. Hope he's doing better.

[Pentalux]

Haven't spoken with him in a few days but last time we talked he was in good spirits. Unfortunately he took a tumble on the icy ground outside his house so was feeling a little stiff and sore but overall was clearly touched by the outpouring of support. I have relayed most of the messages received with the GoFundMe donations - some have definitely made him laugh. Have also received an incredibly generous (exceptional) cane offering for him too. I will give him a call tomorrow and get an update.

[PYochim]

Haven't spoken with him in a few days but last time we talked he was in good spirits. Unfortunately he took a tumble on the icy ground outside his house so was feeling a little stiff and sore but overall was clearly touched by the outpouring of support. I have relayed most of the messages received with the GoFundMe donations - some have definitely made him laugh. Have also received an incredibly generous (exceptional) cane offering for him too. I will give him a call tomorrow and get an update.

Thanks for the update. Mr. Taylor sounds like one tough hombre'.

[Pentalux]

Spoke with Bob today. Sounds like he is doing pretty well, all things considered. They are planning to fully clear the site over the next few days. On a positive note, his planing forms were one of the few things to have survived. Told him that sounds like an omen. He did say that he does hope to eventually get back to building a few rods a year.

The one thing that I think bothers him the most is that he no longer has any of his own rods.

[headwaters]

Thanks for the update!

[munsey w]

Rob- Thanks for the update....makes me sick he lost his own rods!!

[Pentalux]

What is making me the sickest is the select group of people who do not think we should be doing anything for Bob right now. They feel as though "we don't need to be throwing a bunch of money at him right now..." as one put it to me. I will refrain from compromising this site with anything more specific but for those who wish to discuss the details please feel free to call.

Bob Taylor is a living legend in the world of bamboo fly rods and people are certainly entitled to their opinion. However, for certain people (in the industry no less) to play judge and jury with not only Bob but also those who have contributed to his recovery, by condemning their efforts to support Bob during what is probably one of the most traumatic times in his life, has been eye-opening. Literal hypocrites! I can only hope and pray each and every one of them loses their shop, tying room, boat house or man-cave along with every single item connected to the craft and sport they have loved and lived their entire lives by -- that it all go up in a blaze right in front of your eyes!!! And then that you* (if you are reading this and I hope you are, otherwise the word should be they) receive exactly what you/they believe for Bob and have given yourselves -- that no one offer any help or support to you other than of course your hollow condolences. That you should for the rest of your life no longer engage in the craft that you love perhaps more than anything in life because a certain select group of people think they know what's best for you.

It's despicable.

[mer]

Giving, freely giving, benefits both parties. I don't begrudge anyone from giving or not giving, because frankly it is "their resource (time, money, whatever)" that is being given.
But while I may disagree with "who/what" someone else is giving to, I will never condemn them for it. Just don't try and force me to give to something I disagree with.

Fires are devastating. Basically blink of an eye, you're left with what you're wearing, what's in your pockets.

[Flyman615]

I've not known Bob personally, but I agree with Pentalux and Mer and am sick and tired of the cynicism that shows up frequently these days on this Forum and elsewhere.

Fact is, it sadly doesn't help anyone one bit.

Scott

[Trout120-1]

Shame on those jerks. Bob and his FAMILY wholeheartedly deserves the money.

[bob2935]

[quote="Pentalux"]What is making me the sickest is the select group of people who do not think we should be doing anything for Bob right now. They feel as though "we don't need to be throwing a bunch of money at him right now..." as one put it to me. I will refrain from compromising this site with anything more specific but for those who wish to discuss the details please feel free to call.

Bob Taylor is a living legend in the world of bamboo fly rods and people are certainly entitled to their opinion. However, for certain people (in the industry no less) to play judge and jury with not only Bob but also those who have contributed to his recovery, by condemning their efforts to support Bob during what is probably one of the most traumatic times in his life, has been eye-opening. Literal hypocrites! I can only hope and pray each and every one of them loses their shop, tying room, boat house or man-cave along with every single item connected to the craft and sport they have loved and lived their entire lives by -- that it all go up in a blaze right in front of your eyes!!! And then that you* (if you are reading this and I hope you are, otherwise the word should be they) receive exactly what you/they believe for Bob and have given yourselves -- that no one offer any help or support to you other than of course your hollow condolences. That you should for the rest of your life no longer engage in the craft that you love perhaps more than anything in life because a certain select group of people think they know what's best for you.

It's despicable.

I have have read nothing but heartfelt sympathetic responses in terms of Bob's loss on the forum. I too am a big Taylor fan and sent him a check. Not sure where this negativity is coming from. Never used go fund me and I really hate Facebook. I work in the mental health field and you cannot believe all the issues created by Facebook with my clients. . Are you sure you are not overreacting. The cane community tends to be very supportive. Berating non contributing people on the forum to me is not the best way to get people to kick in funds.
Bohemian Bob

[Pentalux]

Not sure where the negativity is coming from either. Please be clear that my previous comment has nothing to do with wether or not someone chose to give to Bob - as I have told many people, the simple cards and calls have been tremendous and are what positively effects Bob the most and why I included his mailing address in the GoFundMe. The added private notes sent with some of the donations have meant as much or probably more than the money.

The quote - and it's a dead nuts accurate quote, about not needing to throw money at him right now, was stated to me prior to the fund even going up. Again, I have no issues with anyone giving or not giving. I do have an issue with people presenting themselves one way - to Bob no less! - but are clearly by their words and actions taking a different stance. This however did not motivate my post either as I was also fully aware of these people already too.

What set me off was crossing paths with someone who has given to the fund and when I thanked him for it, he said he just wish he could give without taking crap for it. He later walked back his comments to me on the phone yesterday, but it was clear that this was done to stay tight with the group that is being so utterly hypocritical. That is my point, regardless what they may be posting on this forum or elsewhere, they are hypocrites. At the end of our conversation I said, I'm really sorry, could have swore I heard you say that you just wished you could give without taking crap for it, that it was your money that you should be free to do with it as you choose and who are they to judge you for it and he ended with a well yeah you did but I gotta go.

The politics are so sticky that I don't want to get people inadvertently caught up in it but suffice it to say, there has been a distinct, absolute and complete change in my position towards a certain group of people.

[Santafecino]

It is truly a surprise to learn that anyone, anywhere, believes it is somehow objectionable to support Bob Taylor when his shop burns down in his latter years. I must be living in a backwater--New Mexico--out of touch with the sophisticated crowd.

In 1984, 36 years ago now, I went to the Leonard shop in the Catskills to buy an 8 foot two piece rod, a 40M-5. The man who handed it to me across the counter was Bob Taylor, then black-haired and ruddy-cheeked. I still have that rod; it's one of the best and reflected the skills of Bob Taylor and the other Leonard folks. He's still with us and probably making even better rods, if that's possible. To me, supporting his recovery is a gesture towards the continuation of our sport and the skills and memories that lie behind it. If the funds are unneeded, I assume we will hear about that; meantime, I'm assuming that contributions go to extend the career of a rodmaker who has carried on a tradition that includes Leonard, T&T, and his independent efforts and amounts to a national treasure of sorts.
--Lindsay

[Flyman615]

In my view., it's yet another undeserved example of "No good deed ever goes unpunished". Sad.

Yes, here on what my ol' pal BlackHillsBill always called the Little Forum That Time Forgot.

Scott

[PYochim]

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

[Flyman615]

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

[Trout120-1]

Any update on how Bob Taylor is doing ?

[samsonboi]

What the hell. How could anyone say that we shouldn't be throwing cash at Mr. Taylor? That's terrible.

[uniquafly]

Just one of the things that made this country so great is the willingness of her citizens to freely give to those in need a helping hand whether it be physical help or money, it’s the Christian thing to do. For those who don’t feel they should share part of their own blessings with someone who has had their life turned upside down in a matter of minutes well... karma is a bitch!

[samsonboi]

If I was closer, I'd go to help out. Wish I could.