I find the subject and the content of your show is interesting but unfortunately your speaking pasterns are atrocious. You are repeatedly saying the same phrases over and over again “Listen Guys”, “Guys”, and “OK”. Please, for the love of god, stop doing this. The people watching your show are not in the 5th grade.

I know what you are saying because the subject has been beaten to death all over the web....I am aware of all the things we need to do to make the show flow better next year...I can tell you "okay" has yet to be said.... "guy" has been dropped too...if you took some time to look around the site and saw the other thread maybe you could have spared me the negative vibe over the long week end. Hopefully you will like season 2 much better.

Happy 4th. Guy!

No need for negative Vibes...... I can hardly wait for Season 2 to hit the air down here in Florida. Even if there are a few GUYS and the occasional OK.. It's fine. Just be Tommy MacDonald at his best (which is what I know you strive to be) and everything will be just fine. Chop Chop!

Happy 4th to you too. T.

Tommy: I would like to add my 2 cents to this discussion. I agree 100% with Bruce.
Please continue to be yourself. You have taught me a great deal about being a better woodworker. If you can teach an old dog like me a few new tricks you must be doing something right!

Have a Great 4th!-George

Sweet Jesus.... this again?

I personally have no problem with the dialog. That kind of dialog is for the intellectual elite. Its very simple to translate. for example, this is a every day conversation in my world.

"Frankie, did you talk to the guy over at the place about the thing?

Frankie... "Yeah"

me.. OK

We were able to engage in s a simple dialog using the two words people for some reason find offensive and completely understand what we were both saying. In a nut shell , Frankie had to talk to the guy and the guy now he has no more problem so everything is OK

Basically Tommy just asking you if you understood what he was doing, and because you can't respond he just assumes your on the same page .OK? and then he moves on to the next step OK? so if the guys think it's OK it must be OK.....OK?...OK! But if the guy wants to say OK, it A-OK with me because I'm OK with it, once again, I'm OK with the Guy, over at the place, with the woodworking show, saying OK.

OK, I gotta go now cause the Guys got some fireworks and I think there gonna blow somethin' up.

Stifle freedom of expression and you stifle creativity

I havent even seen the show (so can some generous person from the land of the free send a box set down under... please!!!!! ) and even I'm aware of the previous discussions.

but i've been watching tommy since episode 3 of the bombay series... and i reckon he method of teaching is OK.. no complaints from me

come on, it's a woodworking show,
not a show on how to avoid mangling the queen's good language
or English learning OK??
(never seen the show, but did see the podcasts and Tommy is more than
understandable, even for a non-native speaker of English)

Though I'm new to the blog, I'm a committed fan of the show. I've got to admit that I could easily come down on both sides - Be Yourself vs. Be Understood. Tommy's enthusiasm for woodworking is infectious, in part because of the force of his language and in part because of his body language. I am at times sprinting to keep up with him. If I had to choose between a clear, controlled, scripted presentation, such as we see on Ask This Old House or Woodsmith's Shop, or Tommy's mania, I'd go for the mania. That said, I'm glad that I record the show so that I can repeat the sections that speed by. I'm impatiently tuning up my running shoes for Season 2.

I can't beleive this please Tommy just be yourself your true fans don't want you to change what you do thats you and that is fine you have taught me so much and i cant wait for season two and many more .



A TRUE FAN ,
LENNY

What a dumb thread I'm just say'n!

thanks for being part of it

Love it!!

Tommy your expertise is such that you could teach the deaf to build a bombi, and you no doubt have that same expertise, charisma and patience to also teach the blind woodworking.

And before I read comments about "Really", come on neither of those can do it? I do believe FWW has done articles on the blind and they have done some really marvelous work.

Tommy, just keep being you, don't lose your enthusiasm, OR your way of teaching!

That being said, I hope everyone had a grand 4th.

Emmy nomination in the first season! Enough said, the man said something right. Seriously, we don't need another boring mister Rogers type of show. If people want that there are several out there.

Steve

I, for one, anticipate eagerly the Ivy League English Department Woodworking show, with its tasteful array of tweed jackets (some without leather elbow patches!) and sensitive examinations of the occurrence of manual labor motifs throughout literary histor.....zzzzzzzzz....

bleh--keep rockin tommy!!!

Has anybody seen my horse? I left it here a little while ago. He wasn't looking too healthy, I hope nothing has happened to him...

I 'm sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news but I think Couchy beat your horse to death. And then shot it....

Guys,

I think Tommy should keep his style. Okay?

===

Seriously, an Emmy nomination means something is definitely going right. With Tommy's passion for woodworking, and delivering his content in his own "native eastern Massachusetts" style, makes for an engaging, genuine, and approachable show.

So I say - Tommy, keep doing your thing in your way. It works.

Now, gotta go make sure my chisel is "shaahp"

I hope you don't change a thing. I like your style just the way it is. You can't please everyone. Most woodworkers like the way you work and deliver the message. Just ignore the negative stuff. We do.

I just have to say...what-eva!

I just hope the chisels ah shaap in season two..ok guys? what-eva!

Nope, you didn't miss anything. Season 2 starts in Oct 2011.

I'm a "Rough Cut" regular through WMPN in Jackson, MS. I'm 63 years old; been a professional woodworker at least 50 of those years. I learned from my father, who learned from his, who learned from his for about 6 generations back. I've also been a teacher, public speaker and pastor. I've had a total of 4 years of public speaking training. I'm not a elitist or language snob. But I have learned that to be an effective teacher/mentor you must be able to communicate clearly and concisely in the fewest words possible. "Filler" words such as "like," "and-uh" "you-know-what-i-mean?" and so forth (another filler phrase) easily become mental distractions to the listening audience.

Tommy, it is obvious you have the woodworking skills. I suggest that just as you have learned/improved your trade skills by observing others, do the same thing with speaking skills. Read & listen to guys like James Krenov, Sam Maloof, or David Marks and observe not only what they do with their hands, but how they described it in words -spoken and written. It will only improve your already admirable collection of skills.

I do enjoy your unscripted style. I like how you try to do lots of things with a minimum collection of tools. Your approach will appeal to a vast number of folk out there who love woodworking but can't afford a small fortune in equipment. As you sharpen all your skills your popularity will grow.

Be ever learning and you and your audience will be ever happy.

Sincerely,

art

Guys, ignore couchy. Tommy, you're the best. What ever.

I don't know, GUYS.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn. The verbal communication sounds just fine to me.

I, for one, live in New England (fairly close to Canton too). This is 100% fine speech. It wouldn't be "Rough Cut" without it. Don't change Tommy - even my wife loves the "Hey Guys", "Ok", etc. And everyone that has a "Rough Cut" mentality in this section of the country is a Tommy, Mikey, Johnny, Timmy, etc.