Datamancer (Steampunk Mod guy) is dead

[Ninjerk]

Datamancer is dead. He died a couple of weeks ago in an auto crash.

Just wanted to spit out an FYI. Did a search and didn't see any mention of it.

[rowdy]

http://boingboing.net/2013/11/26/rip-richard-datamancer-na.html

[pasph]

Sad news, an artist for sure

[tp4tissue]

hmmmm....

I wonder if he's faked his death so he can cash in, in post..

Because surely the price of his work is now "up"

well.. either way.. sad news indeed..

[SpAmRaY]

R.I.P.

http://makezine.com/2013/11/25/the-maker-movement-loses-its-datamancer/

According to that it was suicide.

[paicrai]

What's with all the death threads, guys? Hope it's not a plot to get me all riled up and **** after that Paul Walker thread. It'd be ineffective, but still...

[balanar]

Yup I definitely think its all about you buddy.

[paicrai]

Yup I definitely think its all about you buddy.

Suggestions are now absolute statements, guys.

[noisyturtle]

Datamancer is dead. He died a couple of weeks ago in an auto crash.

Just wanted to spit out an FYI. Did a search and didn't see any mention of it.

A very frank way of saying it
I read about this a few weeks ago and was immediately saddened. His website and works were single handedly what started my interest in mechanical keyboards. Seeing that a keyboard can be so much more than the sum of it's functionality, it was always a dream to one day have him construct a custom board. Sadly his skills and talent are now gone, but never forgotten.

[demik]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

[sth]

rest in peace you keyboard wacko.

[paicrai]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

[sth]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

can you please just not post in this thread if you're not going to offer any respect to him or his family?

[demik]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg you dumb ****.

[paicrai]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

[dragonxx21]

Never heard of this guy and I'm sad to say I had to learn about him through this thread... It sucks to lose artists like this.

[tjcaustin]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

[noisyturtle]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Well now that someone passed away that has actually touched my life, I can see how infuriating this kind of **** is. Can we just not, please? Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity. Rich was a part of the keyboard community, so in this light can we just give the man a little respect here even if just for his amazing contributions to the mechanical keyboard scene?

[tp4tissue]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

LOL, lardbutt, his point is there are degrees of connectedness in which we humans apply to our immediate surrounding..

Have you ever cried for the death of an unfamiliar child in Africa?

Have you cried for the death of a close one?

What is the difference between the two....


Now for MOST people here.. even the "greatest acheivers" of our current time period are not necessarily relatable.

The world is vast and complex such that we all specialize even in our relationship selections so our individual efforts may be more focused.

So it seems quite correct that Paicrai would "not care" about mandela, paul walker, or datamancer..


If his parents or dog suddenly perished, it would be completely different..

[demik]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity.

nah, i'm good. the world needs to know how much pai doesn't care about anything. even if he PMs me complaining.

[tp4tissue]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity.

nah, i'm good. the world needs to know how much pai doesn't care about anything. even if he PMs me complaining.

LOL.. at least he's civil and pms you.. 

[demik]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity.

nah, i'm good. the world needs to know how much pai doesn't care about anything. even if he PMs me complaining.

LOL.. at least he's civil and pms you.. 

well i'm taking one from his book and not giving a **** about irrelevant people

but it's funny that it's annoying him

[dustinhxc]

Damn his stuff looks really artistic RIP! 

[tp4tissue]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity.

nah, i'm good. the world needs to know how much pai doesn't care about anything. even if he PMs me complaining.

LOL.. at least he's civil and pms you.. 

well i'm taking one from his book and not giving a **** about irrelevant people

but it's funny that it's annoying him

Not quite sure why u were so rage bound to begin with..

Relative to "you", he's of no consequence

Similarly

Relative to "him", mandela, ff guy, datamancer,  were of no consequence

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Paul Walker - pai doesn't give a ****
Mandela - pai still doesn't give a ****
Steampunk guy - does pai give a ****? All signs point to nope!

Show Image

Thatsthejoke.jpg

Show Image

Seriously, what the **** is your point?  To be that little ****?

Just drop it, demik and pie, you're both perpetuating this toxicity.

nah, i'm good. the world needs to know how much pai doesn't care about anything. even if he PMs me complaining.

LOL.. at least he's civil and pms you.. 

well i'm taking one from his book and not giving a **** about irrelevant people

but it's funny that it's annoying him

Not quite sure why u were so rage bound to begin with..

Relative to "you", he's of no consequence

Similarly

Relative to "him", mandela, ff guy, datamancer,  were of no consequence

Either way, it's not cool to disrespect the dead. And arguing about it isn't going to change a damn thing.

Anyways, had no idea who this person was, but still, RIP.

[vivalarevolución]

This has gotten a little ridiculous. 

I hate it that people find this world so crushing they take their own lives. 

[yasuo]

I think he family maybe selling the some board in ebay

[hashbaz]

Guess what everyone, the death of any human being is tragic.  Our limited social connectedness and the sheer volume of death means we don't mourn each individual.  But any time a death comes into focus for one reason or another, whether it's a celebrity or someone whose work we have been aware of or a friend-of-a-friend, we should be respectful.

[Ninjerk]

Alright, I got the rest of the details: he committed suicide due to the pressures of running his company. Terrible thing, but artists tend to be on the more extreme side of thinking. I dunno.

Anyways, his wife was begging him not to kill himself over text and seemed to infer that she'd also go with him - as a ploy to get him to not do it. Well, after the fact, the cops found that text, and tossed her in the looney bin. Raided her house and confiscated a bunch of firearms and other stuff. She got released from the mental hospital within a few days, but she needs to lawyer up now.

I feel terrible for her. And Datamancer, he had options. Took a really selfish way to leave the world.

Functional art work though. I'd love to do it as a hobby. Not sure that I would want to make a business out of it.

[Ninjerk]

Those two posters above, tp4tissue and demik, have terrible attitudes though. Throughout this web board.

Not caring and choosing not to post is one thing, but the crap your posting just shows your immaturity. You'll probably learn through life experience as you get older. That or someone will crack your skulls, but you'll eventually understand why you shouldn't be irreverent douches as you get older.

[yasuo]

Those two posters above, tp4tissue and demik, have terrible attitudes though. Throughout this web board.

Not caring and choosing not to post is one thing, but the crap your posting just shows your immaturity. You'll probably learn through life experience as you get older. That or someone will crack your skulls, but you'll eventually understand why you shouldn't be irreverent douches as you get older.

The poster not demit,i see

[demik]

Those two posters above, tp4tissue and demik, have terrible attitudes though. Throughout this web board.

Not caring and choosing not to post is one thing, but the crap your posting just shows your immaturity. You'll probably learn through life experience as you get older. That or someone will crack your skulls, but you'll eventually understand why you shouldn't be irreverent douches as you get older.

actually, princess, i have no problem with people mourning anybody. i was merely making fun of paicrai because he feels that anybody that mourns anybody that isn't close related to them is a waste of time and is stupid. and i dont know what tp is going on about.

[Ninjerk]

whoop, sorry, read it wrong.

[demik]

no biggie, with no background info i don't blame you.

[iri]

datamancer's art is cool. too bad that this thread is crapped with useless comments.

[Mkilbride]

Damn, really? I had ways wanted one of his Steampunk Keyboards, but he said they cost 1800$ or so...which was far outside my budget for a Keyboard.

RIP.

[Elrick]

Damn, really? I had ways wanted one of his Steampunk Keyboards, but he said they cost 1800$ or so...which was far outside my budget for a Keyboard.

RIP.

I bought one early last year when he FIRST posted one for sale at Ebay for $599USD.

Very nicely made but he used White ALPS switches, which I asked him why and he said, bought cases of them some years ago and wanted some way to get rid of them.  Granted his designs were way above what was needed to sell them ALPs.

Rest in Peace.

[tp4tissue]

Guess what everyone, the death of any human being is tragic.  Our limited social connectedness and the sheer volume of death means we don't mourn each individual.  But any time a death comes into focus for one reason or another, whether it's a celebrity or someone whose work we have been aware of or a friend-of-a-friend, we should be respectful.

Hashbaz.. I agree with the notion but only as far as to "not" express disrespect..

There is a degree to which we can respond to random deaths.. there are just too many deaths everyday that has "a little bit" of connectedness..  we all influence each other..

Just like how ones body tunes out certain sensations to not to disrupt your intended tasks.

The bulk of humanity shouldn't be in mourning all the time over those who have past.. and rightly so.

It's like if your body decides to cry over dead skin flakes constantly..

[tp4tissue]

Those two posters above, tp4tissue and demik, have terrible attitudes though. Throughout this web board.

Not caring and choosing not to post is one thing, but the crap your posting just shows your immaturity. You'll probably learn through life experience as you get older. That or someone will crack your skulls, but you'll eventually understand why you shouldn't be irreverent douches as you get older.

my immaturity.. I do not have an exact reference as to what constitutes a perfectly adult response..

What I have are objective responses in which I attempt to analyze the order of occurrence and logical cause to each event I encounter.

If by immaturity you merely mean holding one's tongue and pretend like you care about something that you don't care about.. That is not what the internet is for..  That is what you do at funerals, weddings, and dinner parties, the extremes of "intended" happiness or sadness.. Many of these events I find quite illogical as well..


If by immaturity you are referring to "age" correlating behavior... I would say that I felt far more emotional sway when I was younger...  But I've come to control those emotions once I understood why they were there, what caused them, and thus now react objectively..  This is my only understanding of changes in attitude that I've had.

[Oobly]

...
The bulk of humanity shouldn't be in mourning all the time over those who have past.. and rightly so.

...
[/size]

But sometimes you just ARE affected, no matter how illogical. Emotions are important. Respect is, too. Even on "the internet". It seems you have perhaps swung too far in the direction of dispassionate objectivity. Be careful not to lose your humanity as you become one with the 'Dox.

Back ON topic, some of his work was really cool. Not really my style, but cool nonetheless. Really sad that he felt he needed to escape so badly that he was driven to this. Life does indeed put the pressure on sometimes, especially for the truly creative. The way the world works nowadays doesn't give them space. Making a living is not what it used to be. Art and creativity are not valued as much as they should be (see link below). They enrich the human experience.

I'll round this off with a couple of George Bernard Shaw quotes:

"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity."

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

RIP.


- Case in point:  http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/12/creativity_is_rejected_teachers_and_bosses_don_t_value_out_of_the_box_thinking.html

[Mkilbride]

Damn, really? I had ways wanted one of his Steampunk Keyboards, but he said they cost 1800$ or so...which was far outside my budget for a Keyboard.

RIP.

I bought one early last year when he FIRST posted one for sale at Ebay for $599USD.

Very nicely made but he used White ALPS switches, which I asked him why and he said, bought cases of them some years ago and wanted some way to get rid of them.  Granted his designs were way above what was needed to sell them ALPs.

Rest in Peace.

Early last year? You must be joking,  I sent him a PM in January of 2010(Just checked my email), about getting one, and his response was "Those cost between $1200 and $1500 depending on parts and materials."

[noisyturtle]

Damn, really? I had ways wanted one of his Steampunk Keyboards, but he said they cost 1800$ or so...which was far outside my budget for a Keyboard.

RIP.

I bought one early last year when he FIRST posted one for sale at Ebay for $599USD.

Very nicely made but he used White ALPS switches, which I asked him why and he said, bought cases of them some years ago and wanted some way to get rid of them.  Granted his designs were way above what was needed to sell them ALPs.

Rest in Peace.

Do you still have the board? Would love to see some pics.

[Elrick]

Early last year? You must be joking,  I sent him a PM in January of 2010(Just checked my email), about getting one, and his response was "Those cost between $1200 and $1500 depending on parts and materials."

From his website he quoted that amount, but he had a few keyboards that he had made over the years (he had dozens sitting partly built) and he was desperate for some quick money, hence Ebay was his outlet at that time.

I buy nearly all my gear off Ebay (still do) due to were I live and most sellers are glad to send the items to me.  Why I got it so cheap, because it was a bidding option and the other guy I was up against - ran out of money before I did, pure and simple.

The good thing about Richard Nagy was that he asked what coloured LEDs I wanted on my keyboard.  He packaged it up perfectly especially since it was touring down under, to my dump town.

[Elrick]

Do you still have the board? Would love to see some pics.

I never get rid of anything.  Yes I still have it, packaged downstairs in the cellar ('Rudy' the spider is keeping watch over it).  I'll see if I can borrow the Mrs iPhone for the pics.

[Kimmortal]

This is Richard "Doc" Nagy's wife (aka) Datamancer. For those with kind words to say regarding his passing, I can't tell you how much it means to hear. He lived to create his art and was motivated by those who appreciated it. 

For those with dismissive statements, I can only hope that you never have to read anything disrespectful from anonymous douchebags when tragedy hits close to your home.

I have partnered with his good friend and protege in an attempt to honor my husband and keep his business alive. We have help from numerous friends but it is no easy task to keep a small business with high overhead running.... Particularly, one that involves handcrafted pieces that are time and labor consuming to produce. We're working very hard right now to complete the myriad of orders that were in the cue at the time of his passing, so as to not let down people who ordered holiday gifts.

While my husband's pieces were expensive in 2010 because everything was done painstakingly by hand in our garage, he worked very hard to streamline and implement efficiency in recent years and bring the prices down as a result and he was proud of the fact that he was able to do that. One of the most popular keyboards now, The Vicar; starts at $400. He was also in the process of producing "keyboard kits" that would have been very inexpensive and allowed for geekhackers to add creative license and their own craftsmanship to his designs through self assembly. If we are able to keep the business alive, we will be looking to add that as a product in the future.

Again, thank you for those with kind words of empathy and support. This has been a heart-breaking and challenging time for those who knew what an incredible man he was.

~Kimmortal

[noisyturtle]

This is Richard "Doc" Nagy's wife (aka) Datamancer. For those with kind words to say regarding his passing, I can't tell you how much it means to hear. He lived to create his art and was motivated by those who appreciated it. 

For those with dismissive statements, I can only hope that you never have to read anything disrespectful from anonymous douchebags when tragedy hits close to your home.

I have partnered with his good friend and protege in an attempt to honor my husband and keep his business alive. We have help from numerous friends but it is no easy task to keep a small business with high overhead running.... Particularly, one that involves handcrafted pieces that are time and labor consuming to produce. We're working very hard right now to complete the myriad of orders that were in the cue at the time of his passing, so as to not let down people who ordered holiday gifts.

While my husband's pieces were expensive in 2010 because everything was done painstakingly by hand in our garage, he worked very hard to streamline and implement efficiency in recent years and bring the prices down as a result and he was proud of the fact that he was able to do that. One of the most popular keyboards now, The Vicar; starts at $400. He was also in the process of producing "keyboard kits" that would have been very inexpensive and allowed for geekhackers to add creative license and their own craftsmanship to his designs through self assembly. If we are able to keep the business alive, we will be looking to add that as a product in the future.

Again, thank you for those with kind words of empathy and support. This has been a heart-breaking and challenging time for those who knew what an incredible man he was.

~Kimmortal

There you go people. Real life can happen when you act like a thoughtless asshat, and surprise surprise, humans have feelings. Why would you for a second think that someone so innovative to the keyboard community wouldn't have friends and loved ones who brows GH? I didn't see any of this going on when Smallfry passed away. It's events like this that ought to pull us together, not drive us apart.

Kim - My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. Your husband was insanely talented, and his work will be remembered for it's amazing detail and the master craftsman's dedication to his projects. I've never seen anything quite like his works, and they stand as a testament to blending form and function.

[sth]

This is Richard "Doc" Nagy's wife (aka) Datamancer. For those with kind words to say regarding his passing, I can't tell you how much it means to hear. He lived to create his art and was motivated by those who appreciated it. 

For those with dismissive statements, I can only hope that you never have to read anything disrespectful from anonymous douchebags when tragedy hits close to your home.

I have partnered with his good friend and protege in an attempt to honor my husband and keep his business alive. We have help from numerous friends but it is no easy task to keep a small business with high overhead running.... Particularly, one that involves handcrafted pieces that are time and labor consuming to produce. We're working very hard right now to complete the myriad of orders that were in the cue at the time of his passing, so as to not let down people who ordered holiday gifts.

While my husband's pieces were expensive in 2010 because everything was done painstakingly by hand in our garage, he worked very hard to streamline and implement efficiency in recent years and bring the prices down as a result and he was proud of the fact that he was able to do that. One of the most popular keyboards now, The Vicar; starts at $400. He was also in the process of producing "keyboard kits" that would have been very inexpensive and allowed for geekhackers to add creative license and their own craftsmanship to his designs through self assembly. If we are able to keep the business alive, we will be looking to add that as a product in the future.

Again, thank you for those with kind words of empathy and support. This has been a heart-breaking and challenging time for those who knew what an incredible man he was.

~Kimmortal

hi kim, so sorry for your loss. thanks for stopping by; your husband had amazing attention to detail and many of us held his work in high regard. i hope things work out with the business and i'm sure we're all curious to see what is in store for the future.

[Ninjerk]

Many of the steampunk designs are awesomely beautiful, and I have a high degree of respect for them as functional art and the painstaking process of taking existing hardware and modifying them to look like they look afterwards.

I could see a market for it, and I could see it being a profitable business if marketed and branded right. They would have to be build from the ground up if it gets to mass production. A brass and wood line would be great to market to high end consumers and businesses looking to "make a statement" or for people who love pure aesthetics.

A dumbed down line with more plastics, but have the appropriate retro look would sell with a value conscious market, but I do believe that there would be market share for these sorts of peripherals.

[RabRhee]

So sad to hear, I knew of his work long before I found this forum, it was an inspiration to see what could be possible when someone thinks past the boundaries.

A great shame to lose such a creator.