By reading his responses to questions along those lines in the past, I got the feeling that Paul saw his own skill with the yoyo as being disproportionate with his love for it. In other words, he loved it so much and did so many reviews and shared his passion and yet saw himself as the type of player that wouldn’t blow any minds with his skills. He described his own playing as essentially choreographed, wide, slow, and deliberate. As such, he seemed to shy away from videoing himself throwing; possibly to spare himself undue criticism.
I think that’s a shame. His love for the yoyo didn’t need to be matched by monster skill in order to be legitimized. I would also like to see some footage, but I doubt there’s any out there.
?? Now you guys are just assuming things… Why are you even trying to interpret stuff like this…
This is saddening. No one deserves to get pushed to a point where a person has to contemplate about ending their life. No one. And I am upset because I believe things could have been different. We all need people to talk to. I wished that there were more people helping and being there when things were not okay for Paul. No one ever, ever, ever, ever deserves to go through the pain that he went through. I hope he’s okay now though, and that all those negative emotions are gone. I hope he’s well. RIP
Paul didn’t believe he was “good enough” to show the world his skills. I myself didn’t see it that way. His passion for the hobby was truly amazing. I didn’t quite understand why he didn’t want to show it off. From hanging out with him, drinking beers and smoking Nat Sherman cigars, I saw something that I haden’t seen from anyone else. The way he moved the YoYo from string to string was a sight to behold. He didn’t do tricks to score technical points, he performed tricks to understand them. Understand how every little movement changes the look of a trick. He would put on his headphones and do tricks according to how the music flowed. Nothing looked alike. The state of mind he was in and the music that was played determined what he did with the YoYo. I really wished I hung out with him more, he lived less then a five minute drive from me. Surely isn’t the time to regret such things. It’s time to celebrate his life, cherish all that he brought to the community. All that will become from his departure.
We mourn, but not let us forget all the smiles he put on our faces.
I absolutely loved his reviews and unboxings. I would watch his videos and read his articles before making any yoyo related purchase. The yoyo community has lost a very valuable member.
I cleaned this up a bit. Let’s try to avoid the back and forth about social decorum and such and leave this thread as a memorial to a fellow many of us will miss.
For those of you that have been asking for a face to go with the name he made this yoyo collection video in 2011. It is the same one that was already on youtube but there were no direct links to it on the web.
Paul did not show himself in any other yoyo videos that I know of.
I want to thank you all for sharing your memories and stories of Paul. It has been a help to me and many others including his family. I want to especially thank those that have been sharing their own personal stories and feelings in effort to help others that might be in a dark place.
There was a family gathering just last weekend that included Paul’s first cousins and Aunts and Uncles. We had a memorial service and we were able to talk about so many positive things Paul did or was involved in thanks to you guys, this community, and this forum.