Self taught and getting hate for it :(

I've been tattooing for 8 years, my designs have developed from my lifetime love of art, i was always drawing as a kid. I built my first machines when i was 14, started on pig skin, and learnt all i could, but there were'nt any tattooists anywhere near me, and even if there was, there's no way i could have afforded apprenticeship costs like they are now. So why are there loads of people giving me flak just because they did an apprenticeship and i didn't - some of the best artists in the world are self taught, yet i've still got idiots on other sites i've posted in giving me all this hate because i didn't do what they did - it's sad, unecessary, and detracts from the community as a whole - I'm sure there are great and bad self taught & apprenticed artists out there - what's with all the war?

I wouldn't worry too much about it although I can imagine that it gets to you. At the end of the day the only thing that counts is the quality of your work. I am surprized about this though, I would have thought in the tattoo business it's a little more flexible when it comes to HOW one has learned it all. As long as you have something to show, and YOU know you're good at it keep your head up