Plenty of very good comments here guys. Here’s my response to some posts (without quoting anything):

George:

Very well stated. Just want to make a point that while I am a member of both moderated and non-moderated boards, I do prefer non-moderated ones as it allows freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech should not be permitted to the point where we have the gross personal attacks as we’ve been seeing here for a while. If it were to go to a vote, I’d vote to keep the Board as it is, self-moderated!! You say this place is democratic, and that’s fine, and I agree for the most part. However, that having been said, I highly doubt that hate posts, trolling, general aggravation and the shit that’s been going on here lately have a place in democracy. ‘Tis a fine line my friend.

Baka:

The first line of your first post says it all. If people want to discuss politics in a friendly manner, cool!! But that isn’t happening here for the most part. If someone stomps in here and starts (or tries to start) a war, of any nature, yes, the whole membership will be all over him. However, what brought this on was a load of crap between long standing members of the board.

Kevin:

Yeah, if you fuck up, sure, let’s go dude, and I don’t believe anyone would have an issue with that. Wasn't my intention to imply that Pal. But that ain’t what’s happening here. It’s a long-standing never-ending pissing match that started before my time here and I would guess it’s born of political parents. As for your note for your day job, I know where you’re coming from. I served my Apprenticeship in an open pit mine in Labrador. Still scares me when I think of some of the shit that went on there!! Yeah, the disputes are a part of life, both here and in real face-face life. Just too bad they can be settled in real life, one way or another, but here it goes on for years with no end and will probably cause good people to leave.

Bill ……………… Bill ………..:

So we’re on opposite sides of the fence, but we both agree with Kevin??? I’m not talking about the one-time run-in-start-shit-run-out crap that everyone (almost) here will jump on. If you think that’s what’s getting my goat, then you should read my post again. I’m talking about all the bullshit that so many times seems to end up with you in the middle. Be it Sid, George, Baka, Sarge, Barry, Will, whoever, there almost always seems to be one common denominator.

I DO stand corrected with my BOTL statement. I should have stated the majority of the long-standing and “respected by the general community” members who frequent this site and are affected by the bullshit that goes on.

The third paragraph of the first post goes back to your first statement, you misunderstood my intentions.

This I will quote:

Quote Originally Posted by CoventryCat86 View Post
snip...So Newfie according to your logic, it's okay for people to " up" and never apologize for it, correct?
...snip
Where the hell did you get that from?? Why do you insist on putting words in people’s mouths?? I can’t help but think that you intentionally misinterpret the words of others to stir the pot!

Sid has never turned on me, nor have I given him any reason to. I have laughed, and poked fun, at him and have had the same treatment returned, all good natured. Maybe you should take a lesson from that Bill. Do I think he may bait you at times?? Sure. And know what? You swallow the bait better than any Large Mouth Bass out there.

So I offended you eh?? Cripers, you’re breakin’ my heart! When I speak of the long-standing members of the board who have oodles of cigar related knowledge to share, you are included in that group. There is nobody here with an IQ of higher than 20 who would dispute that. However, while you may feel the trolling you may do, the attacks you may throw out there because you feel something insultful was directed at you, and the unnecessary shit you stir (at least, that’s what it is in my opinion) are meaningful and significant, and thought of the same way by “so many” other members of the board ………… sorry, I don’t even know how to respond to that. {{Do you really believe that??}}

Bill, you don’t (nor should you) give a rat’s ass what my opinion is, and nor should I care about yours. I may like a certain cigar, and you may like something different, and that’s fair. I may like Hillary, or I may not, (I’m not an American citizen, so why should my opinion matter anyway), but why would you (or anyone else for that matter) care if I do or not to the point where it causes the shit, slams and slurs that occur here?

All in all, do I want to see Sid, or Shelby, or any other long standing Member leave?? HELL NO!!!! However, I’m still of the opinion that the constant bickering, whining and crapola should stop. To make myself clear once again, I’m not talking about the Cumchuggers or the Scrotos who waltz in and stir the pot for one reason, or anyone who rips of another member. I’m talking about members who’ve been here a long time, have thousands of posts between them but can’t agree on the colour of the sky on a clear day, and the useless and hurtful feelings that are thrown back and forth between them.

One personal note on Kevin. I have the utmost of respect for him and his way of doing things. If he doesn’t like something, everyone’s going to know it. He calls a spade a spade, tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches. When it’s done, it’s done and life goes on. Smoke cigars, drink something good and enjoy life. Kevin is one of the many guys on this board that some day, God willing, I’ll be able to meet. He’s good people IMHO.