Why are we fighting???

[ggiese]

That's exactly what I meant. There is no reason to air disagreements, etc.

I don't know how much simpler to say this: If you don't like participating on this board, then leave. If you stay, let's talk cigars. If you don't, we will still talk cigars.

These board wars are what's insane. This is hex's site. He shouldn't have to put up with it and if he wants to ban every damn one of us, including me, then do so. He wants to talk cigars; I want to talk cigars. None of us want to talk about this load.

You don't want to talk about bad cigar trading? That seems to me to be pertinent information for a cigar board. It appears some are planning box passes in the near future... So then it's okay to put and take fake cigars - valuing them as originals? Would you buy a Rolex off eBay?

Most of the cigar box passes I've been involved in have had the caveat "equal puts and takes". You wanna see someone get angry, do it otherwise. There's a board I've been involved in for quite a while that just did a box pass that was an absolute joke. One of the members saw nothing wrong with taking out three limited edition, super-premium smokes (about $30 a piece), and replace them with common smokes ($5 - 8). I'd like to do that - that would be great!!! I believe the person did it out of ignorance not knowing the real value of the cigars. If I did that, it would be theft - because I KNOW better (having learned from doing box passes with others). Great for a newb to do that - not good for a vet to do that... What separates me from a newb in that - KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING and most of all TRUST!!! But then again, isn't that what this and other boards are about? Teaching and learning etiquette?

One of the valuable lessons I've learned on other boards (and I think you can appreciate this, Cocky) is the concept "Pay it Forward". I've learned this through words and actions. If I feel the need, I send out a group of smokes to a newb so they can sample some nice smokes. That is part of the BOTL (Brotherhood of the Leaf) we are all a member of. I have been gifted with some INCREDIBLE cigars (such as the nice box that came yesterday containing an Opus X Churchill, Diamond Crown Maximus Double Cornona, Trinidad Robusto and a Joya de Nicaragua Antano I've been dying to try). Not because I traded - not because I deserved it - just because another member decided to "Pay it Forward". I sent out two bombs a few weeks ago containing about 30 cigars. If the mood hit me, I'd send smokes to someone here as well. As a matter of fact, I see the potential for some deserving brothers (newbs) on this board who are in definite need of broadening their tastes. (Acid cigars, C'MON!!!)

You want to talk about cigars - talk about cigars. Talk about ALL aspects of cigars. If you are planning on doing any trades in here, talk about expectations. Talk about fairness. Talk about equal puts and takes. Do it in a respectful way, but don't shy away from it because it may not be nice. That's how a board becomes successful, and members get along.