Poll how many of you are tired of seeing CC blast SGF75 on every post

[ggiese]

Thanks ggiese for your words of comfort.

Understand that I am not new to posting boards.

I have seen many boards on various subjects fall apart because a small group of people carry on their own little private feuds. Over a short period of time it seems that they involve a good portion of the board and everybody begins taking sides and soon you've got all these little splintered groups who hate each other. Then various members go to OTHER boards and begin the whole process over on that one. Its like a virus.

After reading the thread, which admittedly is "alluring" I can see that its the same old story here. It's dissapointing to see.

Now, if I do begin to correspond with someone, I will be wondering if I am being singled out by another for doing so.

In reality, bottom line, I could really care less. I don't know any of you nor do I need to. I have friends and a life outside of my keyboard and I'm not implying that anyone out there doesn't. I only came here in hopes of exchanging ideas and opinions on cigars without worrying about who is going to like me or not like me based on who I correspond with. That is the basic message I am getting from this thread. You've got sides developing.

I could care less about box passes or splits. I have never been involved in one nor will I. It seems that this is one of the areas that these bad feelings started from. IMHO any of you who have been burned on these have brought it on yourselves by dealing with essentially total strangers. If the person who burned you IS NOT a total stranger, I guess that makes them a total asshole. But as well, I am sure that many passes and splits go well. Personally, I am just not willing to take that risk.

In all sincerity, I don't mean to offend anyone, nor am I taking any side. How can I? I don't know any of you well enough to do so.

Again, its just disappointing to see stuff like this.

I understand that people disagree. It's human. But the name calling and finger pointing that's going back and forth is childish and it's obvious that it has been carried over from another board. That is not fair to the other members on this board. That's the bottom line. And yes, it does bother me to a very teenie, weenie, tiny degree. After all, I'm human too.

So there, I'm sure I've created at least a few enemies, even without taking a side!

So, to all of you out there, if you see a thread I've started or a reply I've made to one, please don't be too harsh on me!

Again, thanks ggiese, I'll still be around.

Oh, you BASTID!!! I HATE YOU!!! I'm never, never, never going to talk to you again!!! NEVER!!!

You make some VERY good points - we just view things differently. As you point out, and I wholeheartedly agree, I have friends outside of the cigar boards. So I'm not going to die if my online associates don't talk to me anymore... (except for the few who I DO consider true friends...)

You're right - most of the people I know on the boards are strangers to me. Most of the people I kibitz with on line could walk up to me tomorrow and punch me in the nose and I woudn't know who they were (thank God LabMoney lives in Texas!!!) I don't easily take offense to anything anyone says to me... I've learned to take what is said with a grain of salt.

But, I also know people judge you no matter what you say. And online, even the slightest imperfection in the post can result in a flame war. Misinterpretation is a very common thing in any online discussion boards (I hate to admit this, but I've been on online BBS's since I connected using a 300 baud modem I had to manually switch once I got the connect tone - and I've seen some very SERIOUS meltdowns in that time). Nothing I've seen on this board comes even CLOSE to that. I gotta say - I don't see this board going down anytime soon... As a matter of fact, and I think Hex can back me up on this, membership has grown through these threads...

While you have seen the boards degrading by these flame wars, I view those situations as "thinning the herd" - getting rid of the less than desirable members who are socially inept. You want good people discussing their passion about cigars, let the social inept individuals that cause disdain on a board meltdown, stroke out and move on!!!

In my experience, the boards that go defunct do so heavy handed mod tactics, such as stifling of ideas, deleting posts, banning everyone, going private, etc. LTC is a great example of that. It appears it may be on somewhat of a rebound, but if the members are brutally honest and candid with you, that board was headed on a downward death spiral. C'mon - how long do you honestly think a newly formed board will last if they make in invitation only!!! That was due primarily to the fact the Admin didn't recognize (not being very experienced) that his tactics were causing its demise.

While there have been some "bad words" said here, this have been pretty much down the line civil. I can point you to some boards that threaten death (seriously) with any inflammatory post. Not the case here - yet. And I would expect that if and when that situation happened - there would be bannings!!!

I don't know about you - I'm retiring to my back patio to have a glass (or two) of single malt scotch, and an Opus X.... Cheers!!!



P.S, - please stick around - I sincerely do value your opnion....