Very nice post, Newfie. However, I have one point I disagree with.

No doubt the BS needs to stop - it is divisive - and it will rip this place apart. But this current state of affairs is really not about disagreeing. If you think about it, it really is about ego and unreasonable expectations of one person's role in this community.

No doubt - this board is about talking cigars - but it is definitely not someone's personal kingdom. It truly isn't even Hex's kingdom. As much as it pains him, he gave the place over to the membership for their enjoyment.

This place does not need to be moderated by a few guys who make the decisions about what's appropriate or not - it's member moderated. That means the membership as a whole, as opposed to a few individuals. set the tone for what's acceptable and what's not acceptable within the community. Very democratic, you might say...

Boy - there's advantages and disadavantages to being member moderated. One of the BIG disadvantages we've just lived through. But the beauty of it? We're still here - and people are having cigar discussions. And I believe we're stronger because of it.

One of the advantages, though, is we're having open discussions in the community about how members should be acting. Is it painful? Hell yes, it's painful. People say and do things that can be pretty damaging to reputations through the process. That'll teach you, though! Betcha won't do that again (at least you would believe they wouldn't be so foolish as to do that again).

Wouldn't it have been easier for a moderator to make the decision to pull the pin at the first sign of trouble? Sid - Gone. CC - Gone. Shelby - Gone. Then what? You want to talk painful community wide? Start arbitrarily banning members. Kinda like Club Stogie and HCF. That'll do wonders for your reputation...

Bottom line - if you really can't get along well with others (aside from occasional dust-ups), are ego driven, want to gouge members, want to steal from the community, want to come in for the sole purpose of causing trouble (or any combination thereof) it's probably a good time to move on...

...or you WILL get your ass handed to you...



BTW - there will be no CARTHAGO DELENDA EST around here... For those of you who don't know what that means, you've not been around long enough. But stick around - you'll learn. For those of you who do know what it means - we've just seen a repeat of the same shenanigans. Didn't work then - won't work now.