Classes are done for the day so I'll take a minute to go ahead and start a long awaited discussion.

So obviously there is a deep hatred for me here. I made a big mistake in the newbie SS this year. I apologized for it and then after trying to talk things out decided to take a bit of a break from posting. A few days after this I was browsing the site and saw that one of the newer members had posted a thread dealing with a Super Bowl Poll. It seemed like it was having some trouble getting off the ground so I suggested that he went ahead and posted the rules and regulations which he had in mind for the contest. He did so and I tried to help him begin to get it organized.

Then after doing so I came under once again malicious attack. For what? For trying to help someone out? Aren't we supposed to be a community of gentlemen? Do gentlemen not try to help others? Apparently this isn't the way things operate here.

I've really enjoyed my time here on this site. Since joining in August I have learned more about the hobby of smoking cigars than I probably ever would have anywhere else. I was involved in a few contests and passes and got a great opportunity to try some new sticks. I also was fortunate enough to recieve a nice bomb as a gift from one of the members.

Then the whole SS thing happened. For anyone that doesn't know the story I'm not going to re-type it. You can watch the whole thing play out in The Grinch List post. So yes I messed up and admitted it numerous times and tried to just slip out from the cross fire and just ease off but kept getting my character attacked over and over by the senior members. I could understand that they were upset because:

1. I did not fufill a responsibility.
2. Really had no reason for it other than procrastination.

But then things just went on, and on, and on. It seemed like a never ending cycle.

After looking around this site a little more and checking back on old posts it seems that this board has a "good ol' boy" network of senior members who are obviously very close and have been around for awhile. Some of these members seem to be great men who are genuine people. Others are simply leeches waiting to suck the life out of any other unsuspecting member who even makes a typo or does something to disrupt their environment here on CS. I found a few topics which show these instances:

Original post 9-21-2007 @ 9:03p.m. by HersheyWalker

"Eh, I speak from my heart without the CS filter on and I receive backlash. Message boards serve the purpose of allowing many individuals to share their perspective with those who may not have grown up under the same conditions, demographic, livelyhood, hobbies, and interests. When I give my honest perspective here, I am attacked by the few remaining regular members. It is what it is I suppose. I would much rather have a diverse open dialogue on why the number of posts on this board have dropped so drastically over the past year. Or why no one throws out posts other than, "I smoked this cigar and it was great", or "Anyone know about cuban smokes?".

A true message board is one that is open to all points of view, and accepts them for what they are, with understanding. Understanding who said what, why they did, and what it means. 80% of all posts will fall under the category of misunderstood troll. These are typically the treasures of a message board. They are the ones that spark intense debate on the who whats and whys. Occasionally there are lol moments and things change, perspectives change, all are recognized, and the whole is better for it. 5% of posts are troll posts, where a posters intentions are to hurt and attack another member, maybe because someone is envious of their naive perspective or has a whole lot of hurt to give. Lastly we have the 15% of posts which are without purpose. Posts that simply shine another's shoes, attempts to increase another's self esteem, and build commrodery. Commrodery in virtual space? Is there such a thing? On typical message boards, these posts are usually ignored and waded through with a tinge of annoyance and spite. Comrodery is built by invoking a deep guttural laugh from another stranger miles away via a comment, self esteem is built by another's honest opinion laid down and tempered by the fact that a certain poster has built up the reputation of pure unadulterated honesty.

I feel this forum allows none of these things. Cigarsmokers, due to intense and aggressive member moderation is now only left with the latter type of posts. Am I a troll? Am I a user who is only looking to attack members of a community with the purpose of getting a rise out of another human being, getting them angry? No, I don't think that's my purpose. I am not intentionally trying to piss someone off. I post on message boards like I talk in real life. I speak my mind. If the listener isn't mature enough to hear what is being said, beyond the words, taking into account who is saying what and why, is it my fault? Everyone here seems to walk on egg shells, dancing around issues with an air of stressed politeness. It makes for boring conversation. Remember those two British squirrels on the WB cartoons? "After you. Oh no, after you. Oh no after you of course."How can anything meaningful be said if the cardinal rule is not to offend anyone? I strongly suggest you all rethink your philosophy running your e-life before the only people viewing these boards are a few mods and a bunch of bots.

Again, I am just speaking my mind. I only ask for respect in return. Maybe we can start a dialogue and you can make me understand your position on why you feel this is the only way to run a community. And why you feel this is a "special" place, with the connotation that it is special for a good reason. Why you all feel that toes being stepped on is deservant of a permanent ban. Or maybe this thread can end with a few sarcastic comments followed with a permanent burial. Whatevers, I only come back to see if there are new posts in the "Or thread" and the "Owned Game". I have read a couple of posts in the past that had the same tone as my own, one from Coventrycat(Sid, I believe... I didn't have the patience to gain a complete understanding of the situation, but in the end it seemed he was looking for understanding.), Cumchugger(a vile, yet misunderstood human being), a handful of other regular posters, and finally myself (a person with only the purest intentions). Those past attempts at true dialogue were dealt with via a split and a boot, perhaps this one will as well. Perhaps not."

http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t9415-he...ce-myself.html

These are 2 instances amoung others where the senior members have made a direct attack on someone for not following all that seems to be the CS code of ethics that they've created.

You can go ahead and comment as you wish. I'm sure Basil and cigarsarge will have rampant posts laced with their ever popular profanity and name calling (bring on the Trolls ladies!). Seems to make them feel better about themselves. Grown men, reduced to mere adolescents by the words they speak.

So basically I just thought we could open this all up to discussion without taking over other peoples posts who are trying to be productive and actually contribute meaningful things to this community.


Fire away