CigarLive CrossRoads Part 1 - Final Comments

[Doogie]

Originally Posted by amateurke

But I'm already a long time with something in the head that can be added to this forum. I thought to "Cigar of the month". What do I mean ; let a few days the members choose witch cigar they like as cigar of the month. The cigar witch is named most is it gonna be. Afther that, everyone can his findings and reviews about this cigar post for a month. It would be nice if the cigar is what concerns price and availability, in everybody's opportunity is!
This is maybee an idee for getting people to place some more reviews and findings on the board!Just an idee!!

what a great idea. keep the price range between 4$ and 8$. anyone else?

[Rowdymon-cl]

*AHEM*

As the poets, The Beastie Boys, once said..."Let me clear my throat..."

I have nothing bad to say about CigarLive or it's sister sites. I was, as many members here have been, lucky and welcomed with open arms...not only to the web board but at local HERF functions at homes and local shops. It has been a rollercoaster ride that I'm still not sure how it happened.

I've been gone now for a while, and I'm not really in a position to come rolling back the same way I was earlier in the year....but I've been lurking. The beautiful part of it was when I fell off the radar I got calls from several CL members asking if everything was alright. Outside of the cigar bombs, passes, and everything else...those phone calls did indeed remind me strongly that this message board, CigarLive, has indeed created a brotherhood of cigar people from all walks of life.

It's a brotherhood I've missed these last few months...

However comma

I don't think the brotherhood ties are as close all over as they are in the Houston area. While I am indeed greedy and love seeing all the events down here...I would like to see other cities, other states and even other countries can find the people to bring them the same types of face to face friendships I have found here in Houston, Texas.

For those reading this who aren't involved in the local HERF's...go, smoke, drink (if that's your thing), and explore the possibilities an outlet like this offers. If there isn't one in your area...start one. Go to your favorite B&M and see if they will mind hosting the event and invite folks.

Daniel, I think this board would be well represented by a CL Members only area. My idea of a members only area is a little different than most...let me quantify my vision a bit.

Three levels..for now lets call them standard, associate and member.

Standard - This is where you start when you join the board. It gives you access to most of the CL site, minus the Buy/Sell areas. (Note, specials should be viewable here, just not the trade, buy or sell sections) You add a newbie contest area for the member hosted contests specifically for new people.

Associate - After a specified number of posts, probably not counting posts in the introduction area, and allows you to use the Buy/Sell areas. This is the level where you are now available to win most contests and participate in passes (approved by the pass owner of course).

Member - This is a paid level for those people who wish to help support the board with their pocket. I could see it at $10 a year or $20 a year...whatever y'all decide. I see paid members having access to specials that board sponsors, a few special contests just for contributors, etc..etc...

The important part is not allowing the different groups to become cliques of their own. IE, I'm a MEMBER of CL BOY...you are just a lowly associate. Membership does not grant assholery privileges.

It's just an idea...

Daniel you've done a great job here. I've been a member of tons of message boards over the years, back in the ole dial up BBS days through current. I have yet to find one that has the maturity and open arms feeling this board offers to each and every person who joins...

Keep it up.

[ER Doc]

Well, I don't think I can add anything that hasn't been said.

I don't mind the sponsors, but I don't really notice them much. I know who they are, but I still don't pay much attention (much like radio ads, TV ads, and print ads - if it ain't funny, I'm probably not paying that close attention).

I hadn't thought much about the moderator involvment - again, I know who they are - but they don't seem as involved. However, this may just be a result of dilution (a lot of members posting compared to the lower number of moderators).

CigarLive is my favorite place on the net. I don't get here every day (usually because of really, really tough days in the ER), but I would if I could.

Daniel, I am grateful for all you do. Please keep up the good work.

[jitzy]

While I do understand what rowdyman is saying (and its very nice to see you again) I don't think the level of members thing is a good idea because even if everyone is the nicest guy or girl in the world new people would feel put off by it I know I did on another board it just automatically creates cliques.

[Oxman]

Is it just me, or has a change been made whereby posts in the "Introductions" section no longer apply towards post count? I agree with the idea; I think it's great that suggestions are quietly implemented!

[tx_tuff]

Its been like that for at least 2 or 3 months now. Unless it went back when Daniel was updating something else. That happens sometimes. But yes the change was made awhile back to make people like me work for my post count LOL

[ngetal]

been like that at least since I've been around

[Oxman]

Ah, I guess I never noticed one way or the other. So the answer to my embedded question would be, "It's just me!"

[Stogie]

Yes I made the change some time back to cut down on post padding. Just looked at my post count and people have more post then me. WOw!

[ngetal]

Originally Posted by Oxman

"It's just me!"

sure, but isn't that always the case?

(for me, I find it generally is)

[Architeuthis]

Personally, I think CigarLive (and yourself, Dan) is moving correctly in the direction of growth. Somewhere along the line my interests began to diverge from what they were when I was actively posting every day, but that's certainly not the fault of where you're taking CigarLive. What with getting a little business off the ground and now the rather daunting task of trying to get a handle on correctly stocking a large humidor with a limited budget, I've just become busy in my life again. I still consider this place my home and will always so consider it. I will speak freely if I ever think something happens that I don't agree with, as I have in the past. This place sort of reflects how Stogie is in real life, and that's a good thing!

And I *STILL* have more posts than you! <G>

Thanks,

-Squid

[baboruger]

I was thinking today that we have the groups, but the seem to have little use because they are hard to find. Is there a way to maybe enhance that?

[jim@mindofmen.com]

Hey Daniel,

First of all you and the mods do great work. I know that you are very careful who you take on as a mod, but I think that as the board grows, you are going to need to consider adding new mods to share the workload. I'm sure that you can probably think of a half dozen members that would be good candidates for mod positions.

As for the sponsors, I think that they really do add to the community. It's great when I post something and have a representative from the company answer the post. I think it is wonderful to have someone who can speak with authority on a topic. I believe that engaging the sponsors is one of the things that really sets this board apart from some of the other cigar boards. While I am not always heavily active, this is the only cigar board that I spend any time on. I couldn't even name any of the other ones as I have not bothered to seek them out.

I think that the community aspect is something that I really value. I have met other cigar smokers from my own state here on this board and had a chance to meet you and some of the Houston folks a couple of weeks ago. I would never have had a chance to meet such a great group of folks without Cigar Live.

As I think I mentioned to you in Houston, I would like to see more events like the smoke across Cigar Live event that you hosted in April. Many nights I'm out in my Havana Hut smoking a cigar all by my lonesome and the video/audio connection to other smokers was a really great experience. Let's do more of these.

One thing to caution you on is not to over extend yourself. Mike and I found out this past year that by moving our podcast from a bi-weekly to a weekly one, the extra workload has put a strain on our other obligations. We will probably have to scale it back next season because I simply don't have the time to do everything that I want to do. You may find yourself in the same boat.

I am not a regular video watcher myself - I have seen a few of the vids here, but it is not a huge part of the Cigar Live experience for me, so please don't burn yourself out. I like what we have here now and would hate to see it all go down in flames because you pushed yourself too far.

My .02

Jim

[LkyLindy]

Well I read thru this whole thread Phew!!!!!!

Very intelligent and thoughful comments--

The board as we all know is a terrific place(or we wouldn't be writing now--All the Mods are great Botl's and kudos to them and Dan for all the hard work

As far as increasing membership or limiting it somehow-can't be helped--its the evolution of the community--People come and go and hopefully like minded BotL's stay and participate--Every forum has its niche and main character traits -ours is friendliness and and a no snobbery approach-Noobs can take it or leave it--Of course every community has way more inactive members on its books than active--nature of the beast-I guess it is possible to have a weeding out process

Sponsers and their participation is a must if we want to have influence and respectability--When the larger cigar community views us we want them to realize that we are a serious and respected forum--That being said we also do not want to lose our autonomy and ability to have a free and open forum and to speak our honest opinions

I think we are succeeding in this important arena

Ok -nuff said--I don't want to repeat the fine points of others

Dan-good work so far and keep on truckin

[oldpirate-cl]

Daniel: I still consider myself an FNG, -- joining last November, getting active this spring, and still with just 62 posts, but I think this forum is doing exactly what you envisioned. I've met a bunch of great fellow-Michiganders (Chubno, Deuce, Paint, Robisjebus, Dakota49) and brought along a couple of my firiends (RMPhoto and Wideboy), hosted two herfs (one at a cigar bar and one in my backyard) and am participating in a box pass. NONE of this would be happening if it were not for Cigar Live. And that's what it's all about...