Pipe "psuedo-elitism" or hoping for a higher standard....

[Kayak_Rat]

Saw this mentioned in another thread and believe it deserves an open discussion.

I agree 100% with how Bongoy stated it. There are people out there who actually come to the site for information, not just to BS around. Being able to make friends and carry on conversation is an added bonus. As a member of the pipe forum, I expect myself, as well as others to be held to a higher standard. Just because Greg stepped down as a Mod doesn't mean the pipe section should go the way of the rest of CS. Sifting through 15 posts to find one that is still on topic is a pain in the ass to say the least.

Elitism......I believe if you see us as elitists, you havent taken nor spent the time in the pipe forum that is required to understand how we prefer things to be.

Just my

[LasciviousXXX]

Hey there Rookie Rat

Since it was me you're quoting I'll weigh in on this one.

Please understand I was definitely not trying to imply that all or even members of the Pipe Forum were this way. What I was referring to were the vocal "few" who have made it their personal goal to discourage anything that they believe doesn't fall within "their" view of how CS should be.

I was voicing my concern because part of that has become to discourage others from posting questions, posting too much, posting something non-cigar related etc etc. I saw it as harmful to CS in that it discourages members both old and new from posting for fear that they might fall into the category of what a few consider wrong.

I admire and respect everyone in the Pipe Forums and am very good friends with most of you guys. I lurk here a lot and learn but since I don't smoke a pipe I rarely if ever post here. I respect what is being done in here and appreciate those who do it. Lately I had just seen a resurgence in the types of posts described above and to be honest with you it made me sad.

[LasciviousXXX]

Just wanted to add as well that I don't consider most of the Pipe guys to be elitists at all in any sense of the word. I was again referring to those certain few who I see as becoming elitist in a different sense of the word that's all.

[[OT] Loki]

i personally like the difference between the pipe section and the rest of cs. but that's just me

[DubintheDam]

I think we should all be a little more thoughtful and focused on what we write, it's up to all of us to keep the 'content' of the forum to a worthy and worthwhile level...we can only but benefit ourselves in this process...of course it's fine to 'shoot the sh*t', but with a little more effort and awareness of what we as individuals add the 'sh*t' is easier to swallow...I particularly liked the recent post on Sherlock Holmes passages, if we don't feel we are a Hemingway or a Mark Twain we can easily pinch that 'worthy' content from elsewhere...that said I consider myself a contributor much in need of improvement...you can quote me on that. dub

[LasciviousXXX]

And I totally respect that Lok. I really do. You guys have a different set of rules down here and that's cool with me. Like I said I was mainly speaking to the few who are taking not-so-thinly veiled shots at the establishment elsewhere on the board. They just happened to have been Pipe guys that's all my friend

[Kayak_Rat]

Originally Posted by LasciviousXXX

And I totally respect that Lok. I really do. You guys have a different set of rules down here and that's cool with me. Like I said I was mainly speaking to the few who are taking not-so-thinly veiled shots at the establishment elsewhere on the board. They just happened to have been Pipe guys that's all my friend

And I believed thats how you meant it Dustin. I honestly have seen a few "edged" posts and have contributed a few myself. I just wanted to have a thread where everyone knew the others thoughts on the subject. An online forum can lead alot to the imagination.......even if you know the person well.

I also wanted for the new members, who might think we are all British(no offense intended) a-holes who set around discussing the value of the dollar to the yen all day, where we come from and why we might come off a tad harsh. Again just clearing the air.

[DubintheDam]

I PM'd IHT once with regard to this 'standards' matter in the past. I said then, I feel Ring Guage is a great tool to break-in the newbies...if we see someone has taken the time to downlaod fotos we all love to see...or who bring up interesting info or questions we should Ring Guage that almost before we respond in post...it's a way of giving a pat on the back and an indication of what we 'other' members like to see...

[smokinmojo]

Originally Posted by Kayak_Rat

I just wanted to have a thread where everyone knew the others thoughts on the subject. An online forum can lead alot to the imagination.

Exactly. When a thread that started as a pat on the back for a member and turned sarcastic and subsequently locked down. (I'm sure the right time to do that is one of the many many difficult decisions of the adm.) It has left a bad taste in the mouth of more than a few members.

Perhaps cool heads and well thought posts will prevail. (as i expect will) and this will run its course.

[JacksonCognac]

As a newer member I like how the pipe forum is in terms of content... things aren't super fast paced and clogged with a bunch of useless stuff. I'd like to see it stay on that path.

[Mad Hatter]

Yeah I don't quite understand the "elitism" thing. IMO, what goes on in the pipe forum is completely different from the rest of the board and I couldn't care less what people say in other forums,; when they come to the pipe forum, all that matters is we all smoke a pipe. I know there are lots of guys who do hold those grudges and I think its a shame but if that's how they want to be then that's their choice.

As for repetitive posts from new members, well if you just sit and read old posts it doesn't do much for building friendships or making a community IMO

[tzilt]

I am a newish member here but here is my 2 cents...

I think repetitive posts are par for the course for any forum that encourages new members. And often, even though a question has already been asked in a older thread, when the question is asked again it might be answered in a different way.

Plus I also think new members might sorta need to ask repeat questions. What else is a new pipe smoker going to talk about? Most obvious questions have been asked already, there is no way around that. It would be kinda boring if a new member lurked for 5 years until he thought of a question that no one else has thought of.

I've noticed that the pipe forum doesn't have a 'Guidelines' sticky. If the general expectations of this area are different from the other CS forums maybe it would only be fair to post what those expectations are? Maybe thats why people get a little cranky about it....they feel kinda blindsided when they come in the pipe section and get scolded (however gently) for not posting the 'right way' when they had no idea what the right way was. If there was a general guidelines sticky then at least they could have a fighting chance.

As for elitism and grudges and whatnot...for what its worth I haven't noticed any of that, so either I am blissfully oblivious, or it all goes on behind the scenes.

[jgros001]

If it is elitist to hope that a new member or someone new to this section might do a little research as to how the board conducts itself, well then I guess I am an elitist. More often than not it will be silence coming from me or negative RG.

I find it odd though that at one point there is talk of community and in the next breath it is talk of the establishment. Also, we have handled ourselves pretty good down here but it is upsetting when there is a thread and members of the board who do not regularly post down here put in their comments and then shut that thread down.

[smokehouse]

Why can't we all just get along?

[uncballzer]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Yeah I don't quite understand the "elitism" thing. IMO, what goes on in the pipe forum is completely different from the rest of the board and I couldn't care less what people say in other forums,; when they come to the pipe forum, all that matters is we all smoke a pipe. I know there are lots of guys who do hold those grudges and I think its a shame but if that's how they want to be then that's their choice.

As for repetitive posts from new members, well if you just sit and read old posts it doesn't do much for building friendships or making a community IMO

I admit, that sometimes I hate seeing repetitive posts, especially about something new in the cigar forums that are just beaten to death (ie, Nub threads). I've found though that I like the pipe repeats, as I've found I enjoy reiterating what I like and what I've learned, and the repetition helps make me "learn" the pipe more. If it's something wrong, someone can always correct me and I can then pass that information along at a later time.
I really think the pipe forum is great. I have no one around me to teach me how to smoke the pipe. I've found everything I need to know here, from start to finish, with the help of each one of you. That's what I find refreshing about this place.