Those who show up get to make the decisions

[Fishbeadtwo]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Life is so multifaceted. We live in complex, interconnected times. Email, Text, cell, wifi it's just soo plugged in. I'm waiting for a new occupation for therapists... text addiction therapy. Heck my wife even texts... though she still asks where in AOL that you boot up Microsoft word. (I love her but she's not a new age gal).

CS reflects the radical changes taking place in the world all around us. More access, more coming and going, less plant a stake and hang in one place kind of mindset. It's a natural process. If you just joined this board you found a great community. Not just a cigar discussion board but a cigar lovers community. The difference may be lost on you today but invest a lil time here, get involved, and the rewards of kinship will become self evident.

There are so many diverse folks here it runs the gauntlet from teenagers posing as college students who have only smoked a gas station cigar to crusty old bastages who have been puffin cigars longer that many here have been out of diapers. There are members who have been here since the boards inception in 1997 that still post and interact. Great kudos to the true FOG.. though some of them are not really very old. The vast majority of folks actively posting are relatively new members. It's exciting and addictive to find a friendly and fun place to interact. In between these two extremes are many folks in different places regarding their experience here. Many of the newer generation of members learn much from this group as they have learned from their predecessors .. and.. are still active here enabling them to share with newer members that which was passed down.

Cigars! Oooh baby the cigars. Beyond age or time on board there is the subject of cigars. It's the cigars that transcend the generational, etc gaps here. Nothing is better than sitting down and smoking a good one with new or old friends at a herf. Provides a common frame of reference and plenty of fodder for discussion afterwards here. There is always going to be differences in folks "supplies". It can be confusing when folks refer to some of the "accumulators" as FOG's. Having a bunch of cigars is different than having long experience and contribution here.

If you occasionally get a lil bummed by someone posting a "the way it was today's version of CS sucks" let it slide off your virtual shoulders. Some are just burnt out past contributors longing for the age when faxing was cool. Within the charter set up by PDS, this place can be anything the collective membership chooses to make it by their involvement, so in effect we all make the decision on what CS is and will be by our contributions here. It's impossible for any one of us to float or sink the ship as the ship is composed of each of us.

We are "Club Stogie" is the right way to think of things. There are the way things were, the way things are, and the way things will be here at some point in time. Only those who actively participate now can affect today's version of CS and mold what it will be.

Thank goodness we delete the banter threads though.

Spot on sir!

perhaps this needs to be "sticky=ized"?

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

I would like to know what prompted this post.

Someone complaining or just came to you out of the blue?

I just felt like ruunning!

[poker]

Im one of those old guys who remember fondly back in the day what Club Stogie was. What it was, was new. It was a fresh new place with a great layout. It didnt have the mob mentality that other boards exhibit. It didnt have any "cliques" of the "in-crowd" and "out-crowd" and those in the in-crowd belittled those that were in the out-crowd as many have seen on other boards. It was neat to be involved with (at the time) a small but tight group of folks where everyone knew everyone by first name & knew them on a personal level. It was back in the days of JSL, MattR, seagarsmoker, Drillr, Filly, Brandon, flipflop, sgoslin, rkt, and many many others. Many of the old guard of CS have moved on in life, some to other boards, a few have stopped or slowed their smoking, and a couple friends I know have passed on.

It was a time of simplicity where if there was a boxpass, all members became involved.

It was a time when bombing someone was never done to show off (because it was never posted in public), but rather to show gratitude for their friendship and give thanks for all they have given.

It was a time when if you were the lucky recipient of one of these bombs, there would always be a note saying not to send anything back but rather send something special to the next member down the road that impressed you.

Theres a reason I think fondly of the old times in the humble beginnings of CS and these are just a few examples.

I admit, I am one who didnt take change very smoothly. Change to me was scary in a way. I resisted and kicked a bit but then something clicked and I remembered...

I remembered I was new too once.
I remembered what pds and rjs and others did for me here when I was new.
I remembered what Bob Curtis and Tharos of the ICG days did for me before I got here.
I remembered what Mig and others at ASC did for me before ICG.
I remembered asking a bunch of questions that many have answered many times before but still took the time to answer for me.
I remembered the 2 Havana cigars I had in my massive 22 cigar collection that I thought were the Holy Grail of cigars and could probably never ever be replaced if I lit them.
I remembered I used to use a Zippo or book matches until someone told me to use butane.
I remember thinking "I dont know shit" just when I thought I knew something about cigars.

With all things, things change. Many initially resist change like I did. Many welcome it. As Club Stogie evolves, it changes. It changes due to our diverse member base. It changes as Dave mentioned by those who activly participate. Club Stogie changes as we change. As I have come to learn, change is not a bad thing. Today, although a part of me will always be "old school", I have come to a point to know & accept that changes promote new life here and I have come to welcome it.

"Change is inevitable . . .
adapting to change is unavoidable,
it's how you do it that sets you together or apart."

William Ngwako Maphoto

[gorob23]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Life is so multifaceted. We live in complex, interconnected times.

We are "Club Stogie" is the right way to think of things. There are the way things were, the way things are, and the way things will be here at some point in time. Only those who actively participate now can affect today's version of CS and mold what it will be.

Thank goodness we delete the banter threads though.

Ok but really WTF is going on with my avatar I have a feeling some of YOU

"affect today's version of CS and mold what it will be." more than others!





and for that I say THANK YOU



















FKN JOKER

[rck70]

Thanks Dave....well said, and from what i've been reading...needed.

Russ

[Old Sailor]

Thanks Dave, well written. I only have one thing to add.......change is good donkey!!

[Puffy69]

Great Post Dave..Every now and then, you post something like this to put us back in check..I like it..I sometimes feel over whelmed by CS and all its members. Hell its doubled since ive been here..But CS is where I met all my friends and will always be my Home..

[Old Sailor]

Admit it Dave, your where at that island place, relaxing with a special cigar, and staring at the beautiful water view when this hit ya.

[vicvitola]

I enjoy reading the really old posts and then reading "Today's Posts". It gives some perspective. You've come a long way CS!

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by poker

Im one of those old guys who remember fondly back in the day what Club Stogie was. What it was, was new. It was a fresh new place with a great layout. It didnt have the mob mentality that other boards exhibit. It didnt have any "cliques" of the "in-crowd" and "out-crowd" and those in the in-crowd belittled those that were in the out-crowd as many have seen on other boards. It was neat to be involved with (at the time) a small but tight group of folks where everyone knew everyone by first name & knew them on a personal level. It was back in the days of JSL, MattR, seagarsmoker, Drillr, Filly, Brandon, flipflop, sgoslin, rkt, and many many others. Many of the old guard of CS have moved on in life, some to other boards, a few have stopped or slowed their smoking, and a couple friends I know have passed on.

It was a time of simplicity where if there was a boxpass, all members became involved.

It was a time when bombing someone was never done to show off (because it was never posted in public), but rather to show gratitude for their friendship and give thanks for all they have given.

It was a time when if you were the lucky recipient of one of these bombs, there would always be a note saying not to send anything back but rather send something special to the next member down the road that impressed you.

Theres a reason I think fondly of the old times in the humble beginnings of CS and these are just a few examples.

I admit, I am one who didnt take change very smoothly. Change to me was scary in a way. I resisted and kicked a bit but then something clicked and I remembered...

I remembered I was new too once.
I remembered what pds and rjs and others did for me here when I was new.
I remembered what Bob Curtis and Tharos of the ICG days did for me before I got here.
I remembered what Mig and others at ASC did for me before ICG.
I remembered asking a bunch of questions that many have answered many times before but still took the time to answer for me.
I remembered the 2 Havana cigars I had in my massive 22 cigar collection that I thought were the Holy Grail of cigars and could probably never ever be replaced if I lit them.
I remembered I used to use a Zippo or book matches until someone told me to use butane.
I remember thinking "I dont know shit" just when I thought I knew something about cigars.

With all things, things change. Many initially resist change like I did. Many welcome it. As Club Stogie evolves, it changes. It changes due to our diverse member base. It changes as Dave mentioned by those who activly participate. Club Stogie changes as we change. As I have come to learn, change is not a bad thing. Today, although a part of me will always be "old school", I have come to a point to know & accept that changes promote new life here and I have come to welcome it.

"Change is inevitable . . .
adapting to change is unavoidable,
it's how you do it that sets you together or apart."

William Ngwako Maphoto

The gold standard we aspire to be speaks truth. (Great post and quote)

Reminders and encouragement to respect the process, people and journey that got us here is the true role the FOG play in maintaining the founders intent as we move forward.

That and talking funny at herfs.

[poker]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

That and talking funny at herfs.

Hell I talk like that even outside of herfs sometimes

[freakygar]

I just posted yesterday in the bomb thread about a launch that was made on a certain gorilla. I wish I could have read this yesterday and I might have given second thought to posting that thread.

Poker: "It was a time when bombing someone was never done to show off (because it was never posted in public),.......
- Actually never crossed my mind it might be taken that way. Another lesson learned from an FOG, thank you Kelly.

Poker: " but rather to show gratitude for their friendship and give thanks for all they have given."
- I posted this thread for the sole purpose of bringing to light that a stand up gorilla will be recognized for his contributions to the CS community. I can only hope it is seen that way.

Poker: It was a time when if you were the lucky recipient of one of these bombs, there would always be a note saying not to send anything back but rather send something special to the next member down the road that impressed you.
- Sometimes the gorilla sending IS the member that impressed you and he/she needs to be thanked.

As I'm not CS old school I don't know those days. All I know is that today's CS is a good place to be, a very good place. A place where you not only learn a few things about cigars but life as well. It's a place where you get to see the good in people when the world gives you doubts that there are any good people left. It's a place to share a story or a laugh. A place to ask for help if needed (and man can a gorilla help!). It's a place I love to be (group hug!).

Thanks for letting me play,
Al

P.S. The more I think about it the more I'm sure I still would have posted it.

[icehog3]

Great posts, Dave and Kelly...insightful for both new and old.

[poker]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

I just posted yesterday in the bomb thread about a launch that was made on a certain gorilla. I wish I could have read this yesterday and I might have given second thought to posting that thread.

Poker: "It was a time when bombing someone was never done to show off (because it was never posted in public),.......
- Actually never crossed my mind it might be taken that way. Another lesson learned from an FOG, thank you Kelly.

Im sure all will be fine Al. I said that after seeing it in action at numerous boards over the years, not just here. To be sadly honest, I've even partaken in the "top this" bombing game in the past (with the actual intention of "top this"). My quote was never intentionally directed at anyone but was more of a broad blanket type statement. My most humble appologies if it offended anyone.

[orca99usa]

Thanks for the great post. I was pointed to this great site by a friend, after I mentioned that I was on a cigar board that was pretty much dead (I was one of about four or five people who actually posted there). This place is a treasure trove of knowledge and opinions, and that is what I like most about it. I am very glad to have found this place.