I’ve stayed out of this up until now. In fact, I even reached out to Bee hoping to share an outsider’s view of what was going on. But, that never happened unfortunately.
It’s always better to enter a room quietly, get to know the dynamics and learn about the players.
Bee I hate to say it but, you blew it. Big time.
David, Ron and Conan are some of the most benevolent members here. What you failed to see is that this isn’t a forum setup to trade cigars. Quite the opposite. This is a family. At least five times a year members travel hundreds of miles some thousands of miles to visit with each other, to spend as many as 5 days talking about everything under the sun. There’s the Mississippi Fish-n-Herf. It was not held this year because the host was having life threatening health issues, But IIRC it’s been held for the prior 14 years. As many as 30 have attended. They come from Alaska, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and many other states. Once there, attendants make group calls to members unable to make it.
There’s also annual get together’s in New York, California, Maine, Michigan. There’s a group of members that pick all-inclusive resorts all over the Caribbean every year then fly in from different states and spend a week or two vacationing together.
We used to do a Hit of the Month where a member was chosen as the target and dozens of people bombed them.
When David’s unit deployed to the Middle East a few years back, members donated over 1000 cigars and bags and bags of swag so his unit would be reminded daily of the support they had back home. In fact, one member contacted a large coffee brand, told the CEO of the beneficiary and his company donated around 40 or more pounds of coffee to the effort.
A member who is now deceased was severely injured. At least 50 members donated to the cause and we collected around $900. That money was used to buy him hard to obtain cigars, top shelf scotch and even a **** enlarger and a blowup doll.
Another member was severely injured and over a 2 month period a large get well card was sent first to Florida. From there it zig zagged across the nation and overseas where at least 30 members signed the card before it was ultimately sent to the recipient.
I lost everything I owned when my home flooded in 8/16. One member auctioned off a part of his collection of aged CC’s some well over 20 years old as a fund raiser. In addition, many members replaced items my disabled child lost.
Then there are numerous off the books get togethers. A while back my sister sent a u-haul of furniture to my mother. The catch was I had to fly up to Baltimore and drive it back to Louisiana. I stopped in North Carolina and spent 2 hours with a member who I had previously traded with yet had never met in person. I spent the night in Atlanta where another member I knew from here but had never met. I pulled a small table from the truck and we sat near the front door where we watched an NCAAF game and killed a bottle of bourbon. Recently, I had to travel to Florida on buisness. There I enjoyed an evening with 2 botf, one I’d met twice at two F-N-H. I had only texted and chatted with him over the 7 or so years. My wife and I tailgate every year with another person here. If you asked a one else who is active here you will hear similar stories.
All get togethers have one thing in common is that gifts are always exchanged. Things like entire boxes of premium cigars, liquor and other items specific to the individuals involved. All done without expectation of receiving anything in return.
The three guys I mentioned earlier to which you have spoke disparagingly about happen to be some of the most generous members here. I’ve been the recipient of bombs sent by all three. To say I was humbled is an understatement l. The standard trade here is a CBid “5’er”. Yet none of them know how to count to 5 and none of them send dog rockets.
There’s an old saying that when 2 people can’t get along they’re both at fault. Yet, when someone can’t get along with numerous it become prudent to suspect the common denominator. You entered here like a bull in the china closet. Apparently you misjudged the nature of the forum here. This is a family, not a group of marks from which to benefit.
I do hate to say this to anyone, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who would admit say that they view you as a leech whose only purpose it seems is to use this as a place to acquire cigars. Consequently, you wore out your welcome faster than anyone I’ve had the displeasure to watch in the 7 3/4 years I’ve been here.
We may argue about all things inconsequential, sometimes we go full retard, but we are family. Like any family we welcome strangers. But, when one attempts to harm, steal from or cheat our brothers and sisters like any family we circle the wagon and protect each other.
Btw, count me in the group of people who think your notion that Ron owed you 20 cigars is far, far removed from an sliver of rational. That’s as one of the stupidest things I ever herd.
