im in

Not silly at all.I send to the troops on my own.If someone vouch's for someone who flakes out the voucher is responsible for the vouchee's end.If no one will vouch for you YOU DON'T GET TO PLAY.Stick around a while and develop your rep.When we return to the rules I mention above I'll get back onboard........til then I don't dance.Y'all have fun.........even Hank the noob.

Whatever trips your trigger.......I send mine direct.

I just don't see the point.I've been involved in several over the last 12 years.All the vouched for noobs sent first and until received their end was held back.If the noob didn't send the voucher stepped up and took responsibility.No one "running the SS hits" was out anything.Most who ran the SS received some very generous thank you bombs.It would appear that those are now required up front.No thank you.........I just don't see 5'rs cutting it.I have received a full box of aged Habanos(Desolbones)and a solid 10 pack of super premiums with a fine bottle of bourbon(TW).I have sent a full box of AF's,can't recall I think 858's,and a bottle of Scotch.A handful of 5 packs cannot replace these kind of SS hits.Maybe the caliber of our membership has declined if we now need to send someone 5-packs just to play.

Please do not let my rant sway you one way or another.I'm just a FOG dissatisfied with where we seem to be headed.

Rant Off..........Y'all have fun and remember Tis better to give than receive.

I also send direct. You make a good point about the fivers (combined, I’m assuming) not being in the same ballpark as the SS gifts. The majority of folks here appear to want less regulation. I’m not a fan of this send-in-a-fiver regulation, just to participate. So I did some mental gymnastics in order to look at this “tax” as another opportunity to give. Doesn’t take the funky, lack-of-trust feeling away, though. 2016 was my first year doing the SS. I believe my targets were very well taken care of. We didn’t do the fiver tax, then. I don’t recall any vouching for me as a noob, either, come to think of it.

I like the FOGs vouching for noobs model. It requires building trust/relationships, which is something I value here. I would assume that I’m still a noob, at almost 2.5 years. If I’ve built some trust with a FOG who is willing to vouch for me, I can join up. If I don’t fiollow through, not only am I letting my SS target down, I’m also really letting my FOG down. I’m damaging the trust/relationship that I’ve built with them. Trust is worth much more to me than a fiver.

Thanks for speaking up, Whistlebritches. And thanks for quoting my comment. It caused me to think about this more and put some of my thoughts into words.

I appreciate you taking this on T Z. I’m going to take myself out of this year’s SS and look for another opportunity to send some gifts to a few of my smoky brethren.

Have fun, everyone. The 2016 SS was a real blast. I hope that the 2018 SS is a blast for you, too.

Drop the wombat too

Well, CHIT!

This is a buzz kill but I got to follow my fellow brothers as I understand where they are coming from. Personally I still consider myself a huge noob and a rule like such applying to me I can understand but to folks like Stogie, Wombat,Whistlebritches etc it is ridiculous. Them folks have earned trust a long long time ago. So for the sake of morals and to back these fellows...

Scratch me out as well. 😟

Hope you all have a Great Holiday.

How many of the noobs in the list have actually did a trade? 3 names I don't recognize or remember on here.

the noobs who just joined are not getting to participate.

Im sorry some of the old guys are backing out, but thats your choice. I was trying to keep an old tradition going but I am not going to get burned again. It was an old guy who was around the forums for awhile who burned me and the host from 2016.things went good last year and I expect it will be the same this year.

That's all I wanted to know last year I sent 5 great smokes Cubans where included so if someone did not receive they got something good it did not come to that so the troops got some great smokes win win to me the noobs that I don't recognize there name if they're in I'm out sorry don't know them one year I was in one and there was no payment of a 5 or and someone did skip out but all the botl that participated sent smokes to cover and it was more than a generous gift by the time all the packages left

Sorry TZ I'm out also........ I had an uneasy feeling about these noobs wanting in but was willing to give it a go but now that all the names I do know backing out has got me not willing to participate.

Thanks and good luck with the rest if they stick around.

Phug it I'm out if any of you old phuggers want to get together and do something let me know

those noobs that just joined cbid are not eligible for this years SS. they need to be around for at least a year and participate in noob trades to earn creds

I am out also.

Well, I'm still in.

Sorry T Z, jumping ship. I'm out.

Sorry, but I'm gonna bail out too

Is there anyone left besides me and Mandobro? I already sent my 5er, should land today. If we don't end up doing this, go ahead and send those to the troops. For all I care, you can keep them for the troubles this has oddly caused. Still say people are being silly. We did it last year with success.

Eh,

Seems like everybody jumped ship to the other one.

Guess I am out too. Do whatever you want with those cigars TZ.

There you go again, looking out at the world through your silly-colored glasses.

Seriously, though, I hope everyone has lotsa fun with the 2018 S.S. And thanks again to T W for stepping up to make it happen. It looks like last year’s was a hoot, for those who were inclined to participate.

I’m more of a 2018 A.S.S. man, myself. But take this for what it’s worth. I’ve been known to be silly.