It's happend

[Nick]

The part I was starting to hate was the censorship. I didn't realize China was suddenly running the internet.

[white_s2k]

Hahah same thing here

You have been banned for the following reason:
insults/drama

Date the ban will be lifted: Never

The only thing I have said in the past couple of hours was a ding to JC's rep for an honest "closing/deliting" thread. Maybe he read my post here? Stalker!

Oh well.. got my family here. :ss

[JKim]

Tony is Newt right?

[MedicCook]

It seems like all people who post here are being banned over there. That is a lot in people to ban.

[Andyman]

The thing to do is to distinguish real and cyber.
This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..

[DrDubzz]

It seems like all people who post here are being banned over there. That is a lot in people to ban.

that's ok, we'll all just join the other 600+ nonactive members that only exist for financial purposes

[Starscream]

Tony is Newt right?

Makes sense now.:tu

[madurolover]

This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..

Well said Andy! :tu

[Starscream]

It seems like all people who post here are being banned over there. That is a lot in people to ban.

I haven't been banned yet. Don't want to get banned yet either. Don't agree w/ what's going on, but I'd like to go back and see what the place will become eventually.

[newcigarz]

Wow, members are pretty butal over there. That newt guy is getting massacred.

[ucubed]

Wow, members are pretty butal over there. That newt guy is getting massacred.

lol wasn't us :r

[newcigarz]

I haven't been banned yet. Don't want to get banned yet either. Don't agree w/ what's going on, but I'd like to go back and see what the place will become eventually.

Good for you, Keep Hope alive!

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/thelede/posts/1127jackson.jpg

[JKim]

Donnie.. Andy.. you both know you've always got my support.

[GKitty]

Wow, members are pretty butal over there. That newt guy is getting massacred.

The wrath of inmates is as mighty as it is unpredictable.

In a community people have fallen out of love with, they tend to lash out viciously and for any reason at all.

[DrDubzz]

dangit, and I can't see what's happening to dear newt

[Nick]

This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..

OK. There is always a right way and wrong way to do business.

By the way I never slandered Jon to any member on that forum before I was banned, I expressed my concerns to him in a message.

[Prefy]

I get infractions for posting the definition of the word Asylum

I blame Donnie:D:D:D:r:r

[King James]

This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..

Although you make good points Andy.... in order to be slander something must be untrue and as far as I've read nobody has posted anything untrue about Jon publicly.

And to continue the office analogy it would be like fellow employees getting upset with a Boss who comes in and without explanation removes multiple long time and well respected supervisors and allows for no discussion about it.

Although some people are over there posting stuff to intentionally get banned, which isn't really my cup of tea but to each their own, Jon brought alot of this tension upon himself IMHO.

Maybe I'm wrong....and I still do agree that we should just let it go.

[madurolover]

I get infractions for posting the definition of the word Asylum

I blame Donnie:D:r

:tg :r

[DrDubzz]

Sorry. The administrator has banned this IP address. If you think this is in error, please contact the administrator by clicking here Please make sure to include your username in the message.

dang, I can't even poke around as a guest

[Andyman]

Man just clear your cookies and your back in!!! :rolleyes:
Sorry. The administrator has banned this IP address. If you think this is in error, please contact the administrator by clicking here Please make sure to include your username in the message.

dang, I can't even poke around as a guest

[DrDubzz]

Man just clear your cookies and your back in!!! :rolleyes:

no no, see, it's an IP ban ;)

[Starscream]

This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..
I'm almost on board with you, Andy.

[Andyman]

I'm almost on board with you, Andy.

Good enough for me. Theres a good point in there someplace. Just look for it!!! :D

[white_s2k]

I'm almost on board with you, Andy.

Almost. What Jon did to CS and his attitude afterwards deserves no respect. No matter who says it. Business or not, you don't disrespect people who have been there 5+ years and who helped build the sitethe way he did. But who cares, it will come back to bite him in the ass.

[Nick]

Newt is at -257. You have no shame.

[Starscream]

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-discussion/220445-help-me-understand-please.html

I'm now fully on board. It's too late for me to not be mad at the actions of the man who banned so many BOTLS, but I'm gonna follow Darrel and use the golden rule here. Although he doesn't deserve it by his actions, we should still treat the man as we would like to be treated. Yesterdays posts were legitimate questioning and he shut them down. Today's posts over there are just stirring the pot. I'm calling for a temporary ceasefire to all interested.


With that said, it's way past my bedtime. I got caught up in all the drama/comedy tonight. See you brothers/sisters in the morning.

[DrDubzz]

Almost. What Jon did to CS and his attitude afterwards deserves no respect. No matter who says it. Business or not, you don't disrespect people who have been there 5+ years and who helped build the sitethe way he did. But who cares, it will come back to bite him in the ass.

there's been like 2-300 posts in this thread alone today

have they had that much activity total on the forums over there?

don't worry, Jon's actions will work themselves out

[DrDubzz]

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-discussion/220445-help-me-understand-please.html


I can't read this, anyone feel like letting me know what it says


oooh the forbidden fruit!

[Sauer Grapes]

no no, see, it's an IP ban ;)

http://www.secureproxy.us/

[AAlmeter]

This is where the problem lies.

This is not just a cyber board. I have met many many people and consider many of you my friends. It's not just a game.

This brings me to my next point. Jon Caputo is a real person as well. Like him or hate him this is not a game to him. He has invested a lot of money and time into this venture. Agree with his business or not this is real life to him. To us maybe it's a stupid forum. To him it's a lot more than that. If you met someone in person and came into their business and started harassing them and saying bad things about them to their clients. You would probibly be sued for slander. How is this any different? Why are we treating another human being this way?

You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to subscribe to the Puff lifestyle. Weather we think he deserves this or not. It's not really our call.


let it go..

Agreed. I've actually been in contact with Jon a few times tonight (I'm just a gotta have the last word kinda guy).

After a request for "constructive feedback", I laid out much of this to him. Many resented him for taking over on the basis of profit. I think this is silly. The board had grown to the point where it could no longer be a hobby for anyone but the wealthy. It is silly to think that it wouldn't turn into that.

However, I did greatly criticize his actions in handling this initial backlash.

In my opinion, he is handled it with very little professionalism. I like to think of it as Walmart moving in on mom and pop. It sucks, but its the nature of the beast. However, for Walmart to start blacklisting people for not liking the change, asking what aisle the depends are in, etc is absolutely horrible business. From the standpoint of the community as well as the business that Jon now runs, its a bad move on his part.

However, I can fully understand Jon's frustration and anger in dealing with many...especially at the outset of the change, who in my opinion took every opportunity to cause trouble in the name of the community...a community which many of them had only been members of for a short period of time.

In my opinion, there has been altogether too much flexing of phony muscle on CS/Puff, from both sides of the aisle.

None of this detracts, in my opinion, from what I have witnessed with Jon, mainly his acting like an asshole, as well as any claims of his dishonesty, which I cannot verify or disprove.

[Asher]

don't worry, Jon's actions will work themselves out

It puts a smile on my face just to think about how much money he must be losing. :ss

[madurolover]

It puts a smile on my face just to think about how much money he must be losing. :ss

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:

[DrDubzz]

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:

well he certainly never spent much on cigars, anyone else remember that weak-A humidor? (in terms of what was in it, the humi wasn't half bad)

[No1der]

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:

Well, not yet anyway.

This just goes to prove a point, you can buy a forum and webspace and serverspace. You can buy a logo and a list of users but you CAN'T buy people. We are not slaves or endentured servants and we the people will revolt, or is that we the people are revolting? Anyway, you catch my drift.

Cheers,
Rob

[BigBruce]

Wow I think they banned that newt guy. Guess he came off wrong but that went down hill fast. :(

[a2vr6]

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:


Not as former head sales for Sun, he was easily pulling in high 6 figures plus bonuses.

[madurolover]

Well, not yet anyway.

This just goes to prove a point, you can buy a forum and webspace and serverspace. You can buy a logo and a list of users but you CAN'T buy people. We are not slaves or endentured servants and we the people will revolt, or is that we the people are revolting? Anyway, you catch my drift.

Cheers,
Rob

I don't think he will go broke. The site is not going to survive because of long-term members. Just like DevShed which is another site he did the same thing with. While there are some regulars there it is mostly people who come on, ask a question and get it answered. They then move on until they have another question. The site probably gets 1,000's of clicks a day. That is where the money comes from. Not long time members but site traffic. He may not be a BOTL but he is a businessman and you can believe that.

[Asher]

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:

Maybe not, but between the costs of buying the sites (I don't know how much he paid for CS, CL, and CR, but his $50k offer for CigarPass is public knowledge), the "puff.com" domain name, graphic design, hosting, etc., I highly doubt that his investment is paying off the way he had hoped.

[No1der]

I don't think he will go broke. The site is not going to survive because of long-term members. Just like DevShed which is another site he did the same thing with. While there are some regulars there it is mostly people who come on, ask a question and get it answered. They then move on until they have another question. The site probably gets 1,000's of clicks a day. That is where the money comes from. Not long time members but site traffic. He may not be a BOTL but he is a businessman and you can believe that.

Well, I'll tell you what my hope is. I hope that he learns a lesson that you can't treat people like garbage. I hope he takes a bath on this one and seeing how the economy is and that the mini-boom is over with this is more likely than not.

What you just said about his business model is very sad. At least to me it's sad.

Cheers,
Rob

[Cyanide]

In the end, a website is more about branding than anything else, I think. The business approach thus was not well thought out. What the fellow that bought those 3 sites should have done was kept the branding of either the largest site or the site with the most cohessive population. Then, he should have added the coupling interfaces necessary, given the members of the other 2 sites a chance to migrate over themselves and then finally couple the 3 sites together under the name and branding of the established "mother" site.

I wonder if this whole thing would have taken another form if one of the main sites had been preserved. Would the same level of fighting and anger be present if something call "club stogie" was still present?

Then again, it may be fortunate that it has taken on a whole new identity. It may actually offer people a quicker and more complete "closure" knowing that CS is gone, as opposed to them hating how CS has changed.

But, I should probably just go to bed.

Cheers

Cyanide

[white_s2k]

For some reason I do not think that Jon is hurting financially. :rolleyes:

As we have seen in the past months.. money does not buy members. You may, or may not be a testament to that (publicly). But it is apparent.

[madurolover]

As we have seen in the past months.. money does not buy members. You may, or may not be a testament to that (publicly). But it is apparent.

I agree, but as I stated above, as long as there are clicks the number of members is basically moot.

[renton20]

Although I am not nearly as eloquent as many who have already posted I feel a strong desire to express my feeling about what is going on over there in a place where I will not be punished for it, i.e. not there. I joined clubstogie because I had a few questions about cigars that I wanted answered. What I found was a community of people who were truly passionate about something that they enjoyed.

I was told to start trading and received a great selection including my first ISOM as a result. More than that, with the trading I really began to feel as I have never before in my life that the world is a very small place. The fact that I could take some cigars, package them up, and for $5 send them from MN to SC in two days blew my mind.

Even more, the fact that some one who had years of cigar experience on me was willing, even eager, to send me something simply because he thought that I would enjoy it took me a little time to understand.

The point that I am trying to get to is that JC bought a business but lost, through his own mismanagement, its soul. He will still make money on it because of the size, which is all he really cares about. I think that I am simply going to stop logging on. The soul and the community is here. People that I know and feel privileged to call friends are here. I just feel bad for those that called the place home for much longer than I did. I joined back in may. Though I did spend an obsessive amount of time there it must be much worse for those of you who were there for years and years. Let's just keep the spirit alive guys. We may have switched buildings, but it's still the same bar.

Josh

[white_s2k]

I agree, but as I stated above, as long as there are clicks the number of members is basically moot.

I agree there. Hopefully, as the hype wears off the true numbers will emerge. :tu

[JKim]

facebook owns my arse... damn them and their catchy little apps. there's a business model that works.

[madurolover]

Although I am not nearly as eloquent as many who have already posted I feel a strong desire to express my feeling about what is going on over there in a place where I will not be punished for it, i.e. not there. I joined clubstogie because I had a few questions about cigars that I wanted answered. What I found was a community of people who were truly passionate about something that they enjoyed.

I was told to start trading and received a great selection including my first ISOM as a result. More than that, with the trading I really began to feel as I have never before in my life that the world is a very small place. The fact that I could take some cigars, package them up, and for $5 send them from MN to SC in two days blew my mind.

Even more, the fact that some one who had years of cigar experience on me was willing, even eager, to send me something simply because he thought that I would enjoy it took me a little time to understand.

The point that I am trying to get to is that JC bought a business but lost, through his own mismanagement, its soul. He will still make money on it because of the size, which is all he really cares about. I think that I am simply going to stop logging on. The soul and the community is here. People that I know and feel privileged to call friends are here. I just feel bad for those that called the place home for much longer than I did. I joined back in may. Though I did spend an obsessive amount of time there it must be much worse for those of you who were there for years and years. Let's just keep the spirit alive guys. We may have switched buildings, but it's still the same bar.

Josh

I call BS! ;)

That was stated as well as anyone could hope to say it (except maybe Da Klugs).

Excellent post! :tu

[icehog3]

In the past few days (8- 10) I have received PM's from some of the members here that seem to be held in high regard. I will not name them but I will tell you that never have I got such nasty, vile messages from people that I consider my "brothers".

Donnie, Aaron, Ji and Dave tried to help a place that at one time the vast majority of us loved. They did nothing wrong by trying to help steer CS (and eventually PVff) towards a better place. I think it was inevitable that it would not work.

That being said....Ladies and Gentlemen...Inmates.....

I think we have all had our say, some have had their bashing (I was admittedly one of the worst)...but now I think it is time to get back to what brought us together here in the first place....Friendship and Cigars.

Shawn put it wisely, and more than 100 posts later, I respectfully ask that we put this to bed, get positive about the great Haven we have all created here, and focus our energy on the Inmates of the Asylum.Tom

[Nick]

I agree. Very well said.

[Nick]

Don't forget us pipers, we are BOTL's too.

[DrDubzz]

Don't forget us pipers, we are BOTL's too.

yeah TOM!! :fl

[icehog3]

Don't forget us pipers, we are BOTL's too.

Absolutely.....Friendships, Cigars and Pipes. :) :ss :pi

[Nick]

Yay, :chr :dance:

[SmokeyJoe]

Donnie, Aaron, Ji and Dave tried to help a place that at one time the vast majority of us loved. They did nothing wrong by trying to help steer CS (and eventually PVff) towards a better place. I think it was inevitable that it would not work.

That being said....Ladies and Gentlemen...Inmates.....

I think we have all had our say, some have had their bashing (I was admittedly one of the worst)...but now I think it is time to get back to what brought us together here in the first place....Friendship and Cigars.

Shawn put it wisely, and more than 100 posts later, I respectfully ask that we put this to bed, get positive about the great Haven we have all created here, and focus our energy on the Inmates of the Asylum.Tom

Agreed... I think it would be better for our community here if we did exactly as you suggest, Admiral! :ss

[Da Klugs]

Therapy is good for the soul. Personally and community wise. Many of us needed it.. some of us more than others. (Me in that group) It's the answer to why this thread has continued to exist contrary to our stated .. "no bashing of other forums and owners policy". Not our proudest moment but necessary to get it out.

I'd like to thank the many members and the portion of the 11 that I'm sure have been a bit uncomfortable with the vitriol we have displayed here but have kept quiet based upon the fact that they are wise and know that steam needs a release when you combine water and fire. The 11 who could have stopped this, but in many cases contributed, hope dispensation will be granted from those who may have thought this inappropriate or worse. Therapy has it's price.

Fires dying down and... well we know where the water is. :D

I changed the thread title's tense. Issue is pretty much over with unless we choose to drag it out.

At a point in time, and that time is coming, we need to move on and let lying dogs sleep. There is an old Jewish Holocaust survivor saying that seems to apply for the many who seem looking for closure here...

"The best revenge is to live a good life". I love our lives here. Multiply it by 1500+ and you have some pretty serious vengeance on display daily. :ss

[No1der]

Therapy is good for the soul. Personally and community wise. Many of us needed it.. some of us more than others. (Me in that group) It's the answer to why this thread has continued to exist contrary to our stated .. "no bashing of other forums and owners policy". Not our proudest moment but necessary to get it out.

I'd like to thank the many members and the portion of the 11 that I'm sure have been a bit uncomfortable with the vitriol we have displayed here but have kept quiet based upon the fact that they are wise and know that steam needs a release when you combine water and fire. The 11 who could have stopped this, but in many cases contributed, hope dispensation will be granted from those who may have thought this inappropriate or worse. Therapy has it's price.

Fires dying down and... well we know where the water is. :D

I changed the thread title's tense. Issue is pretty much over with unless we choose to drag it out.

At a point in time, and that time is coming, we need to move on and let lying dogs sleep. There is an old Jewish Holocaust survivor saying that seems to apply for the many who seem looking for closure here...

"The best revenge is to live a good life". I love our lives here. Multiply it by 1500+ and you have some pretty serious vengeance on display daily. :ss

I guess it might be time to put all of this to rest. A big part of me wants to continue but I know that's just my stubborn nature talking and continuing this is kind of pointless.

May calmer heads prevail even if I'm not one of those heads.

I don't recomend we pour water over anyone who wants to keep bashing. Hell, I might even start a small "Bash everything you haet" board that has nothing to do with Cigars and everything to do with b!tching and drama.

Actually, that might not be such a bad idea, I could make a fortune by starting such a board and in a couple of years selling it to Jon.

Cheers,
Rob

[Jbailey]

Very well spoken Dave.

Just sitting here with a hot cup of tea and thankful for the team of 11 for this sanctuary.

[No1der]

I just read something funny on another board and I thought I would post it here for the lulz.

Just had a look at the German forums. Someone mentioned this deal and everybody's laughing because "puff" means "brothel" in German.

[Don Fernando]

and 'puff' means gay in England.

[No1der]

Ok, I also have a list of the sites that the asshat purchased.

Club Stogie
Top 25 Cigar
Cigar Live
Cigar Review
Cigar Smokers

Cheers,
Rob

[SmokeyNL]

I just read something funny on another board and I thought I would post it here for the lulz.

well I posted it earlier, because in fact it is a suiting name, Puff means brothel in German, and it is fitting because someone is getting paid and the rest all got phucked.

[DonWeb]

That being said....Ladies and Gentlemen...Inmates.....

I think we have all had our say, some have had their bashing (I was admittedly one of the worst)...but now I think it is time to get back to what brought us together here in the first place....Friendship and Cigars.



I'd like to thank the many members and the portion of the 11 that I'm sure have been a bit uncomfortable with the vitriol we have displayed here but have kept quiet ...

Now this is the kind of leadership I've grown to expect out of you guys.

[macpappy]

In the great words of WAR:

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you 'round for a long, long time, yeah
I remembered you when you drink my wine

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

[newcigarz]

I guess it might be time to put all of this to rest. A big part of me wants to continue but I know that's just my stubborn nature talking and continuing this is kind of pointless.

May calmer heads prevail even if I'm not one of those heads.

I don't recomend we pour water over anyone who wants to keep bashing. Hell, I might even start a small "Bash everything you haet" board that has nothing to do with Cigars and everything to do with b!tching and drama.

Actually, that might not be such a bad idea, I could make a fortune by starting such a board and in a couple of years selling it to Jon.

Cheers,
Rob

You know it was fun while it lasted. But I am so over the smoldering pile that is now P***.com. That Guy just rubs me the wrong way. From his first introduction and his attitude towards the Cigars for the Troops.
Oh well I won't ever be back so I am sure he will be glad to rid of another
one.

[SeanGAR]

In the past few days (8- 10) I have received PM's from some of the members here that seem to be held in high regard. I will not name them but I will tell you that never have I got such nasty, vile messages from people that I consider my "brothers". ... All of this because I wanted to try and do what I could to help the forum I called home.

This really pisses me off.

Those pulling that crap should be ashamed of themselves.

I think a good root in the nuts to provide food for thought is apropos. Let me go and get my pointy-steel-toe cowboy boots........

[mmblz]

I think we have all had our say, some have had their bashing (I was admittedly one of the worst)...but now I think it is time to get back to what brought us together here in the first place....Friendship and Cigars.

This thread has been at least to some degree a necessary evil, since so many of us have shared the same or similar feelings. It would be hard not to discuss an event that such a huge percentage of our membership was involved in. It has been cathartic. But now let's put our brief fomentation behind us and get back to everything depicted in our banner - friendship, cigars, serenity.

[poker]

I also agree that its time.

Its time to let go of what once was.

What many of us had at Club Stogie is gone from there now. We all knew it was going to happen, but many times we as humans believe only what we want to believe. The fact is CS is no longer.

Jon bought CS strictly as a business venture. Nothing more, nothing less. Is that a bad thing? No, not really. Its how the world turns. Its the way things are.

Do we have to be happy about it? Of course not.
The one thing we must all remember, is that although we all have a choice of where we go in life, its "how" we get there that is most important.
Wouldn't it be nice if you were financially rich? Of course it would. But what if the cost of being rich was you had to ruin hundreds/thousands of people & their families financially? (read Enron here). Could you sleep well at night? Could you look yourself in the mirror every day and be proud of yourself for being financially "successful"? I know I personally could not. I have a pretty good feeling that you could not either.

Should we go raise hell over there at Puff by creating new usernames from different IP's or behind proxy servers? No.

I believe the members here are better than that.

I've seen what you do for each other by sending out cigar bombs.
I've seen you helping a fellow brother that you have never met by sending him cash in the event of an emergency.
I've seen you fly hundreds of miles away at your own expense just to say hi and share a cigar together for a couple days.
I've seen you take the time out your own life so you could organize and carry out tasks like sending thousands of cigars overseas to our troops that are serving to protect us.
I've seen you help the new guy who dosent know much about this hobby of ours and take him under your wing with nothing expected in return.
I've seen you open your houses to folks you have never met and welcome them with open arms.
I've seen all of this and many other actions that are beyond words.

So when I say you are better than that, I know for a fact that you are. I know for a fact we all are better than that.

For Cigar Asylum and Puff.com, things are going to turn out just as they are supposed to.

In the end, let Puff be. Let Jon be. What will happen there will happen regardless. CS is gone there. Jon is the owner there. Puff.com is a reality. You have no control over that fact.

What you do have control of however, is your own actions.
Be better than that. Lets all try to be better than that.

[taltos]

Awesome post Kelly. I have been one to knock Jon and his ways of doing things but never have attacked the mods or the membership over there. In fact, I have been considering offering to serve as a mod over there for a little while to protect some of the newbies and in a somewhat hopeful way think that a little loyal opposition might save Jon from himself and protect another destination.

[pnoon]

It's difficult to expand on what my fellow admins have stated. Over the last couple of weeks, my emotions have run the gamut. Anger - frustration - sadness - symapthy. These emotions were intensified by an underlying desire and belief that things could be improved at pvff.com. We all know how that has turned out.

As I stated in the "who do you wish to thank" thread, I am truly grateful for the other admins and the new members here for restoring my faith in the cigar community.

This is akin to a death in the family. We need to grieve and then get on with our lives. Remember fondly that which brought us together. Because now, The Asylum is home.

[madurolover]

Awesome post Kelly. I have been one to knock Jon and his ways of doing things but never have attacked the mods or the membership over there. In fact, I have been considering offering to serve as a mod over there for a little while to protect some of the newbies and in a somewhat hopeful way think that a little loyal opposition might save Jon from himself and protect another destination.

It won't work, trust me!

I would like to say one more thing on this subject and then I am hopefully through with it.

The thing that brought us all together was CIGARS. From there our relationships have evolved into true friendships. This is the way of true BOTL.
It is for that reason alone that I will not try to get myself banned from PVFF. There are gonna be new smokers that sign up there and I will be along to help guide them on their cigar journey. For me it is not about the name or any of the things that do not matter. It is about helping others as I have been helped. By getting yourself banned you have basically shut out access to many smokers that you could nurture into outstanding BOTL.

The new guys there will still be asking all the new guy questions and I will still give what I believe to be the correct answers. I am not directing this at you guys who got banned for essentially nothing. It is more for the guys who tried to get themselves banned. It is not a knock on you but rather hoping it will allow you to look back and see that maybe your decision was a little rash.

[dabigdog]

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/dabigdogg/My%20Smilies/congrats-2.gif

[taltos]

Thanks for the response, you helped me make up my mind. I will still try to help where I can but unofficially.

[croatan]

I posted my thoughts in here yesterday--no need to reiterate.

But I just want to say that, honestly, at times, reading some of the vitriol in this thread, pms, and elsewhere was as painful as the thought of what's happened to our former home. While I don't agree with Jon's moves or intentions, it's his site and he can do with it what he likes. And, ultimately, threats and childish behavior only makes us look as bad as him.

Cigar boards are supposed to fun. We joined these to learn, meet people, and generally make our lives a little better. When they stop doing those things for us, they cease to serve a purpose. Let's get the Asylum back to where it's supposed to be.

[floydp]

I posted my thoughts in here yesterday--no need to reiterate.

But I just want to say that, honestly, at times, reading some of the vitriol in this thread, pms, and elsewhere was as painful as the thought of what's happened to our former home. While I don't agree with Jon's moves or intentions, it's his site and he can do with it what he likes. And, ultimately, threats and childish behavior only makes us look as bad as him.

Cigar boards are supposed to fun. We joined these to learn, meet people, and generally make our lives a little better. When they stop doing those things for us, they cease to serve a purpose. Let's get the Asylum back to where it's supposed to be.

Gonna make it a priority James. Whats done is done.

[SilverFox]

Perhaps this is good a spot as any for one of my favorite quotes


"Cigar smoking knows no politics. It's about the pursuit of pleasure, taste, and aroma by ones self or in the company of friends."

By its very nature Cigar smoking is about relaxation and time for reflection, while I will admit to having some emotion around what transpired I believe firmly that with what little time we have in life that the use of any of that time that involves negative energy is merely a waste.

[pnoon]

I posted my thoughts in here yesterday--no need to reiterate.

But I just want to say that, honestly, at times, reading some of the vitriol in this thread, pms, and elsewhere was as painful as the thought of what's happened to our former home. While I don't agree with Jon's moves or intentions, it's his site and he can do with it what he likes. And, ultimately, threats and childish behavior only makes us look as bad as him.

Cigar boards are supposed to fun. We joined these to learn, meet people, and generally make our lives a little better. When they stop doing those things for us, they cease to serve a purpose. Let's get the Asylum back to where it's supposed to be.

James is wise.

To assist all of us in avoiding the temptation to continue here, I think this is as good a point as any to close this thread. Doing so will help all of us move on.