Old bomb squads

[Big Bull]

.....ah the good old days....Zilla Killas!! That was great fun. Unfortunately a couple people ruined the fun for everyone....oh well.

LOB and Squids were fun guys to trade shots with.

[Herf N Turf]

.....ah the good old days....Zilla Killas!! That was great fun. Unfortunately a couple people ruined the fun for everyone....oh well.

LOB and Squids were fun guys to trade shots with.

This is about as good as you can say it.

Indeed. What started out as a seemingly harmless way to pay Ron back for doing such great things, quickly turned completely south. It turned into a mob/gang mentality with all the language and chest beating that goes along with it. The definition of bombing, or better described, "gifting", went straight out the window. It became all about boasting and self-congratulation and nothing about the recipient. By definition, being a gift, one should give it selflessly and make it about the recipient and the qualities for which you congratulate them. Everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of gift giving.

The membership grew tired of it very quickly and finally became angry that the gangs were taking over the forum and making their own rules. They begged staff to put an end to it and a lot of members left as a result. There was a terrible rift and several members on both sides acted out in deplorable ways. They eventually started their own forum and went about cherry picking members exclusively from Poof!. Eventually, people set about intentionally getting themselves banned and I will not go into the behaviors they engaged to do so.

I am not for an instant impugning everyone involved. On the contrary, it was clear that most were simply caught up in the fervor of the moment. I wasn't directly involved in much of it and most of it had blown up while I was out of town on business. It was a sad, sad epoc in Poof's history.

I hope this doesn't happen here.

[Sweet Cigars]

This is about as good as you can say it.

Indeed. What started out as a seemingly harmless way to pay Ron back for doing such great things, quickly turned completely south. It turned into a mob/gang mentality with all the language and chest beating that goes along with it. The definition of bombing, or better described, "gifting", went straight out the window. It became all about boasting and self-congratulation and nothing about the recipient. By definition, being a gift, one should give it selflessly and make it about the recipient and the qualities for which you congratulate them. Everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of gift giving.

The membership grew tired of it very quickly and finally became angry that the gangs were taking over the forum and making their own rules. They begged staff to put an end to it and a lot of members left as a result. There was a terrible rift and several members on both sides acted out in deplorable ways. They eventually started their own forum and went about cherry picking members exclusively from Poof!. Eventually, people set about intentionally getting themselves banned and I will not go into the behaviors they engaged to do so.

I am not for an instant impugning everyone involved. On the contrary, it was clear that most were simply caught up in the fervor of the moment. I wasn't directly involved in much of it and most of it had blown up while I was out of town on business. It was a sad, sad epoc in Poof's history.

I hope this doesn't happen here.

I agree Don, I would not want that to happen here. With that said, I know we have this North vs. South rivalry going and I wouldn't want anyone to lose sight of the true meaning of "Bomb". Most of this was started because of some fine BOTL's needed bombing and a bunch still do and will! I for one will continue to bomb those who may or may not participate in the North vs. South rivalry. Anyone I see fit that deserves/needs a bomb will get hit whether they or North, South, East or West. This is by far IMO the best forums I have been apart of and I wouldn't want a hand in ruining it but I must say it seems as if we are having fun with the Civil war thingy...

[StogieNinja]

Everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of gift giving.

I gotta disagree with you there, Don. The Squids always were about recognizing and thanking members in the community that we appreciated. We had members who did their own thing, as did all the groups, and there were a few individuals towards the end that took things too far (there always are, and they're not exclusive to bombing groups) but I don't think it's fair or accurate to say that everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of giving.

There was a terrible rift and several members on both sides acted out in deplorable ways.

That may be the fairest thing that can be said on the matter.

[Herf N Turf]

It actually took a couple years, I think, before things really went downhill.



I gotta disagree with you there, Don. The Squids always were about recognizing and thanking members in the community that we appreciated. We had members who did their own thing, as did all the groups, and there were a few individuals towards the end that took things too far (there always are, and they're not exclusive to bombing groups) but I don't think it's fair or accurate to say that everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of giving.



That may be the fairest thing that can be said on the matter.

Well, Derek, that's how I felt about it at the time and still do. While I respect your opinion, if I put both sides on opposite ends of the seesaw, I'd have give it to the general membership, for the simple fact they didn't cause it. Perhaps the biggest mistake the "groups" made was to ignore the message being sent by the membership. I think, had that been acknowledged and activities amended, even slightly, naught would have happened. By "the end" as you call it, things had slid so far downhill and had become so rabid, that there was no reason left. Nothing worked.

I tried hard to express that I wasn't impugning every one of the members of all the gangs. If it came across that way, I apologize. My belief at the time was that it was about 35% jackasses at the end. Sadly, that 35% took down a LOT of really good people in the heat of battle. That's the part of it I deeply regret, but again, I wasn't at the wheel.

Edit: Oh and bytheway, we're not going to discuss any specific events, or specific members or groups in this, or any other thread. This is nothing, but bad blood that occurred in a long, far off, forgotten place and time. That stuff will not be carried into Cigar Bum.

[StogieNinja]

Edit: Oh and bytheway, we're not going to discuss any specific events, or specific members or groups in this, or any other thread. This is nothing, but bad blood that occurred in a long, far off, forgotten place and time. That stuff will not be carried into Cigar Bum.

I disagree with you on the hows and whys, and I always will, but I absolutely agree that doesn't need to be brought here.

All I meant in my response above was that bombing groups, in and of themselves, are not a negative thing, and don't intrinsically fly in the face of the spirit of giving. In fact, one of the best things about a group bomb it that it often leaves the recipient so buried in appreciation, he had no choice but to forget about retaliation and simply enjoy be appreciated.

[Big Bull]

I gotta disagree with you there, Don. The Squids always were about recognizing and thanking members in the community that we appreciated. We had members who did their own thing, as did all the groups, and there were a few individuals towards the end that took things too far (there always are, and they're not exclusive to bombing groups) but I don't think it's fair or accurate to say that everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of giving.



That may be the fairest thing that can be said on the matter.

Thanks Derek, sums it up pretty good.

When the Zillas came into being it wasn't about what it turned into at all.

[Herf N Turf]

All I meant in my response above was that bombing groups, in and of themselves, are not a negative thing, and don't intrinsically fly in the face of the spirit of giving. In fact, one of the best things about a group bomb it that it often leaves the recipient so buried in appreciation, he had no choice but to forget about retaliation and simply enjoy be appreciated.

Thanks Derek, sums it up pretty good.

When the XXXX came into being it wasn't about what it turned into at all.

Benn, please, I asked we not discuss this element. It can serve no purpose, but to perpetuate ire.

I do, however, completely agree that at least initially, the "groups cum gangs" was a righteous endeavor. What I think will remain in dispute is at what point it began heading in the wrong direction. Either way, if you analyze the end game, it wasn't worth it.

[Big Bull]

Done, and Done good sir!

Benn, please, I asked we not discuss this element. It can serve no purpose, but to perpetuate ire.

I do, however, completely agree that at least initially, the "groups cum gangs" was a righteous endeavor. What I think will remain in dispute is at what point it began heading in the wrong direction. Either way, if you analyze the end game, it wasn't worth it.

[TheGrumpyOleTroll]

.....ah the good old days....Zilla Killas!! That was great fun. Unfortunately a couple people ruined the fun for everyone....oh well.

LOB and Squids were fun guys to trade shots with.

Sorry those weren't the good ole days..it was the beginning of the end.

The groups and gang bombing is why I stopped bombing...the idea of what a bomb is and how it was done was lost.

I don't have any issue with groups getting together and bombing but the idea behind it needs to be for the receiver and not what was sent or who sent it..


The Troll