Re: It's happening
 

I was banned on CS when my site supporter status expired and I got an email requesting to renew my status :r :r

Re: It's happening
 

hhahahaha, that's not quite how I remember it! :r:r:r

Re: It's happening
 

well, it is :) ofcourse I did not renew my status.

Re: It's happening
 

:tpd::tpd: Unbelievable the nerve of this guy turning this site into this. So far it doesn't exhibit anything that made CS so special and so inviting to the BOTL's that called it home. Even the fact that the pages don't fit on my screen are annoying. It sucks, sorry to be a neg but it sucks sucks sucks.

Re: It's happening
 

is Puff still taking member donations???

Re: It's happening
 

In my (small) mind thanks to the Team here, We all just moved into a new more comfortable Home. ... Home is Good. :ss

Re: It's happening
 

Hey, from my perspective, I wish them well.
I wish everyone well.
I feel if I do, I too will do well.
That said, I wish them well.:D

Just tough on many of us to see what could have been classified as a "humble" home turn into a conglomerate.
I just read a post there from Jon where he is responding to the "site supporter" question by saying that will remain in place. I think I have better things to do with that money than to fuel an individual's business venture.

Re: It's happening
 

I don't like it any more than you do. But to say "the nerve of that guy" is unfair. He bought the site and is free to do with it what he pleases. We don't like it. Sure. But he is under no obligation to anyone. What is smart and good for the membership is certainly debateable but he has done nothing morally or ethically wrong.

And, yes, the site is horrible with all the commercial clutter. Nothing at all like what CS used to be.

Re: It's happening
 

I think there is an audience for puff.com. I don't think that most people who participate here or other forums like ICC will get anything of value out of puff.com.

MCS

Re: It's happening
 

Sorry Ferdinand, I think I misunderstood your post...I thought you were saying 'I was banned when my site supporter status expired' as if you were banned as a result of your supporter status expiring....and I remememberd you specifically asked to be, as in, 'Thank you sir, May I have another....' :r:r:r

It was priceless.

Re: It's happening
 

Like Carlos said "it's like watching your home being destroyed". It's a sad day but we have an Asylum to come to, thanks to you Peter and the rest of the team of 11.

It might be a different home but the family is still here.

Re: It's happening
 

What a perfect day for this!! Monday could not get any better!!!

I have a post that is just perfect to make on puff (some of you know what I mean :) )!!

Not posting it is KILLING me!!!!!

Being nice is SOOOOOOOO hard!

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I just can't get over that blowfish; it's embarrassing.

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That is all I am waiting for before I quit paying attention

Be true to yourself Al, its Monday so let your hair down and have some fun :D

Re: It's happening
 

I suppose you are correct. It's just his "rah rah, this place will be great and just what everyone is going to want out of it" etc, etc. gave me a sense that the fella truly studied up on what we held dear about the old place but apparently he didn't and if he did, didn't care to keep it that way. It is true, it's his site and he can do as he pleases. No moral or ethical codes of conduct have been breached. I was just venting a bit......

Re: It's happening
 

Understood.

And it is obvious that Mr. Caputo either
a) did not study up on what CS was -or -
b) did study up but chose to go with what he wanted to anyway

No matter what it was, he had his vision and he's going with it.

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:tpd:

Just goes to show you that while you can buy a website, you cannot buy its members.

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Well, that might not be the case. How much you willin to pay for me Moe?

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Im sure a few doubles of scotch would do the trick... prices may vary:r:r:r

Re: It's happening
 

In case I forgot to mention it before, it seems appropriate now.


THANKS TEAM OF 11


I for one value what you have created in such a short time period and am looking forward to many long years of brotherhood from everyone envolved.


Inmate #6969

Re: It's happening
 

CS as we know it ceased to exist when the eleven started this site. This is a great home!

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:tpd: Well said. My initial impression is that I'm not very pleased.

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Why is the flag at half-mast?

Re: It's happening
 

I compare what is happening over there to what happens at a military unit when there is a change of command or a presidential inaugration.

You're still a family but it just doesn't feel the same until everyone either get used to it or is transferred to a new unit where you have no expectations.

I will continue to pop in over there for awhile but I've been committed to the Asylum since it opened.

Re: It's happening
 

By the way, does anyone really think that Caputo isn't dropping in over here to see what is being said?

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OK, missed the other thread.;)

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Doubt it. If he cared what any of us had to say he wouldn't have turned it into that ugly ad ridden mess it is now.

The new layout if fugly with a capital F. I will suggest however, that anyone here that still goes over there download FireFox adblock addon. Does wonders for that site now! Not like it matters much for me now though, today was my first and last visit to puff :r

Re: It's happening
 

fortunately for me, i missed all the drama! unfortunately for me, i read this entire thread and caught up.... ;)

i have only been active here for a week or so and from my experiences, ya'll clearly have your act together!!

Re: It's happening
 

So the end has arrived. So long Club Stogie. Welcome Puff.com. No cigar site is perfect. We find them and become addicted to one or another based upon primarily the people that hang out on them not the look and feel or even the intent of the site owners.

Over time, we all learn a little more about the nature of public on line cigar sites if we pay attention. They differ in fundamental ways. From my perspective there are 3 basic types...

1. Sites started and operated by folks in the cigar business. Pretty straightforward. You know that Fuentes, a Magazine etc owns the site and your expectations are set as such.

2. Sites that started out as hobby boards and evolved into a blend of hobby and revenue producing. CS, CL, CR, CP etc fall into this mold. (All the sites bought or attempted to be bought) The desired vibe is the "community" vs the business of the board. The business is in the background seen only by the owner. When you first join one teh "community spirit" disguises the business side. Over time you gain an understanding of the lay of the land. We know the guy that owns it and know that the site is a passion vs a business and appreciate the fact that ads etc help offset the cost of our homes. Interesting that these are the targets for acquisition as they are primed for moving to "the next level". We get rude awakenings when the hobby board owner decides to cash in on "his hobby/our community".

3. Hobby boards. Fall into 2 categories. Ones that started from scratch with no "family" to start them up and migration based boards.. like here. Most of the from scratch ones die off, very few make it. Seems like longer term folks tend to migrate to these types of boards in general as human nature typically gets in the way of brotherhood somewhere along the way on commercially oriented sites. The fist time they put up an ad they become less of a hobby and more of a business to some small degree and begin the evolution or brotherhood to cash cycle.

New hobby boards get started when there is change in existing boards more often than not. Typically in the past, it has been falling outs among st former friends that leads to creating these new boards. This is a new situation ... Kmart comes to the cigar boards kind of thing.

It's another of the many "slippery slopes".. money. One that is hard to gain objective brotherly traction on once a cigar board owner begins to slide.

I'm sure Mr. Caputo will do fine, make lots of money and flip the thing he builds to a "cigar entity" at some point in time. Lot's of new smokers who do searches and they will be right there at the top for them to find "Puffworld". Difference might be that unlike other boards, there might not be longer term knowledgeable folks to provide "ongoing content" that facilitates personal evolution and growth for new members. Could turn into Cigarboardgateway.com where folks quickly move to another board (once they know boards exist at all) that are less commercially tacky.

or.. this is the future and Puff will rule the cigar board universe with "awesome content", "unique visitors", and cool prizes available to everyone who clicks the ads. :D

We all choose what we like... there are many choices... so it's all good for someone.

Re: It's happening
 

JMO
From a purely technical standpoint, I am impressed at the integration. It could not have been easy, as behind schedule as they were. From an aesthetic viewpoint, it is an embarrassing eyesore. Functionally, it seems to work like a vbullitin app. I don't think it is though. I can easily ignore the banners. I hate the fish and I don't want anything to do with a "Puff Lifestyle".
/JMO

Re: It's happening
 

As always, well said.

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I take exception with anyone who says this thread is bashing CS....lots of long time "Gorilla" are just expressing the sadness at seeing something they once cherished turned into something....well, different. People who were members there for 5 years or even 5 months want to express their feelings about the change, whether those be feelings of sadness, of anger, or ambivalence. We are all human.

Re: It's happening
 

I think the banner at the top of this forum depicts how many of us long term CS'rs feel today.

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:tpd:

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Well I started there (CS) in 2005 and never really posted much and never really fitted in at least I dont think so, I tried. But I do miss it seems like a friend has just died but at least I can get a fresh start here. I dont think Puff will ever replace CS or come close to CA.

Re: It's happening
 

It appears that vbulletin is still handling the forum portion.
The front page is cnn layout (compare them side by side) with cigar "content" surrounded by ads.
Looks like ads and so forth are driven by shareasale.com and bigresponse.com
Then there is vbSEO providing LinkBacks, URL rewriting, etc...


:pu

Re: It's happening
 

Since CA was started it was asked by the 11 not to get into any type of CS negativity. I felt this thread could head that way. My comment was meant to have guys think before posting. That was all. I should of not said anything as I am not a MOD. I apologize for that.

I clearly don't have the wisdom to know what is opinion and what is bashing. Case in point, I had posted some of MY opinions in my later days of CS to have them deemed bashing by the new MODs there.

Let the opinions continue! :)

Re: It's happening
 

Is that your opinion or are you bashing the idea of allowing opinions? :r

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I only started this thread as an alert, that our old home was finally being dismantled for the new edition.

I will continue to participate in the pipe forum over there, but that will be the extent of it. Unless I can get those people to join over here :pi

in any case, keep sharing, gotta get it all out, and move on

Re: It's happening
 

:r

You should know, you're a MOD for Christs sake!

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its ok Al, its Monday and we know you arent in the right state of mind... plus, nobody listens to you anyway:r:r:r

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it is sad to say goodbye to an old friend but the new forum that was created is just great....Especially that cranky old guy named Al :ss Just kiddin

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Of course you're kidding. Al sucks.

Sorry, it's Monday!!!

:r:r:r:r

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Definitely an end of an era...just sad.

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The king CS is dead!
All hail the King Cigar Asylum!

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I will truly miss CS, and I have to say that I am a little saddened today. I joined in April, '07, and the folks there helped me down the slippery slope on a rocket sled. I have met some great people at some great herfs, and hope to do so again through CA. I'm an inmate now (many times in the past people have said that I should be one!), but I will always be a gorilla at heart!

Re: It's happening
 

Wrong.
im not just any mod, but a mod that has been specially assigned just to watch you. :r

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I know you were Jon.

And don't you have a new bride you should be taking care of there Mr. SmartA$$?

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:r

Kelly drew the short straw. :D

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:r :r