I guess once I discovered that all cigar forums are run by cigar vendors, I kind of lost interest in posting.
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Joined Feb 2003
3K Posts | 0+
North Central WV
Inland44 said:I guess once I discovered that all cigar forums are run by cigar vendors, I kind of lost interest in posting.
I can't comment on other cigar forums, but I know for a fact that the cigar forum here is not "run by a cigar vendor". Your American Backyard Forum is not owned by or even invested in by ANY cigar company. The moderators within the Cigar Forum here are volunteer (Kelvin is in Investments in NJ, Capt is a Fire Department Captain, Bloofington is a Office Temp in NYC).
mikegunner said:Inland44 said:I guess once I discovered that all cigar forums are run by cigar vendors, I kind of lost interest in posting.
I can't comment on other cigar forums, but I know for a fact that the cigar forum here is not "run by a cigar vendor". Your American Backyard Forum is not owned by or even invested in by ANY cigar company. The moderators within the Cigar Forum here are volunteer (Kelvin is in Investments in NJ, Capt is a Fire Department Captain, Bloofington is a Office Temp in NYC).
so what is the relationship with cigar.com then?
i personally have no problem with cigar.com running a forum. they want to sell cigars. I want to by them. Its bringing to parties that want to do buisness together a bit closer.
Joined Feb 2003
3K Posts | 0+
North Central WV
Cigar.com is an "affiliated" web site ...... which in web terms means that we allow them to have a portal from their website (Cigar.com) to our forum. There is absolutely NO MONEY changes hands AT ALL with this arrangement. Why was this done???? Fernando who founded Amback is a cigar smoker and offered use of our board to Cigar.com. This benefits both Amback (by member participation) and Cigar.com (having a forum without having to tie up server space or developmental time in setting up a forum).
Alex Svenson is the only representative of Cigar.com that is active within the forums. He is their VP -- thus his tagline under his avatar.
I know currently that Amback has been working on another "affiliate" site that if it comes to pass, will possibly triple the size of the board membership or more.
I can tell you that currently no moderators or staff gets paid for their time/duties. I am involved in a family corporation that has a wholesale distribution business in West Virginia. I have a computer and the web up on my desk at work all day and check in on the forums when I get a chance. Edited to add --- I forgot, the first year, Fernando DID send a Wolferman's package to all staff members in appreciation, but that has been the extent of our "pay"
Alex Svenson is the only representative of Cigar.com that is active within the forums. He is their VP -- thus his tagline under his avatar.
I know currently that Amback has been working on another "affiliate" site that if it comes to pass, will possibly triple the size of the board membership or more.
I can tell you that currently no moderators or staff gets paid for their time/duties. I am involved in a family corporation that has a wholesale distribution business in West Virginia. I have a computer and the web up on my desk at work all day and check in on the forums when I get a chance. Edited to add --- I forgot, the first year, Fernando DID send a Wolferman's package to all staff members in appreciation, but that has been the extent of our "pay"
Inland44 said:I guess once I discovered that all cigar forums are run by cigar vendors, I kind of lost interest in posting.
Whenever there is a post refering to another internet cigar site or even a brick and mortar cigar shop, the post is deleted or made to be edited to take out any name that could be construed as competition. That gives the aura of this board being run by cigar.com. I fully understand the "affiliation" with cigar.com. I am only commenting on inlands post and what others may perceive as well.
Joined Feb 2006
2K Posts | 3+
Kelvin's House
Any Forum that you go to on the internet there are rules and such. One of our rules is that fact that you can say What is avalible and PM for more information. I don't think it is a big deal, just one of the quirks of our board.
Joined Feb 2006
2K Posts | 3+
Kelvin's House
It is a set of rules that were agreed upon. To tell you the truth I am not sure who's rules that they are and I am also not sure if it matters. In the cigar area of the Amback forums rules can and do very, this is one of those times.
I split this up, cause it did not really follow the previous thread.
I split this up, cause it did not really follow the previous thread.
In the end, it's the quality of the forum that matters to me.
By way of a parallel, there's a drum forum I frequent, that often rubs against my personal, political, and religious beliefs, and despite their attempts to curb discussions of such, I do sometimes find myself frustrated and I take a hiatus. But from a drumming perspective, it's by far the best forum for that subject out there. So I remain active.
Forum's like this are not "public" space, they're privately operated. Just as we'd all like for businesses to choose whether or not they allow smoking, privately owned forums have the right to make the rules they see fit. And, just as if a business allowed smoking, a person can accept that and enter, or not accept it and leave.
Do I find some of the rules (such as the one mentioned regarding other stores) confining? Yes. But not enough to leave. Especially since, as Barco mentioned, there is a viable workaround. Because overall, this is the best forum on the subject I've found.
By way of a parallel, there's a drum forum I frequent, that often rubs against my personal, political, and religious beliefs, and despite their attempts to curb discussions of such, I do sometimes find myself frustrated and I take a hiatus. But from a drumming perspective, it's by far the best forum for that subject out there. So I remain active.
Forum's like this are not "public" space, they're privately operated. Just as we'd all like for businesses to choose whether or not they allow smoking, privately owned forums have the right to make the rules they see fit. And, just as if a business allowed smoking, a person can accept that and enter, or not accept it and leave.
Do I find some of the rules (such as the one mentioned regarding other stores) confining? Yes. But not enough to leave. Especially since, as Barco mentioned, there is a viable workaround. Because overall, this is the best forum on the subject I've found.
Joined Dec 2006
497 Posts | 1+
I really have come to enjoy this forum and I do not have any problems with cigar.com (matter of fact they are great). I come here because of the people, the information, the advice and its fun. I would not leave even if cigar.com did control the site, CA magazine has a site that has no affiliations and it is not nearly as friendly or as fun as this forum. Sorry moderators we do not come here because of your rules which we accept we come because of the people and that includes moderators and the cigar.com staff.
:lol:Kelvin said:Muerte said:Not trying to be controversial here,
:rotflmao:
Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
Joined Feb 2006
2K Posts | 3+
Kelvin's House
Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
Me too. I was just looking in on this thread because I had some extra time to read here. My position as Moderator is mostly ceremonial, so I'm basically just another member having a good laugh at a time when I could really use one!
Joined Apr 2005
3K Posts | 0+
Machias Maine
I like this forum and although it took me some time to learn the difference between what I would say in person vs what I say here Just ask a few of the moderators. I am MUCH more forward in person. I have learned so much here I hate to think how much this education would have cost me at a college. I came to this forum because it was a gun forum and me being a "gun nut" liked the idea of chatting with like minded people. Much to my dismay the cigar guys sucked me into there world where the humi is the center of the universe here I always thought the center of the universe was a gun safe? Now my planet orbits two suns one of steel and one of Spanish cedar.
I personally do not like the rule of no posting of deals of sites other then C.com. However looking at the greater picture if that is the price that must be paid to hang out with guys of this caliber in both the gun world and the cigar world then so be it. I know there is not a smarter more knolagable or friendlier bunch of guys and gal on the internet. I a proud to be here amongst you.
I personally do not like the rule of no posting of deals of sites other then C.com. However looking at the greater picture if that is the price that must be paid to hang out with guys of this caliber in both the gun world and the cigar world then so be it. I know there is not a smarter more knolagable or friendlier bunch of guys and gal on the internet. I a proud to be here amongst you.
