Where's Sgt. Hulka?

[PigFish]

Is political correctness roosting here at FoH at last? My God have we lost all humor? Can we really not get a good laugh at a tosser anymore? Jesus... many of us sacrifice ourselves as gifts to the satirical gods here everyday. We boldly post our opinions, unzip our flies and leave the doors open... At times, the wrong dogs certainly come home. We are posting our opinions on the internet for Christ's sake, do we not expect a little criticism on what we write or are we too egocentric today to accept it? We are not all friends here, but most of us are certainly friendly and with that, a little faith, reasonable moderation and some marginal etiquette we get by and resist the tendency to lynch each other for the sake of having a little fun and some good conversation about cigars.

Are cigars now off limits here? Do we need to have a protected class, perhaps a little forum legislation just for those who smoke non-Cuban cigars?

Why is there so much tension about ones opinion of cigars? I mean if you deride my life, criticize my wife, political or personal affairs I can understand some tension and perhaps even an argument arising. Are most of you really that touchy about cigars too? Is it really news that with every negative criticism, no matter how small, there is an implication of insult to those who hold an opposing view? Do we really need to write a paragraph of explanations, exaltations and extrapolations for every opinion, ill or otherwise, that we have about everything... including cigars? Do we really need to preface and apologize for every opinion? Okay... maybe I should but forget about me for a minute!

Here's a news flash. Some of us think that the people that dress up like Star Trek actors are strange. And guess what. I'll bet if they mistype Battlestar Galactica (sp?) and end up typing gigantes instead they might just end up here; look around, and think the people that spend this much time talking about cigars are a bunch of boorish, buffoons! You know they would probably be right too. I am over it.

I mean who in there right mind owns thousands of cigars? Talks endlessly of their finer details? Rates them, berates them, weighs them, probes them, trades them, hoards them, boards them and adores them??? Probably a damn fool! Admit it friends... like it or not we are no different than the group that collects beanie babies or hummels, stamps or garden gnomes! We are just as ******* strange to those outside our minority community.

I think garden gnomes are ******* hideous. Some think that my miniature horses are freakish, mutated beasts!!! My face is ugly, my cigar smoke stinks, my diesel trucks pollute, my guns kill... I am over that too. I like what I like, don't like what I don't like and have nothing to apologize for in liking Cuban cigars or disliking the non-Cuban ones.

I like slender ring cigars. Poke fun at them! "Fat man and a little cigar!" Sing it aloud for all I care!

Just spell the name right! -Piggy

[Colt45]

Piggy, personally I think the "problem" for lack of a better term, starts when people voice their opinions as statements of fact. Opinions

don't need a major preface or don't need to be apologized for, but it is very easy to phrase things as one's own opinion.

To be honest, this and others speaking for me are pet peeves of mine - Americans are this, Aussies are that, etc. It may sound petty or thin

skinned even, but I do try to make my opinions my own, and not make them for groups of people who might not share the same view.

That, of course, is just my opinion

[thechenman]

Well said Piggy...well said. By the way...I hate minature horses...j/k.

[bunburyist]

bugger - I was looking forward to watching that vid when I got home!

[PigFish]

Piggy, personally I think the "problem" for lack of a better term, starts when people voice their opinions as statements of fact. Opinions

don't need a major preface or don't need to be apologized for, but it is very easy to phrase things as one's own opinion.

To be honest, this and others speaking for me are pet peeves of mine - Americans are this, Aussies are that, etc. It may sound petty or thin

skinned even, but I do try to make my opinions my own, and not make them for groups of people who might not share the same view.

That, of course, is just my opinion

So...

"Non-Cuban cigar taste like ****," is a problem statement then? -

[PigFish]

Well said Piggy...well said. By the way...I hate minature horses...j/k.

Tell me it ain't so!

[Colt45]

So...

"Non-Cuban cigar taste like ****," is a problem statement then? -

Yes, I think the simple modifiers "in my opinion" or similar would be less "irritating".

Let's put it into practice, shall we?

We're all sitting around having cigars and a few drinks. I'm espousing the merits of a NC cigar which I adore.....

Piggy: "You're an effing idiot! All non-cuban cigars taste like poop!"

Colt: "Eff you! You're full of poop!"

Piggy: "No you!"

Colt: "You infinity!"

Or it could go something like this - I'm espousing the merits of a NC cigar which I adore.....

Piggy: I'm sorry Colt my friend, but I'm of the opinion that flavor-wise, non-cuban cigars pale in comparison to those of Cuban origin.

Colt: My dear Piggy, thank you for your thoughtful reply - let me buy you a drink.

Piggy: Cheers mate!

Colt: Two more white zin spritzers over here please - and can someone pass the watercress sandwiches?

[Habanos2000]

Tell me it ain't so!

Pardon my ignorance and no disrespect intended, but what the hell do you do with miniature horses??

[gfoster]

Pardon my ignorance and no disrespect intended, but what the hell do you do with miniature horses??

You train them to do miniature stage shows with midget prostitutes in Tijuana.

So not politically correct...

-- Gary F.

[lutharthegreat]

Tell me it ain't so!

Those are some cute horses Piggy.

[MontrealRon]

So...

"Non-Cuban cigar taste like ****," is a problem statement then? -

I think we should be a little more sensitive to the feelings of our NC-smoking brethren.

So, how about "Non-Cuban cigars taste like crap!"

[PigFish]

Pardon my ignorance and no disrespect intended, but what the hell do you do with miniature horses??

See, now that is a properly phrased derogatory question!!! -LOL (I am just kidding of course!)

How do you think I support my Habanos habit? Mini dog and pony shows!

[PigFish]

Yes, I think the simple modifiers "in my opinion" or similar would be less "irritating".

So I am irritating now am I??? Well..... (#^#$%) then!!!

-LOL -

[Wiley]

Piggy, I'm trying to find the thread where someone pooped in your Cheerios, but I'm coming up empty. Help a brother out!

[Jesuscookies]

Pardon my ignorance and no disrespect intended, but what the hell do you do with miniature horses??

In Tonga they eat em. I hear it tastes like tiny chickens!

[Danashan]

PigFish,

LOLs are great, but sometimes can be out of place or have bad timing. Plus, remember, that facial expressions and ones personal mood do not translate to forum posts very easily. For someone new to the forum, it can be very hard to differentiate a joke from an insult until they learn writing style and sense of humor of the regulars.

Just my 2c

[maalouly]

Sgt. Hulka will be back soon better and stronger then ever!

[Ellery]

Everyone should just STFU

[El Presidente]

Piggy,

I haven't deleted it. I have just put it into abeyance until I can review it this morning.

You can attack NC's intelligently as much as you like. NC guys can hve a crack at CC intelligently as much as you like. As long as neither attacks the person then i couldn't give a rats arse.

The only concern I have with the video is that it dawned on me the guy may be retarded. If so then I will take the high road.

[PigFish]

... If so then I will take the high road.

My friend the high road leads Ross' house! I don't think they will allow you on it unless you are delivering cigars! Are you sure you want to go there?

[PigFish]

No one pissed in my Koolaid my friends! I am just doing a little of my own pissing, using myself as an example and offering up my own body parts as fuel for the pyre. One thing that I learned long ago is that my ability to laugh at myself as well as my fellow man, is a strength and not a weakness. I offer myself up as the court jester to make a point.

What is my point? None of us are above criticism; most of us mean no harm even if we misspeak. Picking a fight and getting hurt feelings is as easy as reading anything that you want to hear into what is said or read here. The difference between civility and insult is often, not always mind you, but often, a reflection of one's own retina. Why all the thin skin?

Gentlemen I go to great lengths in actuality not to offend. But sometimes I like to cut loose and joke around a little with my friends... Am I really outta' line that often??? (Don't answer that Ross!)

Danashan, I wholeheartedly agree with you! I typically speak in generalizations but since you addressed me I address you back in kind. In the years I have posted and administrated internet forums I cannot tell you how many times I have said the very same thing, differing only by the selection of words. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

But in fairness, I speak again generally now, the forum system is about all of us not you or I as individuals. And frankly, I can do my best not to offend but I cannot guarantee or control my fellow mans' behavior or even his perception of my behavior. I will always (well mostly) try to be polite but I cannot reduce my rhetoric to the lowest common denominator. First and foremost because I don't know where the datum are set. To strip my personality from my posts, to make them emotionally neutral kills not only my spirit but the spirit of the free conveyance of civil thoughts. I do my part by sharing my opinions and bearing my soul. The rest is up to you. If you want to know me better it will be by your own eyes, not mine. The same holds true for me. When I want to know a member better I reach out or meet halfway. While I don't set about to insult another member it is each members responsibility to adapt to the forum community as he or she sees fit. The forum owes me no quarter. If the consensus is for me to be silent, I will make more adversaries than friends and I will be compelled by myself or others to withdraw. I am okay with that system. I take full responsibility for what I say, to whom I joke with, insult or compliment.

If I insult one by direct action it is likely deliberate and a gag amongst a few friends. If another member can't deal with that, the infraction may be mine solely but it may be in some cases caused by a lack of understanding by the third party. I can't help that. One cannot hold my familiarty with many members here against me. This is my forum as it is yours, we are both guests. It is up to each individual to come to know the membership and to become known by them. I do that mainly though civil posting and in part at times by civil sparring. Any member can chime in as these are not private conversations and affairs. If you are offended by my moderate joking with friends the fault is with you, not me!

If by saying and not prefacing my statement with a bunch of patronizing legalese that I think non-Cuban cigars taste like **** offends you, I am truly sorry for the offense but not the statement. - the Pig

[jaylax5]

I have not one ounce of political correctness in me...in fact, when PC came about in the early to mid 90's, I was pissed off. We have become too sensitive of a world. I think we should all speak our minds regardless of the fact that posting on a forum cannot always be appropriately interpreted. If additional information needs to be made, then so be it. I like to joke around with my friends/co-workers and they know I am just playful and intend no harm...not to mention I can take the abuse when it comes back my way. A handful of you here know me and if I am off base, please speak up. Life is too short to not be yourself. Piggy...I'm with ya bud...I'll be the "big toe"...lol.

[Colt45]

So I am irritating now am I??? Well..... (#^#$%) then!!!

-LOL -

Please forgive me for offending your delicate sensibilities - perhaps "provocative" would have been a more appropriate term.

My friend the high road leads Ross' house!

If only it were true....

Gentlemen I go to great lengths in actuality not to offend.

Very true - I was thinking the same earlier today. And no, this isn't some kind of hippie love fest!

[El Presidente]

I am with you Pigster.

I can't recall you ever attacking an individual maliciously. Knowing you, I know you would not, nor would anyone else who is a current poster on FOH. Not done, not tollerated, not part of our culture.

Re the video I have watched it now more times than I care to recall. The guy is off his nut or seriously mentally challenged and heavily medicated. Assuming the latter, it goes against my sensibilities to lay in the boot regardless of how much derision his commentary deserves. If he wasn't slurring his words, if his eyes were focused etc then he is fair game. The more I watched it the worst gut feel I got.

The lads on FOH can call it PC if they like. I blame the damn Marist Brothers

[maalouly]

But the bloke is married and he's in the army! I would say he is off his head! He has pleny of other videos out there talking about guns etc ... I really think the guy was off his head more then anything else. Anyways I will leave it up to you mate but I dont' think he is retarded otherwise I would have never posted it, it goes against my morales as well.