Something to think about!

[Angry Bill]

IN the past two weeks, I have received 7 pm's requesting that I assist in bombing someone, including 3 over the past three days. In my humble opinion, I feel this is in bad form. No i am not talking about things like the BBE. I am talking about PMs saying "Bomb this guy cause he is new and never smoked a Tatuaje." Or "This person never had an island smoke." It seems like some feel its ok to say, "Bomb me, I need cigars."

BOTL is not about someone getting free cigars. This has been a home to many of us for the past years. I am all for sharing the share and will do so on my terms. There are many that come and go from this place that see this board and the generosity of so many as a way to heft up their personal stash, as well as get some free cigars.

But please, think before you "PM to bomb someone." I am not the only person that feels this way, but it needs to be said. I'm trying to not be harsh. I suspect many will just ignore this thread. I came to this site and stayed because of brotherhood. That brotherhood has taught me alot about cigars, as well as allowed me the experience to try different cigars.

Respectfully,

Bill

 

[icehog3]

I sometimes get PMs from members I don't even know, or barely know, asking me to join in a "bombing" raid. I ignore them. Too many times it becomes almost more about the person organizing the event than the targets themselves.

If PM'ed by a friend, and for a good reason, I may join in. But in general, a bomb is for a personal reason, and should be without fanfare. This is just my opinion, though I know others who share it.

 

[mwlabel]

Wow. I'm actually really surprised by this. I would be very upset if I were in your shoes, I think it is contradictory to what this brotherhood is about.
I may shoot somebody a PM to find out somebody's addy, but I would NEVER ask for free cigars for myself or others. I'm sure those have good intentions of helping out somebody else, but they have to understand exactly what they are doing.

Just my .02

 

[Strickland]

I had never heard of bombing before I came here - so that's certainly not why I signed up. I didn't even know what BOTL stood for until I googled it... then I came here and lurked for all of two minutes before I knew I wanted to join!

 

[Zedman05]

I have yet to get one of those PM's, but that seems a bit excessive. Ican get the fact that some people are just all over the "he should get a chance to try this smoke", but if you are getting bombarded a lot, it takes some enjoyment out of things. I would appreciate it more if someone PM'd me and ASKED if I wanted in on a bomb, not SAID to bomb person X.
I don't think this post is out of line.

 

[Craig Mac]

Amen Bill!! Had 5 myself in the last few days. While the intentions may be good I just can't give up a box and a half of cigars like that.

 

[SergeantStogie]

Did you express these feelings to those who PM'd you?

 

[itallushrt]

I think you guys should bomb the hell out of that itallushrt fellow. I heard he deserved it.






j/k

In all seriousness I can't believe someone would approach another brother like that. Not cool! I agree with what you said Bill, "I am all for sharing the share and will do so on my terms."

 

[SuperKrishna]

I mostly bomb in person, but I just think of it as sharing something good with friends. I've gotten a few PMs asking for me to "bomb MrSoAndSo. This is going out to all those that he bombed last year."

I ask myself a couple things, how do they know who he bombed and aren't bombs supposed to be a one way deal.

When I meet BOTLs at events, I will gladly share anything in my box with them, without reservation. It's part of the herf experience. I have sent a few bombs out, mostly to those that I feel greatfull for helping me out in a pinch or fulfilling an ISO request. So, I don't have a problem sharing sticks or sending out bombs, but I feel like I kinda need a reason to do so and I don't usually give sticks to people when I don't know their preferences.

 

[SmokeProper]

And then there are those of us on the other side of this. I think it is in good form to to gather brothers to help in certain situations.

I've done it once in my 4 years here, for a deserving brother on a special day. I asked 2 other guys whom were buddies with him and been blessed by him in the past. They easily agreed.

I wonder if you are getting random requests for/from people you don't really deal with?

But the point is if you dont like the idea then no one is forcing you to do it. Just tell the guy, no thanks.

Each guy see's/does gifting a bit different, and thats ok IMO.

Respectfully,
Matt

 

[andy]

...I ask myself a couple things, how do they know who he bombed and aren't bombs supposed to be a one way deal. ..

TR's show responses from people. One assumes the person leaving a response was party to a trade, sale, or bomb.

Bombs are gifts. Gifts are given without expectation of a return. You don't have to take part in a run if you don't want to. No one is expecting you to. Saying no is okay.

 

[bdc30]

I don't mind being asked to participate in stuff like this if it's by someone that I know or have dealt with in the past. To receive this type of message from a random botl though I could see how that would be taken as bad form.

 

[PLUSH]

Amen Bill!! Had 5 myself in the last few days. While the intentions may be good I just can't give up a box and a half of cigars like that.

Craig, did you get mine,


:headroll:

:headroll:

:headroll:

:headroll:

:headroll:

I agree Bill. I got a couple as well. I know the guys but I don't "know" the guys that we are to bomb. And as others have noted it seems more promoting the organizer than that who is getting bombed. Cause we just lost in the shuffle.

 

[Treinenwj]

Sorry Bill, I'll stop sending you those PMs.

Seriously, I mentioned this sort of thing a while ago; some of these bombing runs are more "hey, look what I did!" than they are about sharing the share. We are Brothers Of The Leaf, who sometimes bomb. Not Bombers of The Leaf.

To be clear, I have no problem with bombing; I've been on both ends of that. Just, like most said here, make it have some meaning.

 

[Tnt Cigarguy]

So I just got bombed recently. I am fairly new here but do a lot of stuff over at OLH. We are in the middle of a box pass with a bunch of guys right now. I travel for a living and I came home and my house had been robbed and everything in it was gone. Literally everything was gone even my freaking towels. I only have one humi left and the bitch stickered it. All of my CCs were gone.(o yeah found out it was my ex who drove 1500 miles to do this to my house while I was gone). I am very generous and always share stuff that I get a hold of. I got back from my next trip and I had 5 brothers drop a bomb on me. I was completely humbled and blown away. I never would have asked for this but they did this as and this is how a bombing in my opinion should go. So if I got asked by brother I KNOW in a situation like this to hook a BOTL up would I for sure. If I am getting 4 to 5 messages a week asking me to bomb somebody would for sure not. This is just MHO.

 

[dpricenator]

So I just got bombed recently. I am fairly new here but do a lot of stuff over at OLH. We are in the middle of a box pass with a bunch of guys right now. I travel for a living and I came home and my house had been robbed and everything in it was gone. Literally everything was gone even my freaking towels. I only have one humi left and the bitch stickered it. All of my CCs were gone.(o yeah found out it was my ex who drove 1500 miles to do this to my house while I was gone). I am very generous and always share stuff that I get a hold of. I got back from my next trip and I had 5 brothers drop a bomb on me. I was completely humbled and blown away. I never would have asked for this but they did this as and this is how a bombing in my opinion should go. So if I got asked by brother I KNOW in a situation like this to hook a BOTL up would I for sure. If I am getting 4 to 5 messages a week asking me to bomb somebody would for sure not. This is just MHO.

Yeah so if a guy I know hit me up and said, that so and so had been robbed , is there anything i would like to do to help, that is one thing. However to get a PM from a guy I barely know, asking me to bomb a guy I barely know just because he thinks the guys deserves a Tatuaje or a CUban Cigar, is lame. If he is deserving, in your eyes, of a bomb, then have at it and bomb the guy. But

 

[sofc]

I don't mind being asked to participate in stuff like this if it's by someone that I know or have dealt with in the past. To receive this type of message from a random botl though I could see how that would be taken as bad form.

I'm with Brent on this one but then again, I haven't gotten many pms this month asking me to join in bombs.

 

[GoingPostal]

I have never gotten one of these PM's but i would probably let the sender know it was bad form and not in the true spirit of what a bomb is. Seems to me some people see bombing as a way to "show off" sort of look at how cool a guy i am, or looking for a way to get free sticks.

 

[UberHuberMan]

Hey guys,

I'm a new guy to this forum and while I imagine getting "bombed" is an awesome experience, it is not one that I would ask for or encourage others to ask for. If someone wants to drop the bomb on someone, do it, but avoid trying to talk other brothers into doing it unless they volunteer themselves. In this hobby or any other, it's difficult to let go of precious pieces of your collection and they should not be relinquished without the implicit desire to do so.

 

[strife]

Too many times it becomes almost more about the person organizing the event than the targets themselves.

I couldn't agree more, although I did put out the call a few years back to help out a BOTL that shall remain nameless and got myself gang bombed for it, I think it's in poor taste to climb upon a soap box to recruit sorties. I'd hate to think that anyone here might feel pressured to bomb someone because "everyone else" was doing it. That being said...

But the point is if you dont like the idea then no one is forcing you to do it. Just tell the guy, no thanks.

...I find myself agreeing with Matt as long as the request is made privately. I got the same pm's and politely declined, I was then politely thanked for responding back and giving it some thought.