Hey all, I wanted to take a minute to reach out to the new guys, as we've seen a large influx of new members lately, due to a variety of factors.
To the new guys: welcome! You've found what I consider one of the best places on the internet for cigar conversation and camaraderie. The name of the site is "Brothers of the Leaf" for a reason: this place really is a brotherhood.
It takes a bit of time to acclimate to a new family, and for most of you it will be the same. We welcome you with open arms, but I would like to make a few small suggestions:
1.
Read the BOTL Pre-study Package. Lots of great information there about navigating this place, and about how it operates.
2.
Read the post by Craig Mac entitled
Fitting In. It's linked at the end of the Pre-Study Package, but is worth being pointed to again.
3.
Leave other forums out of the discussion here. What happens at other forums shouldn't be brought here or discussed here. Issues, problems, drama, etc with other forums should be discussed elsewhere. BotL is
remarkably drama free, and we'd all love to keep it that way.
4.
Remember to be respectful. Like any other relationship, being part of a brotherhood takes a lot of respect. Don't assume that just because you signed up, you deserve something. Take the time to establish relationships before you PM a guy about his Cuban sources. (In fact, don't
ever PM someone asking for their Cuban sources. If you take the time to develop relationships, you'll find everything you're looking for.) Don't ask for bombs, or hint around hoping someone will bomb you. Be respectful in your responses, even if you think someone else was rude in their comment. That kind of thing.
I'm posting this because I too was once new here, and made a
number of mistakes. Now, the brotherhood here is very forgiving (heck, they still let me stick around!) but the points above will help you avoid the same missteps I made as you become part of the community here.
Hopefully this helps, and welcome again to all of you new guys!
-StogieNinja (AKA Lil' Ninja Buddy, or Aninjaforallseasons)
EDIT: Oh, and one more thing - please put up an avatar! It makes you that much more identifiable at a glance, helps us to identify you and identify with you, and just makes you "feel" more like a part of the community.