Thoughts on passes
y2pascoe
Posts: 1,727 ✭✭
In light of reading a few threads on ongoing and past cigar passes, and the angst that sometimes seems to accompany them, I've noticed there's one thing that kind of bugs me about them.
Requiring the participants to post what they're taking and what they're adding. To me that feels like adding an approval process to the whole thing which I think sucks a lot of the fun out of it. I understand why some guys want it that way, they want to make sure it's fair and balanced. Why choose a bunch of B'sOTL to do a pass if you're not sure they're going to be fair and balanced in the first place, then? Not to mention this always seems to lead to someone getting all spun up
My suggestion would be striking that from pass rules. Whatever someone takes and puts in a pass should be in the good spirit of the game, without judgement or high expectations from the other participants. And if you're that guy or gal that takes an OpusX in exchange for a dog rocket, well...reciprocity. The universe usually finds a way to correct itself. If you start a pass however, and those are your rules, far be it from me or anyone else to tell you your wrong.
Anyway, those are my two cents on the matter that had been swimming around my head. Just wanted to put them out there in words.
Requiring the participants to post what they're taking and what they're adding. To me that feels like adding an approval process to the whole thing which I think sucks a lot of the fun out of it. I understand why some guys want it that way, they want to make sure it's fair and balanced. Why choose a bunch of B'sOTL to do a pass if you're not sure they're going to be fair and balanced in the first place, then? Not to mention this always seems to lead to someone getting all spun up
My suggestion would be striking that from pass rules. Whatever someone takes and puts in a pass should be in the good spirit of the game, without judgement or high expectations from the other participants. And if you're that guy or gal that takes an OpusX in exchange for a dog rocket, well...reciprocity. The universe usually finds a way to correct itself. If you start a pass however, and those are your rules, far be it from me or anyone else to tell you your wrong.
Anyway, those are my two cents on the matter that had been swimming around my head. Just wanted to put them out there in words.
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During my pass if anyone had a question or concern about their own swap they could address it either in the thread or in a pm but approval wasn't required. I did ask people to post their takes though, because I felt it added to the excitement. When you are waiting for the pass to come your way and you see someone took X and someone else took Y it builds anticipation of what is in there without judging the swap itself or increasing your knowledge of what sticks are in the box.
When I started my pass I sent off my sticks with every intention of probably never seeing those cigars, or any cigars, ever again. This is not to say I didn't trust the people in the pass but rather I felt this was an appropriate mentality to take since my goal was to provide fun, excitement and cigars for others ~ not to improve my own humidor at others expense.
While I agree with you each pass is a little different and if you don't like the way a pass is set up you don't have to participate. To each his own.
So I sent PMs to the people who started the pass. Restocked one and sent it on. The other one wasn't worth the postage to forward on any longer.
People put $1-$2 dog rockets that have no place in a pass to others (unless it is a crap pass by definition). And take $3-$4 cigars out that some people might like to try. So it ends up with 20 cigars that many people would never purchase or smoke themselves. Pretty sad sight.
Having to post your puts and takes should never bother anyone. It is a smiple way to make sure the pass still has some quality cigars from start to finish. Otherwise being last in a pass is like paying $10 to put your name on a list.
and called him a fruit.
Man, I hate land like that.
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy
On the other side, having a pass full of nothing but super premies that a lot of BOTL here don't have or don't want to part with also is not the sign of a "good" pass. It is about the people who take part and the ACT of the pass itself. It is like sitting down with new aquaintences and old friends all together for a good meal, and good conversation. It's the sharing and the good feelings that come from giving something that meant something to you. It is a feeling of satisfaction which comes only from those special moments in life. If you have been in a pass and have come away with something other then that? I feel bad for you, and I urge you to keep trying the passes until you do feel that feeling. It is worth every stick in your humi or coolerdor brother, because they can be replaced. Some of the best things in life... can NEVER be purchased.
And Marker, I mean this as genuinely helpful as a comment like this can be, if you've been that screwed over and have become that jaded with this place (and I'm not contesting that you have or that you have a right to feel that way), the best course of action is to just stop coming back. I honestly don't get it at this point.
Dennis' "Contents of my Humidor" pass will be the last pass Im involved in, and I wouldnt have gotten involved with that had it not been for A) Dennis asking me specifically and
Im so fed up with this **** that Im not even going to read thru the threads of passes. Things like this used to be fun, but now they're just filled with hate & vitriol. I dont have time for that crap. A hobby is supposed to be enjoyable.
Didnt matter what was IN the box.
Didnt run straight to the computer to see if there was a discrepancy was between what you sent and what you got.
Didnt turn your nose up and go "Sol Cubano Cuban Classic?!?!? Thats a stinkin FOUR DOLLAR stick!"
That was then.
This is now. When we've got solid BOTL like Ken Light, 1,000+ posts in, nervous about GIVING SOMEONE CIGARS because he is afraid he will be judged for WHAT he sends - boys, we got a problem.
But that's not really what I meant. I meant I stress over it because I want to do right by who I'm sending to. If it never made it to a picture or a message on the forum, or anything that could be judged, I'd stress over it because that's who I am. "Good enough" was a very poor choice of words because it applies judgement. "Something the recipient will enjoy" is a better choice. I like to think that this behavior makes me a better person (not than anyone else, but than who I'd be if I did not do it), but probably it just makes me more stressed..
Either way, though, what's the point of coming to a place that makes you feel jaded and bitter? At least I hope it's the place doing it, on a certain level, because if that's just what you've become in general, then I'm even more sorry.
THATS what this is all supposed to be about. Not "I sent you a $14 MSRP stick and you sent me a $10 MSRP stick - YOU SCREWED ME!"
I talked to dennis about his pass and if you have not noticed we took care of it in PMs. If you have something you need to discuss go ahead and send one.
This thread is not about you sending a package to someone and hoping it is good enough. It is about thoughts on passes.
I took care of both of these passes through PRIVATE MESSAGES and phone calls. At the time that these passes happened I did not throw these people under the bus in the pass or call them out. I talked to the originator of the pass and worked it out privately.
Jumping to conclusions really is not helping. Can we discuss this thread now?
I didn't mean for this thread to cite any specific examples or stir up anything either, and it seems it might be heading in that direction. For that I apologize.
I'd like to be your friend.
Unfortunately my first post in this thread took it in a different direction instead of enhancing it. I sincerely apologize for that as it wasnt intentional.
Now then, as a couple others have suggested, shall we get back to the discussion of y2pascoe's original post?
I'd like to take a sec and share some thoughts If I may on some good points that Bigharpoon Y2 ad The Sniper have brought up. Let me first respond by saying. I agree wholeheartedly with the approval process taking the fun out of the pass, It did for me. So much I had others help me shoulder the burden of the approval process. As I said before my pass was about the brothers involved not the final destination. The problem with just letting the pass fly without any approval is that some do take advantage of the generosity of others.. Now that wouldnt be such a bad thing if it was just between me and another individual.. I chalk it up as no biggy and move on.. The problem is when others enter a pass, I felt I owed it to them to maintain the consitency of the pass the whole way through,, Is it fair for just the first few guys in the pass to pick the cream of the crop and by the time it gets to the last persons the pass has deteriated so much that they only have run of the mill cigars to chose from? I truly felt obligated to make sure my pass was as good (if not better) when it ended as when it began. This wasnt for me, and (Im sure its not with others) or to increase the callibur of my own Humidor but it it was for each Brother here who volunteered to be apart of my pass.. As you will soon see a good portion of my pass has been gifted away. The Sniper was the only one who knew my intentions of doing this with my pass.
This brings up another subject one that is frowned upon but if I ever decide to do another "premium" pass it will be by invitation only.. That way I can send it and not worry about approvals and the like and I will be confident that the pass will maintain its integrity throughout. I'm not fond of excluding people as there are so many brothers here who I still dont know and what a great way to get to know people than by a pass.. SO with that being said I will probably wont be doing a "premium" pass again. Glen is right about passes loosing their appeal or fun, unfortunately I think some lose their spirit of giving when involved in passes. I have considered my pass a success and I am still extremely greatful for all who participated.. Thank you all again.