Quote Originally Posted by StogieNinja View Post
It actually took a couple years, I think, before things really went downhill.



I gotta disagree with you there, Don. The Squids always were about recognizing and thanking members in the community that we appreciated. We had members who did their own thing, as did all the groups, and there were a few individuals towards the end that took things too far (there always are, and they're not exclusive to bombing groups) but I don't think it's fair or accurate to say that everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of giving.



That may be the fairest thing that can be said on the matter.
Well, Derek, that's how I felt about it at the time and still do. While I respect your opinion, if I put both sides on opposite ends of the seesaw, I'd have give it to the general membership, for the simple fact they didn't cause it. Perhaps the biggest mistake the "groups" made was to ignore the message being sent by the membership. I think, had that been acknowledged and activities amended, even slightly, naught would have happened. By "the end" as you call it, things had slid so far downhill and had become so rabid, that there was no reason left. Nothing worked.

I tried hard to express that I wasn't impugning every one of the members of all the gangs. If it came across that way, I apologize. My belief at the time was that it was about 35% jackasses at the end. Sadly, that 35% took down a LOT of really good people in the heat of battle. That's the part of it I deeply regret, but again, I wasn't at the wheel.

Edit: Oh and bytheway, we're not going to discuss any specific events, or specific members or groups in this, or any other thread. This is nothing, but bad blood that occurred in a long, far off, forgotten place and time. That stuff will not be carried into Cigar Bum.