Originally Posted by
Herf N Turf
This is about as good as you can say it.
Indeed. What started out as a seemingly harmless way to pay Ron back for doing such great things, quickly turned completely south. It turned into a mob/gang mentality with all the language and chest beating that goes along with it. The definition of bombing, or better described, "gifting", went straight out the window. It became all about boasting and self-congratulation and nothing about the recipient. By definition, being a gift, one should give it selflessly and make it about the recipient and the qualities for which you congratulate them. Everything about the gangs flew in the face of the very spirit of gift giving.
The membership grew tired of it very quickly and finally became angry that the gangs were taking over the forum and making their own rules. They begged staff to put an end to it and a lot of members left as a result. There was a terrible rift and several members on both sides acted out in deplorable ways. They eventually started their own forum and went about cherry picking members exclusively from Poof!. Eventually, people set about intentionally getting themselves banned and I will not go into the behaviors they engaged to do so.
I am not for an instant impugning everyone involved. On the contrary, it was clear that most were simply caught up in the fervor of the moment. I wasn't directly involved in much of it and most of it had blown up while I was out of town on business. It was a sad, sad epoc in Poof's history.
I hope this doesn't happen here.
