Are you bombing for the right reason?

Why do I continue read and post here?

1. Fellowship. I have friends here, several that I consider close friends. Cigars are the common ground.
2. Information. I'm amazed pretty much daily by what I learn here. Not all of it is about cigars.
3. Entertainment. I enjoy watching the interaction. I like the personal dynamics, and occasionally, the drama.
4. Charity. You know, bombs.

Bombs. That's the real focus of this post. I'm concerned that newbies are perceiving that bombing is currency, a method to buy the stairway to respect. If this goes on long enough, it will be. In the purest sense, a bomb should never be about the sender. I'd bet most of you would be shocked at how many bombs there really are, because many of them go unreported - by design. Hey, not all passes are posted publicly either.

The test is simple. Ask yourself who the bomb is for - you or your target? Did you fulfill something your target had not yet experienced? Will your target will appreciate you beyond, "hey, free cigars!"? What were the best bombs I've gotten? The first one - from Doc nearly two years ago introducing me to Arturo Fuente. Another was a handful of my daily smokes, ones I'd have bought anyhow. The sender no longer cared for them but knew I did, so he just sent them to me.

I don't want acknowledgement for the bombs I send. I don't want to offer that acknowledgement is bad - far from it. The first few times for me, I felt a rush when I read the thanks. For many, its part of the payment for the act, and sometimes its the recipient that needs to offer acknowledgement. It still comes back to the question of why you bombed in the first place. Was it about you, or about your target? Are you bombing for the attention, to kiss up to someone, or perhaps to "buy the stairway"? If you're new here, and you see an opportunity to fulfill the wish of a long time member or just to do something nice, don't be afraid to bomb. If the bomb is about you, well, we all like free cigars.

Bruce I was sitting here thinking of something smart ass'd to say but your kinda right, it used to be something special that every now and again someone would post and have people comment ect... Now theres soo much that half of us don't even read the "i got bombed" posts.

Less is more.

I like your post

Well said, Bruce.

Wilkey

F*ckers never bomb me.......

Right on!!!

Matt R said:

F*ckers never bomb me.......

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Hello...??? Nobody likes you Matty.

NA

Jezziz, Neal. Where the hell ya been keeping yourself?

Wilkey

Goddammit Neal, I just got a new computer here - first one in 5 years. Three flat screen monitors all with coffee on em.

Mrepp said:

Bruce I was sitting here thinking of something smart ass'd to say but your kinda right, it used to be something special that every now and again someone would post and have people comment ect... Now theres soo much that half of us don't even read the "i got bombed" posts.

Less is more.

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I think you hit on what is getting me. I just don't care to read them anymore.

Well said. Hell, you even brought Neal out of hiding.

Bruce,

So are those the only reasons to send a bomb? What if you just wanted to send out some unexpected holiday cheer to a friend or felt like being generous because you have the means to be generous. I completely agree that sending bombs as currency for n00bs to get acknowledged is bad form. I also agree that bombs should never be about the sender or about getting anything back in return. But can't someone just send some freakin' cigars to another cigar smoker because they were unexpected and will be enjoyed?


Fish

AngryFishH said:

Bruce,

So are those the only reasons to send a bomb? What if you just wanted to send out some unexpected holiday cheer to a friend or felt like being generous because you have the means to be generous. I completely agree that sending bombs as currency for n00bs to get acknowledged is bad form. I also agree that bombs should never be about the sender or about getting anything back in return. But can't someone just send some freakin' cigars to another cigar smoker because they were unexpected and will be enjoyed?


Fish

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Howard,
I think that falls under making friends/sharing with friends :thumbs: .

I am curious why members are in the habit of posting a DC announcing a bomb. What is the purpose of giving away the surprise?

MilesMingusMonk said:

I am curious why members are in the habit of posting a DC announcing a bomb. What is the purpose of giving away the surprise?

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When I first signed up this is the way I did things because this is the way I saw it being done.  Since then I have grown to feel bombs are more fun as a surprise and as a no strings attached gift.  What I mean by that is the majority of bombs I have sent recently have had no announcement and thus the recipient hasn't been compelled to make a big public showing of "OMG you destroyed my house etc."  I prefer a PM just so I know it actually got there safely.

MilesMingusMonk said:

I am curious why members are in the habit of posting a DC announcing a bomb. What is the purpose of giving away the surprise?

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In all honesty Kirk.................When I joined, that's what everyone just did. Unlike, if your friend jumped off a bridge, would you too, ect. I just thought that this was the standard way of doing things on CP. Watch and learn so to speak.
I'm just starting to realize that, public acknowledgement is not always expected, and in some cases frowned upon here (after almost a year).

To me a bomb is a gift that comes without any knowledge of it. So, I have to say I've been bombed once, and it was the most amazing feeling! Out of the blue I get a package from someone I'd barely conversed with, it simply floors a person. That person immediately had my upmost respect due to a simple gesture of kindness. I have received what I guess you could call mini-bombs (tag-a-longs) included in a "regular" shipment. Also amazing.

Bombs are great, however if there were no more bombings today and going forward? I'd still be right here on CP, just like most everyone else, unless Rod kicks me out.

And NO, I didn't write this post just to get bombed. :laugh: ???

Great post!!

**exhale** I LOVE this post! I am one of the people that think some try to buy there way to status. It's annoying but it works. You can't help but know who the person is that is always sending out cigars and posting ten times a day, everyday and making it their business to interacting with the members older members. I call it a$$kissing, but what do I know!

This is exactly the reason I waited so long before joining into the bombing stuff. I received a bomb when I joined this forum that absolutely astounded me. I've never had someone that was a virtual stranger to me be so generous, and I didn't know what to do. PIF was out of the question because I didn't have any money or any cigars, and a thank you just wasn't enough for the generosity that was shown to me by that particular member.

It wasn't long before my situation in life changed and I could start buying good cigars, but with this came a problem. I wanted to send bombs in hopes of return fire. I was just about to send the first one when I realized why I was doing it. I decided to hold out and think about it some more before I went bombing, and then I decided to hold out until my motives were pure. It took several more months of being here before I really felt like I "got it," at which point I joined into the gifting. Most of the stuff I've given away has been unreported, and I like that honestly.

I guess the reason I'm posting this is for other noobs that read it to see that everyone goes through that initial "hope for retaliation" phase, but that the whole thing is far more satisfying if you wait until your motives are right. The litmus test for me was whether or not I cared if the person publicly acknowledged the gift. If I cared if they didn't tell the world, then I didn't get it yet and I needed to hold off a little longer.

D

A Click&Ship DC won't tell you where it came from but a Post Office bought one will.

MilesMingusMonk said:

I am curious why members are in the habit of posting a DC announcing a bomb. What is the purpose of giving away the surprise?

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On a side note if any of you need practice bombing you can send them to me and I'll let you know if it was any good or not