In Regards To The Forum Drama Ongoing.

[Sonthert]

An Open letter to the people of our hookah communities:

First off, I love you all much fraternally speaking.

Second off, I'm not one of those bullshit "Can't we all just get along" assholes that seem to be being elected to political offices and being managers in offices.

It seems to me that we need to work together more between RHF, HF and T.us. there are tons of guys I don't like. I tolerate them and censor their behavior that I find inappropriate. As Mushy would way "You don't like it, leave." From what I have seen I have bad news. RHF is not trying to troll HF. Additionally, HF is not trying to troll RHF. There are certain people, possibly on both sites who MAY be continuing this argument because they like jerking off when they see other guys getting upset. The divisions between RHF and HF is pointless. Its easy to choose sides and ban people that aren't on our side. We may all have different outlooks, different opinions, different attitudes, we may not like each other, but we need to stop letting insinuation and unfounded accusations make enemies across the lines. We are all the same group of people more or less. We like hookah, we don't like being hassled about smoking it and we're trying to find a way to make our hookah smoke better. These are the things that we need to focus on and not let personalities divide us. Jesus, you don't have to marry each other or kiss each other on the lips, all we have to do is be civil to each other and to not treat other people in a way you would not like to be treated yourself. If a guy is a punk, or a troll, send a PM to a moderator or an admin. That's what they are there for.

I'm not some douchebag trying to tell you how to run your life either. This is because there are so many great guys and ladies who shouldn't have to be separated by boundaries. They are functionally being separated by a select few who like to spread discord and create problems. I think normally, these are the type of people who can't be leaders by their own merits or experience and quite possibly attracted attention when they were younger by making farting noises. They don't want anybody else to be respected because they can't obtain respect or positive recognition on their own. The best part of the story is that they aren't even here reading this. That's not their thing at all. They don't care about what other people have to say, they just want to stop people from hearing anything. That's what the end result of this is and why we need to get back together...

If you have the guts to swallow your pride and walk across the room to do the right thing, I'll go with you.

That's about it. Posted simultaneously on Royal Hookah Forum, Hookah Forum and Tangiers.us

[Chreees]

Well put, Eric. I myself regret a lot of the things I have said/done in all of this from the very beginning. I also wish I had shown John and the members of RHF a little more respect. I have also apologized to Kris via PM on .us for the statement I said I had heard about him. I shouldn't have said it at all. Another thing I regret. Kris, I am sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me.

I understand this latest situation was one guy trolling while representing RHF. One guy. That doesn't mean the members and administration of RHF told him to troll HF. He most likely took it upon himself to do so. I think the best course of action would have been to just ban him and move on. Not make a public statement about it. That, I believe, is what set off this latest fire. Therefore, HF is going back to its roots- if someone trolls the forum while representing a certain forum, whether it is RHF or a totally different forum, they will be banned and no ban thread made. This way it doesn't ignite any "forum war." The rule about not mentioning other forums will actually be enforced from now on as well to prevent another incident. Hopefully this works and we have no more trouble on either side from now on.

I believe we can be peaceful and get along. Just going to take a bit of effort on both sides. Which I myself am totally willing to give. From now on, I will respect those from across the divide and perhaps sometime in the future that divide will fade away or at least not be so great. Again, I am sorry for my parts in this. I wish everyone in the hookah community as a whole the best.

EDIT: Just want to clarify that the above statements regarding policy with trolls are my personal feelings regarding the matter and how I feel it should be handled. It does not represent the entire moderation staff of HF.

[mushrat]

A noble thought. Here's may take. When the PERSONAL attacks stop, then there will be peace.
I stepped in a while back and banned people at John's request who were being disrespectful and personally attacking him and his family. When I was being PERSONALLY attacked on RHF i asked for them to do something about it. Not only was nothing done until it turned into a 3 ring circus but the personal attacks continue over there, most notably by YOUR Rep. and still nothing is done about it. You will notice as much as I dislike John and what i perceive as a lack of personal Honour, I have never said, nor have I ever allowed anyone, to say anything rude, insulting, or even moderately unpleasant about him, his family, or his business.

So here's my counter offer, when RHF and John stop insulting Me, my WIFE, my former business, and just get on with their business, i'm sure this will all go away. As long as THIS:

[attachment=5644:rhfin.jpg]

is not only allowed but encouraged, there will be problems.

No one has been banned from here because I don't like them. People HAVE been banned here for the same reasons *I* was banned on RHF, for instigating problems, for trolling, and for merely coming here because I have extended them a courtesy not being extended to me or members here. Its a matter of respect and we haven't been shown any.

You are preaching to the wrong forum my friend.

[mushrat]

I decided to go back and look at the original locked thread. I see I am repeating myself over and over again. Read the first ZPost and you will see what I asked for in July is what I am asking for here. RESPECT from John, Tangiers4life, and the rest of the people who call that forum their home and for their moderators and admin to do what their own rules say they are going to do.

[DrSmokes]

Admins should work together. I own a rather large forum site and what we've done with our "competitor" is ban trolls across both sites making it harder for them to b*tch about either site or stir sh*t up on either site. If both sites honor that, then I can see peace. But until then, I will look at each admin or ranking members actions on each site and stick to where I feel is a more professional and mature atmosphere.

[mushrat]

we used to do the same. caught a few scammers ripping people off in the TRADES section, banned some guys from making trouble for him personally, it was all good. Hell, he consulted me about making his own forum for advertising purposes in the event he finally couldn't do it on the other forums. Ironic I helped him start RHF in the first place. Even helped him find some good mods/admin. Things change. Now all I want is a little respect and some peace.

[mushrat]

I'll keep this open for a bit more, but since John is not responding in the Neutral setting of your choice i guess there is no use keeping this plea for some sort of understanding open much longer.