Gentleman, I'll apologize in advance as this is probably going to be fairly long and likely unorganized after working a 16 hour day. I'd also like to thank those of you (in advance) who will stick it out and read my thoughts.
A moment ago I posted in the Shave Clinic & Newbie Check-In and after doing so I realized it was a monumental moment (at least for me). That simple post welcoming another enthusiastic newbie tied me with Jay (Ouch) for the most posts on B&B.
Now, don't get me wrong, personally I don't think/believe that post count measures a members worth in any way shape or form. Some of the most profound things I've read on B&B have been from members with only a few dozen posts. Likewise I've received snippets of shave education from brand new members with as few as two posts.
So, if I don't put much stock in the raw number of a persons post count why then is this a monumental moment for me?
I'll tell you why. This means I've deliberately put fingers to keyboard 23,194 times as of this post to share with, impart or gain knowledge on some subject or another that interests or entertains me. This means that 23,194 times I've felt that there was something significant enough on this forum to warrant a response. Sometimes its as simple as a
to show I appreciate the humor and other times its a long rambling diatribe or opinion but the bottom line is that it is always motivated by the amazing people on this forum.
Like most of you (I'm sure) I've joined several forums on varying subjects, but none of them have kept me past a few hundred posts. The B&B however has become a home away from home. B&B is a place for men (and women) with similar interests to come and escape the stresses and other annoyances of everyday life.
We share information and interests/knowledge on everything from wet shaving to how to dress, how to conduct oneself, music, movies, books, sports, and all sorts of gentlemanly pursuits.
I've never seen or been part of a forum where the membership is truly a virtual family. When the internet broke out on the scene I scoffed at the idea that people could form meaningful friendships on the net. Boy was I wrong! There are people here that I consider among my best of friends. Some of which I've met in person and others I have not (yet).
I know no matter how lousy a day I may have I can come here and vent, relax and re-gather/re-focus my thoughts.
This may sound odd to many especially people new to web forums but I can honestly say that despite being over 30 when I joined I still learned life lessons here and yes the men and women of B&B helped me learn those lessons.
Would you believe I was moderated at one time? Would you believe I was moderated more than once? Would you believe there was discussion of rescinding my membership on B&B? Its true. Its not that I was a bad guy it was just that I was stubborn and didn't understand the gentlemanly decorum that is B&B. Initially I, like many, felt like I should be able to come on here and say/do anything I want. I mean its just a forum and I have the right to freedom of speech! I wasn't actually going to meet any of these people or really care what any of them thought about me, right? Again, I was wrong.
I received PM's from various Mods on more than one occasion. Some were explanatory and others were scolding in nature but ultimately I learned a valuable lesson about decorum on web forums and more importantly I learned about the decorum that makes Badger & Blade such an amazing place. I also learned with a little effort and less sarcasm I could make a difference around here. I could make life long friends here and you know what....
I did!
I consider the B&B a second home. I can come here after a hard day at work or after a nasty hostile situation in a foreign land. I joined while in Iraq and have accessed the B&B from six countries (and counting) and no matter where I was the B&B has always been a comfortable place to kick off my shoes, have a little Scotch and a stogie and talk with thousands of other intellectual gentleman on just about any subject imaginable.
So how has B&B changed my outlook on so many things? I've learned that I deserve to take time out of each day for myself. I've learned that there is much more enjoyment to be had from making someone else's day a little brighter than simply focusing on myself. I've learned that you actually can meet great people and make great friends even through a medium that is so seemingly unemotional and relatively uninvolved as printed blurbs on a web forum.
Jay, I know by the time you read this you will have passed me up as the top poster on B&B and I'm proud to trade that distinction with you. You are one of B&B's finest and one of the many many gents here I will always call a friend.
I can't imagine life without the B&B family.
So, gents, I say thank you for reading what I'll likely later decide was a rambling mess and thank you for being Badger & Blade!
Oh and one more thing...
A moment ago I posted in the Shave Clinic & Newbie Check-In and after doing so I realized it was a monumental moment (at least for me). That simple post welcoming another enthusiastic newbie tied me with Jay (Ouch) for the most posts on B&B.
Now, don't get me wrong, personally I don't think/believe that post count measures a members worth in any way shape or form. Some of the most profound things I've read on B&B have been from members with only a few dozen posts. Likewise I've received snippets of shave education from brand new members with as few as two posts.
So, if I don't put much stock in the raw number of a persons post count why then is this a monumental moment for me?
I'll tell you why. This means I've deliberately put fingers to keyboard 23,194 times as of this post to share with, impart or gain knowledge on some subject or another that interests or entertains me. This means that 23,194 times I've felt that there was something significant enough on this forum to warrant a response. Sometimes its as simple as a
to show I appreciate the humor and other times its a long rambling diatribe or opinion but the bottom line is that it is always motivated by the amazing people on this forum.Like most of you (I'm sure) I've joined several forums on varying subjects, but none of them have kept me past a few hundred posts. The B&B however has become a home away from home. B&B is a place for men (and women) with similar interests to come and escape the stresses and other annoyances of everyday life.
We share information and interests/knowledge on everything from wet shaving to how to dress, how to conduct oneself, music, movies, books, sports, and all sorts of gentlemanly pursuits.
I've never seen or been part of a forum where the membership is truly a virtual family. When the internet broke out on the scene I scoffed at the idea that people could form meaningful friendships on the net. Boy was I wrong! There are people here that I consider among my best of friends. Some of which I've met in person and others I have not (yet).
I know no matter how lousy a day I may have I can come here and vent, relax and re-gather/re-focus my thoughts.
This may sound odd to many especially people new to web forums but I can honestly say that despite being over 30 when I joined I still learned life lessons here and yes the men and women of B&B helped me learn those lessons.
Would you believe I was moderated at one time? Would you believe I was moderated more than once? Would you believe there was discussion of rescinding my membership on B&B? Its true. Its not that I was a bad guy it was just that I was stubborn and didn't understand the gentlemanly decorum that is B&B. Initially I, like many, felt like I should be able to come on here and say/do anything I want. I mean its just a forum and I have the right to freedom of speech! I wasn't actually going to meet any of these people or really care what any of them thought about me, right? Again, I was wrong.
I received PM's from various Mods on more than one occasion. Some were explanatory and others were scolding in nature but ultimately I learned a valuable lesson about decorum on web forums and more importantly I learned about the decorum that makes Badger & Blade such an amazing place. I also learned with a little effort and less sarcasm I could make a difference around here. I could make life long friends here and you know what....
I did!
I consider the B&B a second home. I can come here after a hard day at work or after a nasty hostile situation in a foreign land. I joined while in Iraq and have accessed the B&B from six countries (and counting) and no matter where I was the B&B has always been a comfortable place to kick off my shoes, have a little Scotch and a stogie and talk with thousands of other intellectual gentleman on just about any subject imaginable.
So how has B&B changed my outlook on so many things? I've learned that I deserve to take time out of each day for myself. I've learned that there is much more enjoyment to be had from making someone else's day a little brighter than simply focusing on myself. I've learned that you actually can meet great people and make great friends even through a medium that is so seemingly unemotional and relatively uninvolved as printed blurbs on a web forum.
Jay, I know by the time you read this you will have passed me up as the top poster on B&B and I'm proud to trade that distinction with you. You are one of B&B's finest and one of the many many gents here I will always call a friend.
I can't imagine life without the B&B family.
So, gents, I say thank you for reading what I'll likely later decide was a rambling mess and thank you for being Badger & Blade!
Oh and one more thing...
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Its been an absolute pleasure to get to know you over the time you've been here and frankly, as great a time as I have here I don't know if it would have been as much fun as it has without B&B chat shenanigans or declaring pirate war on cheese if you hadn't been around to take part.
Thanks brother! 
As one that has had the opportunity to me Rob in person, I can assure you he is as great a guy in the real world as he is here. I am glad to call him a friend. 
