Kevin's general presence on this site (his site) and his handling of the recent fracas reminded me of what Elliott West writes about the successful saloonmen of the mining frontier in the Rocky Mountains. West notes first of all that the good saloon owners were genial. He then goes on to write:
"[T]he saloonkeeper faced a dilemma. It was in his interest to encourage among his patrons a spontaneity and an easing of inhibitions. The saloon's atmosphere of freedom from social restraints recommended it as much as its beer and whiskey. At some point, however, an overly boisterous drinker became obnoxious or threatening to those around him. Under such circumstances, the better behaved majority expected the barkeeper to provide a minimum of protection. A proprietor talented in peace keeping thereby gained an important edge over his competitors...Open, gregarious, a man not above drinking with his friends, a fine fellow but hard when he had to be..." (West 1979: 59, 61, 63)
For me, and I expect for other members as well, the Pipes Magazine Forum is an Internet-age saloon (BYOB). I believe it to be a successful one. For the success of this forum many thanks are owed to Kevin, a man who seems to possess the traits that would have made him a successful frontier saloonman. Cheers!
Reference: West, Elliott. 1979. The Saloon on the Rocky Mountain Mining Frontier Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
"[T]he saloonkeeper faced a dilemma. It was in his interest to encourage among his patrons a spontaneity and an easing of inhibitions. The saloon's atmosphere of freedom from social restraints recommended it as much as its beer and whiskey. At some point, however, an overly boisterous drinker became obnoxious or threatening to those around him. Under such circumstances, the better behaved majority expected the barkeeper to provide a minimum of protection. A proprietor talented in peace keeping thereby gained an important edge over his competitors...Open, gregarious, a man not above drinking with his friends, a fine fellow but hard when he had to be..." (West 1979: 59, 61, 63)
For me, and I expect for other members as well, the Pipes Magazine Forum is an Internet-age saloon (BYOB). I believe it to be a successful one. For the success of this forum many thanks are owed to Kevin, a man who seems to possess the traits that would have made him a successful frontier saloonman. Cheers!
Reference: West, Elliott. 1979. The Saloon on the Rocky Mountain Mining Frontier Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.