Sometimes I Think Pipe Smoking is dying...

[brian64]

I know a guy who cuts his grass with a scythe

Gotta be a pipe smoker.

 

[sablebrush52]

Can't a member-only (i.e. restricted) forum area be created?

Absolutely. Permissions regarding who can see what are a standard option.
But, there’s always a drawback. People are on their sorta best behavior in public, whereas in private they are not. So things can get explosive.

 

[ziv]

Absolutely. Permissions regarding who can see what are a standard option.
But, there’s always a drawback. People are on their sorta best behavior in public, whereas in private they are not. So things can get explosive.

That's what moderators are for!

 

[sablebrush52]

Pipe smoking is a tiny fraction of what it was, but it’s showing signs of growth, slight but still growth.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

People are on their sorta best behavior in public, whereas in private they are not. So things can get explosive.

Don't include me in any group PM's. I don't want to have to explain to Kevin what I was doing in a dark room full of questionable members when the shit started flinging, ha ha.

 

[sablebrush52]

That's what moderators are for!

Yeah, and when the mods get eviscerated you get a full blown riot. It happened here about 12 years ago. That’s why politics is verboten here.

 

[shanez]

I know a guy who cuts his grass with a scythe because it relaxes him and gives him exercise.

Tall dude? Wears a hooded robe? If so, keep an eye on him.

 

[JoeW]

I know a guy who cuts his grass with a scythe because it relaxes him and gives him exercise.

I do this, but mainly because I don't have anyplace to store a lawn mower yet. You definitely get exercise cutting the grass that way.

 

[brian64]

I do this, but mainly because I don't have anyplace to store a lawn mower yet. You definitely get exercise cutting the grass that way.

See, I told you he was a pipe smoker.

 

[Chasing Embers]

but nearly 900 "guests" !

Mostly bots. They even look at profiles.

 

[Brad H]

that would be AI google searching the forum?

 

[Chasing Embers]

know a guy who cuts his grass with a scythe because it relaxes him and gives him exercise.

Up until arthritis took hold I did the same.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Mostly bots. They even look at profiles.
View attachment 373909

I had to do a search and talk to the admin, but these bots mentioned are a little different from what I knew bots to be. These are web analytical tools to see what people are saying about brands, and some like Google is constantly watching websites like our to index them for searches... which is why it is pretty damned important for people to capitalize the titles of threads. This helps keep pipesmagazine in the top searches for pipe related questions.

But, I still don't see as many bots as this screenshot shows, when I look at them. It still looks like about 99% are just unregistered or non- logged in onlookers.

But, interesting. I didn't know that about different types of bots.

 

[brian64]

But, I still don't see as many bots as this screenshot shows, when I look at them. It still looks like about 99% are just unregistered or logged in onlookers.

Can't we just call them all bots anyway?

Actually I think Bot should be the lowest rung on the user title ladder...Lurker would be a step up.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Can't we just call them all bots anyway?

Actually I think Bot should be the lowest rung on the user title ladder...Lurker would be a step up.

I don't care what we call them. I was just saying that they weren't like what I knew bots to be. So now, my understanding of bots has expanded. I was just iterating what they do.

 

[brian64]

I don't care what we call them. I was just saying that they weren't like what I knew bots to be. So now, my understanding of bots has expanded. I was just iterating what they do.

I was just attempting humor (I'm only an amateur comedian). I'm pretty sure it was my first ever attempt at bot humor, so I'll try to refine it.

 

[shanez]

These posts are all starting to sound like something a bot would say.

 

[MesabiBear]

There are numerous places online to discuss pipe smoking apart from this one, and of course internet message boards are a dinosaur medium. Most people interact on reddit or social media today, the golden age of the Internet forum was probably 2000-2010. Many are gone now due to lack of traffic.

I agree. fb came along as the new shiny thing, a one stop for all. Then it became the nightmare it is now with constant adds and sponsors. I find I’m returning to the few forums left leaving the facepalm behind.

 

[anotherbob]

Also, as a side note, it means that folks that participate on here are sort of famous outside of here also. When I went to the New Orleans Pipe show, I was walking with my wife around the Quarter and I'd run into these guys who would ask me, "Are you Cosmic?" Of course I was all flattered and signing autographs and shit, but when I would ask them what their handle was on the forum, 90% of the time they responded that they weren't members, but just watched the forums. So be weary that posting and contributing here is seen far and wide outside of just the normal peanut gallery of members here.

The groupies are the worst though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But, I still don't see as many bots as this screenshot shows, when I look at them.

They're on and off quickly.