I’d be curious to hear as well. As someone who’s been a part of forums since the start of the internet, both as a pillar but also as fringe member, I get that.
Sometimes you get frustrated if the direction of a forum changes, progresses, becomes too big, looses key members or in other cases you yourself overstate your importance of a community.
Hee, hee 
I love a Smoked Old Fashioned. I have a fave place that constructs them table-side. Unbelievably decadent and so worth the show. 
I’ve got a drink smoking kit as well.
My favorite thing to mix with it is smoked Sazeracs.
You had me at “Sazerac.” 
My go-to is a Smoked Old Fashioned just like this:
sure. if it’s a misunderstanding, it’s happened before. no biggy, just point out the error and all will be good. but if people aren’t happy here, move on. it’s a free world. no need to slag anyone off while you’re walking out the door.
I always found that cleaning a pipe (like cleaning guns) was pretty relaxing. I had an almost undrinkable lambs navy 151 proof rum that I used for cleaning 
You are so much FUN @ LANNY
Can be tobacco that’s got too much water in it or has too fine a cut, the construction of the pipe or too tight a pack.
You “seen” me @Frank_Beard…. Thank you for the second view that most others overlooked….
Most originals from this forum know that yes @howard, I am an OG….
. … Even did a couple tours in Nam back in the day so maybe I have good and bad days but,… learning to play bass with the b2b course and being part of this forum when it first came out, along with being part of a really cool (yet small) group of “newbies”, was the best therapy that I as a Vietnam Vet could ask for….
“Gone to Shit”??..??.. Damn,…. back in the day (in country) we always referred to “smoke” as “Shit”…. So yea, the forum has “Gone to Shit”…. Something that I left behind years ago…. Something that brings back mixed memories, and something that was never really a major topic on the forum…. So (for me) yea, it’s “Sad”……. Besides, isn’t this forum suppose to be focused toward the “beginner”?? The “New to bass” player who can focus energies toward learning to play bass and have the support of fellow new (and old) bass players??? I think of my grandkids (and now my great-grandkids) who would want to learn to play bass using b2b and being exposed to some of this forum “Shit”…. Yea, “sad”… ain’t no way I’d steer any of them in this direction today - love ‘em too damn much….
This forum was always “different” from all the other bass forums. A new or old bass player was never threatened here. Everyone was always helpful and courteous no matter what level of play you were at…… and topics were always bass focused…. So much so that young players would join in…. Hell, we use to have teenage (new) bass players on the forum…. Where they at today???
Anyway, off my soapbox…. Time to “Go Deep”…. (Only the OG’s on this forum know this phrase)….
Keep on Thumpin’!!
Lanny
hell yes, I’m half way though a 13 book series because of that thread 
Before you “go deep”: good to have people like you on this forum. You should be here more often!
I don’t know, if I understand everything correctly (not a native speaker), but it still is a forum for beginners (I am). The old dogs are here to help, the young dogs to learn.
Some dogs bark, none bites!
There are many topics outside of playing bass, yes, and some discussions can get heated. Biting your tong (as @frank_beard does) or responding with wonderful irony (as others do) is a great coping strategy…
But all in all it’s good natured and very helpful.
Also: I turned pseudo-straight edge a few years ago (only vape nicotine and drink coffee - but nothing else) … and no pictures of a cigars or alcohol, and no discussion about weed would turn me to using.
Strength comes from within … and BassBuzz is “only” the internet after all…
I’m sure you have wonderful grandchildren … don’t worry about them turning “bad”, should they ever turn up here (except as in BAD@ass!)
So … come back … and bring the kids!
It’s always sad when you feel a place you used to love is something you think you cannot identify yourself with anymore.
I must say I cannot really recognize many of the things you say, but then again, I’m also just a newbie and not “OG”…but I feel nothing but support from the community. And there’s always quality advice to get from more seasoned people here.
Just like @Whying_Dutchman, I don’t drink nor smoke, (though I’ve always been tempted to try a cigar, thanks grandpa❤️), drink coffee and I’m eating a 95% vegetarian diet, but I still enjoy all the aspects of what this forum offers.
I hope you will reconsider and return and wish you nothing but the best.
I was wondering, why you have such a beautiful beard. Now I know
That is one great beard.
Maybe it’s time for a “What beard do you have?” thread…
I have no clue what you mean, Lanny.
This is the safest, most supportive group of fledgling and journeyman musicians in the world. It’s a safe and nurturing place for all who want to learn and to learn to play better. There are few goddam things on this Earth better than that, I’d say.
But whatever, man. Would love to have you stay on the forum and share your experience, if you’re into it. If not, that’s way OK. Either way, live long and prosper.
Yes, I was afraid of this and it’s what I was getting at above. @Lanny all I can say is that I would say that very few of us share your feelings here - this place is still welcoming and a great place for newcomers. They are still learing the same things, and if anything are doing better now than they ever have - check out the covers thread.
Sure, you don’t like the idea of a thread about smoking. I don’t smoke at all, never have smoked tobacco. But you gotta realize that you’re not everyone here, and plenty of newer folk and bass beginners are posting in this thread. And I get that you don’t like the idea of “the shit” being legal in lots of places - but you’re gonna have to get used to that, because it is, and a whole lot of people want it that way.
I get the sentiment that the place doesn’t seem the same to you as it was, and yeah, we were a smaller and tighter group - but you know what, it’s still civil and nice and overall better for the influx of people that just may not think like you on some topics. Or like me, or @MikeC , or @joergkutter, or any of the many other of the ~2019 forum crowd still around, of which there are a lot - because we like it here.
If you don’t like it here any more, it’s time to move on. Life’s just that way, and you know that. No reason to leave a nasty goodbye on the way out though, that’s just low class and you’re better than that.
Or stick around. You’re as welcome here as you always were.
This, a million times.
I was terrified of posting a cover here. What edged me on was that it was for the PamJam, which I was and still it, immensely proud to have been a part of. It still was very daunting, putting myself and my rumblings out there. But nothing but praise and feel good comments was the outcome.
I bought an AI for that task, as recording myself had previously been so far from any of the goals I had ever dared to set for myself when I started this journey.
With tips and advice from Howard, the fantastic video made by John and Pam, it certainly made me cross into a whole different realm of possibilities. Now, this might seem like a small thing, but it wasn’t for me. This is why Bassbuzz, both the course but also the forum, has been so instrumental in my journey. And from the posts if people doing covers, finding bands, doing their first gigs, I’m not the only one.
