I have just been reading an article on the web from The Guardian, it is about two years old.

It said that the last cigarette factory in the UK was to close, Imperial Tobacco in Nottingham, with the loss of five hundred jobs.

One factory belonging to Japan Tobacco would remain in Ireland,  I assume Southern Ireland.

It seems that most of our cigarettes come from Germany, France and Eastern Europe now.

They blamed taxes, cheap pirated copies, and EU authority health regulations.

What I have been thinking about is this.     

 When Great Britain leaves the EEC will the British find that they have problems getting hold of their favourite cigarettes from the EEC member states.    

The same way that the Americans have problems getting hold of British snuff?

Big tobacco will have no problem paying the registration fees and tariffs to sell several million packets of cigarettes every single day. The economics work in their favour, unlike with snuff.

I agree. It is almost like a mafia of sorts according to me and a good revenue generator for the governments. Hence they will ban everything but cigarettes…

there is too much speculation going on about brexit in my opinion because its too early. it will probably take years to hammer out all the details. that being said, i think the big cigarette companies have enough sway in governments around the globe to make sure they dont lose all their customers in the UK. But again, that is still speculation (and a little bit of conspiracy theory) lol

there is a lot of speculation going on in my country, the U.S, about president trump. your support or opposition for the president is the touchiest subject right now. this “us or them” attitude people are getting makes it impossible to have an open discussion and gives rise to extremism on both sides. it is dangerous path to take.

its not ok to call one group of people nazis or homophobes but it is ok to call another group a cancer on society? im not trying to say which one of those groups i agree with. i just wanted to point that out that i think that is a bit of a double standard.
i hope that doesnt come off as insulting because that is not my intention

@lunecat  you mention     SJWs   ,  is that       The Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses ?

If it is, you should be safe here, as they do not use tobacco.

Remember  @lunecat  , 

Opportunity only knocks once. 

If there is a second knock its probably Jehovah’s Witnesses.

:))

I must admit I’m quite happy to be a social justice warrior, but at least one that’s grown up since he left University.  There, of course, in with the trendy lefties, I called anyone who disagreed with me a fascist, not having the slightest idea what fascism actually was.  I see now that this behaviour is simply an excuse for not having an argument with which to rebut your opponents, and a sign of a very thin skin.  But not all people who are interested in social justice are like that.  Although it’s a clunkier and less user-friendly description, i prefer to think of people whom Lunecat has described as being adequately summed-up by the historian Michael Burleigh as:

“Intolerant tolerance-fetishists”.  

Listen to Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixons’ version of “Love Me I’m a Liberal” for a laugh sometime about this.  Or Holiday in Cambodia by Dead Kennedys.

The whole PC/SJW has done a major disservice to anti-racism, civil rights, voter rights, women’s rights, and human rights in general.  There are real, valid issues such as police brutality, voter suppression, wage equality etc. but they get swept away with all the “trigger warning” and language-policing nonsense.  I understand why it pisses people off, but the we shouldn’t lose sight of the woods through the trees.

As for fascism and Nazism in relation to the current U.S. administration, I suggest reading a bit about the ideologies of Trump-appointees like Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller.  I’m not calling anyone a Nazi, but I am saying they that their beliefs clearly have a lot in common with fascism.  Like Sessions and others, they have made overtly racist comments.  If the shoe fits…

I’ve left this forum before, and now, I feel it’s time to go again. A thread gets closed down for virtually nothing, but we let conservative bigots post their drivel on and on. Enjoy your forum.

Please stick around, I just made a major change

I just clicked on @lunecat   in one of my discussions and his home-page of info about him has a red BANNED sign on it.

Shame, sorry to see him go.       He has some good knowledge on snuff.

@Declan : I believe lunecat was banned because he was getting too personal and vindictive, NOT because of his political leanings.

All members: it should be borne in mind that this is not the forum to discuss your own or anybody else’s political views. 

It is first and foremost a snuff forum. 

All political comments should be limited to how legislation relates directly to snuff or other tobacco products. Straying away from that basic premise can cause discussions to rapidly decline into offensive spats which is not what we are about here. There are a myriad of other forums to spout away till your heart is content, but there is only really one snuffhouse.

Having said that, I agree that when lunecat was on the topic of snuff he was a great member: knowledgeable, erudite fellow and had very interesting things to say. So, yes it is a shame.

im so sorry, i feel like this is all my fault. this was not my intention. i like lunecats comments on other threads and he seemed very knowledgeable. i will not comment on anything to political again.

i would also like to see him unbanned too 

@Declan

Chico: I actually feel European first, British second

Lunecat: God I hate people that say “I am European first and British second” those kind of people are the worst kind of politically immature, ignorat morons that have ever existed! (sic - not sure if the typo was deliberate or not)

For the record, none of the moderators are employed. They are all volunteers. I can assure you they are not vetted by political opinion. I honestly haven’t the slightest clue what the political leanings of any of the moderators is. You could have volunteered yourself if you feel it is unbalanced politically - though that should not even be a consideration here since it is not a political site.

The mods mandate is simply (and I quote):

–making sure that snuff and tobacco are the main topics of discussion; keeping the website free of too much political discussion, especially when it strays away from tobacco; not allowing ANY flaming, trolling, or other personal attacks on any other member. Think of it as a friendly, non-threatening gentlemen

Damn the end of my post disappeared

Here’s the last bit minus the apostrophes.

Think of it as a friendly, non-threatening gentlemens and ladies club. Try to be objective.

I’m “making my self known” as asked.
First of all, up until a couple hours ago, I was the only regularly participating Moderator, there was no “team”
That’s no secret, everyone that’s been here for a while knows who I am.

I’ve been “flying by night” on this forum for almost 10 years.

I spent 4 days in England, 30 years ago. Here in the US, I’m a registered Republican but I have voted for both parties, over the years.

I apologize for my ignorance but I have no idea what being “leftist” means. Seriously, not a clue. 

I was minding my own business, ignoring all this political talk until a member, mentioning me by name, told me to “sober up” and “put my spliff down”

There have been other comments from this same member that I’ve quietly deleted that were very derogatory.

I think it’s time to move on…  

To add… if the other Mods want to reverse my banning, I have no problem with that. I have NO problem being overruled.

If I acted hastily and in error after being personally attacked for no reason, that’s my mistake alone.

PLEASE stop this ridiculous ranting about the “leftist moderating team!!!”

If you knew how absurd that was, you’d be embarrassed. 

Hey Andrew / Lunecat / Declan. You used to be a moderator, you know we have access to everyone’s IP address. Nice try using a IP masker when you first opened your "Declan account. You forgot to stick with it tho…

I’ll leave it up to the other mods and I’ll stay out of it. If it were up to me, I’d ban Declan too. I was the ONLY MOD that banned you and I don’t know ANYTHING about this political BS you keep talking about.

You have the NERVE to tell me to SOBER UP??? Seriuosly???

You told me to “sober up” (as Lunecat) and put my “spliff down” 

I guess you already forgot, that was several hours ago.

I remember other things that I’ll keep to myself. You probably forgot those too.

For the record… wasn’t me!! 

Before anyone blames anyone else, I just banned “Declan”.

@Roderick Declan was Lunecat, using a different profile.

I’ve only been here a short time and don’t really know anyone yet, and I admit I did not read the rules on political discussions.  I just chimed in a couple of times, respectfully I hope, to remind people that not everyone has right-wing extremist views. Apologies for my role but clearly I’m not the only one uncomfortable with the forum being an ultra-conservative free-for-all. I would never have joined in the first place if I thought it was. And if that’s what people want, I’ll happily go.

Ironically, Lunecat/Declan seemed angry at feeling persecuted for his political beliefs when he was the one doing the name-calling, ridiculing, and making the offensive remarks about people whose politics and even sense of identity differ from his own.  The guy called me “the worst kind of politically immature, ignorat moron” because I’m not a nationalist and identify more as a European than as a Brit - even though he knows NOTHING about me. Why does he even care?  We are two random guys on a snuff forum.  He was trying to shut down opposing views, just as he claimed the moderators were doing.  

I don’t care if he’s banned or not - I haven’t been around long enough to have an opinion - but it seems a lot of people like him.  Whatever the case, in my view, the only forums that remain consistently fun and civil are the ones that ban politics outright and enforce that rule with a heavy hand. Better to focus on the shared interests that brought us here.  I for one can’t help replying to those kinds of comments even when it’s against my better judgement, so I’d rather know it’s not allowed at all, ever.  Just my 2 cents.

Well that was… eventful. X_X I’m sure this will all blow over quickly. The upset that is, not the snuff, that would just be messy… which is why I always replace the lid before snuffing in case I sneeze or cough :-"

A shame lunecat is gone. He was an interesting contributor. I ranged between being amused and annoyed by his political rants. No denying that he was consistently breaking the terms of use. I realize some people find it hard to resist expressing their political opinions, I’ve been guilty of it myself, so I’d like to see people get a yellow card before being banned. I don’t know the background, maybe he got one and ignored it.

When it came to SWS snuffs and HDT, his opinions were always solid.

I never did get an answer to my original post.

:-"

@lunecat Welcome back, mate.

can we ban Declan?

(just kidding)

Nice to have you back @lunecat. In the immortal words of Austin Powers with his wonderful north london accent…

 “Oh beehaive…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1lJFlB-89Q

@lunecat Welcome back! A new day has dawned, you seem more level-headed, I feel more level-headed and all is well with the world! Back to snuffing

Thank goodness @lunecat is back, but I must say I was becoming quite fond of his alter ego.

I thought Snuffhouse did not allow political threads that are inflammatory like this one.

Moderators! Are you going to allow this garbage and drivel to continue?

@fredh It has been dealt with. Thank you.

Good evening @fredh .

That, and some name calling is why the moderators got involved.  

Its all blown over now,  after their involvement.   

I don’t know how the    Mod-Squad   work, but I shouldn’t be surprised if the offending material is erased from the topic one day.      Unfortunately it makes a disjointed article for future readers if they do.

This thread had almost sank into oblivion…

Hello @miamimark      how’s about you erase all of this topic and I ask my original question afresh.

I don’t consider the original question to be political, possibly some people may.

Leave it for 24 hours and if there are no objections,  erase the lot or close the topic down.

Sounds reasonable to me.

Shame no one really answered the question.

There are other mods now, that can discuss this issue at great length and make a decision. Personally, I don’t understand the question or the situation, in any way. Despite what other members may think!

Before anyone blames the moderators,  I have told them that as I started it all with my original question, and then it spiralled into a shambles,   I am quite happy for them to delete the whole lot. 

We can all start afresh then and put it behind us.

Cheers all.

I’ll bet there’s lots of forums on the internet that would love to discuss all kinds of political views… this just isn’t one of them. 

lunecat, i dont think the problem was with your opinions but more in how you expressed your views. i think the way you worded your arguments was a little inflammatory and offended more people that it should have. i know this is the internet and someone will always get offended but i feel you could have used more discretion in the way you conveyed your opinions. i do respect your opinions and you have every right to have them.

i think its important to remember that at the end of the day, we are not so different. we all want the same thing. we want to feel safe, we want to be happy and we want to be free. 

@lunecat, I’m glad I gave you a chuckle.  You gave me one, too, with your split-personality Declan shenanigans, and in your comparison of conservativism to punk.  That’s like saying savoury is the new sweet, or wet is the dry.  And yes, I have formed an opinion: that I would be very happy if you were to limit your posts to the subjects of the forum and abide by the ‘no political discussions’ rule.  Given your reaction to my post in which you called me a moron etc., you clearly find my views as ‘extremist’ as I find yours - so let’s just give it a rest, agree to disagree and move on, eh?  

For the record, I am thicker-skinned than to be offended by some random person’s comments on a snuff forum.  But life’s too short to argue about it, and as I said I’ll gladly leave if this kind of thing is allowed to continue.

@lunecat apology accepted.  Theresa May does look a bit like Iggy Pop, and John Lydon is starting to resemble Trump, but for me the resemblance ends there. Bernie Sanders is more Joe Strummer than any right-winger out there.