Years ago, when I had running dogs, a popular lunch spot was a general store in Tightwad, Missouri. Everyone just called the place, Margarites.
It was a little dark in there, even at high noon, and had some chairs for the customers to sit a while and lie to each other with tall tales if they wished.
The Fox hunter's that were there for the bologna and cheese sandwich, or other delicacy from the antique display cooler, along with their favourite beverage, would discuss all sorts of subjects.
There was always one or two hunters that would comment on this dog or that dog as being the best at trailing, the prettiest mouth (barking sound as they ran), and other traits. Usually, it wound up being one of their dogs that was just the best ever.
The other hunters had heard this before, of course, and knew the truth about all the dogs that ran races with them. They had heard and seen what really goes on.
They seldom criticized the braggarts, or talked down to them, for the most part, just allowed them to be part of a world that few today really know about. All of them loved the hunting, their dogs, and the life they lived.
The veterans and the newbies got along that way. Respect for one another, was the rule. The enjoyment was the doing, not so much the talking about it, although it was entertaining, and the newbies learned a lot from the veterans stories and tips. Arguments were rare, and produced not much.
I liked it a lot. The FAQ and search functions were only in the daily conversations, not archived. If you wanted to know something, you just asked, even if it had been asked before. The answer was part of the conversation, and made things interesting.
Bologna just goes down better that way.
Kinda like this forum.
