For those who read or participate on the gay Thailand forums, it isn’t news that the helm at SGT has been passed on to a new owner as of the beginning of this month. After a lengthy round of farewells, Neal, AKA Da Boss, has moved on to the next stage of his life’s journey. And I wish him well. While I both agreed with and disagreed with – and more often was totally confused by – his decisions as the board’s owner, I’m not taking this opportunity to trash him. I’m using this opportunity to trash the new owner, Surfcrest, instead. Not out of spite, or because I have something against the man, but rather because I just posted three days of lengthy articles and need a break. So it was this or a Smells Like Science post. I figured I’d cut the baby in half and call it a Smells Like A New Board Owner post.

Upon reading Surfcrest’s announcement that he was taking things over, my first reaction was: Who? And then I remembered the long, long, lengthy, boring, long, thread that expanded into several equally long, long, lengthy, boring, long accompanying threads over his claim he’d been shortchanged by $15 at Neal’s bar. I don’t know how much The Crusty Surfer paid for SGT, but that old adage about once bitten twice shy springs immediately to mind.

More recently I recall a thread the man started that was so engaging no one bothered to respond. It was a homage to his Jim Thompson Silk fetish, replete with a memorable scene of him screaming at a customer who’d dared to touch a silk tie in an inappropriate manner. That doesn’t necessarily bode well for the future of the board, though I will give him credit for being capable of forming complete and grammatically correct sentences. Which will be a nice change. I’ll also give him credit for finally giving me an excuse to upload the photos I’m using in this post. I don’t know about every cloud having a silver lining, but you can always find a use for pictures of hot, near naked, young men. Or at least I can.

Despite past posts, Surfy’s opening shot as owner came across as a reasonably intelligent and well-thought out piece, with a promise to keep his personal grudges and prejudices in check while allowing forum members to be what they will be. It was a breath of fresh air. Even if not one long enough to sustain life. Surfy, by Day #2 of his rule, has already got into it with Timmberty / Britthai / etc., etc., etc., stating the real reason for the delay in his taking over the board was having to come to terms with having to deal with TBEEE. In doing so, he claims, he has made a great sacrifice for SGT. So SGT board owner martyrdom hasn’t gone by the wayside. Just wait until he hears what TBEEE did to the ties at the Jim Thompson Silk outlet on his last visit.

Love him, hate him, or just laugh at him, TBEEE provides a much needed relief to the boards when members begin taking themselves too seriously. That applies equally well to comments he occasionally makes on this blog. In most cases if what he posts offends you, it’s because he had one too many when he wrote whatever it was he attempted to write. And will gladly admit so when you call him on it. It’s not like he’s consistently belligerent like AK47, so I’m not sure why he rubs Surfcrest the wrong way.

Be that as it may, The Crusty Surfer’s new reign has already allowed those who left the board when Neal began being Neal to resurface, and I’m pleased to see Smiles participating again (and sincerely hope he will soon post a photo of Pot’s beautiful derriere – I’ve missed that even more than Smiles’ occasionally convoluted mutterings that often reach garbled proportions worthy of the late and great LMTU). Boo Hoo also has already chimed back in too with his typical not subtle though he thinks it is brand of bitchery. But then there are few who can remind one and all of what a complete cunt they are in but a single brief sentence, so while I’d be less than pleased with that development, I do need new fodder for my Sunday Funnies posts so it’s all good. I mean it’s not like the Scotsman and his troupe of tainted trollops from the lands of the Queen have yet returned to the roost. And Fountainspew has proclaimed he’s sticking to his snit fit never to return. So there is, after all, a god.

Jabba The Butt can’t be real pleased that his is no longer the board by default for those who disagreed with Da Boss, but Surfy has made it clear that SGT will go back to its strict policy against allowing posts defending child diddling, so Jabba is at least safe in still cornering that segment of the market. It’s good to see that Surfcrest disapproves of child molestation as much as he does silk tie molestation. And for that I’m thankful, as well as hopeful about the future of SGT.

Totally Unrelated Posts You Might Enjoy Anyway: