Some claim to be all about freedom, but that manifests itself in the YTPC by their taking pride in upsetting others. It validates their sense of courage and demonstrates how free they are. It makes me sad.

Thanks Simon. I’m a relatively new viewer in the YTPC and rarely comment but your thoughtful discussion here has inspired a venture onto the keyboard. I’ve been attracted to this community because it is just that, a community. Not of like minded folks but of people who share the joy of this hobby and who, while sharing their pipe journey share bits of their lives; their joys, their discoveries, their losses, their gifts, their ideas and their philosophies. It’s a community that has, for the most part, tolerated our individual differences in light of our common interests. Thanks for the reminder that this is a place where we can disagree without being disagreeable, where we can disagree about the best method of packing a pipe yet tolerate, learn from and even enjoy those differences. Your message of the value of tolerance and kindness is a breath of fresh air with just a hint of woodsmoke and mown hay.

I’m new to the pipe smoking world, and not aware of this drama or conflict. But I subscribe to channels I like - for the reasons I subscribe. I subscribed to this channel because I have a newfound interest in smoking a pipe, and you both make and sell them. You also bring a wealth knowledge to your pipe related discussions. I’m also subscribed to SpurgeonPiper, and I’m subscribed to that channel because I enjoy Wilson’s reviews and his beginner tips have been quite helpful. But I also subscribed to his channel because, he, like me, is a pastor who holds to very similar doctrinal beliefs, so I actually enjoy him talking both pipe and religion. He’s a great guy and very upfront and unapologetic about who he is and why he has his channel. But if he simply says something I don’t agree with, I’m not ready to throw him off a cliff. Goodnight, far too many overly sensitive people these days. I think mature and respectful people should be able to simply disagree and move on if they come across statements or content they don’t agree with. And if it’s something you simply cannot seem to tolerate don’t subscribe to those channels Why waste time watching and responding to what you find most disagreeable? And if people change their emphasis and you don’t like it just unsubscribe and don’t watch them anymore. But I would hope we can tolerate disagreeing with people to some extent, and not have to cancel everything we don’t agree with in life. That seems like a much more enjoyable and plausible life to me.

Thank you Simon for taking time to talk about this. For me the YTPC is also an "oasis" as you have put it. I think Silviu and myself have, and we made it clear, a lot of respect for other peoples political an religious standing, but these topics really divide and sparkle conflicts. It was meant as a polite request without trying to limit other presentors or viewers. Thanks for sharing yours. Stay well, Janez

Very well said Simon! Serene smokes, Gary

Very reasonable request. Well said, Simon.

Great video Simon, you spoken and summarized things so well. I was not aware of this riff going on (which is not a bad thing I guess) Team Freedom for me is nothing about wars, religion or history but the right to choose and make adult decisions in a pressing society as of lately. Well said and as always a great perspective. Regards Mark

Thanks Simon for your comments. You perfectly express my personal opinion. Its easy when you read the comment to detect who is on an holy war and who actually cares about pipe and tobacco. Formers are now blacklisted

Always a pleasure catching up and sharing a pipe with you Simon, I appreciate you brother. Everyone has the right to their channel and their point of view. I haven’t gotten involved but I’ve heard a bit during a Live. I’m patriotic and proud of what the U.S. has accomplished. Not all Germans are evil. But I’ll say this, it’s a pipe community. “When in Rome do as the Romans do.” When in the pipe community do as a pipe enthusiast would do. Everyone may enjoy their pipe peacefully and most people don’t want drama or conflict especially when unnecessary. We all come here for pipes, baccy, laughs, learning and relaxation. Let’s provide those things for people here where many places don’t. I appreciate you and your video! Well put and you have my thanks brother! Happy smokes to you and everyone here 😀 You’re right, media is awful and is often cancerous; people have less respect, accountability and consequences and it’s not a good thing. I’m in favor of patriotism no matter where you’re at but we can discuss viewpoints in a civil manner and remain friends and that needs to continue. Cheers bud and happy smokes!

This is the first YTPC video I have watched in a few years, SImon, and I'm very pleased to see it and agree with the topic. It is natural that we all have different perspectives, positions, interests, interpretations and experiences, so it is inevitable (and valuable) that we have different opinions and evaluations. This is what either allows us to communicate and evolve, or to fight and harm each other. I applaud your choice and recommendation! Peace and be well, Simon.

All this needed to be said Simon. As always you have wisely assessed the issues and offered common sense solutions to calm the disputes and fall outs and move back to the core modus operandi that used to prevail in the YTPC most of the time. I hope your wisdom calms the choppy waters and peace is restored if that is what all parties really want??

Cruising KZfaq is like going to a thrift store. Most of the stuff is crap, but every now and then you find great content. The YTPC is the same way, the good shows get the subscribers and the crappy ones wither away - pay no attention to the ignorant fools and watch Simon instead :) All Good points Simon.

Very valuable addition, Simon, thank you. Very shrewd observations of society in general👌

Thank you for explaining your thoughts so well and encouraging others.

People dont want to go to special echo chambers to discuss politics and religion and I think they shouldn't. I listened to everything you said and I think the "controversy" has been healthy and good for the YTPC. there are so many Ytpc members thst no one could watch all the content anyway and a group this big is going to form sub groups. its human nature. You dont have to control every situation. This is youtube and its owned by one of tbe scariest of the scary companies and it's already censored more than enough. you can use ytpc as an ostrich hole and stick your head in and atay safe if you want but I prefer people to be free to talk openly with as little censorship as possible, otherwise you DO end up with echo chambeda and factions and splinter cells. censorship is what would divide ytpc more than people talking about God or freedom. I appreciate hearing your perspective though! Thanks.

I've been in the " YTPC " for 14 years now and there has always been some kind of conflict come up once every year or two. But this latest conflict and so called debate has gotten larger and longer lasting than any other than I can remember. I'm sick of it and the best way to react to this is to say nothing and do nothing and the instigators will eventually go away. By arguing with them or making videos about it just feeding their need to be controversial.

i agree completely. i never talk about politics or religion on my channel. the ytpc is and escape from all that and i have sadly found myself moving away from youtube because of all those type of videos, i hate to have to unsubscribe but i just dont want to hear it. im here for the pipes!

Very well said Simon. I 100% completely agree with you. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you for such great words of wisdom.

What can i say Simon ? You are a true gentleman ! I am thanking you in my name and Janez name ! YTPC is a tradition. When you join you need to carry on that tradition or don’t join in my opinion. I did apologize to you for the way I’ve treated you in that comment with Bob , but I will do it again. Please accept my apologies! Me a culpa ! Silviu🤝🤝

I am here to learn about new and old blends, tobaccos, pipe smoking around the world, pipe history and pipe culture. Naturally conversations will go onto other topics. It’s who you choose to resonate with. I remember my dad and uncle spoiling some wonderful dinners my aunt hosted debating politics and religion.

Beautiful pipe!

Hi Simon. I think your pipes are amazing works of art. I’m just curious as to whether or not you create anything in the 150 to 200 dollar range?(sorry I am not aware of the conversion rate to the Euro at present). Love your channel and Shalom!

We are a better community when we are at peace. Good stuff

Thank you, Sir. I also have strong political and religious beliefs. There are many channels that I watch in line with them. I follow the YTPC for one thing only: pipes and tobacco. Everything else is irritating or superfluous.

Great video, Sir! Thanks for your thoughts! Well said :)

Fully agree, but as someone from a slightly younger generation with even younger kids I believe that things will calm down. The issue is we are witnessing every idiot or group of idiots who stream and share non stop. Before one simple didn't hear that much about them. Everything is highly superficial, to s large extent uniformed. Great analysis of yours either way

Totally agree Simon ! Very well said . Unfortunately a lot of hate in this world.Enjoy Your week !

Primarily I am a pipe smoker, the YTPC adds another dimension, I watch channels that add to my enjoyment and relaxation. I am old enough to make decisions on what I watch, believe in and hold dear. I agree, Simon that the YTPC is still an oasis, if you are selective on what you view.

Beautifully said!

Well said Simon. More power to your elbow!

Good Afternoon 😊 Beautiful Pipe 😍 That was a good video by the two gentlemen👌🏽 Nice Tobacco you having😋 Agree , every action gets a reaction 😮People should be held accountable for they action , Consequences 😢 We can differ in an opinion and disagree on things but we can be civil towards one another 🤗 Well Said Simon 👏🏼👏🏼 Have a wonderful day & God Bless You 🙏🏽 Greetings From South Africa 🇿🇦

What a eloquently put request sir. Well stated and 100% true. Thank you for that. The hardest point for me to overcome, just one step further, is that of perspective and responsibility. We all have our own inate perspectives that shapes opions and can at many times direct action. many folks fail to see the responsibility to respect each other and allow for reasonable discourse. Most people seem to search for ways to create ideological echo chambers (which i acknowledge in many ways may be a normal tribal behavior) this will disrupt the wonderful place the YTPC is and can (and should) continue to be. That's what drove my wife and I to join and present as well, the absolutely wonderful place the YTPC is. On a separate note you Sir recently received High praise in a Video Response for a giveaway we are putting on asking for "who is your most inspirational YTPC channel" from a gentleman standswithafistpiper. I thought/ hoped you might wish to check it out. He is of course 100% correct.

Exactly what I expected.

Well said…thanks Simon. 👍😀

Thank you.

Yes. Well said Simon.

Has anyone noticed, that even the leaders of this fine nation, do not behave like ladies and gentlemen.

Good points Simon

Excellent subject I hope I have never upset anyone if I ever do I hope they tell me I have so that I can apologise to them and the the friends I have made in this wonderful community .

Well said Simon!

Family 😂❤

We’ll thought out video. Generally I agree with you, but everyone just separating xyz from the ytpc is at some level disingenuous. I say that because so many people’s religious life is at the center of who they are, not just a facet of it. Some people cannot share about anything if they don’t include that. And someone’s channel being an expression themselves is a reasonable. Case in point- Wilson sharing about reformed baptist liturgy in his most recent video. He’s a reformed baptist minister. Him sharing is reasonable. It’s a core part of himself. As I share that I of course understand that he or Ethan or others who I conjure up in my mind as doing this well are doing so simply as an outflow of their own beliefs, not overtly proselytizing or in a way that is confrontational…. Or with an air of superiority. They simply share with grace, love, and care. This sort of thing is some of the best that youtube, not just the ytpc has to offer. Cheers friend. Add one to your subscriber base.

YTPC TEAM FREEDOM is simply a group of people who believe and will stand up for a person’s freedom to speak on matters while smoking a pipe (without being socially ostracized by YTPC members). Their lives, thoughts, and feelings shouldn’t be oppressed due to, “expected etiquette” in the YTPC. I smoke my pipe, talk about my faith, experiences, and life (along side of what I’m smoking and with what pipe). It would be equally considerate if people would look past their bigotry and realize how intimate our faith is. It’s also divisive to make such a request. However, I do place a (P/C) on my political/Christian videos. I will continue to do that.

I don’t watch these videos to see politics or religion. If the tuber wants to put that on his channel, that’s fine, I’ll let the algorithm know (using the tools it makes available to me for that very purpose). Unfortunately, this also will “ding” non-offending tubers. But I’m willing to miss out on those, to avoid the offenders.

Hear hear

Thank you for this. I truly agree, and thanks for the little mention. The words that you used express what I have been trying to say much better than I could. Ed

Everyone has to expect comments, good or bad...Or turn off the comments if you want to rant about politics or religion and not respect the opposing opinion😊 Talking about History is a must to not repeat it...I dont believe speaking about any war is hurting the nation of the horrors the happened. I believe the "keyboard warriors" would argue in person no problem, I had a very disgusting comment from a YTPCr and I reported it...He used my daughter as an example to protect rights of pedophilia as a TeamFreedom statement😮Sick...Ive been unsubscribing like crazy lately..too many ppl with an alter ego hehe Burn the Badge lol Cheers Simon

The concept of Team Freedom is about traditional American values. I am American and we are one of the only countries that really fight for our constitutional rights. And some of us are pipe smokers. American patriots that believe in freedom of speech. I don’t think that’s the issue with the drama. Some people watch the videos disagree with politics and religion. They say you should not talk about that stuff. And that’s why there is Team Freedom, the belief that you can speak freely. The simple solution is don’t watch the video if you don’t want to. Instead of saying “you can’t talk about that” just don’t watch. Problem solved.

Here here Simon

Very well said Simon. America stopped being a Christian nation that is a huge problem.