Gentlemen, Dames As the tinsel goes up, so too — one observes — does the general sense of existential despair. It’s quite all right to acknowledge this. We all feel it. December, for all its glitter and glühwein, is a treacherous month for the solitary man. The shops overflow with couples in matching knitwear. Invitations abound, yet somehow all lead to events titled “Merry and Married.” Even the wine begins to taste smug — much like those Christmas cards, plastered with faux-happy family photos and a Labrador in antlers. And to compound the matter — as if the universe were actively conspiring — His Grace’s football (“soccer”) team has entered into what can only be described as a tactical winter hibernation, languishing at the wrong end of the Premier League, with a festive fixture list that promises further psychological ruin. It is, one might say, a perilous time for morale. So let it be known: Christmas is not, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year. For many of us, it is a brutal reminder that one is not in Saint‑Tropez, not in love, and not — despite heroic efforts — anywhere near the top four. So what is a gentleman to do? He is to rally. He is to send for cigars. He is to check on his comrades. He is to pour a generous port and raise it — not to sentiment, but to sovereignty. The Society of Ordinary Gentlemen should hold the line this season, and I encourage us all to connect more. I shall be available for chats, dispatches, and perhaps a festive conference call — accompanied by an iced bottle of Veuve Clicquot from my Spanish hacienda, where I shall be restoring myself, most likely by the pool. This is our Dunkirk. So if you see a fellow member adrift this December — do not let him drift. Send a message. Extend a hand. After all, a gentleman does not let another gentleman go mad alone in December. Rene

The Society of Ordinary Gentlemen is supported by the donations of the members. However, donations are not what gives the members value to the Society. It is the quality of the posts and the active participation of the members that provide the value. The Society was created for the members to support each other and build friendships, not businesses but our Society is completely donor funded and without that support, we will not be able to operate. The monthly rent for our community space is $99 and without monthly support, we would not be able to exist. There are only a few members that are supporting the Society with donations, and a few others that are supporting the Society through their efforts and helping to promote this great community that we have. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the support of these few members and let them know that we could not survive without all that you do for this Society. All others are benefitting from this group on the backs of these few that are helping to further the success and future of our Society. The alternative to this is to begin charging a membership fee. I truly do not like this idea and hope it does not come down to this. Because of this, the Gentlemen’s Patronage Day will be put on the calendar with the first being January 10th. This day will serve as a reminder in lieu of a donation email reminder every month although I will still post updates from time to time about our Society. As stated, we are not looking for strictly donations but also need more people to help advance our Society with their efforts. Further than that, any new ideas that would draw more interest to this community would also be greatly appreciated. The success of this community depends on all of us. My hope is to spark interest in men and women to go back to the respectable way of being a gentleman or lady. I believe that when men stopped dressing up in the early 60s is when society started going downhill. Morals, respect, and integrity started disappearing shortly after. After that, ladies started following suit due to the loss of the respect by men. As men, we are to lead by example with respect, manners, and integrity. Believe it or not gentlemen, people are watching how you carry yourself and the way you act. I believe that this Society could help to change that and bring back those morals, integrity and living intentionally.

The Society of Ordinary Gentlemen, the O.G.’s of Gentlemanly Behavior, was created to provide a haven where gentlemen and ladies can communicate with each other in a polite and courteous setting. While many discussions will center around genteel behavior, humor, fashion, food, mental and physical well-being, and the active mentoring of a new generation of gentlemen, no topic of discussion is off limits provided the discussion is conducted within the Code of Conduct of the Society. The Society of Ordinary Gents is not a platform for recruiting members into sub-groups, special membership groups, or educational or financial opportunities. Poachers, Charlatans, or Internet Self-Help Gurus will be banned. The Society is not going to teach you how to be James Bond, John Wick, or the secret methods to make women want you. The Society is not a for-profit group or business. Essentially, The Society of Ordinary Gents is the online equivalent of friends enjoying a cigar, a bourbon and the company of others, as we discuss meaningful and trivial matters sitting in comfortable chairs. Membership: - Must Be a Legal Adult - Name, Age Range, Occupation/Status, General Location on Profile is Recommended - Hobbies and Interest on Profile is Recommended - An Alias is Acceptable for Privacy. - Introductory Posts are Required within 72 hours. A Gentleman or Lady Introduces Themselves Code of Conduct: - Must Be Courteous, Professional, Honorable - No Derogatory Comments Towards Members - Lively Debate is Welcome, Personal Attacks Will Not Be Tolerated - No Gratuitous Profanity or Sexually Explicit Content - Must Have a Sense of Humor - Being Offended is Up to the Reader - Lurkers, Looky-Loos and Inactive (30+ days) Members May Be Removed. - Failure to write an Introductory Post will result in removal, with the option to reapply. No Solicitation: - The Society of Ordinary Gentlemen Does Not Sell, or Tolerate the Selling of Products, Services or Ideas for Commercial Purposes.