We believe everyone is entitled to their opinion here, unlike other pipe forums where comments, posts, and threads get deleted, locked, etc. We try very hard not to over moderate here and let people express themselves as they wish, within limits of course. That is why Dek's comment is still there. We did not delete it because we didn't like it; we let it stay and responded to it.
If someone wishes to express their opinions (which we let them do), they have to expect and accept that others have the same right to express their opposing view points and opinions as well.
Kevin and I try to keep this site a friendly place where ALL pipe smokers feel comfortable in coming here and learning, talking, etc. about pipes and sometimes a few other things. We try really hard to let the members be themselves and just talk, without being overbearing and interjecting ourselves as moderators. I guess by us being that way, we act the same as part of the community and not like we are above the community. We do not want to drive people off of or away from the site. That is the last thing that we want to do.
But we do not allow snobbery here, or super anti-snobbery for that matter. If someone is, what some people refer to as, a ‘pipe snob’, that is fine. They are still welcome here; just don’t flood the site with snobbery, keep it to themselves. The same goes for the super anti-snobs. They are welcome, but keep it to themselves as well.
What I am trying to say is; if someone only smokes the most expensive pipes and tobacco that there is, great! But don’t make others feel like something less if they don’t, can’t, or choose not to.
On the other hand, if someone only smokes cheaper pipes and tobacco that is great as well! But don’t tell the ones that smoke the more expensive stuff that they are crazy, dumb, etc. for spending that kind of money on their stuff.
We want all pipers to feel welcome here with no serious arguments over stupid things like the price of their stuff. We are all pipers and should act like a brotherhood and stand up for each others right to smoke what they like in whatever pipe that they like. If you enjoy it, that is all that matters. We don’t want other people saying that someone is ‘wrong’ for not doing it a certain way.
We respect everyone’s right to their opinions and to disagree. Post your opinions, disagree with each other, do all of that stuff. But do it respectively.
With all of that being said; I will directly address the comment made by Dek and why we don’t like snobbery.
The reason that Kevin and I get so upset at pipe snobbery is; it weakens an already weak hobby. By saying that a certain type of person should not smoke pipes is just wrong. It also might make people wonder if they are that ‘certain’ type of person and might make them think that they shouldn’t start smoking pipes because they will be looked at as a misfit. This is not the way to help grow a dying hobby.
For just the same reason that we all get upset at the anti’s, because they try to tell us what we should and shouldn’t do, we (Kevin and I) get upset at pipe snobs because they do the same thing. People shouldn’t be made to feel like they are inferior by smoking a different pipe or tobacco that others might deem ‘inappropriate’. And people should definitely never be told or made to feel like they are not good enough to smoke pipes.
Pipes ARE for everyone to enjoy.
I find it ironic that most pipe snobs consider themselves friendly, intelligent, well mannered, helpful, and intellectual, but they are the ones who say that pipe smoking should only be done by a select few and that some of the people who smoke pipes have no idea what pipe smoking is all about.
Everyone is welcome here; snobs, super anti-snobs, and everyone in between. But by coming here, keep all of the negative stuff to yourself and don’t put people down for being and/or doing things different than you do or for just being different.
At the end of the day, we are talking about pipes and tobacco, a common bond that we all share and love. Is it really that important what type of pipe or tobacco it is?
