Bad Experiences With Another Pipe Smoker?

bubbadreier · Dec 22, 2010

First I must tell you all were I work. I work at a Hotel that is attached to a Casino (two separate companies though), the hotel itself does not allow smoking but I can go into the casino, take my name tag off, sit down, and light up! While taking my long smoke break (my general manager allows me to roll the five 5 minute breaks we are allowed into one 25 minute smoke break), and off in the distance I see another pipe smoker sitting at a bar! I wander up to him and I ask him how he was doing and he responds "fine". I responded that it is unusual to run into another pipe smoker here or anywhere for that matter and he looks at me and says "yep". He then glared at me and turned back around. I walked off dumbfounded, not once have I ever ran into another pipe smoker and not been greeted as an old friend, until now!
Has anyone else ever had a situation like this happen to them?

puffintuff · Dec 22, 2010

I can't say I've had a similiar stuation. I can't even recall the last person I saw smoking a pipe. Maybe he had a real bad day at the Blackjack table.

tanless1 · Dec 22, 2010

Maybe his dog died.

maybe he just got of the phone with his wife's lawyer.

Maybe he is suspicious of strangers on principle.

Maybe he had his fill of yappy drunks.

Maybe he'd killed a man in reno;just to watch him die.

......dare I go on ?

pstlpkr · Dec 22, 2010

Nope.
Wait a minute was that you? :lol:

bubbadreier · Dec 22, 2010

Well I am sure he was having a bad day, but would any of you have let a bad day ruin a chance encounter with another pipe smoker?

mlaug · Dec 22, 2010

Without doing alot of exhaustive research, I have arrived at the conclusion that the world is running a population containing 2% assholes.
It doesn't matter if its a group of like-minded individuals or contact with the general population. I have noticed that they tend to herd up, giving one the impression that there are more than 2%. But generally, I feel the 2% is an accurate estimation.
You ran into a 2%er.

flipflopsandshades · Dec 22, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I was at a B&M and this guy comes in and buys some pipe tobacco. I exude all the characteristics of a rookie pipe smoker and he was cool to me, giving me some weird advice though.
He told me that for the first 6 months I shouldn't clean my pipe other than run a pipe cleaner through it but not detaching the stem from the shank.
Then, after I thanked him for his advice he said something to the effect of "Welcome, pipe smokers are a dying breed." But I have heard, albeit anecdotally, that pipe smoking is on a huge upsurge.
Anyhow, sorry for rambling on--time to light up a bowl.

brazz · Dec 22, 2010

Having a bad day is no reason to treat another person rudely. May he burn out his bowl!!

tedswearingen · Dec 22, 2010

I've had many experiences like this, as a matter of fact. Consequently, I've concluded that the notion of some assumed brotherhood between pipe smokers is a bit presumptuous and that my pipe hobby is for many pipe smokers simply a pipe habit and not a point of common interest.

admin · Dec 22, 2010

Wow. I have never had that happen ... except with Bob.
He always growls at me and tells me to piss off.
Not really. :lol:
Anytime I see another pipe smoker there has always been a camaraderie.

hilojohnny · Dec 22, 2010

Yes, I have had a bad experience with a pipe smoker.....I'll just leave it at that... :evil:

hauntedmyst · Dec 22, 2010

I had an experience like that once. Luckily the night before, I had just watched a show on dealing with difficult people and the method they showed for winning them over works like a charm!
Next time that happens, take your pipe out of your mouth just smile at the person and remain smiling. Then lunge at them quickly and bite on to their neck and hold on and growl until they are on the ground whimpering like a bitch. Then stand up and pee on them, marking them as your territory. They will never be rude to you again that is for sure!
(Ok, I saw it on the Discovery Channel in a show about wolves, but the principles are the same.)

jaxz · Dec 22, 2010

I've only run into a couple of fellow pipe smokers, most out here on the ship with me. Instant connection.
Ashore it's been the same experience, like we're life long friends getting re-connected.
I think there is a resurgence of the art or I'm more aware of it now? Who knows, I've always believed that tobacco is best enjoyed in it's natural form...hence I quit smoking cigs years ago.

fred · Dec 22, 2010

It's a bit odd.

bubbadreier · Dec 22, 2010

Hauntedmyst, I guess I am going to have try that next time!

thomc80 · Dec 22, 2010

Yeah i may try Hauntedmysts solution at work tomorrow. Lotta assholes in retail lol.

teamhavoc28 · Dec 22, 2010

never had that issue in public before. I think alot of it adds up to running into hobbyists like most on this forum rather than pipe smokers. Pipe smokers are just using pipes as a tool to get a tobacco fix. I lean towards pipe being a smoker versus a hobbyist. I would consider myself a cigar hobbyist cause I love collecting and tasting and have more experience with it. All that being said, the guy just sounds like a jerk who wasn't worth the waste of good words. Not enough good people much less decent pipers in the world.

sparroa · Dec 22, 2010

Just last night I ran into "one of our kind". He was a friendly enough older gentleman. I passed him as he was huddled in a doorway with his briar while the rain billowed down around us. I was in a hurry and needed to use the ATM inside but I remarked that it was good to see a fellow pipe smoker, whatever the weather. We small talked when he came entered a moment later and then he asked if I had enough tobacco - he said he had plenty Borkum Riff to spare up in his office. I thought it was very generous and told him so but I truly had to run. It was a nice experience - second time I've ever approached someone about the hobby and I'm glad to have gotten a good response. Last time, the chap was rather brusque and indifferent - I got him to reveal his blend though, Amphora Original. I think its just his personality, I've shopped at his small shop and he isn't the most outgoing guy around. I know for a fact he was a sailor in his day and probably views the pipe differently than I do. To each their own! I hope to run into more people as time goes on.

htmn246 · Dec 23, 2010

I was walking arounnd today and stoped to watch a guy put up a sign and he asked about the pipe i was smoking ( a Savinelli). turns out someone gave him a Peterson and now he smokes pipes only. he even goes to the same B&M shop. nice guy.

chlogeo3 · Dec 23, 2010

Just because you see a person with a pipe in their mouth does not mean that person is one of us.

Bad Experiences With Another Pipe Smoker?

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