I started smoking a pipe back in 2007 (you could still easily find Penzance!) and I've been involved off and on in the forums over the years. I used to post here under a different name, but I can't remember what it was anymore. I took a few years off piping to break my nic habit (formed through cigs), and I'm jumping back in now that I feel it's a safe idea.
But I digress...
I've been reading through old posts trying to catch up, and I've thinking about how different the online community is now compared to when I started 12 years ago. When I started, OTC blends were still pretty looked down upon (only for the old codgers who didn't know any better), cobs were only for beginners and hillbillies, and English lovers were the true connoisseurs. Fast forward eight or so years, and the tides had begun to shift. Before I left, I saw more "Hey...Carter Hall ain't half bad" and "I've been reaching for my cobs more and more these last few months".
Now that I've returned, it seems genuine love for Carter Hall has blossomed, people aren't ashamed to prefer their cobs to briar, and being allergic to Latakia isn't so shameful. Heck, even aros are no longer being recommended for beginners!
When I got my first pipe, I loaded up on aros because that was what was recommended, and all I got was a heck of a lot of tongue bite and flavorless steam/smoke. I love that the common recommendation for beginners is now is a cob full of Carter Hall. I like that there's more focus on blends that aren't Lat bombs, and I see more and more people proclaiming to be VA/VAper/Burley centric guys and gals.
All in all, I think pipers spending more time on the internet has been able to develop our hobby in the right direction. I feel there's a lot less gatekeeping, and a lot more "do what you like" and not looking down on things that lack the classic prestige of a suited man with a briar stuck in his mouth. I've even seen people come out as aro only smokers to no derision! Even hipsters are met with much less disdain than even three years ago.
It's a good time to be a pipe smoker! I've always loved the piping community, but I am happy to see it just keeps getting better and better. ::
But I digress...
I've been reading through old posts trying to catch up, and I've thinking about how different the online community is now compared to when I started 12 years ago. When I started, OTC blends were still pretty looked down upon (only for the old codgers who didn't know any better), cobs were only for beginners and hillbillies, and English lovers were the true connoisseurs. Fast forward eight or so years, and the tides had begun to shift. Before I left, I saw more "Hey...Carter Hall ain't half bad" and "I've been reaching for my cobs more and more these last few months".
Now that I've returned, it seems genuine love for Carter Hall has blossomed, people aren't ashamed to prefer their cobs to briar, and being allergic to Latakia isn't so shameful. Heck, even aros are no longer being recommended for beginners!
When I got my first pipe, I loaded up on aros because that was what was recommended, and all I got was a heck of a lot of tongue bite and flavorless steam/smoke. I love that the common recommendation for beginners is now is a cob full of Carter Hall. I like that there's more focus on blends that aren't Lat bombs, and I see more and more people proclaiming to be VA/VAper/Burley centric guys and gals.
All in all, I think pipers spending more time on the internet has been able to develop our hobby in the right direction. I feel there's a lot less gatekeeping, and a lot more "do what you like" and not looking down on things that lack the classic prestige of a suited man with a briar stuck in his mouth. I've even seen people come out as aro only smokers to no derision! Even hipsters are met with much less disdain than even three years ago.
It's a good time to be a pipe smoker! I've always loved the piping community, but I am happy to see it just keeps getting better and better. ::