No one has ever accused me of being egocentric... on here... yet.
Social or Anti-Social Pipe Smoker?
- Thread starter Ctbill
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I worked at a massive video games company some years ago. I liked the tasks but avoided people at the end. They were so full of (uninteresting) trash and all I wanted was to be left alone.
I went freelance. Sitting in my own office, crammed with books, old typewriters, steel nibs and crap. And I started smoking pipe. Alone at last.
I do have a wife and kids and I enjoy their company immensely, but during office hours I work and smoke my pipe utterly alone. And I love it.
Of course, this is in Sweden—smokeless country—so I have never had the chance to smoke my pipe with other people (I saw a bus driver taking a pipe pause once) but I'm not sure I need or want to hang out with people physically when piping. I want to choose my own thoughts. Peoples yapping tend to demand you choose otherwise.
I went freelance. Sitting in my own office, crammed with books, old typewriters, steel nibs and crap. And I started smoking pipe. Alone at last.
I do have a wife and kids and I enjoy their company immensely, but during office hours I work and smoke my pipe utterly alone. And I love it.
Of course, this is in Sweden—smokeless country—so I have never had the chance to smoke my pipe with other people (I saw a bus driver taking a pipe pause once) but I'm not sure I need or want to hang out with people physically when piping. I want to choose my own thoughts. Peoples yapping tend to demand you choose otherwise.
Not taking your pipe out reminded me of a Groucho Marx TV interview , one that got him in trouble.Ok ok ok... I prefer not to have to take my pipe out of my clench when smoking, because that is essential to my enjoyment of smoking a pipe. But, I do go out with my wife shopping and chose a place off to the side of anyone else or just somewhere where I can enjoy my pipe in peace, but there is something magical about pipes that attracts people. I have been asked to allow a child to smell my tobacco, angsty women want to set down and tell me their woes, other men interested and wanting to ask questions about pipes, and people that just want to set near me to smell my tobacco.
I don't have a natural paranoia that people are offended by my smoke. In fact, I have seen way more evidence in roaming the country that people love pipe smoke; Virginias, VaPers, burleys, Latakia, you won't find me smoking any tooty fruities very often... not where people will see me doing it anyways. Maybe the rare Karen in the wild and her fake cough, but I just assume no one likes that slack jawed bitch anyways, ammmirite?
Essentially, I am a better listener than I am a jawer. So, listening while smoking, I can do. I can smile, nod... just listen. If asked a question, I'll wait till I have hit a point where I might need to tamp anyways before responding. If they're in a hurry, no sweat on me. An emergency on someone else's part, NEVER translates into an emergency on my part.
I love people. I am just not that adept at communicating. A pipe is my excuse to just be naturally more introverted. My wife will have her girlfriends over, and I don't mind enjoying my pipe on the deck with them. I just don't want to interact, but I listen. Laugh when appropriate (most of the time), and I enjoy being around them. I just don't want to take my pipe out of my mouth.
I think that keeping my mouth shut, and being the listener makes me a better social person. If I have something to say, I can tell you guys on here.
Yeh, cigar guys, get around them, and all they want to do is swing dicks and have pissing contests. I'll just be here smoking, laughing internally at the toxic masculinity. I don't mind being around it, just don't ask me questions, unless your willing to wait till :::I::: feel like taking my pipe out of my mouth.
Seems he was interviewing a man and asked how many children he had to which the man reported a considerable number of offspring (can’t remember the number). Groucho asked why he had so many children and the man said “because I love my wife”. Groucho responded that he loved his cigar, but he takes it out every now and then. ???
Some of my favourite all time quotes are from Marx.
“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
and
“Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains.”
Some guy....
I don’t really have preference. I smoke wherever it’s allowed with whoever’s around. That being said, for the last year especially, the majority of the time it’s just me.
It's awfully rude to your partner, so it's mostly anti-social! And there's a potential problem I see: At the climax, the body's muscles all over generally tense up - so biting through the stem could be a hazard. But good luck!
Too true
Great question. I have few people that I can honestly say are relaxing to have conversations with, and for me smoking a pipe is all about relaxation. So sometimes I smoke when my wife is around, which is excellent. But probably half the time she is busy or not in the mood, so I smoke alone. I have smoked with other friends, yet being non-smokers, they don't seem to enjoy it. (Ever gotten comfortable with everything layed out , lit up and five minutes into a bowl been asked to move because the wind is sending the smoke in their direction? never again.)
Grizz
Grizz
Smoking a pipe immediately puts me in a thoughtful, meditative space. I might read a good book or interesting article or I might just sit there with an empty mind. However, it would feel antisocial and selfish to spend an enjoyable hour of smoking all by myself, so I never do. I absolutely insist my Yorkshire Terrier be there with me.
It's one of my favorite Marxian quotes. Too bad he never actually said it. But if anyone would have, he would have.
Simple remedy - those don't get another invite ?
I have friends who are anti-smoking and friends who don't smoke but don't mind someone smoking around them (cigars and pipes, not cigarettes). Easy to organise get-togethers for each group separately.
I'd be a social smoker if I hung around anyone that smoked! Unfortunately I am the blacksheep in the herd, and my enjoyment is frowned upon by the others. Ah well!
I dislike repeating something that is not true, so thank you for pointing it out. I caused me do some research.
He admiited to making the statement, but since it was edited for airing, no one heard it except the 200 in the live audience.
Groucho Marx: 'I Love My Cigar' (snopes.com)
I am fortunate to have amongst my friends several pipe smokers. I do enjoy sharing a good conversation with them, and feel that the pipe smoking somehow adds to the conversation. Another friend will join us, a non-smoker, who does not mind the smoke at all. If I am in a non-smoking crowd, I will not smoke.
My wife absolutely hates that when I do that to her as I punctuate a point I am making. .Nothing beats pointing with a pipe to support your argument