Calling All Hobbyists

[JOHN72]

No offense. But calling pipe smoking a hobby is like calling an arse wiping a beauty routine.

I agree with you friend bullet08................

 

[Ettrick puffer]

Do you know anything about the tobacco he received from the Russians? I have read that green rustica--makkhorka--was the standard smoke of the red army. It's always been an interesting subject to me.

Yes makkhorka was the name and I recall him saying it was strong.
Happy smokes
Ettrick puffer

 

[The Clay King]

My introduction to pipes was seeing English Civil War / British Army Redcoat re-enactors smoking clay pipes; this is the reason I got into smoking clays...

 

[Grangerous]

Someone got tired of those recent graduated ROTC 2d Lieutenants telling them what to do I suspect.

But, Granger is an acceptable blend in a pinch ... a tight pinch. Speaking for myself of course.

I suppose that @saltedplug and others will remain incredulous. ?

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Much as I resent being labeled a hobbyist, (Why are labels soooo damned necessary for some.), there are members here who, rightly so, consider some aspects of the tobacco pipe a hobby. Collectors of pipes, labels, tobacco paraphernalia, are into the hobby. Some may even smoke a bowl now and then. There is also a percentage, most only stay a short time, who are starting smoking, smoke a bit and then move onto something else. I smoke because it satisfies a physical need, I enjoy it and can afford it. I do resent being lumped in with the hobbyists. Being so implies I'm not deadly serious about my pipes and such. Tobacco hobbyist is certainly an acceptable recreation. The appellation isn't bad in and of itself but, it denigrates my addiction, financial outlay, etc.

You make a good point.
I freely admit that my pipe smoking is a result of addiction.
I also reckon there's a tendency among the general public to think - Haha, those amusing and charming pipe smokers, aren't they quaint.
And they assume that only cigarette smokers are the real smokers.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I use tobacco as a drug or medicine. I always use the pipe because I find pipes beautiful and perfect for the purpose: they encourage a ritual and meditation that should accompany this medicine. Although I love old movies where stars like Bette Davis and Paul Henreid smoke cigarettes so beautifully in glorious black and white, I do not like much the reality of cigarettes, and I have never appreciated cigars. So I smoke a pipe, and only a pipe.

I grew up around tobacco chewers, especially my dad. When I was very young he had me nibble a plug which I believe was called "Bull of the Woods," I have never chewed since.

I smoke the pipe for alertness, heightened concentration, courage, a better attitude, and, though I am not Native American, an improved spirit in the deepest sense of the word I am capable of giving it. For this reason, I usually smoke on and off through the morning when I am working. I smoke the pipe also to relax in the evening after the day is over, but it is far more important to me in the morning. I ride a motorcycle for transportation and sometimes when I am taking an especially long ride to see family or friends and I begin to feel fuzzy or unfocused I will smoke the pipe while checking the tires and chain. After that I can go on feeling sharp and alert.

I almost never smoke socially, and on those rare occasions when i do I find it awkward. I try never to smoke out of nervous habit or boredom, though sometimes I am guilty of this. And although I love the flavor and scent of a simple tobacco, I never smoke for flavor alone. I went though a years long faze when I was trying all sorts of different blends. No more.

When I am not working or dealing with other stressful or demanding things, I find I do not need to smoke and I am fine without the pipe.

Because of all of this, I like strong, straightforward tobaccos--especially straight burley. Low nicotine tobaccos frustrate me and sometimes give me a headache. Sweet tobaccos irritate my mouth. Heavily smoke tobaccos like latakia seem to "get in the way." Right now I smoke C&D dark burley and little else, and I am very pleased with it.

I have half a dozen cob pipes of various sizes and shapes. I have that many just to rotate. I will eventually try a briar, but I can't see myself ever collecting pipes, and any pipe I have must be a work horse that will take a lot of abuse.

So no, pipe smoking is not a hobby for me.

Great post.
Thank you for your time.
A very interesting read.

 

[judcole]

I started smoking a pipe in college because I thought it was part of being a "College Man". Never smoked cigs. I eschew high nicotine blends. I enjoy the flavors of tobacco. Don't chase down elusive blends. Don't collect any special pipe brand or shape. Try not to overthink it.

 

[Grangerous]

Does that make you special??............ Asking for a friend, he don't smoke Granger........

We’re all special, even your imaginary friend.

 

[danish]

What 40 years ago started as curiosity, enabled by the then vast supply of tobacconists, a low pipe tobacco tax, advertising and the then many pipe smokers in Denmark, resulted in addiction for me. And a hobby. I have since also enjoyed using my smoking habit as an excuse to leave the room/take a break, several times during the day: Physical addiction and mental escapism.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I guess I'm a "hobbyist". I posted in my introduction that a little Nording Woodcock among everything else that would normally get my attention in a photo spread in Pointing Dog Journal somehow triggered something. Gave up cigarettes at age 28 when I got married, never looked back on that, but there's always been something about the smell of pipe smoke and the contemplative nature of the people in my life I remember as they enjoyed their pipes. Somehow I ended up here, started devouring posts and information. I started carefully selecting some tobaccos to experiment with based on information on here and the same with some pipes and pretty soon had a nice little "stash". Even managed to finally find an elusive but new Woodcock (and coincidentally happened upon a mint used one last night!). Was so taken with pipes for fun I commissioned one from @cramptholomew after reading about a couple of commissions by @Chasing Embers. Felt like I should take a break from my journey after a lengthy bout with the virus that shall not be named back in the late winter/early spring, but feeling great and bird hunting season is opening up soon and having some fun re-exploring the forum and making plans for what I'll experiment with from my humble storehouse when the little guy and I score our first pheasants of the season next week.

And no, Iowa beating Penn State was not a reason for firing up a pipe last night - that called for very fine Scotch!

 

[telescopes]

I’ve smoked pipes now for ne’er four decades. They require that I make time to do nothing. The rituals of pipe smoking provide me context for order and discipline in an otherwise chaotic existence that is emblematic of modern living. Like @Briar Lee , the lore behind a pipe provides me a connection to things that came before me. I relish knowing that because I can recall and celebrate the past that time is not finite so long as someone else remembers. I appreciate diversity in objects and pipes provide me a great joy as objects d’art. I have my own blend of tobacco that I have smoked the greater part of my adult life. I have continuity. Like @cosmicfolklore, I am curious by nature and can’t but help suck up as much knowledge about the world, it peoples, and it’s objects. Pipes are doorways for all three. I would enjoy very much having a bowl with him and our story telling lawyer all while sitting on the porch at the Briary. My enjoyment with tobaccos mirrors most everything I stated about pipes. In the end, life is a story and is one nicely ruminated while smoking a pipe.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I’ve smoked pipes now for ne’er four decades. They require that I make time to do nothing. The rituals of pipe smoking provide me context for order and discipline in an otherwise chaotic existence that is emblematic of modern living. Like @Briar Lee , the lore behind a pipe provides me a connection to things that came before me. I relish knowing that because I can recall and celebrate the past that time is not finite so long as someone else remembers. I appreciate diversity in objects and pipes provide me a great joy as objects d’art. I have my own blend of tobacco that I have smoked the greater part of my adult life. I have continuity. Like @cosmicfolklore, I am curious by nature and can’t but help suck up as much knowledge about the world, it peoples, and it’s objects. Pipes are doorways for all three. I would enjoy very much having a bowl with him and our story telling lawyer all while sitting on the porch at the Briary. My enjoyment with tobaccos mirrors most everything I stated about pipe. In the end, life is a story and is one nicely ruminated while smoking a pipe.

I suspect that our Ozarkanian friend would dominate the conversation, ha ha! But, yes, even so it would be a day worthy of remembrance.

I enjoy learning more about anything, even if I am not passionate about them myself, I love hearing about other people’s passions also, maybe I should add most or some instead of all. But, I’ve been entertained by listening to someone explain the history or details of all sorts of things I initially thought I wouldn’t. Glass is an area that I never would have thought interesting, until I met a guy down in Tannehill that rolls sheets by hand like they would have for early colonial homes. Or, a lecture Mrs Cosmic dragged me to on the history of beads. I was wow’d by how essential beads were in the historical economy and why. Not so much the guy who collects car license plates though. YMMV

 

[telescopes]

I suspect that our Ozarkanian friend would dominate the conversation, ha ha! But, yes, even so it would be a day worthy of remembrance.

I enjoy learning more about anything, even if I am not passionate about them myself, I love hearing about other people’s passions also, maybe I should add most or some instead of all. But, I’ve been entertained by listening to someone explain the history or details of all sorts of things I initially thought I wouldn’t. Glass is an area that I never would have thought interesting, until I met a guy down in Tannehill that rolls sheets by hand like they would have for early colonial homes. Or, a lecture Mrs Cosmic dragged me to on the history of beads. I was wow’d by how essential beads were in the historical economy and why. Not so much the guy who collects car license plates though. YMMV

I suspect that if you could get that flat board Ford in Winslow, Arizona you might think differently about license plates. ?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I suspect that if you could get that flat board Ford in Winslow, Arizona you might think differently about license plates. ?

Remind me to tell you the story of finding a guy ogling my personalized car plate, and unwittingly falling prisoner to an hour long lecture on plates. I could tell the guy had a mental “difference” and didn’t want to be rude, but ended up having thoughts of jamming the pencil I had right into my thigh, just to go “ooops, I probably need to go get this seen about, please excuse me. Buh bye!”

 

[virginialover]

I like the tobacco flavor first and the nicotine second, I find that there needs to be a certain balance between them though. I like the ritual of smoking a pipe at the appropriate time and I never smoke when I' m stressed but always to enhance my mental well being.

 

[JOHN72]

I like the tobacco flavor first and the nicotine second, I find that there needs to be a certain balance between them though. I like the ritual of smoking a pipe at the appropriate time and I never smoke when I' m stressed but always to enhance my mental well being.

The same happens to me. I never smoke when I'm angry or stressed..................I just let the black cloud pass in my head. Even if I have to be a few days without smoking.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Discipline is a muscle; like any other it needs exercise.

For the sake of argument…

SaltedPlug,
What is an addictive substance? — Food? I eat one meal per day. Alcohol? I never drink to impairment. Sex? Ok. You got me.

In each of the examples given, we find countless examples of addicted human beings… yes or no?

Addictive Personalities form pleasurable habits. No one touches a hot iron twice. -It isn’t pleasurable.

I’m a former US Army Drill Sergeant. No one controls me… but me.

Nice delusion. ??

 

[Grangerous]

Nice delusion. ??

Nice delusion. ??

Do you honestly believe that every person who enjoys a pipe does so solely for a nicotine addiction?

If that were true, everyone who enjoyed a drink in moderation would be an alcoholic. — Shhhhh, it’s also highly addictive.

Here’s a shock for you. Not everyone on this forum is an ex-cigarette smoker. Or dipper.

 

[warren]

I don't but, everyone who enjoys the pipe has a brain that enjoys the nicotine. Even those smokers who deny feeling a wee bit euphoric/relaxed as they enjoy the nicotine hitting their gray matter.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Do you honestly believe that every person who enjoys a pipe does so solely for a nicotine addiction?

If that were true, everyone who enjoyed a drink in moderation would be an alcoholic. — Shhhhh, it’s also highly addictive.

Here’s a shock for you. Not everyone on this forum is an ex-cigarette smoker. Or dipper.

Note the smiley faces…??