Do Pipe Snobs Really Exist?

[jpberg]

I think what exists are people who smoke anything from PA in a cob to Gentleman's Mixture in an Ilsted who are just plain insecure. I've never met a man who was comfortable in his own skin who gave a rip what anybody else was smoking.

 

[irishsmoker]

+1 jpberg

 

[baronsamedi]

There is snobbery in about any activity. I'm a home brewer and I make fun of brewing nerds and picky little wine snobs all the time. They can't find it conceivable that I can make something in a bucket that tastes better than something they have obsessed over and picked at and measured to death. And I do. Keep in mind, I have nothing against seeking the best quality and consistency possible. Like most things, though, I think the worst thing you can do is take something too seriously.

 

[bigvan]

"Very interesting, bigvan. When you say "high end," does that mean Ashton, Dunhill, etc. or more like Bang, Ivarsson, et al.?"
I just did a quick scan and the pipes currently being discussed are by Eltang, Rad Davis, Castello, Peter Heeschen, the Geigers, Bruce Weaver, Steve Morrisette and the like. There's even a thread in praise of a particular PETERSON, so it's not what I'd consider "snobby".

 

[ohin3]

Of course it exists. Seems to be human nature. I'm more in the category of folks who don't give a rip what others are smoking or how they live their lives. I have a hard enough time looking after myself let alone thinking about what everyone else is doing. I actually enjoy high end tobacco in a high end pipe and I also enjoy low end drug store tobaccos in a corn cob. I think both are different experiences but equally satisfying. I encountered some snobbery in some of the B&Ms I used to visit when I was younger. Never really understood it, but oh well. I do agree that the snobbery is on both sides though.

 

[danno]

Yeah, as previously mentioned, I think there are a small degree of snobs in any hobby.

Folks tend to have an emotional investment in any hobby. Too bad, as I truly believe that they are

missing out on a lot of fun and life experience. I just had to get a new computer due to my Dell

eating the dust. I got a small netbook to hold me over while I make up my mind on what I want to get this time.

I'm running into an awful lot of snobbery and arm chair crtics. Funny thing is, if you

interrogate them as to the basis of their snobbery, you often find out that they have little

experience, and a lot of assumptions rule their thinking.

 

[ocpsdan]

Pipe Snobs exist because they feel they've found something truly wonderful and worth sharing (i.e., handcarved pipes, non-aro tobacco, high quality accessories, etc.) and want everyone to see things through their point of view because they truly believe their way of piping is best. And honestly, I agree with them. I've receiving a much higher quality experience through the items of my inventory that hard work was put into and higher priced.
Unfortunately, pipe smokers become pipe snobs and grow very bitter when they try to share with the piping community the merits of their findings only to have corn cobs and PA shoved in their face by stubborn pipers stuck in their ways and unopen to suggestion. They only want what is best for their brethren, and grow snobby when met with adversity.
Typically, those pipers who look to experience more within the hobby get more from it; many can see both sides of the fence. I'm one of those folks! Any piper is a welcome one in my eyes.
I won't call you a lesser pipeman because your go-to is an OTC, and your preferred pipe is a cob. They do serve their purpose in the pipe-world. However, I will try to show you IMO what I've found to be a quality experience with the hope that you'll have an open mind about it. Just my 2c.
EDIT: SF is a great community of caring guys. They create specialty groups to keep everyone happy and stop the grumbling and close-mindedness of some of the pipers that are inevitable in forums.
You smoke what you like, and like what you smoke.

 

[philip]

Of course pipe snobs exist, but we can all be glad if we have not met them and we should all be careful we do not become one.
Take any personality trait you can think of, from snobbery to humility, from generosity to greediness, and you can find that trait represented somewhere by a pipe smoker.
A problem can arise, because like most people, we like to think well of ourselves, sometimes to excess. Einstein may have smoked a pipe, but we are not all smart. Personally I like to pretend I can sing because Bing Crosby smoked a pipe. In reality we are all doing our little part, for good or ill, to add to the collective image of the pipe smoker.
So far the smokers I have met seem to be a pretty nice lot. At least they would be if only they would smoke some decent tobacco.

 

[locopony]

I dont know why anyone cares. If your pipe costs a thousand dollars or is a drug store cob if you enjoy it. Who am I to say your wrong, right, wasting money or a cheap skate. I'm just glad for the happiness that our little hobby, or habbit brings into the world. Pipe smoking is a net good. It makes people happy and happy people make the world a better place. If I ever meet a pipe snob I'll pity his poor lost soul. We are altogether humanity and the smaller we treat another the smaller we make ourselves. If I think me greater than thee, but that thee be very small then me not big at all.

 

[billinsfl]

OCPSDAN: Very well put, sir.

 

[nsfisher]

I agree with ejames and Irishsmoker.
They are on All Forums. But there are very few here. It's a good place to discuss your pipes, whether they be high or low end, it doesn't matter. If you like it, smoke it, enjoy it. We shall enjoy any pictures you may post no matter how beat up your smoker is.

 

[tiltjlp]

Just to prove I'm not a snob, I'll gladly smoke any $12,000 pipe that anyone sends me. I'll even smoke that $65.00 and ounce tobacco in it if they include some. I never quite understood why anyone should get uptight because I prefer cobs and American Classic Blends and Mac Baren. As long as you enjoy what you're smoking, I'm glad for you.

 

[rlunderhill]

It comes from how you were raised. If your Mom and Dad had to impress the neighbors with a BMW and your Mom and Dad drove a Ford because it was transportation and not symbolism of wealth. You were looked down upon. The same goes for shoes, homes, jobs, universities and pipes. Snobs are snobs what ever they do. Its a pitiful thing to observe. Just be nice and nod your head.

 

[matchstickman]

Here's my thoughts on the matter: I like pipes. I like different shapes, different weights, different chamber sizes, and different finishes. I also like tobacco. I like aromatics, I like Englishes, I like Burley, and a few different VAs. If I like a pipe and I like a tobacco, I put said tobacco in said pipe and smoke it. I enjoy the ritual, the flavor, and I enjoy the nicotine. If a pipe smokes well, I keep it. If it doesn't, I don't keep it. I have Grabows, I have cobs, and I have no-names. I also have GBDs, Comoys, Savinellis, Ben Wades, and a few other name pipes. I enjoy smoking all of them, some of them more than others based on different merits. Bottom line: I'm no pipe snob. I'm a pipe enthusiast, a collector, and a smoker. Do pipe snobs exist? I'm sure they do. I like high ends and no names and Grabows and Medicos, as long as they smoke well, Im not picky.

 

[locopony]

Ocpsdan, I disagree totally. Most piper who smoke PA through a cob cant afford to buy a Peterson and high end tobacco. Its not because they are close minded. I find it borish and rude to prat on about how much better what you are doing than what the other is doing. And I dont blame any fellow for thinking you a pipe snob for it. If a fellow meets another for dinner one drives up in a toyota the other in a BMW. If the fellow who drives the beemer continues on about the quality and luxury and how the toyota driver must get one. He is a snob and a jerk with little compassion or empathy for the others position. If he could afford a beemer he would be driving one. Make no mistake its ok to share how much you enjoy what your doing. But at the point that you begin to convert others you become wrong. From begining to end and you cant get much more wrong than that. So stop trying to convert others and just share how much love you have for pipeing and pipers.

 

[cortezattic]

I dunno, I thought ocpsdan made some pretty good observations -- and you did too!

You're just talking past each other to emphasize different aspects of the situation.

 

[locopony]

I hate when people try to convert me to their way, you sound like a churchie. Why must humans do that? If you love some one they will understand your point of view through time and respect. They may not convert, but if they see merit in what you do they just might. Humans wear the ones they convert on their chest like a badge. How freakish and wierd.

 

[waznyf]

They do, go to some of the other forums!!!

I have notices this in other forums also!
I don't feel that it is extremely common, but there are "snobs' out there.

 

[locopony]

I think its each person right to smoke any level of pipe they choose. In fact it makes me happy to see a very nice expensive pipe being smoked, and the very ritualistic way they are handled. Equally so when a fellow pops a cob out of his pocket and loads it up from a poke and lights it. I enjoy the smell of Captain black even though I dont like the taste for myself. I sat and had a smoke with a fellow who had an old briar that had black tape to hold the stem in. He smoked that cheap bulk stuff too from a drug store. I didnt find any need to tell the old fellow the merits of my pipe and tobacco. We just talked about the task at hand. Cutting the lock off of my storage building. I had to borrow a dremel tool from him. I had lost my key.

I have a few nice pipes an Armellini and a chippendale. I also have a couple of meers they are middle of the road pipes from SMS. I have three basket pipes and a cob. I enjoy each one very much. I have a clay that I have never smoked from. One day I will have a very nice pipe maybe when I retire.

 

[locopony]

I like to read on here and see also the many divers pipes they are all beautiful even if I find the design awkward. I love the shapes color and creativity. But I cant help but reference the scene in the movie inglorious bastereds. The French man takes out his cob and loads it up and the German whips out a calabash.