Do Pipe Snobs Really Exist?
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This is an interesting disussion. After reading everyone's notes I have to ask myself if snobbery equals unqualified arrogance because that seems to be a factor much of the time. I remember when the cigar boom was in full swing nad how guys who never smoked cigars would brag about what they paid for a stick and always left the band on so you could see what they were smoking.
Certainly, there are blends that all of us don't care for but others are quite fond of and that's OK by me. It's what makes us different. I have $10 corn cobs and pipe that are hundreds of dollars. I never bought one to impress anyone else but me. I smoke some B&M bilk blends and some of the pricier artisan blends. It's all about the moment and mood.
Maybe I'm just plain lucky but in the over 40 years I've been smoking a pipe I have never encountered a pipe snob.
I have encountered many who were, and still are, snobs about many other things. Sometimes they're right about things and mostly they don't know what they're talking about.
I just puff and smile.
Certainly, there are blends that all of us don't care for but others are quite fond of and that's OK by me. It's what makes us different. I have $10 corn cobs and pipe that are hundreds of dollars. I never bought one to impress anyone else but me. I smoke some B&M bilk blends and some of the pricier artisan blends. It's all about the moment and mood.
Maybe I'm just plain lucky but in the over 40 years I've been smoking a pipe I have never encountered a pipe snob.
I have encountered many who were, and still are, snobs about many other things. Sometimes they're right about things and mostly they don't know what they're talking about.
I just puff and smile.
papipeguy mentioned guys who used to brag about how much they paid for a cigar -- I find myself doing just the opposite with my pipes, simply because I don't want to come across as a show-off. Has anyone else had that experience -- not wanting to admit how much you really paid for a nice pipe?
Personally, I consider myself a cheap bastard, and I never pay full price for anything if I can help it, but sometimes what I think is a great deal others would think was extravagant.
Personally, I consider myself a cheap bastard, and I never pay full price for anything if I can help it, but sometimes what I think is a great deal others would think was extravagant.
I will gladly accept any high end pipe from a gracious donor who would like to get me off of my unworthy pipes. I will gladdly smoke it wit :lol:h great joy and garantee that I will have that pipe with me so as not offend any such high end pipe smoker with my substanard, and profane abominable unworthy chuncks of crap pipes. I am not will to offend my betters so please hurry to my rescue oh great ones. Have mercy on my wretched soul
Hi, one of the peasants here haha. Seriously though, when I can, I do plan on getting something a little higher end, because I do understand about better quality items giving better performance. I would expect a 200 dollar pipe to perform better than one I paid 20 dollars for. That being said, do I think the pipe that cost a thousand dollars automatically performs better than a 200 dollar one? That I'm not so sure about. Someday when I'm disgustingly rich, I'll let you know. 
I do not deserve a pipe that cost over $100.00. I don't polish, love, smoke or treat any one pipe better than another. It is like a car for me, as long as the mechanics are good, I don't care what it looks like.
well, i think snobs definitely exist and if they do you're more likely to find them in a community like this.
snobs almost by definition require a platform from which they can exhibit their superiority. as b&m's disappear, they can't lurk there; the internet is expanding and offers the perfect venue for them to expound their views and preferences.
also, this and other forums truly DO NOT(IMHO!) begin to represent the views of a majority of pipe smokers in the universe in terms of tobacco, pipe and accesory preferences, purchases and the like.
these forums may represent, however, the body of pipe smokers who will perpetuate our hobby because they can/will mobilize to speak on behalf of the hobby in the face of the legislation, taxation, regulation and propaganda which threaten pipe and cigar smoking.
so, snobs exist, you will find them here and you will be able to identify them, if not with them. to the extent they are comrades in arms in our struggle against the "nanny states," i welcome their company!
jrtaster/john
snobs almost by definition require a platform from which they can exhibit their superiority. as b&m's disappear, they can't lurk there; the internet is expanding and offers the perfect venue for them to expound their views and preferences.
also, this and other forums truly DO NOT(IMHO!) begin to represent the views of a majority of pipe smokers in the universe in terms of tobacco, pipe and accesory preferences, purchases and the like.
these forums may represent, however, the body of pipe smokers who will perpetuate our hobby because they can/will mobilize to speak on behalf of the hobby in the face of the legislation, taxation, regulation and propaganda which threaten pipe and cigar smoking.
so, snobs exist, you will find them here and you will be able to identify them, if not with them. to the extent they are comrades in arms in our struggle against the "nanny states," i welcome their company!
jrtaster/john
it is easy to spot a cigar snob, he leaves the band on high end cigars and takes every chance to make sure you see the band....
pipe snobs are harder to spot, you have to listen to them to find them, but a rule of thumb is unless they have 4 MM in their rotation and smoke PA at least 3 times a week they are wanna be pipesters who like to brag on their expensive $35 dr grabows and smoke fancy shmantzy tobaccos
pipe snobs are harder to spot, you have to listen to them to find them, but a rule of thumb is unless they have 4 MM in their rotation and smoke PA at least 3 times a week they are wanna be pipesters who like to brag on their expensive $35 dr grabows and smoke fancy shmantzy tobaccos
I think I'd rather have Cortez and JP tellin' me what I should smoke than my government. :laughat:
All the input in this conversation is awesome. I like the points that many of you have made, however, I feel like every pipe smoker is different. You're going to have older smokers, younger smokers, rich smokers, poor smokers, smart smokers, dumb smokers, etc etc. One can go on and on. I think many factors play a role in how we perceive eachother. What angers or disgusts one smoker may delight another. One may take a simple word of advice about quality of pipes as an attack based on selfish the sender's selfish ego. Again, perception is reality.
I can safely and assuredly speak for my Collegiate Pipe Club, when I say that most of us are on the lower end side of the pipe world. Usually we tend to have skinnier wallets, however, we also have far less education on the pipe world. So we never take offense to pipe smokers telling us about higher end more expensive items, in fact, we love it! It's actually caused many of us to save our money and buy some "higher end" items. If it's done anything, I feel that it's enhanced our experience and broadened our minds.
Still, I do understand where one may take offense. So, it's important to read a situation and know who you're speaking to. Everyone is different and there are MANY types of pipe smokers out there.
All the best,
I can safely and assuredly speak for my Collegiate Pipe Club, when I say that most of us are on the lower end side of the pipe world. Usually we tend to have skinnier wallets, however, we also have far less education on the pipe world. So we never take offense to pipe smokers telling us about higher end more expensive items, in fact, we love it! It's actually caused many of us to save our money and buy some "higher end" items. If it's done anything, I feel that it's enhanced our experience and broadened our minds.
Still, I do understand where one may take offense. So, it's important to read a situation and know who you're speaking to. Everyone is different and there are MANY types of pipe smokers out there.
All the best,
I dont think anyone that I have spoken to on here or read on here even in this thread is a snob. My point iz simply light em if ya got one on ya. And like mensioned above , I don't want the goobment telling me anything about the matter. Or anything else for that matter. Just remeber not every one can afford a high end pipe. We my friends are a fraternity even if you dont like me. So in short if you dont like a fellows pipe give him one of yours as a sighn of good will amongst brothers. If I could afford it I would pick out a poor fellow on here and give him one of mine. I did give one of mine to a fellow once his was in bad shape. A nice little rodesian too.
I haven't run into any pipe snobs but I'm sure they are out there just like in any hobby.
Cheers
Gunnar
Cheers
Gunnar
99% of the snobby posts I have ever read are reverse snob and very common on boards. I can think of one post in the last year or so that I would think of as snobby. I was really taken aback when I read it. The guy was a noob who was discovering the pleasures of how a beautiful well made pipe smoked and how comfortable a hand cut stem was compared to other (lesser in his view) pipes.
Are there pipe snobs? Sure, I'm one. Not about your pipes and tobaccos, I don't care if you smoke Mixture 79 in a duct taped Grabow, but mine I am very picky and proud of what goes into my collection and cellar. 8O
Are there pipe snobs? Sure, I'm one. Not about your pipes and tobaccos, I don't care if you smoke Mixture 79 in a duct taped Grabow, but mine I am very picky and proud of what goes into my collection and cellar. 8O
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Quality, junk, and everything in-between exists at every price level. Seeking quality, and cultivating the discernment to identify it is not snobbish, imo. But buying only for brand prestige and looking down on someone smoking a "lesser" brand is snobbish.
I'm pretty sure almost everyone on here is in agreement that MM cobs are superior to other lower quality cobs. That is not snobbery, it is quality discernment.
But all that said, I would have to agree with daveinlax...based on all of the posts I've ever read related to this issue, IMO, "reverse snobbery" is much more prevalent than the other way around.
I'm pretty sure almost everyone on here is in agreement that MM cobs are superior to other lower quality cobs. That is not snobbery, it is quality discernment.
But all that said, I would have to agree with daveinlax...based on all of the posts I've ever read related to this issue, IMO, "reverse snobbery" is much more prevalent than the other way around.
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