Do You Consider Yourself a Smoker?
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I rarely smoke more than once a week and at times weeks will go by without a pipe. Smoking for me is a conscious choice and I have to set time apart in my day to do it. My doctors don't consider me a smoker, but I consider myself an occasional smoker.
I'd love to see answers some would give to the question: "Are you still a virgin?" Some would no doubt read: "I only have sex once a week so, yes, I consider myself a virgin." Or: "I only do the deed on alternate Thursdays. So, I still consider myself a virgin." Or possibly: "I only do the deed behind closed doors, never in public, only once in the evening after a hard day's work. I do it only to relax. I still consider myself a virgin."
Warren, you would be shocked to learn what many millennials consider "virgin", many only consider one to have "had sex", if they had sex in the manner that could produce children. Many young people today do not consider other forms of "naked intimacy" to be sex. I don't think that I could say that any cleaner!
If someone were to ask me if I smoke, I would surely specify what kind of smoker I think I am. I smoke pipes so therefore I am.
Think I finally came up with my Pipes Mag signature. :
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Think I finally came up with my Pipes Mag signature. :
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Yes, specificity is a big problem these days in regard to many things. The hive mind does not normally deal in specifics. Everyone knows that the question "Are you a smoker?" means "Do you smoke cigarettes?". If you smoke tobacco in a pipe and you simply answer yes to that question, the questioner will automatically assume that you smoke cigarettes. Therefore the only proper response is "You'll have to be more specific."
Brian64
Spot on with my thinking. In the same sense that if someone says "hey do you lift" I would say no because I know what they mean by that. In actual fact I lift things on a daily basis but I don't regularly go to the gym to work out.
If i feel the need to explain I will but most of the time people just mean cigarettes.
Spot on with my thinking. In the same sense that if someone says "hey do you lift" I would say no because I know what they mean by that. In actual fact I lift things on a daily basis but I don't regularly go to the gym to work out.
If i feel the need to explain I will but most of the time people just mean cigarettes.
If someone asks me if I smoke, the answer is, "Yes, I smoke a pipe." Saying "No" would be a lie and would not show the pride I take in being a pipe smoker.
Last year during my last physical for the military I was asked this very question. Are you a smoker? I told the Doc that I ocassionally smoked a pipe. He saiid, "then check no".
No.
Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.
Inhalation
the drawing of air or other substances into the airways and lungs; see also aspiration.
Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.
Inhalation
the drawing of air or other substances into the airways and lungs; see also aspiration.
That's a good question.
Initially, I was going to reply yes since I smoke, at the most, about three to four times a week. And I think any activity in which you participate with that kind of frequency (whether out of habit or not) makes you a "doer" of that activity.
But then I got nerdy and looked up the word smoker and it said "A person who smokes tobacco regularly". Call it splitting hairs if you want, but my tobacco use is very irregular. I can have four in a week, and some weeks I can have none. It depends on how much time I have, and I don't really feel one way or the other about it. Yet, I will find time for two Dunkin Donuts coffees every day, and most nights of the week I'll have time to drink a few pints of beer. Those are things I do regularly.
So, in the literal sense of the word, no, I'm not a smoker.
Initially, I was going to reply yes since I smoke, at the most, about three to four times a week. And I think any activity in which you participate with that kind of frequency (whether out of habit or not) makes you a "doer" of that activity.
But then I got nerdy and looked up the word smoker and it said "A person who smokes tobacco regularly". Call it splitting hairs if you want, but my tobacco use is very irregular. I can have four in a week, and some weeks I can have none. It depends on how much time I have, and I don't really feel one way or the other about it. Yet, I will find time for two Dunkin Donuts coffees every day, and most nights of the week I'll have time to drink a few pints of beer. Those are things I do regularly.
So, in the literal sense of the word, no, I'm not a smoker.
Warren, for the general public, "smoking" entails inhaling smoke, typically from cigarettes. That's what people (including doctors) are generally after when they ask "Are you a smoker?". Enjoying a pipe is not the same thing, although that's not to say it's not still a risky behaviour.
If you don't believe me, look up the definition of smoking, and you'll find it invariably involves inhalation of smoke.
From Merriam Webster: to suck the smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc., into your mouth and lungs and then exhale it
From The Free Dictionary: Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.
From Wikipedia: Tobacco smoking is the practice of burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke
From Medicinenet: Tobacco smoking: The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke
From the Oxford Dictionary: The action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug.
It's not a distinction without a difference; it's a big difference.
As for frequency, there's also a big difference between two bowls a week, and ten bowls a day.
If you don't believe me, look up the definition of smoking, and you'll find it invariably involves inhalation of smoke.
From Merriam Webster: to suck the smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc., into your mouth and lungs and then exhale it
From The Free Dictionary: Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.
From Wikipedia: Tobacco smoking is the practice of burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke
From Medicinenet: Tobacco smoking: The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke
From the Oxford Dictionary: The action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug.
It's not a distinction without a difference; it's a big difference.
As for frequency, there's also a big difference between two bowls a week, and ten bowls a day.
True story: I was asked by a manager of a job I had several years ago if I was a smoker. I replied "yes, but not cigarettes". He immediately assumed I meant that I smoked pot...so I had to explain further. The idea of pipe tobacco or even cigars never crossed his mind.
I believe for the general public, smoking involves seeing a person with a smoking tool, wafting smoke. That and the view of a person blowing smoke out of their mouth and/or nose. The general public makes no strict distinctions with regard to the hated tobacco leaf and how it is used. You are giving them too much credit for discernment I believe. Only smokers, a few medical professionals and such make these distinctions. Many pipe smokers greatly fear being labeled a smoker and come up with all sorts of linguistic contortions to separate, distinguish, themselves from "cigarette" smokers.
I understand and sympathize with them. What most people are asking is a general question as to tobacco use. Whether you take your nicotine through the membranes or suck it straight into the lungs really doesn't matter to the general public when they ask. Insurance companies, some doctors etc do see a distinction.
As the OP specified the perceptions of the general public, current societal standards lump all tobacco use together, hence "no smoking in xxxxx areas" laws. I know of no such laws which make exemptions for pipes or cigars.
The OP asked about perceptions, not strict definitions.
I understand and sympathize with them. What most people are asking is a general question as to tobacco use. Whether you take your nicotine through the membranes or suck it straight into the lungs really doesn't matter to the general public when they ask. Insurance companies, some doctors etc do see a distinction.
As the OP specified the perceptions of the general public, current societal standards lump all tobacco use together, hence "no smoking in xxxxx areas" laws. I know of no such laws which make exemptions for pipes or cigars.
The OP asked about perceptions, not strict definitions.
Any pipe smoker inhales smoke, whether it be intentional or unintentional. So, yes, a pipe smoker inhales his/her tobacco. Does Webster clarify how much smoke must be inhaled to determine whether that person is a smoker or not? :wink:
Calling it a hobby, or refering to yourself as a non-smoker, would be two ways I would spot serious denial.
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