The snobs (common sewers, anyone?) don’t hang out on the front of public forums.
Expensive and Exclusive Tobacco: Effects on Community?
- Thread starter MaloneDSSP
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I haven't noticed any elitism here based on blends or pipes. Why would I pay a grand for something that I'm just going to burn anyway. That's my opinion at least. I get more joy smoking my bulk blends with my cheap pipe than I do out of tins in my $100+ pipes
Well, I would say most pipe smokers don't hang around Internet forums. I certainly didn't until just a couple of months ago. Talking about pipe smokers, they're just like any other general group: there are all kinds of shapes and sizes. I mean, Stalin smoked a pipe, just as Einstein did. Not much in common between the two, apart from the mustache.
Maybe you're onto something here. A pipe smoker under the age of undeniable codgerdom is already an anachronism, oddball, etc. What fun could there be in insulting someone who couldn't care less about anybody's opinion?
Perhaps I just wandered into the right room. I'm not a part of the FB groups because I'm a luddite and/or a privacy nut
Snobbery exists here; it just isn’t at the cigar level of snobbery. But I agree, the majority of pipe smokers are really just wanting to enjoy a good quiet smoke. I just have seen loud
mouthed pipe smokers bellow like you see when cigar smokers get together - on occasion.
mouthed pipe smokers bellow like you see when cigar smokers get together - on occasion.
There's probably more reverse snobbery than the other. Fortunately, neither is prevalent.
The $1,000 tobacco had 21 kinds of tobacco and a top note featuring Dutch gale leaves that were hand-harvested from Danish moors. And it comes in a humidor. And he created a press specifically for the limited run. Still , that is absurd, though I’d like to know what it tastes like.
I agree that many here like pricier stuff as well as the old staple economical stuff.
The kind of pipe smokers who frequent forums seem to be an extremely varied bunch, from all walks of life. While there is some consciousness of what’s the best and coolest it seems to be pretty low key and not much of a deeply rooted concern to most.
Like Telescopes said, the cigar crowd is a lot more “class conscious” than pipe smokers in general. That’s fine. People will gravitate to what suits them.
Like Telescopes said, the cigar crowd is a lot more “class conscious” than pipe smokers in general. That’s fine. People will gravitate to what suits them.
I meant to say “I haven’t seen
loud
mouthed pipe smokers bellow like you see when cigar smokers get together.”
There is snobbery here and else were in the pipe smoking community. Some times it is expressed via a casual mention of the 20 pounds of Christmas cheer, OG Escudo or Sobranie someone is sitting on or the Bo Nordh seven day set they smoke it in but most (here at least) prefer to live and let live. Actually a lot of guys that have very high end pipes and super deep cellars have stopped posting here.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
I kind of thinking it's heading that way. With steeper pricing tiers. Though I don't feel like it's a quality thing as much as more condimental leaves costing more to keep their production profitable. So less higher quality equals more expensive and more certain styles costing more. Fun fact many people will take that to mean the pricier blends are higher quality. That's what I see happening at some point.
However, I find that many of the the pipe smokers are like you, top notch stand up guys. Many of us appreciate your positive observations.
My motto is smoke what you like, like what you smoke.
There are a number of tins in my pile that would go for $100 and far north of that. Big deal. When I bought them they were at normal retail. If people want to shell out serious cash that’s their prerogative.
I’ve never felt interested in showing my cellar, nor my pipes, except on the rare occasion when a pipe might be of interest to others.
What I’ve collected is for my enjoyment, and in pursuit of my interest in quality Britwood or the product of a carver whose work I like.
Recently I received a wonderful surprise package of samples of vintage tobaccos from old cutter tops and it was great fun to get to try these vintage blends. Dunhill made Durbar was fantastic, as were some of the other blends, and some were well past prime, at least by the time I got them, but still worth trying. That’s part of what keeps this interesting. What a wondrous gift to receive.
It’s not like pipe smoking is an achievement equal to being a good parent, a teacher, or someone who saves lives.
It’s just a relaxing and enjoyable activity. The friends I’ve made in the community are an added plus.
I certainly have expressed an opinion or three on tobaccos I dislike. There are people here who have, often hilariously, excoriated blends I truly like. Why not? This is a forum. More for me.
I have on occasion opined on new versions of classic old blends that were crap substitutes, probably because I think people deserve better, or not to be hoodwinked. But if someone loves that crap blend, more power to them. If that marks me as a snob, great!
I smoke what I like. I hope that you do also. Why else bother?
There are a number of tins in my pile that would go for $100 and far north of that. Big deal. When I bought them they were at normal retail. If people want to shell out serious cash that’s their prerogative.
I’ve never felt interested in showing my cellar, nor my pipes, except on the rare occasion when a pipe might be of interest to others.
What I’ve collected is for my enjoyment, and in pursuit of my interest in quality Britwood or the product of a carver whose work I like.
Recently I received a wonderful surprise package of samples of vintage tobaccos from old cutter tops and it was great fun to get to try these vintage blends. Dunhill made Durbar was fantastic, as were some of the other blends, and some were well past prime, at least by the time I got them, but still worth trying. That’s part of what keeps this interesting. What a wondrous gift to receive.
It’s not like pipe smoking is an achievement equal to being a good parent, a teacher, or someone who saves lives.
It’s just a relaxing and enjoyable activity. The friends I’ve made in the community are an added plus.
I certainly have expressed an opinion or three on tobaccos I dislike. There are people here who have, often hilariously, excoriated blends I truly like. Why not? This is a forum. More for me.
I have on occasion opined on new versions of classic old blends that were crap substitutes, probably because I think people deserve better, or not to be hoodwinked. But if someone loves that crap blend, more power to them. If that marks me as a snob, great!
I smoke what I like. I hope that you do also. Why else bother?
@tobakenist I enjoy SG / GH tobacco in my clay pipes; I got some free samples of the GH blends in Nottingham. Smoked good in the old clays!
Seems like a pretty typical internet group here -- standard blend of cordiality and ill-temper; fools and savants; the modest and the ostentatious; knaves and saints; witty and humorless.
Twenty-something years ago I used to hang around a different pipe forum and what was odd about that one was the rampant self-congratulation with which it was rife; a large number of them seemed to believe that pipe smokers were ethically, intellectually and otherwise superior beings. It was never clear to me if they thought this was a matter of correlation or causation (were pipe smokers disproportionately drawn from society's gems or did hanging a wooden implement with burning tobacco in it from one's mug somehow magically transform one into an Übermensch?). In any event, there were a lot of shoulder injuries stemming from them patting their own backs. It was especially jarring because they were kind of an unpleasant, pompous lot overall.
Twenty-something years ago I used to hang around a different pipe forum and what was odd about that one was the rampant self-congratulation with which it was rife; a large number of them seemed to believe that pipe smokers were ethically, intellectually and otherwise superior beings. It was never clear to me if they thought this was a matter of correlation or causation (were pipe smokers disproportionately drawn from society's gems or did hanging a wooden implement with burning tobacco in it from one's mug somehow magically transform one into an Übermensch?). In any event, there were a lot of shoulder injuries stemming from them patting their own backs. It was especially jarring because they were kind of an unpleasant, pompous lot overall.
There are plenty of tins of tobacco a person could buy for upwards of $100 or more if desired - mostly aged and consignment, but they are readily available.
The OP ignores the obvious and more significant part of the equation which is the price of pipes. Anywhere from next to nothing to $$$$$$$, and they sell.
Conclusions? Mine are limited to a couple site’s group of members and I see almost always friendly and positive exchanges where different tobaccos and pipes are concerned.
The OP ignores the obvious and more significant part of the equation which is the price of pipes. Anywhere from next to nothing to $$$$$$$, and they sell.
Conclusions? Mine are limited to a couple site’s group of members and I see almost always friendly and positive exchanges where different tobaccos and pipes are concerned.
I think the reason we don't see it as prevalent in the pipe smoking community is a little more complex. First of all, there are far fewer pipe smokers than cigar smokers. So just by the numbers there are bound to see less of Richard Cranium. I know it doesn't always work out like that in real life, but just going off the numbers, it feels like with less overall people, less chance of running to a jerk.
Another reason is, at least around here, cigars are often associated with celebration. Yes there plenty of daily cigar smokers, but it's still seen as a celebration or together with the guys or something like that. Something social. Pipes are much more of a solitary past time. And much more eccentric. So you're much more likely to see a cigar out and about being smoked by people who are currently hyped up on themselves.
That goes along with the old stereotypes of cigars being smoked by rich corporate fat cats and pipes by tenured university professors. Yes, I know it's wrong. But it still exists. Sometimes I wonder about conformation biases.
There was never really a rivalry. Peterson or Savinelli has never been Ford or Chevy. Carter Hall has never been vs Prince Albert. At least I don't think so. So there's not as much for the jerks to latch on to.
Most other hobbies or past times have objective standards. Cigars have that Cuban whatever standard, classic cars have how original it is, fishing has size and numbers, photography has so many it is a marvelous crazy, sports have scores, etc. Pipe smoking and artistic pursuits seem to be the ones without objective measurable standards. So outside of I paid more for mine than you did for yours or following some insane level of group think/ self righteousness like disparaging my enjoyment of Captain Black Grape.
For me, this is the only place I regularly interact with known pipe smokers about smoking pipes. This place is a rarity in life, let alone a niche community. You can't compare PipeMagazine.com to much of anything else.
Anyways, those are my observations and experiences.
Another reason is, at least around here, cigars are often associated with celebration. Yes there plenty of daily cigar smokers, but it's still seen as a celebration or together with the guys or something like that. Something social. Pipes are much more of a solitary past time. And much more eccentric. So you're much more likely to see a cigar out and about being smoked by people who are currently hyped up on themselves.
That goes along with the old stereotypes of cigars being smoked by rich corporate fat cats and pipes by tenured university professors. Yes, I know it's wrong. But it still exists. Sometimes I wonder about conformation biases.
There was never really a rivalry. Peterson or Savinelli has never been Ford or Chevy. Carter Hall has never been vs Prince Albert. At least I don't think so. So there's not as much for the jerks to latch on to.
Most other hobbies or past times have objective standards. Cigars have that Cuban whatever standard, classic cars have how original it is, fishing has size and numbers, photography has so many it is a marvelous crazy, sports have scores, etc. Pipe smoking and artistic pursuits seem to be the ones without objective measurable standards. So outside of I paid more for mine than you did for yours or following some insane level of group think/ self righteousness like disparaging my enjoyment of Captain Black Grape.
For me, this is the only place I regularly interact with known pipe smokers about smoking pipes. This place is a rarity in life, let alone a niche community. You can't compare PipeMagazine.com to much of anything else.
Anyways, those are my observations and experiences.