Flatticus,
To put it into context, many of the Pipe makers on Pipemakers forum are talented guys doing excellent work. However, a number of those guys--many of whom I've known for a long time--took what we're doing at Briarworks as some sort of attack on handmade pipes in general. Certainly it is not, and I think that all the pipe makers who were part of my intended audience understand that quite well now. In fact, I believe most of us agreed that the current pipe "trend" is diluting the level of quality we'd all like to see maintained, and it's worth taking some active steps to see it restored. The consensus seemed to be--in line with your own admonitions--that education is what's required, so I very much hope we can put something together that will educate and ultimately benefits the community as a whole.
The point I was trying to get across to my pipe making colleagues is that I hope the pipes Briarworks is making will discourage would-be profiteers from entering the market and drive some of the current hucksters out, thus keeping the level of quality high. I have no interest in limiting anyone's buying choices, but I do think we have an opportunity right now to take advantage of the uptick in pipe popularity and grow the number of pipe smokers in our hobby. I've seen far too many of them take an interest in pipes only to abandon the hobby because the pipes they chose didn't deliver the experience that a quality pipe should deliver. I think that's a lost opportunity. Especially since our hobby is already beset by anti-tobacco legislation, an aging consumer base, etc.
Anyway, your points are well taken, and whatever it is you wish me to concede, I gladly concede. I used poor judgement in expressing myself the way I did in a public forum. I'm told you've expressed negative opinions about Briarworks products before--I don't know if that's true or whether or not you own any--and since you entered the drawing for a free Briarworks pipe last Friday, I assumed you were in the market for a free Briarworks pipe. I didn't mean for the offer to be taken as offensive, quite the opposite. I meant it as a genuine conciliatory gesture. My thought was simply that, were you to see a Briarworks pipe in person, you might understand that my droning on about excellence, respect for the craft, etc. were absolutely sincere, not some self-interested move to sell pipes.
Admittedly I'm perturbed that social-media marketing about pipes has taken center-stage instead of the pipes themselves, and yes I've been blowing off some steam about it lately, but that's exactly the same thing that's being done here. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you in person and discuss these same things as people rather than online personalities. I suspect we would find we agree on more points than we don't. I am happy to end any pitched battle with you and wave the white flag. You've expressed opinions about me personally that I don't think you'd hold were we to sit down and have a discussion. Perhaps we can do just that at some pipe show in the not too distant future.
Todd
