On Technique and Taste (and a Bit of Tolkien)

[brian64]

I've never understood the continual conflict of smoking vs hobby. I've always seen it as both at the same time.

The smoking itself is not a hobby...that's just smoking.

But everything else related to pipes and pipe tobacco could be considered a hobby for people like most of us here...as opposed to the pipe smoker who may only have one or two pipes and smokes only one or two blends...and doesn't "cellar". That's not a hobby...but for people on a forum like this who have many pipes and a large "cellar" of tobacco and discuss and study this stuff in endless detail...sure that's a hobby. It doesn't mean you're not a smoker.

 

[BROBS]

It's too late now, buddy... you've got thousands of dollars of baccy, have owned hundreds of pipes (and maybe still do), have been on this forum for years, and you're officially a PIPE SMOKING HOBBYIST

I don't like it either, but it's just the truth.

I’d say he’s a “piper”. ?

 

[BROBS]

“slicKYpiper”

 

[lawdawg]

I don't consider my smoking a hobby. I would call it an indulgence.
Some aspects of it, like the learning of various packing methods and maintenance routines could be considered hobby-like, but they're really not. You need to know this stuff in order to be able to enjoy the smoke, so it's just necessary basic knowledge.
The one thing that comes closest to being a hobby for me is trying different blends. I do that, and maybe that is a hobby, but it doesn't feel like it. I also try different foods and beers and coffee blends and to me that's just putting spice on life and avoiding mindless routine.

I'm kind of joking about the whole "hobby" thing, and @workman statement above is basically how I view it as well. I like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and board games. Those are hobbies.

I also like bourbon, scotch, beer, cigars, and pipes. I also think of them more as an indulgence than a hobby, and I would certainly say these are "connoisseur" activities as @BROBS described previously.

In between, and somewhat less clear, is my enjoyment of heating my house with wood in the winter, reading novels as well as nonfiction, and listening to and exploring new (to me) music. Those are almost more like regular enjoyable life activities.

All that said, Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a "hobby" as "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation." Pipe smoking definitely fits that description, at least to the extent that we truly pursue it rather than just having a pipe or two and smoking one or two blends and calling it good, as does pretty much everything else I listed above. I suppose maybe I just don't want to tell people that my favorite hobbies are drinking and smoking

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I'm kind of joking about the whole "hobby" thing, and @workman statement above is basically how I view it as well. I like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and board games. Those are hobbies.

I also like bourbon, scotch, beer, cigars, and pipes. I also think of them more as an indulgence than a hobby, and I would certainly say these are "connoisseur" activities as @BROBS described previously.

In between, and somewhat less clear, is my enjoyment of heating my house with wood in the winter, reading novels as well as nonfiction, and listening to and exploring new (to me) music. Those are almost more like regular enjoyable life activities.

All that said, Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a "hobby" as "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation." Pipe smoking definitely fits that description, at least to the extent that we truly pursue it rather than just having a pipe or two and smoking one or two blends and calling it good, as does pretty much everything else I listed above. I suppose maybe I just don't want to tell people that my favorite hobbies are drinking and smoking

So maybe the pack a day cigarette smokers are hobbyist too. It's right there in the definition...

Yep, It just sounds bad when you say drinking and smoking is your hobby. That reminds me, I should start finding new things to do while spending my days smoking..

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm usually smoking when working.?‍

 

[lawdawg]

So maybe the pack a day cigarette smokers are hobbyist too. It's right there in the definition...

Yep, It just sounds bad when you say drinking and smoking is your hobby. That reminds me, I should start finding new things to do while spending my days smoking..

To split hairs, I think the key difference between a hobby and a non-hobby is the term "pursuit" as stated in the dictionary definition. Nobody joins cigarette forums or gives any more thought to cigarettes aside from making sure you've got a pack handy. Pipes and pipe tobacco, on the other hand, we spend a lot of time learning about, discussing, and experimenting with.

In any event, hobby or no, I think it makes sense to make the effort to maximize the enjoyment of the pipe smoking experience, and I think we've all had those excellent smokes that just seem perfect. My original post in this thread is about figuring out how to replicate those smokes.

 

[Akousticplyr]

Tobacconnoisseur?

 

[BROBS]

To split hairs, I think the key difference between a hobby and a non-hobby is the term "pursuit" as stated in the dictionary definition. Nobody joins cigarette forums or gives any more thought to cigarettes aside from making sure you've got a pack handy. Pipes and pipe tobacco, on the other hand, we spend a lot of time learning about, discussing, and experimenting with.

In any event, hobby or no, I think it makes sense to make the effort to maximize the enjoyment of the pipe smoking experience, and I think we've all had those excellent smokes that just seem perfect. My original post in this thread is about figuring out how to replicate those smokes.

There actually are cigarette forums. Haha

 

[Chasing Embers]

figuring out how to replicate those smokes.

Fill chamber, light, smoke to bottom, repeat.

 

[olkofri]

I don't consider my smoking a hobby. I would call it an indulgence.
Some aspects of it, like the learning of various packing methods and maintenance routines could be considered hobby-like, but they're really not. You need to know this stuff in order to be able to enjoy the smoke, so it's just necessary basic knowledge.
The one thing that comes closest to being a hobby for me is trying different blends. I do that, and maybe that is a hobby, but it doesn't feel like it. I also try different foods and beers and coffee blends and to me that's just putting spice on life and avoiding mindless routine.

Yeah, well, in a way it's like driving. You have to learn all the moves to operate a car safely and efficiently. Can't call that a hobby.

Some of us also learn or develop other driving techniques to take it to the next level. I still wouldn't call it a hobby, it's just refinement and finesse.

But then, I enjoy driving and many times I drive for the pleasure of it, not just to get safely from A to B... at that point, I dunno what to call it.

 

[BROBS]

Yeah, well, in a way it's like driving. You have to learn all the moves to operate a car safely and efficiently. Can't call that a hobby.

Some of us also learn or develop other driving techniques to take it to the next level. I still wouldn't call it a hobby, it's just refinement and finesse.

But then, I enjoy driving and many times I drive for the pleasure of it, not just to get safely from A to B... at that point, I dunno what to call it.

If you just drive the car and don’t seek to improve it, modify it, or otherwise learn any more about it I wouldn’t call it a hobby.

Now if you join a car forum and discuss the car, start improving or modifying parts, and using your free time to improve your driving skills etc... I’d say you’ve moved into hobby territory.

 

[olkofri]

If you just drive the car and don’t seek to improve it, modify it, or otherwise learn any more about it I wouldn’t call it a hobby.

Yeah, I thought about that. I couldn't change my own oil, so I'm definitely not a car nut.

So, if the Cap'n doesn't modify his pipes, he's not a hobbyist. ?

 

[BROBS]

Yeah, I thought about that. I couldn't change my own oil, so I'm definitely not a car nut.

So, if the Cap'n doesn't modify his pipes, he's not a hobbyist. ?

Haha I meant in relation to cars.
he seeks more information about how to improve his piping experience ?

 

[brian64]

So, if the Cap'n doesn't modify his pipes, he's not a hobbyist.

I'd say growing shrubs in Dunhills counts.

 

[lawdawg]

Fill chamber, light, smoke to bottom, repeat.

Why are you even in this thread? Go smoke some Captain Black Grape out of your ginormous skull meer.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I'd say growing shrubs in Dunhills counts.

That just means he's a gardener..

 

[brian64]

That just means he's a gardener..

That's when gardening becomes a hobby.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Why are you even in this thread?

Because it's a public forum and you quoted me about overthinking pipe smoking.

Go smoke some Captain Black Grape out of your ginormous skull meer.

The skull is for Virginia/Orientals, the Dunhill is for the aros, and I may do that tomorrow when I'm mowing, no relights with that one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That just means he's a gardener..

You're right, I am.

That's when gardening becomes a hobby.

My gardening is a hobby.?