The "rules and stuff" about pipe smoking in the post-internet era are really just consumers being better educated about their choices and practices. It's a good thing.
On Technique and Taste (and a Bit of Tolkien)
- Thread starter lawdawg
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The "rules and stuff" about pipe smoking in the post-internet era are really just consumers being better educated about their choices and practices. It's a good thing.
More like misinformation and the collective belief that tobaccos that are readily available at B&Ms are unicorns because they can't be purchased online.
I consider myself "hobbyist" purely because I don't want to be confused with addicts. I'm not addicted and only smoke pipe for pleasure. And pleasure, taste and relaxation is what pipe smoking is all about.
I would never say I'm "smoker" since that word is usually associated with cigarette smokers who smoke pack a day.
I would never say I'm "smoker" since that word is usually associated with cigarette smokers who smoke pack a day.
It has created endless frustration through generating unrealistic expectations and measurbations.Please tell us more about how the free flow of information has negatively impacted consumer experiences
"I can't smoke like @chasingembers! I SO suck!"
"I can't pack my pipe like Cosmic! I'm so miserable!"
"I was enjoying my aromatics heavenly, but now all these pipe veterans say real pipers smoke only English blends!! I'm not a piper!"
And so endlessly on and on and on...
In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought.
—Michael Crichton.
Just imagine complaining about the impact of internet forums on pipe smoking... ON AN INTERNET FORUM DEDICATED TO PIPESMOKING.
Some people like to find the negative side of everything, and there always will be one to find if you look hard enough.
Wasn't a complaint, just an observation.
And it's not negativity: it's pointing out issues so that they can be solved. It also goes by the name of perfectionism.
All in all, I'll take a 'negative' person over a carefree optimist any day of the week: a 'negative' isn't likely to wreck my boat with a 'never mind the rocks, unfurl all sail!!' attitude.
And it's not negativity: it's pointing out issues so that they can be solved. It also goes by the name of perfectionism.
All in all, I'll take a 'negative' person over a carefree optimist any day of the week: a 'negative' isn't likely to wreck my boat with a 'never mind the rocks, unfurl all sail!!' attitude.
Not a complaint, just being realistic. Just as many wearing rose colored glasses as those seeking the bad though.Just imagine complaining about the impact of internet forums on pipe smoking... ON AN INTERNET FORUM DEDICATED TO PIPESMOKING.
Some people like to find the negative side of everything, and there always will be one to find if you look hard enough.
Flashback to 1986. The owner of the local tobacco shop, recognizing the poverty of the student across the counter (who just fished enough change out of his pocket for his weekly cigar), says “Pick out a pipe from the bucket on the counter, and next week, buy a couple ounces of tobacco, it’ll last a lot longer than a cigar.”.
The hook was set, and the following weeks and months were predictably filled with questions, answers, tips and tricks.
There was an informal gathering of the Old Boys each Saturday, where the Journal, NYT, and Financial Times were dissected, parsed, argued over and generally used as a vehicle for discussion to extend what they promised their wives would be a quick visit to the shop.
The young student eventually roused the courage to go and sit, and eventually ask a question.
“I’m smoking Adirondack Mixture, what’s the best blend to try next?”
So six Old Boys in the room, and maybe 10 answers. For two hours. Blood sweat and tears.
I left saying “fuck it, I’ll just figure it out.”
Fast forward to late nineties and BBS and alt.smokers and watching some guy asking “what should I try next?”.
Same scene, just 500 guys participating in the argument orgy.
There’s been an exponential increase since then.
It’s good and bad at once.
The hook was set, and the following weeks and months were predictably filled with questions, answers, tips and tricks.
There was an informal gathering of the Old Boys each Saturday, where the Journal, NYT, and Financial Times were dissected, parsed, argued over and generally used as a vehicle for discussion to extend what they promised their wives would be a quick visit to the shop.
The young student eventually roused the courage to go and sit, and eventually ask a question.
“I’m smoking Adirondack Mixture, what’s the best blend to try next?”
So six Old Boys in the room, and maybe 10 answers. For two hours. Blood sweat and tears.
I left saying “fuck it, I’ll just figure it out.”
Fast forward to late nineties and BBS and alt.smokers and watching some guy asking “what should I try next?”.
Same scene, just 500 guys participating in the argument orgy.
There’s been an exponential increase since then.
It’s good and bad at once.
I came into this thread after seeing it since Monday, yet never clicking on it until now. After reading the opening post, and then noticing that it was already at seven pages of responses, I theorized that this thread was probably derailed. While it was a good opening post by Lawdog, I figured that there couldn't be seven pages talking about smoking technique...
I was right.
I was right.
Half of the thread is naysayers attacking the idea in the OP that it’s worthwhile to make efforts to improve your smoking technique or to pay any attention to the details of the process, so in that regard, it’s still kind of on point
Oh, there’s been 70,000 pages about smoking technique.
And I thought the post was about hobbits, or something.
If a Hobbit has a habit can it still be a hobby too?
Man I don't know why.. But that's funny as hell.
Years ago I had an ex- who had a few of these in his freezer and I was confused, because I always thought liquid froze. So I asked. He got some from some family (i think Virginia). I didn't know moonshine didn't freeze. I took a sip, and that was too much. He took a drink, he was drunk--we obviously were lightweights.
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