I’ve honestly never gave it a thought if I’m smoking on my back porch. I guess I figured I was on my property and I’m outside but I guess I could see there being an issue with some people. Luckily my neighbors smoke cigarettes so none of us have any issues with each others habits.
Pipe Smoking: Should I be Concerned in Public ?
- Thread starter Bobbiy
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You keeping where you reside a secret raises a red flag for me. It's impossible to provide you with suggestions for what might be considered proper behavior. Do you live in a government owned and supervised compound? What are the laws with regard to smoking where you reside? So, all we can provide are our personal suggestions, lame as some may be. The many suggestions.observations may have little practical application with respect to your locale and local rules either written or societal behaviors. We all are simply spitting in the wind. But, the thread is entertaining so, there is that. It help keeps many of the members off the street.
I live in 55+ subdivision. So, noise here isn't an issue. But if it was, I'll check on local noise ordinance. Usually, loud noise past 10 o'clock is frowned up on. Too bad, I don't shoot dogs or cats.
I live in Japan. Littering is not a crime here and whenever you see a cigarette smoker outside, you’re about to witness littering. There’s no ban against smoking in restaurants and bars here. Yet, out of deference to my neighbor’s sensibilities, I don’t smoke my pipe on my stoop. It’s pretty silly too, since I know he doesn’t even understand what pipe smoking is, but oh well. He objects to it. In the U.S., you’re often much farther away from your neighbors. But you might ask them. “I smoke a pipe. A tobacco pipe. You know, an old-timey pipe like Bing Crosby and Albert Einstein. Do you mind if I sometimes sit outside and so it? I promise it ain’t anything illegal.” See what they say. If you’re really far apart, it shouldn’t matter.
I like my dog, my cats, my wife and maybe 3 other people. I don’t go out of my way to offend and I often think about how my smoke effects others but…if it’s outside they can move away as easy as I can. Unless the are super sensitive, I doubt they can smell much. If they are super sensitive type of person, they quickly learn not to be around me for a number of reasons.
Put me down for disappointed. I love folks bringing up stuff, but it seems when some additional info or context is asked for they disappear. Would have been nice of the OP to provide a little more of both. 
I find it funny when I smoked cigs and someone walked towards me in a certain way... I knew the complaining would start. Honestly if they were polite about it, I'd be nice and if they were jerks I'd thank them for letting me know I was bothering them. But since I've been smoking just the pipe I've had people walk towards me and I start getting ready for the complaints and every time still get surprised by the positive encouragement and questions, a lot of times I end up sending people to read this site tell them who I am. Though the thing that surprises me most are the woman who in the past would talk about some man they knew and cared for who smoked a pipe, now they ask how they can get started on the pipes.
I guess my politically correct answer would be to ask your neighbors and such. At my age I'm no longer interested "socially acceptable." I only concern myself with legality.
If someone asks me how to get started on smoking anything at all, I first advise them that smoking a stupid waste of money, buying something then, setting a match to it, and a very selfish and unhealthy decision to make. Then, I simply shake my head and go on about my business. I'm damned if I'll help someone to begin smoking. Smoking is a decision to make only after assessing all the negatives, there are many. There's only two rewards . . . self-satisfaction and of course, though many of you deny it, the nicotine. Yes, I'm that selfish!
If someone asks me how to get started on smoking anything at all, I first advise them that smoking a stupid waste of money, buying something then, setting a match to it, and a very selfish and unhealthy decision to make. Then, I simply shake my head and go on about my business. I'm damned if I'll help someone to begin smoking. Smoking is a decision to make only after assessing all the negatives, there are many. There's only two rewards . . . self-satisfaction and of course, though many of you deny it, the nicotine. Yes, I'm that selfish!
"Should i be concerned when pipesmoking in public ?"
Only if you live in any country that speaks English.
By giving a massive (and, most important, un-asked for!) explanation to your personal choice you're obliging yourself to giving similar explanations to any of your other choices.
"You see, we'll be having another baby soon. A little crying brat, you know. I swear, we didn't plan it but what can we do now, sorry. Don't you mind us having it? I promise, it won't step on your lawn, no way, I promise".
There's a very fine line between being a nice guy and being something else.
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I see what you mean. Yeah. Well maybe then it comes down to how close you are in distance. And I could tell my neighbor was going to make a fuss about it. I just knew it. I made a sacrifice just by asking (I knew what his answer was going to be) and maybe as a foreigner in Japan I had to do it. I do think the question is different if we’re talking about cigarettes but you often just can’t get people to see the difference. I really don’t want to smell cigarette smoke from my neighbors especially because I have small kids and houses are very close together in Japan.
Sure, a lot depends on which kind of communication and previous experience you have with your neighbours. Sometimes it might be totally OK to be the first to make sure you don't bother them with your smoking or whatever else.
In a standard case though it seems wiser to me to wait until the neighbours voice their concerns (if they have any concerns at all, to begin with). Otherwise, some might deem your politeness as a weakness or an attempt on sucking-up to them. Which will certainly ensue further, even worse communication problems.
And, of course, the courtesies should be mutual:
- Hey, could you kindly smoke you wonderful pipe at your back porch as the missis complains she can't stand your smoke coming into the kitchen window when you're smoking at the front one?
- Sure I could! Sorry for the inconvenience! Could I ask you too to keep you howling dog at home at night as we all can hardly fall asleep while it's praying satan all night long?
- No problems, mate! Sorry for any inconveniences too!
In a standard case though it seems wiser to me to wait until the neighbours voice their concerns (if they have any concerns at all, to begin with). Otherwise, some might deem your politeness as a weakness or an attempt on sucking-up to them. Which will certainly ensue further, even worse communication problems.
And, of course, the courtesies should be mutual:
- Hey, could you kindly smoke you wonderful pipe at your back porch as the missis complains she can't stand your smoke coming into the kitchen window when you're smoking at the front one?
- Sure I could! Sorry for the inconvenience! Could I ask you too to keep you howling dog at home at night as we all can hardly fall asleep while it's praying satan all night long?
- No problems, mate! Sorry for any inconveniences too!
another advantage to communicating with neighbors is you might find out they actually like when you smoke your pipe. Unlike cigs you might find it's something they look forward too. I've been in non smoking houses and been practically begged to light up the pipe. And that's without smoking a lot of aromatics.
I feel like a lot of Americans use this as a veil to be rude and inconsiderate. oP is concerned about being inconsiderate to other people...
Yes, you are mistaken.
My friend Mr. 1920s and I used to meet for lunch every Thursday in the city at a restaurant called Salt & Pepper in the East 60s in NYC. We would stand outside and smoke our pipes after lunch. On one occasion one of those ghastly teachers came along with a string of 6 years numbering about 20 children. She started the mock coughing routine. My friend Mr. 1920s cocked his leg and let a 50 cent stink submarine fart rip. The kids just cracked up and my friend was this 6 year old children's hero until the old crone leading them along started screaming 'Come along children. Take no notice of the nasty man'. Never ask, never apologize about either pipe smoking or flatulence!
In public I keep the people around me in mind, for example if there are a bunch of kids at the park I will put it in my pocket, but if it is just my kids I will keep smoking.
On my porch? Well that is my porch.
I remember visiting a friend and she lived in a row of houses where each patio connected to the neighbours. I went outside to release the large amount of gas that was brewing urgently in my bowels, the sound was amplified by the walled in porch, and I heard some giggling from next door's patio. I turned and said to the room "I think the neighbours heard that!" Which was promptly followed by a shouted statement from next door, "FUCK YEAH THE NEIGHBOURS HEARD IT!!!!"
On my porch? Well that is my porch.
I remember visiting a friend and she lived in a row of houses where each patio connected to the neighbours. I went outside to release the large amount of gas that was brewing urgently in my bowels, the sound was amplified by the walled in porch, and I heard some giggling from next door's patio. I turned and said to the room "I think the neighbours heard that!" Which was promptly followed by a shouted statement from next door, "FUCK YEAH THE NEIGHBOURS HEARD IT!!!!"