Pipes as Conversation Context vs. Content.

[SBC]

Something occurred to me --

For most of pipe-smoking history, men didn't gather to talk about pipes and tobaccos; rather, they smoked tobacco pipes when gathered to talk about other things.

Maybe this is a wet-blanket of an observation. Don't stone me. I'm not suggesting what should or shouldn't be. I'm just observing, as a point of interest, where a forum like this fits in the history of things.

As a general rule, pipes and tobaccos adorned and framed and lubricated conversations about other things. Pipes and tobacco were air in the tires, so to speak.
They were assumed -- they were a given -- they were ubiquitous.
They weren't a topic so much as they were what made any other topic more pleasant.

Obviously, I'm speaking in generalities. Of course guys commented in passing on how they preferred this or that pipe, and maybe they even bantered their OTC tobacco preferences as a fun diversion. But still, pipes were more context than content.

This observation is neither here nor there, I guess. Just sharing the thought FWIW.

 

[pauls456]

A very good point indeed.

Fetishization as defined by the Cambridge dictionary:

an unreasonable amount of importance that is given to something, or an unreasonable interest in something.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Mmmm maybe…. But, I also think men gathered smoking pipes have also talked about pipes and tobaccos. I’m thinking pipe clubs, lounges, and even as described in JM Barrie’s book My Lady Nicotine, written in 1890, has him and his friends gathered in his parlor to smoke and talk about smoke.

But, yeh, I think that smoking has also been a lubricant for discussing business, art, and other things as well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Something occurred to me --

For most of pipe-smoking history, men didn't gather to talk about pipes and tobaccos; rather, they smoked tobacco pipes when gathered to talk about other things.

Maybe this is a wet-blanket of an observation. Don't stone me. I'm not suggesting what should or shouldn't be. I'm just observing, as a point of interest, where a forum like this fits in the history of things.

As a general rule, pipes and tobaccos adorned and framed and lubricated conversations about other things. Pipes and tobacco were air in the tires, so to speak.
They were assumed -- they were a given -- they were ubiquitous.
They weren't a topic so much as they were what made any other topic more pleasant.

Obviously, I'm speaking in generalities. Of course guys commented in passing on how they preferred this or that pipe, and maybe they even bantered their OTC tobacco preferences as a fun diversion. But still, pipes were more context than content.

This observation is neither here nor there, I guess. Just sharing the thought FWIW.

That's how I've always viewed it. Just like cigarettes on a coffee break. Conversation continues about everything except for what's being smoked. Even when I see the other pipe smokers at my company, all we talk about are factory issues.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Yeah, I guess it's because we are more of a minority now, and the fact that we're spread out more, that we pipe smokers get together on this forum, and converse in a way that the general public probably think is completely mad.

 

[samuelgawith01]

I agree with Morrison.To clear this up, we collectively need to rent a castle somewhere, place a long table in the great hall,put out ten to fifteen pounds of various tobaccos,provide fifty gallons of various alcoholic beverages, then issue everyone a clay pipe if he / she desires one,and get to it.Let's see what happens.Remember, this is only my imagination talking.

 

[The Clay King]

I agree with Morrison.To clear this up, we collectively need to rent a castle somewhere, place a long table in the great hall,put out ten to fifteen pounds of various tobaccos,provide fifty gallons of various alcoholic beverages, then issue everyone a clay pipe if he / she desires one,and get to it.Let's see what happens.Remember, this is only my imagination talking.

@samuelgawith01 That would suit me down to the ground!!!

 

[samuelgawith01]

@samuelgawith01 That would suit me down to the ground!!!

Me too.Problem is,I don't have time to do it.
I'll put it on my bucket list.

 

[hawky454]

Yeah, I guess it's because we are more of a minority now, and the fact that we're spread out more, that we pipe smokers get together on this forum, and converse in a way that the general public probably think is completely mad.

Yeah, no one else wants to hear this shit. We've all had people talk to us about their passions that we could care less about... bores me to death when people talk football, cars and/or guns at me (Yes, they talk at me, not to me). I imagine it's the same when I start talking pipes and tobacco to my friends/family. The forum is my only outlet for this part of my life... I go to another forum to talk guitars, lately I've been geeking out hard on classical guitars... talk about an expensive hobby!

 

[samuelgawith01]

Me too.Problem is,I don't have time to do it.
I'll put it on my bucket list.

I forgot,we'll have to hire a wait staff.

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm just observing, as a point of interest, where a forum like this fits in the history of things.

Welcome to late stage Capitalism.

 

[Grangerous]

During the Civil War the South had Tobacco and the North had Coffee. So valued were both that fighting ceased to make the exchange.

These creature comforts were what all gentlemen did. Times were simpler. Conversation was in person.

Prince Albert, upon ascending the throne said to a joyous audience, “Gentlemen, you may smoke.”

We, today, are the most entertained society in all of history. We have choices. We few old souls like it simple.

And then, came aromatics.

(I kid)

 

[anotherbob]

Something occurred to me --

For most of pipe-smoking history, men didn't gather to talk about pipes and tobaccos; rather, they smoked tobacco pipes when gathered to talk about other things.

Maybe this is a wet-blanket of an observation. Don't stone me. I'm not suggesting what should or shouldn't be. I'm just observing, as a point of interest, where a forum like this fits in the history of things.

As a general rule, pipes and tobaccos adorned and framed and lubricated conversations about other things. Pipes and tobacco were air in the tires, so to speak.
They were assumed -- they were a given -- they were ubiquitous.
They weren't a topic so much as they were what made any other topic more pleasant.

Obviously, I'm speaking in generalities. Of course guys commented in passing on how they preferred this or that pipe, and maybe they even bantered their OTC tobacco preferences as a fun diversion. But still, pipes were more context than content.

This observation is neither here nor there, I guess. Just sharing the thought FWIW.

I don't know there are quite a few poems and write ups about tobacco from pretty much the start of Europeans getting hip to the leaf. And the vast amount of slang and phrase that popped up from the start makes me think you're assumption is dead wrong and that people have always talked about this kind of stuff and that some haven't.

 

[anotherbob]

Welcome to late stage Capitalism.

I think you mean end stage.

 

[solideogloria86]

J.M. Barie's "My Lady Nicotine" seems to depict a culture where pipes/tobacco were both content and context. I think the decline in the number of pipe smokers and face to face meetups with other pipe smokers, forces most of the pipe as content conversations into a place like this. I know for a fact, that if I had the opportunity for a weekly pipe club meeting, or even the option to get together with a friend or two who also smoke pipes, my interactions on the forum would probably dwindle quite a bit.

 

[sandollars]

Welcome to late stage Capitalism.

I certainly hope not. Atlas Shrugged?....

 

[Servant King]

And then, came aromatics.

(I kid)

 

[Rustamgtx]

For me, we are not a minority, we all here just different, but you know, I'm more than sure that we have many common interests between each other. In difference words and it's not my opinion it's my statement that we are all similar in many aspects here and probably in our spirit. In one aspect exactly... we are don't care if anyone considers us mad?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Well,this is a pipe smoking forum. However, if you take these same people and put them at tables at the Chicago Pipe Show, 90% of the conversations are not pipe related.

 

[Rustamgtx]

Well,this is a pipe smoking forum. However, if you take these same people and put them at tables at the Chicago Pipe Show, 90% of the conversations are not pipe related.

Thats what I mean.