Smoking a Pipe is the New in Thing

[taztime]

Smoking a pipe is the new in thing with the college crowd. "what's old is new again" .... taztime
> New youth craze: Pipe smoking

By Michella Malkin
Read this on the plane this morning: Did you know that pipe smoking is the new cool thing among college kids and young people?
Dan Nemets, a sophomore at Central Michigan University, likes the TV show “Family Guy,” heavy-metal musician Ozzy Osbourne and a good pipe.
Mr. Nemets took up pipe smoking 18 months ago after strolling into a pipe and tobacco store near the Mount Pleasant campus with a friend. Mr. Nemets can’t smoke in his dorm room but has networked with other youthful smokers on Facebook in the Collegiate Gentlemen’s Pipe Smoking League.
“They say everyone has an inner child,” the 19-year-old says. “I guess I have an inner old man.”
Friday is International Pipe-Smoking Day, when a number of puffers will unite to protest tobacco taxes and smoking bans. They will also engage in slow-smoking competitions to see who can keep a pipe going the longest. Each contestant is given just two matches. Events, which will go on all weekend, are promoted by the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.
Health advocates may warn of oral cancer, mouth lesions and rotting teeth, but Mr. Nemets and his online brethren are in the vanguard of an unlikely set of smokers taking to the brier — people in their 20s.
“They’re eager to learn,” says 71-year-old Vernon E. Vig, president of the New York Pipe Club and the United Pipe Clubs of America. Mr. Vig started smoking a pipe as an undergrad at Carleton College 53 years ago. “Back then, everyone smoked a pipe,” Mr. Vig says. His group, which meets monthly in Manhattan, has seen a definite increase in college students and young professionals, he says.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RQurNZ5p5c

 

[jndyer]

This is great news for us. We need fresh blood so that pipe makers and tobacco manufactures have a reason to stay in business.

 

[brdavidson]

My pipe club has grown from 5 to 12 in three short months, Pruss and I are doing our best to spread the word. My local shop has doubled their sales of pipes in the last 6 months. At Christmas they sold out completely and couldn't believe it. It may not be the heyday of the 70's but here's hoping that it's a strong foundation for the future.

 

[gnatjulio]

Damn!!! Just when I was building my tobacco stock before the tax man puts it out of reach, now I have to get back to building my pipe collection before all them darn young whipper snappers buy them all up.

 

[terrygoldman123]

This is certainly most welcome news. Any non/anti press re pipe smoking is always good to hear. Alas, I still do not see many pipe smokers around in my daily travels.

Wish there were more pipe smokers out there. Would love to run into some as I do the errands.

 

[plateauguy]

It was the "New, Old Thing" in the 70's. Everything runs in cycles.

 

[voorhees]

As long as there are interesting "old things", people will be interested again at some point. Pipe smoking is just one of those things. Thank for the article.

 

[numbersix]

Another nice post taz.
Personally I have mixed feelings with pipesmoking gaining in popularity. On the one hand it's nice to see - but on the other hand, I fear it puts us more in the limelight and thus more under the gov't spotlight - as we see more friends taking up the hobby, I fear that it raises alarm bells with the anti-smoking crowd and only leads to more nanny-state tactics.

 

[papa]

Thanks for posting Taz, I see this trend in other locations also. Sat. afternoon my wife and I made a stop at Two Brothers Cigars, Plano Texas (Dallas) while in the humidor I noticed a large quantiy of bulk tobacco on the floor in boxes. The young fellow on duty told me they were starting back in the pipe business, as they are getting request for related sundries? He went on to say that a shipment of estate pipes, are on the way, and will start working them as soon as they arrive. By the way the new store owner, (Steve Parker) who I should say is buying up many Dallas area shops, is very opened minded, and wants to cater to his clientele, and this is good. Six, you bring up a good point.

 

[javajunkie]

Personally I have mixed feelings with pipesmoking gaining in popularity. On the one hand it's nice to see - but on the other hand, I fear it puts us more in the limelight and thus more under the gov't spotlight - as we see more friends taking up the hobby, I fear that it raises alarm bells with the anti-smoking crowd and only leads to more nanny-state tactics.

Yes and no. While I see your point about attracting undue attention, ALL TOBACCO USERS are getting the pinch. Putting a face and a voice to the opposing arguments lend them credence, and broadening the discussion into the differing qualities of tobacco forms, especially pipe versus cigarette, keeps the argument from being reduced to an absurd oversimplification.
Kinda a "squeeky wheel gets the grease" versus "loose board gets hammered down" situation? o)

 

[numbersix]

Putting a face and a voice to the opposing arguments lend them credence

I can only hope you're right, but my fear is that we will, no matter how many members we add to our fraternity, remain vastly outnumbered by the anti-smokers and the vast over-reaching campaign against smoking.

 

[mso489]

I agree it's a mixed blessing for those of us who are "already here." I avoided pipe smoking when I was in college,

because I didn't want to look like I was impersonating a professor, since many of them smoked pipes then, in the

1960's. I did a few cigars now and then, never cigs. As numbersix points out, an interest from students may well

draw fire from the crusaders who will see pipe smokers as recruiting and corrupting youth. However, young people

always want and need something "disreputable" to try out, as part of their wild and crazy youth. Pipe smoking is

certainly eons better than the troubles manifested by the folks I see dragging off to the methadone clinic trying to

escape their habit (and I certainly wish them success and health). So if pipe smoking can provide some needed

adult disapproval, some exposure to tradition and history, and maybe some sociability with others sipping the

forbidden (legal) weed, I say it's good for them. Good for us, who hope to have affordable tobacco, pipes, and

not too much hassle? I'm not so sure. But I admit, I feel cheered up by the college and graduate students I see

at the local pipe show (TAPS) at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. They add a dash of youth and vitality, so it isn't

altogether a gathering of retirees. We're fine old fellas, but some young blood is encouraging. There go the

prices on estate pipes.

 

[allan]

Taz
Thanks for that post. The fellow "Vernon" is a past president of the NYC pipe club, and a heck of a nice guy.
He sounds like he has owned a million pipes over his many years.
Full of knowledge, like many in this club.
Allan