Smoking around others/in public

[jpmcwjr]

I don't give a damn, nor do the others I pass by. Usually get the "Oh, my uncle smoked a pipe!"

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoke my pipe wherever it is legal and allowed. I don't care whether anybody thinks I'm a novice or an expert, as long as I am enjoying it, that's all that matters. Never looked at it as a contest or competition. I'm probably a lot closer to the novice rating than the expert one but I am a world champion at enjoying it.

 

[JimInks]

I never think about it. If somebody doesn't like seeing me or anybody smoke a pipe in public, I consider it their problem, not mine.

 

[sittingbear]

I can also be a little self-conscious about smoking around others. I don't like being perceived as pretentious. I typically don't smoke in public because there are so few places in public I can smoke anymore! Most places I can smoke, however, are full of folks like us who probably enjoy a pipe or cigar now and then, as well.

 

[ashdigger]

I woulda loved to smoke around other pipers when I was starting out, just so that they could tell me what I was doing wrong!

About six months after I started piping I went into the Sanctuary Tobacco shop in San Luis Obispo since I was visiting the city for work. I had zero intention of smoking in the shop.....I was mortified to smoke in front of real pipe folks. The owner, Doug, helped me purchase two pipes and a couple of pounds of tobacco and invited upstairs to try out one of the pipes and then offered some Escudo to smoke. Not only had I never smoked a flake, I barely knew how to load and light my pipe without looking like a six thumbed fool. Doug not only helped me pack, guided me on lighting and then worked a little on cadence, etc.
So, I understand that point, but piping in front of the great "unwashed" never concerned me in the least.

 

[mechanic]

I've only ever known one other person in rl in my area that smoked a pipe. I don't really feel people that see me smoking it really notice that I'm a noob. If i notice anyone looking at me, i feel its proablly just because they don't see many pipe smokers.

 

[dino]

When I first started smoking a pipe, I wouldn't dare smoke in public, let alone around my peers. I was 14, in an all-boys high school, and would have earned a "wedgie" or a "swirly" puffing on my pipe in the snack shop after school. By time I was 17, I had no problem with it. Also, you could smoke in class when I went to college. And, you were as cool as Hef if you smoked a pipe.