I’ve never spotted another wild piper. If I do, I’m unlikely to approach; I may be offered a tin of Sun Bear from the back of his van.
Spotted...In The Wild!
- Thread starter TakeThisCobAndStuffIt
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A white Chevy econoline with no windows most likely... 
Sure. But imagine that scenario in a world where you didn't know anyone else who wiped...Its a bit like walking up to someone buying toilet paper and screaming, "Wow, you wipe? I do too! We must have so much in common!"
It still doesn't indicate belonging anymore than breathing does, as it's extremely subjective to the individual. Two pipe smokers could be in the same room having completely different tastes in pipe styles, tobaccos, accessories, smoking techniques and habits, etc. In nearly 4 decades I've met less than 10 pipe smokers and most of them were brief encounters with no mention of the pipes we were smoking or what tobacco was in them.
You guys would loose your minds down here, because you'll run into pipesmokers everywhere, and pretty soon it would become irritating every time someone comes up and wants to be your buddy, because they smoke a pipe sometimes also.
But, I "get it." You're young and enthusiastic, and have been told that it is a dying habit. Maybe get a t-shirt that says, "ask me about my pipe." But, be careful where you wear that shirt, ha ha.
But, I "get it." You're young and enthusiastic, and have been told that it is a dying habit. Maybe get a t-shirt that says, "ask me about my pipe." But, be careful where you wear that shirt, ha ha.
Awww, C'mon, fellas...... Let's all gather around that big campfire and sing Kum-Ba-Ya.......
Cosmic, you and Chasing Embers can kick it off. What's your favorite key to sing in???
Cosmic, you and Chasing Embers can kick it off. What's your favorite key to sing in???
Many solitary pipe smokers out there. Solitary or Social Smoker? :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/solitary-or-social-smoker.105936/
I've not noticed any other pipe smokers. But I don't pay much attention to being alone when I am alone either.
Well lets say I was sitting alone on a beautiful day, smoking my pipe, say at a park by the river. Someone came by smoking his pipe and didn't stop to chat, I can't say I'd be offended but I would be disappointed. Not many of us around any longrer that smoke pipes and for someone not to share their smoke and wisdom or just a cheerful few minutes would seem very odd to me. In our current society it wouldn't surprise me but I would be saddened. So if any of you see me sitting alone smoking my pipe, please stop,say hello and share the day. I've had many very interesting and enlightening conversations with total strangers I've never seen again.
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This topic always stirs debate. While I am not as adamant as Chasingembers that running up to other smokers is horrible. My experience with others coming up to me with enthusiasm was awkward. But, here, there are pipesmokers at every turn. It is a lot like someone coming up to me to say that we have on the same shoes.
But, you guys up there in the land of pipesmoker isolation, you may hug on each other when spotted in the wild all you want. My blessings. But, I might warn you, pipesmokers have no other bond other than we all like to smoke pipes. You may be walking up on someone like Chasingembers who is going to scoff you.
Me? I'm just going to bring attention to the awkwardness of it, and then laugh. Then, I'll forget your name, cause I will most likely have other pressing matters to deal with.
So, do what you want.
But, if you do run up to me, please don't say stupid things. I had a young guy do that, asking, "What kind of pipes do you like?" "What's your favorite tobacco?" This just makes me have to ask more questions to find out what exactly you're asking me. Then we have a conversation, and that means that I will have to remove my pipe from my clench, when before you bothered me I was enjoying the hell out of my pipe. Now, I am talking to a moron. But... this is the South, where we are not rude, so I will just give you a big smile and say, "Bless your heart," and move on to enjoying my pipe again. Ha ha.
Now, if you want to meet, because you are passing through. I have met up with about a dozen members over the years. Just message me. That is a little less awkward than an unexpected vague interrogation while I am trying to get home from the grocers before the ice cream melts.
Does that make sense? Sometimes, we all will have things going on that makes an unexpected "encounter" unpleasant and annoying.
But, you guys up there in the land of pipesmoker isolation, you may hug on each other when spotted in the wild all you want. My blessings. But, I might warn you, pipesmokers have no other bond other than we all like to smoke pipes. You may be walking up on someone like Chasingembers who is going to scoff you.
Me? I'm just going to bring attention to the awkwardness of it, and then laugh. Then, I'll forget your name, cause I will most likely have other pressing matters to deal with.
So, do what you want.
But, if you do run up to me, please don't say stupid things. I had a young guy do that, asking, "What kind of pipes do you like?" "What's your favorite tobacco?" This just makes me have to ask more questions to find out what exactly you're asking me. Then we have a conversation, and that means that I will have to remove my pipe from my clench, when before you bothered me I was enjoying the hell out of my pipe. Now, I am talking to a moron. But... this is the South, where we are not rude, so I will just give you a big smile and say, "Bless your heart," and move on to enjoying my pipe again. Ha ha.
Now, if you want to meet, because you are passing through. I have met up with about a dozen members over the years. Just message me. That is a little less awkward than an unexpected vague interrogation while I am trying to get home from the grocers before the ice cream melts.
Does that make sense? Sometimes, we all will have things going on that makes an unexpected "encounter" unpleasant and annoying.
I don't cotton to everyone thinking that when a Southerner says that, that they mean something terrible. It really didn't become a derogatory thing till social media made it so. But... ha ha, now that we all think it means something derogatory... well...A
know what that means
Around my neck of the woods, the accepted protocol when seeing another pipe smoker in the wild, is to quickly approach, whip the pipe from his lips and examine it carefully. Check it's cake width, inspect the mouthpiece to see if he is biting too hard etc. This is a great way to "break the ice" before introducing oneself.
I shot different disciplines competitively for a minute. I’ll talk BC’s, loads, and training with my buddies ad museum. Last thing I want to do when I’m picking up reloading supplies or such is to “stop and chat” with some guy that dresses up in “shoot me first” pants and other “gun guy” garb to hang out at Bass Pro.
I ride a scoot and love talking about my bike and my friends’ bikes with them. That often gets mistaken for me being open to conversation with every swinging d*** that has a black tshirt and facial hair that enjoys riding on a vehicle as much as in a vehicle.
There’s too many “I’m confirming I’m cool by spending money to fit in, but I know very little of what I claim to be all about” folks in the world these days to bother with.
I did bump into a winter visitor while I was smoking while working and talked pipes for a second a while back. Neither of us initiated contact, the gentleman’s wife did the “look honey, he smokes a pipe too” thing. I did end up giving him a few smokes’ worth of Sixpence, as he was Canadian and didn’t know where to get decent tobacco in town. Nice enough guy, but had it not been for the Mrs, it would have been a fleeting nod.
