Then and Now

[oldmooner]

At the risk of indulging in what some of you will probably deem an old fart's diatribe, I would like to say that Bob Dylan (who?) got it right when he said, "the times they are a changing." When I first began smoking a pipe (1957) the pipe smoker's world was vastly different than the one we live in today. I will wait to give what I think the changes/differences are until I see if, first of all, you agree/disagree, and secondly the reasons. I would like to hear your opinions as to what has changed, why the change, and if the evolution has been good or bad.

 

[irishsmoker]

I agree from what my grandpa told me it has changed. Good in the sense of being better selection and access to more pipes and tobacco. Bad in the sense of the anti smoking gustapo that are everywhere!

 

[pstlpkr]

While (I believe) everyone here would concur with Dylan's sentiment: "Times they are a changin'".
I must issue a caution that this has the potential to become political almost instantly.
Please keep all replies A-political.
Thanks in advance.

Lawrence
::

 

[gwynclan]

Pipes havent changed much, packing methods are the same. I believe that politics have made quite alot of the change in recent years.

Tobacco producers using the same techniques, seems flavors have been added. How many tobaccos / flavors have been added in the last 10 years????

 

[bigvan]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say "yes, things HAVE changed since 1957."
Why? I'd be surprised if they HADN'T.

 

[mluyckx]

Of course it's changing.. Pipe smoking now is different than what is was 30 years ago, from what is was 50 years ago. And 50 years ago it was different from what it was 50 years prior to that and so on.
That applies to everything, including music, language, food, beer, ....Why the change ? Call it progress, evolution, change in society, ....
The question you're really after, I think, is "was it better" ? And the answer to that will all depend on a persons perspective. Some things are better now than they were 50 years ago. Some are worse.
Pipe smoking ? The better is that we have more variety and availability. The worse.... Oh well, I'll take it for now..I'm too old to storm the barricades ;-)

 

[gwynclan]

+ 1 bigvan

 

[crpntr1]

I would venture to say they've changed quite a bit...people have changed, we have the internet, you don't have to settle on one blend forever :nana:

 

[pstlpkr]

The more things change the more they stay the same.... "Sex Sells"
Do You Remember Where You Were When This Happened?

 

[gwtwdbss]

The more things change the more they stay the same.... "Sex Sells"

Haha, I read that same article just about an hour ago. CERN Babes, now that's first class. If only they were smoking pipes in the photo!

 

[oldmooner]

Lawrence, please define "A-political". Maybe this is part of what I'm talking about. One of the things that has changed is the ability to smoke a pipe at your leisure. I get a little miffed when I remember all the old codgers that were able to sit around "the square" in my hometown smoking thier pipes "spittin and whittlin" as we used to call it. I can't do that. But what I really mean't by the differences are things like the cost of a new pipe and where we bought them then. Or tobacco. There was no internet of course. I bought my first pipe (a yellowbowl) and a pouch of Amphora (if remember correctly) for less than $10. Every drugstore and bus station in the country sold pipes and tobacco. The first "real" tobacco shop I ever saw was when I was stationed in England. I thought I was in heaven. Now I hear all the tobacco shops in jolly old England are basically gone. I also used to smoke in the pubs over there. No more. Another thought I just had is that there were very few "free-form" pipes back when. Just the basic shapes. No one I knew, even when I was in the military, smoked a Scandanavian pipe. They weren't available were I was. I reckon it is kinda hard to think of changes without getting a bit political.

 

[crpntr1]

As far as old men sitting outside on the square every morning, they still do here..this is yet another reason I am content driving so far to work. This time I guess ill mostly agree with you oldmooner..for the record tho, my first pipe and baccy were pa and a no name for just about $10

 

[judcole]

Instead of buying the same limited selection of blends in every drug store, we have a huge selection available to us online. It's a great time to be a pipe smoker. ::

 

[dervis]

Can't smoke in as many places, then again I don't like going many places. So I'd say it's a great time to be a pipe smoker!

 

[nsfisher]

Wife says I belong 50-100 yrs ago. Same, Same. I smoke a pipe for reasons it was smoked then. Nicotine delivery device, and I like the taste and relaxation of tobacco. I do not consider it a Hobby or a science to be studied, however, I have gleened much useful info here regarding drying methods, pipe repairs etc. And it is nice to have others to exchange info with. Good place to be for sure.

 

[profpar]

A comparative evaluation of then and now is merely a statement of experiential observation and recognition of some demonstrative changes both good (e.g. more choices of pipes and tobaccos) and bad (more restictions as to where one can smoke). These are statements of fact and do not apriori sync to any political ideology. While the increasingly restrictive regulations concerning the enjoyment of tobacco ultimately stem from the political process, the joist of this thread appears to merely recognize their existence, and not to argue for or against their virtue.

 

[baronsamedi]

The other day Chris, Mick and I sat around smoking, spitting and well...not whittling, but I did whittle the tamper I was using previously. One of us should have been at work, one was going to work and the other may have actually been technically at work but we found plenty of time to do nothing. so things aren't too different.

 

[barkar]

Everything changes...people use to wear guns now they hide them in their armpits....everything has its time and sometimes change is good and sometimes it isn't

 

[photoman13]

I love change if it means more choices of tobacco. Change isn't always bad. Although I'm only 23 so what perspective do I really have.

 

[cigrmaster]

I remember being able to buy a pouch of Borkum Riff at the corner store when I was 12, see if that would ever happen today. Politicians are out to tax tobacconists out of business and therefore only the internet will be available until they get to that. In Florida it has already occurred, if I go to my local tobacconist I have to pay double what I would pay for a tin on line. This is the bad new days. Eventually there will be a huge black market for tobacco products and that will not be good.
The good part about today is the number of new blends and the internet where you can buy them. The internet has also spawned a huge business of estate pipes. If you do your research you can buy pipes that once retailed for 600-700 for as little as 100-200, or pipes that retailed for 100-200 for 25-75. It affords people who would not otherwise be able, buy better quality pipes for reasonable money. I have gotten some of my best smokers off Ebay.
As far as places to smoke, we are done as a group, the smoke nazi's are everywhere and it is something we all have to deal with. Recently my favorite beach went non smoking, no it doesn't stop me, but not everyone says screw it like I do and therefore do not enjoy that simple pleasure which is a shame.
Changes are inevitable, some are good and some are pretty bad, but dealing with them is up to each individual. I personally am not going to let anyone get in the way of my enjoyment if I can help it.