This Tobacco is Crap! No it Isn't! New G.L. Pease Article

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

I guess that is why I do not do reviews. I figure somewhere out there someone may like it…. and hell, I smoke mostly codger varieties so my palate isn’t “sophisticated” anyway. I just quietly enjoy what fits my mood, and if I despise something I toss it in the drawer. Maybe sometime I might eventually like it…. but then it is a “gift” l I guess.

I just like smoking what is enjoyable to me.

 

[mso489]

It's impossible to write anything, or probably to make any blend, that someone won't dislike with intensity. Partly, it is because people read and taste things differently, genetically and from life experience.

Partly it is because people often carry anger that has nothing to do with the subject. A lot of people, maybe most, have a rage reflex that is triggered any time they feel insecure. They see affronts everywhere depending on their frame of mind.

The emotions never keep up with the intellect. People tend to cry out in an infantile reflex, when they are tired, hungry, bored, or otherwise not emotionally tended to. It's the human condition.

Some religious practices focus on attending to our inner child who is hungry or hurt, before we use this as an excuse to lash out at the world.

 

[georged]

I can sympathize with Mr. Pease to the extent that he is a skilled tobacconist and blender, and seeing his or his contemporaries' hard work so easily and carelessly dismissed can be frustrating. I try to take a Stoic outlook to criticism, but I also don't have my livelihood tied to selling a consumer product to an audience that can, in all fairness, be rather hard to please sometimes. So, I guess it would be glib of me to suggest Mr. Pease adopt my own detached attitude towards bad criticism.

What isn't glib to point out, however, is this weird and incessant faith in free market dogma that so many, including Mr. Pease, adhere to, even to the point of contradiction. To paraphrase: Mr. Pease stated that people who push a poor product would eventually go out of business because of market principles of demand. Let's ignore the many examples of deeply shitty and exploitive products that are currently thriving in today's markets. (Has this man never been forced to deal with a cable company before?)

Instead, I think it is important to point out that the very people he is expending so much energy complaining about, are also a large part of his consumer base; the kinds of people leaving multiple (oftentimes unlettered) tobacco reviews online are the kinds of people who tend to buy a lot of pipe tobacco. So, either consumers will make sure bad products go out of business because they are smart enough to know a good from bad product, or they are ignorant loudmouths that dismiss "trash" blends too readily. But they can't be both. The only way that would work is if those aforementioned ignorant loudmouths were a small contingent of the consumer base, but Mr. Pease clearly doesn't think that is the case.

Anyway, I generally like Mr. Pease's articles, and I certainly love his tobacco (Windjammer is a DELIGHT), but this one didn't have me nodding in rapt agreement or whatever. But, I did read it in full, and I wouldn't call it trash, so I gave it a fair shake, which I think is all Mr. Pease is asking for. Nothing wrong with that.

Greg's complaint was highly specific.

That smoking a single bowl of a blend---or just a few puffs in some cases---and then declaring it "garbage" does not qualify as a tobacco review.

He is 100% correct.

Such a reaction only means that the blend did not suit that person's personal TASTE.

I hate the taste of caraway seed, for example---damn near puke at the thought of it---but that does NOT make all Rye bread that incorporates it "garbage."

There's no end of demand for whiney product complaint screechfests on the Internet, in other words, regardless of whether the complainer knows a damn thing about what he is "reviewing".

Greg, on the other hand, has been recognized as a world-class master of pipe tobacco blending for a quarter century.

Him calling out the opportunistic click chasers is refreshing. Indeed, I'd call it overdue.

 

[K.E. Powell]

Greg's complaint was highly specific.

That smoking a single bowl of a blend---or just a few puffs in some cases---and then declaring it "garbage" does not qualify as a tobacco review.

He is 100% correct.

Such a reaction only means that the blend did not suit that person's personal TASTE.

I hate the taste of caraway seed, for example---damn near puke at the thought of it---but that does NOT make all Rye bread that incorporates it "garbage."

There's no end of demand for whiney product complaint screechfests on the Internet, in other words, regardless of whether the complainer knows a damn thing about what he is "reviewing".

Greg, on the other hand, has been recognized as a world-class master of pipe tobacco blending for a quarter century.

Him calling out the opportunistic click chasers is refreshing. Indeed, I'd call it overdue.

I hear you, but none of what you said actually addresses my criticisms.

But for what it is worth, yes, I do agree that many people make hasty value judgments based on purely subjective tastes. But where Pease errs--aside from what I said prior--is, as you say, taste (or TASTE as you put it) is entirely subjective. And the kind of literal taste (i.e. that taste experienced with ones taste buds) you are talking about here is, as you correctly point out, personal; no one can taste something for me anymore than I can taste something for them. And it can be argued that among the sense perceptions, taste is the one most susceptible to myriad variables that deeply impact said perception.

Unless some objective criteria can be established in what makes a good tobacco review (or, more to the point, what makes a good tobacco), I'm not sure how anyone can say one person's tastes are better than any other person's.

But yea, I agree: people who just smoke half a bowl have not given that blend a fair chance, and their review shouldn't be taken seriously.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Or, how 'bout the ones that start "I hate all English Blends, hate anyone from the UK, so here's what I thought about Margate...."

 

[georged]

Trust me, Greg knows that taste is subjective.

You're starting to sound like a reviewer of reviewers. lol

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Or, how 'bout the ones that start "I hate all English Blends, hate anyone from the UK, so here's what I thought about Margate...."

In those cases, they at least acknowledge that their review will be slanted, and “read further for merely entertainment value” not any objective taste review. In those cases, the reviewer in being kind enough to warn in advance.

To be clear, I do NOT write reviews. I leave that to the others.

 

[fireground_piper]

"....hate anyone from the UK......"

 

[huckleberry]

I don’t review tobacco, as I don’t have a very refined palate and saying anything beyond I like or don’t it like is about as far as my taste buds will take me. That said there have been two blends that were rapidly consigned to the garden after a couple of bowls. Life is too short to continue that particular journey hoping that at some point a confluence of factors might transform a bad experience into nirvana. There have been a few blends that I initially didn’t like but due to many kudos on the inter webs I’ve gone back to, didn’t change my initial evaluation.

I do agree that reviews based on partially smoking a bowl are pretty useless and damaging. I pay attention to a small number of reviewers that I know will be diligent and give the blend a fair shot.

I am in kinda in the same boat as you are as I only have 2 taste buds when it comes to tobacco. 1, is I like it, and 2, is I don't care much for it.

That don't mean I hate or dislike it, it just means I won't be smoking it unless I am out of other options. I'm not fond of intense aero-matics, and I do shy away from them, but if someone asks me to try something new, I usually will if it is someone I know.

When it comes to reviews, I do read them, especially the ones from people who are more capable of fairly evaluating a blend than I am, but no one is a more experienced judge of tobaccy FOR ME, than I am!

I don't get a lot of the "flavors" that most good reviewers can talk about, but that is ok...I just like what i like, and if I don't like it as much, I don't try it as often....I never throw tobacco away.

 

[anotherbob]

Sometimes I feel like someone missed the point. Either it's me or some other person. I read this article as him saying don't say a tobacco is total crap and should only be packed in the trash, especially if you haven't really given it a fair shake and even more so if you have or act like you have some authority on tobacco. Not you can't say me and this blend are enemies. But that to say it's no good as a fact and low quality and the leaf is garbage in almost all cases is just not true. That's how I read it. Which seems like a reasonable thought.
Side not a review and chatting on a forum are totally different things, not sure how Greg sees that but.
We could be really annoying (one of my hobbies by the way in case you haven't figured that out) and ask Greg directly, bonus points if you say he isn't busy so he's got the time to help us nitpick his articles (he's busy I don't know much about him but I do worry about his caffeine intake).

 

[Papamique]

Holy shit I loved this article and couldn’t agree more although I don’t hang on to many blends that I dislike to see if I like them later. There are many others that love the blend and I would rather they had it than sitting in my house taking up space.

I see so many people on the inter webs taking a shit on others and hiding behind “I’m just stating my opinion”. Hahaha. Nope. You’re just a dick and now so am I. I guess I always have my crabby pants on.

 

[anotherbob]

Holy shit I loved this article and couldn’t agree more although I don’t hang on to many blends that I dislike to see if I like them later. There are many others that love the blend and I would rather they had it than sitting in my house taking up space.

I see so many people on the inter webs taking a shit on others and hiding behind “I’m just stating my opinion”. Hahaha. Nope. You’re just a dick and now so am I. I guess I always have my crabby pants on.

it's safe because an opinion can't really be wrong. It can be misinformed but it can't be wrong. If you're opinion is that only closeted bronies eat pizza with cured meats, I can't really say it's wrong that you believe that. It's a safe place to take a firm stand. At least it's less sinister then the religious people who take a firm and psychotic stand on the sins that don't tempt them while waving off their own transgressions.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

review and chatting on a forum are totally different things, not sure how Greg sees that

I think therein lies the problem. If he is just talking about the tobaccoreviews.com and youtubers who are devoted to reviews, then sure, I can agree. But, if he is getting bent out of shape because someone says that a blend is only good for the garbage can in conversation in threads amongst friends, then he is missing the point of why we are all here, and starting to dictate how common people all express our opinions.

 

[Papamique]

I was pleasantly surprised to read, from someone who knows better than most, that the tobacco leaf today is high grade and better than it ever has been! Although I think I have heard that more than once from Brian Levine too. Bravo

 

[Papamique]

it's safe because an opinion can't really be wrong. It can be misinformed but it can't be wrong. If you're opinion is that only closeted bronies eat pizza with cured meats, I can't really say it's wrong that you believe that. It's a safe place to take a firm stand. At least it's less sinister then the religious people who take a firm and psychotic stand on the sins that don't tempt them while waving off their own transgressions.

You are correct. Opinions can not be wrong but you can express it like a grown man with respect or you can be rude and inappropriate purposely (or ignorantly) causing someone pain by “expressing your opinion”. There is a difference.

 

[anotherbob]

I think therein lies the problem. If he is just talking about the tobaccoreviews.com and youtubers who are devoted to reviews, then sure, I can agree. But, if he is getting bent out of shape because someone says that a blend is only good for the garbage can in conversation in threads amongst friends, then he is missing the point of why we are all here, and starting to dictate how common people all express our opinions.

I seem to remember him talking about self proclaimed experts or something like that. So I took his intent as being only aimed at reviews. Though only way to be sure is to find out where he is and corner him into a conversation about tobacco then one of us lights up takes a few puffs, gags makes I've been poisoned faces, then dumps the tobacco in the trash can (starting a small fire), and then jokes about how can they get away with putting that crap in a tin and selling it as anything otherwise then compost.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I was pleasantly surprised to read, from someone who knows better than most, that the tobacco leaf today is high grade and better than it ever has been! Although I think I have heard that more than once from Brian Levine too. Bravo

The problem with this in conversation amongst forum members is that when someone says "the leaf is low quality" it doesn't mean the same thing as it does among experts in the field of tobaccos. If someone doesn't like burley, then when in back and forths about a blend, that person may say that the leaf is low quality. Because, to them burley is low quality. Or, if someone doesn't like the taste of perique, or a certain perique, or if someone gets no flavor when smoking a Virginia. See... me, I, as a fellow friend of these guys, a common layman of the pipesmokers, I know exactly what they mean. But, to someone in the industry, when they hear "low quality" they are thinking about something different.

Me, I love all the different varieties, but I can still comprehend and respect someone who uses the term "low quality" in conversation. For goodness sakes, we can't expect a common pipe smoker to even understand what a tobacconist, farmer, or manufacturer would mean by "low quality" unless they have some training in the field.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I seem to remember him talking about self proclaimed experts or something like that.

It sounds like a slight against forum members that have been here for a long time to me. Me, I am merely an expert on my own opinions.

But, having read it posted as an article on the PM site, I guess I just automatically assume he is talking about it's readers. He was sort of vague.

 

[anotherbob]

You are correct. Opinions can not be wrong but you can express it like a grown man with respect or you can be rude and inappropriate purposely (or ignorantly) causing someone pain by “expressing your opinion”. There is a difference.

Heck yes there is. But I think that's part of the reason some people stick to expressing their opinions on non issues so violently and steadfastly. Not justifying it (I've done it and will again if I am honest) just saying why I think it's such a phenomenon. Kind of like explaining why a thief or conman might do things a certain way. You know explaining the practical reason for nonsense. Though I will always see the internet as the place where I've gotten death threats for stating Hawaiian Pizza is good and that not liking it is fine cause there are other options.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

causing someone pain

There is obviously a huge age gap between you and I. The way men banter in my age group may just be different than yours. So, who is to give? Do you just take our banter as old guys being guys, or should we all slant our whole way of socializing for your generation?
And, I do not say this to hurt you. I am just asking a rhetorical question to make a point. No harm is ever meant to anyone when I or someone from my age group doesn't like a tobacco.