Would you advise your children to smoke a pipe?

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

18 Fresh Claudio Cavicchi Pipes
3 Fresh Scottie Piersel Pipes
48 Fresh Brigham Pipes
24 Fresh Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Pipes
9 Fresh Estate Pipes

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Drucquers Banner
Status
Not open for further replies.
If you look at Warren's 2,870+ other posts, I think one would have to be pretty dense to think that he doesn't really enjoy his pipes, and it is quite clear why he participates in the forums. He brings a great wiley outback sort of ruggedness to the hobby, and I look forward to his posts. He is very knowledgeable on many things pipe related and not. Everything he has said in this thread rings true to my ears (or eyes), and I see no reason why we cannot accept the truth of the dangers of smoking and still relish in this hobby. It makes less sense to me to throw off all of medical science as bunk and smoke away thinking this is all pure dandelions and unicorn farts. And, when talking to people about our hobby that may be interested it is pure idiocy not to mention risks. When people come into the Briary as I am setting there enjoying my pipes, the staff or owner doesn't throw off all of medical science and tell them that there is no risk "smoke up, it's totally good for you". That would be pure neglect and fraud. One can have the opinion that science is bunk, but you still have to accept that "it" is out there.
And, with my own kids, I'd rather them take up pipes than those evil life sucking cigarettes. If I had my way totally, they would never even get involved with tobacco of any sort. Heck in growing up in a tobacco growing family, it was still a rump skinning sin to get caught smoking as a kid. My dad beat the crap out of me several times for smoking... with his cigarette hanging onto his fingers as he did and a field of tobacco behind the barn. But, as I weigh cigs verses pipes, if my kids were unfortunately going to be hell bent on smoking, I'd rather it be pipes, because of at least a weighed lesser risk. But, I still acknowledge the risks. It would foolish and negligent not to.
But, as we all know from our own experiences, kids make poor choices. I did on many levels. This is to be expected. So, I see no reason to at least persuade them into at least a lesser risk. If you are going to dance with the devil, choose the safest dance and learn all of the steps. (Ehhh, not sure of that's the best analogy, ha ha)

 
  • Like
Reactions: johnscs

johnnyreb

Lifer
Aug 21, 2014
1,961
614
I try my damnedest to stay out of threads on tobacco legislation, smokers rights, etc but here I am again.
A 20-something yr old adult today can expect to live another 65+ yrs, probably longer with the medical science that will come within their lifetimes. Medical researchers say babies born today will routinely live to be 125 yrs old for the same reasons. Things are changing fast and the changes will only continue to accelerate in the coming yrs.
Whether you believe & accept or minimize the risks involved, tobacco use will continue to decline if for no other reason than those risks, public opinion and peer pressure. It may even become a divider of class for a time. The majority of the public doesn't want it; companies will continue to discourage, then discriminate against it; healthcare can't absorb the costs associated with it although those costs will begin to decline as tobacco use declines. Healthcare could get to the point where they decline to cover illness & disease associated with any type of tobacco use. For the greater good of society will always win out over individual rights.
In general the world will become a much more competitive environment for education, jobs & careers (those are two separate things), even mates over the next 65 yrs & beyond. Why would any parent want to encourage or condone any habit or activity that could limit the future potential & life of their child? And why would any educated young adult do likewise?
We have several MD's on this forum who are pipe smokers themselves. I would be interested in reading their replies to the OP's question & the implications it imposes.

 

phil67

Lifer
Dec 14, 2013
2,052
7
In lieu of taking the time and space of quoting all of warrens posts I'll simply say that I'm in total agreement with just about everything he said on this thread.

 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,264
30,360
Carmel Valley, CA
Guys, I didn't ask if you would provoke them to smoke or promote pipe smoking. Some of you got it wrong I guess. Really interesting answers though.
Really? A very slight thread drift and you feel it necessary to criticize? This after two months, or are you revisiting under a new handle?

 
Sep 27, 2012
1,779
0
Upland, CA.
well I'm late to the party... but to answer your question.
No I would never advised or encourage my kids or any other kids to smoke. To think that smoking a pipe is not dangerous or unhealthy is quite ignorant.
Now as far as my kids, my kids have grown up watching me smoke a pipe their entire life, Ive been smoking a pipe since before I even met my wife... they have seen me smoke a cigarette or two and they've watched my wife struggle with quitting smoking cigarettes for many years (she has quite now for 4 years) they watched my best friend, their uncle Robert, smoke a pack a day their entire lives and watched him wither away from lung cancer and eventually die... I am very positive in saying that I doubt my kids will ever pick up a cigarette or any other smoking habit... funny how watching someone die because of smoking be such a powerful deterrent. BUT if they ever did start, after the lecture I would give them, again, on the dangers of smoking... I would most definitely suggest they smoke a pipe over cigarettes, if only due to the fact it doesn't have the chemicals that cigarettes have.
Now with that said... as of right now I don't see myself ever stopping smoking a pipe. I don't smoke cigarettes or anything else... but I do enjoy the tobacco and nicotine so a pipe has become my habit and my vise... I am not perfect, well except to my grandma :P , so it is what it is... I will only live once so I'm going to enjoy myself and not worry how fast its going to kill me, because in the end I'll still be dead!

 

deathmetal

Lifer
Jul 21, 2015
7,714
35
I just would like to know opinions if one day my daughter/son comes and says (of course when he/she is in his/her legal age) "dad, I would like to learn pipe smoking".
In my view, you can't raise a kid these days without talking about alcohol, tobacco and drugs. They are hit with many bad role models and few good ones.
I would prefer to answer this question earlier, i.e. "Dad, why do you smoke a pipe?" at which point I can explain that nicotine has stimulant benefits like coffee, and that this is the most pleasurable and responsible way I have found to use it. (Similar to cigars.)
Regarding alcohol, we can have similar discussions. Drugs will be harder, but my rap on that starts with "Drugs are really excellent, which is why they can steal your life away, so we need to talk about what is actually important in life."
I think it helps to rear them with goals above themselves and the immediate. Without some kind of transcendental worldview, people revert to "whatever feels good, is right."

 

billinsfl

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 28, 2010
209
6
Of course I would encourage my kids to take up the pipe, a pursuit that enhances greatly to the quality of my life, and has extremely minimal health risk. In fact, I would encourage anyone to smoke a pipe.

 
  • Like
Reactions: johnscs
Jan 4, 2015
1,858
11
Massachusetts
My boys, 40 & 36, like an occasional cigar. I never encouraged them to smoke anything but don't find the cigar habit objectionable. I don't think you should encourage something that has possible health consequences but adults have the right to determine what risks they are willing to take.

 

billinsfl

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 28, 2010
209
6
I am puzzled why so many people feel smoking a pipe is unsafe to a degree you would not encourage your children to take it up?

 
Jan 4, 2015
1,858
11
Massachusetts
It's the number one cause of bladder cancer among other things. Smoking isn't good for you, just how bad it is might be up for some speculation but there isn't much doubt it has its consequences. Nobody wants potentially bad things for their children.

 

billinsfl

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 28, 2010
209
6
Pipe smoking? Bladder cancer? Hogwash. Not trying to be a troll, but when pipes are smoked in moderation, and not inhaled, there is almost no health risk whatsoever. Smoking pipes and cigars is not the same thing as smoking cigarettes.

 

phil67

Lifer
Dec 14, 2013
2,052
7
ANY type of smoking holds a degree of health risks. More so with cigarettes as they are intended to be inhaled but cigar and pipes also have negative health issues. Mouth cancer just to name one of a few.

 

warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,374
18,665
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
Why would I not advise my child to take up the pipe? Health is only one consideration.
1. The cost: There are much better ways to spend one's hard earned moneys.

2. The reek in the hair, on the clothes, in the house and automobile: The smoker doesn't notice it, everyone else does.

3. It is now considered to be anti-social behavior.

4. The pipe ruins sweaters, pants and shirts: nothing else needs to be said.

5. Marring the furniture: see above

6. Of absolutely no benefit to one's physical health: this is not debatable.

7. I and many others would quietly question a smokers reasoning ability.

8. Smoking can limit choices of profession and limit employment opportunities.
I could go on, I won't. I will say; if smoking greatly enhances your quality of life . . . no, I'm gonna censor myself here.

 

phil67

Lifer
Dec 14, 2013
2,052
7
^^^ Once again, well put warren.
I can't for the life of me comprehend why anyone with an I.Q. above that of an egg timer would advise or encourage smoking of any kind to their children. As to what ones child does, and the decisions they make when they get older is a whole different matter. If I could go back in time and have the ability to make certain decisions again (don't we all!) there is no freaking way on earth I'd touch tobacco in any of it's forms with the proverbial ten foot pole. But, it is what it is... here I am and I'm much too old of a fart, and or admittedly the lack of will power to change now.

 

phil67

Lifer
Dec 14, 2013
2,052
7
Yes. In moderation.
How on earth could any parent advise, and or encourage their child to smoke a pipe in moderation when it might very well become an addiction and a waste of their money. Would it not be more advisable, as a responsible parent, to try and encourage your children to stay away from any form of smoking?

 
Status
Not open for further replies.