A Type Of New Smoker

Interesting topic. While I don't disagree that the "posers" and "know it all's" are annoying, I'm often shocked at how dismissive the "old guard" is of newer pipe smokers. There are these little groups of old school pipe smokers all around the internet that believe that anyone that has a beard, or wears a flannel shirt and smokes a pipe is a "hipster". I'm actually saddened by the tendency to throw around the "hipster" label and even more disturbed by the willingness of people to judge or discount others based simply on their look or clothing style.

While there will always be "posers" in any hobby or group of people, if we can turn 1 of them into a true pipe smoker, we are ahead of the game. I have heard people comment on the decreasing popularity of forums compared to Facebook and YouTube. It's true and the reason is simple. Forums for the most part, are filled with old school, ivory tower pipe smokers that think that anything outside of their defined norm doesn't belong.

Well, all of those people outside of the norm are the ones that will carry on the pipe smoking torch and eventually the ivory towers will be empty.

Hell, I'm 33, been wearing flannel shirts since the early 90's, nearly everyday. My jeans tend to still have holes in them too, because I don't care and hate buying new ones. And now that I am out of the army, I keep a short beard. But I am certainly not a hipster, and far from being any kind of expert. I just don't feel the need for a style update. In fact, I couldn't care less about fashion. Some are too quick to judge.

I have been smoking a pipe for about four years now, and I can say for certain that I know close to nothing still. I can just barely distinguish certain flavors, I seem to do a horrible job packing my pipe at least twice a week, and I find that I don't have answers for but the simplest questions others may have about pipe smoking. I often lurk the forums in search of new information to help me along the way.

, I agree that experience makes the man, so to say. Those new smokers come to these places in search of that experience, and many are willing to lend a hand. I agree though, that when someone claims expertise that they could not possibly have, they are posers. Of course, I simply ignore them. I came to these places, originally, to seek that same experience, and have stuck around because of people. Pipe smokers are, for the most part, good people. I have made a lot of friends and learned a lot.

In short, I guess my point is that while some posers do exist, being quick to judge, and that goes for everyone, will not help find the new smokers who are sincere. And those sincere ones, especially the ones who don't know any other pipe smokers, need these forums to help them learn about pipes, tobacco, and all that comes with it.

It's funny that you bring up the second kind of new smoker because when I went to a tobacconist he took one look at my pipe and said, "If you'll stop smoking that for a moment, I'll clean it because that pipe is in desperate need of a cleaning." I agreed and he took it away for a few minutes. When he brought it back it was like a brand new pipe. He then showed me where I could find tobacco to sample and I showed me how to pack my pipe properly. As I was leaving he said, "Well, you did good because you shut up. Sometimes I get young people in here who have read stuff on the Internet and they start to argue with me and then I don't feel too inclined to help them." Thanks to the tobacconist I was able to find that Chris Morgan Bones bent liverpool and find some tobacco I might like.

I think reading stuff on the Internet can give one an overinflated sense of understanding. You can read a dozen articles on pipe smoking a couple hours and feel as though you know everything, but pipe smoking requires a bit of skill and patience. Those are things you can't simply acquire through reading, you have to work at them.

Years ago on another forum I was available for the most part to help a new guy or gal. I have never been one to label, but never could figure how a hipster fit in them skinny jeans! As I have aged I believe in live and let live. The only thing ever bugged me was answering the same questions over and over, The damn forum had a search feature that worked and most where to lazy or stupid to use it!

Packing the pipe so that it delivers a good smoke only started to work for me when I began to give a damn about it.

You know I never smoked a cob or a falcon because I was advised against it from those who "better" and said cobs and falcons are just for geezers who smoke five brothers and cutty pipe! I now find myself waiting for the kids to go back to school so I can get a cob and start smoking it..I don't smoke in front of them..I also think the cost factor will be a bonus because I really don't smoke a whole lot and instead of paying for pipes I can buy tobacco and start it aging!

Since I used the term "posers", I wanted to respond to this.  I was not implying that this was "hipsters" only.  If one truly enjoys tobacco and smoking a pipe then that's great and I'll help you all I can regardless of personal appearances.  However, if you are sticking a pipe in your mouth only around certain friends and only to impart an "image", then I'm sorry but you are a poser.

Darin, I don't think anyone misunderstood you. Your dead right, the people with the "fashion accessory" pipes and the ones that only have one because their trendy friends are doing it, are posers. And the ones was referring to, the "I did some internet reading so now I know all about pipe smoking" ones, well they kinda go beyond poser.

Speaking from experience, as a guy who initially came to PM looking for knowledge and advise, many of the members here, now, had been over there for years when I showed up. Many of the members here, including yourself, Tim, Brad, John and others have been extremely helpful and kind to me. That is a large part of what took me from "tinkering newbie" to a guy who is finally about to put the nails down for good and keep exploring all that pipe smoking has to offer.

Posers will come and go. But, like you and Justin both said, being kind to those of us who are honestly in search of guidance (for lack of a better term), is the key to this whole community. It is what makes pipe smokers such pleasant company, and what will continue to attract people to this community.

I got long-winded again. Point is, we know you weren't pointing fingers man, you were speaking the truth. Honestly, every time I see a picture of someone on SP, dressed like something off a GQ cover, with a perfectly waxed stache and an overpriced pipe in their mouth, it makes me want to shop elsewhere. Pipe snobs and pipe fashionistas make me sick.

oldcajun123:  Too funny, Brad! 





fadingdaylight: Amen, Jason ... I agree 100%!  It just threw me off when my "posers" comment seemed to be linked to "hipsters" and I wanted to clarify that I was not singling out any one group.  As for the terrible ads that are posed  ... Molto Dolce!  

Poser, Hipster, what ever they may be I just really don't care much. As long as they treat me and everyone with respect. Know it all's are to be expected everywhere
and for the most part I'll just ignore them.
As far as packing a pipe I'm no expert either, sometimes I get it right and then there's times I don't. Reckon that's just part of life, if I can smoke it it's just fine.
As far as people asking questions that have been answered many times and not searching first for the answer, it doesn't bother me in the least. I feel if you don't want to answer them because of it don't, no ones forcing you to. I'm always happy to answer a question no matter how many times it's been answered. I thought that's what we're here for. Besides, new pipe smokers ( I don't like the word Newbie, just sounds degrading to me) sometimes are also new to forums and even computers so to find anything using the search engine can be frustrating at best. I still have problems from time to time finding something in search if the phrase isn't used just right. I've built many PC's for myself but, software is not one of my strong points. I also don't feel I know everything, almost but, I'm still learning and will be till my grave I expect.

Yeah but, without people like them we might not have enough to laugh about.

I had to look that word up (emojis), told ya I didn't know everything. Emoticon, simple word for a simple man.
A lot of forums just don't have ones I like so in my travels I pick up ones I do and use them when I can on other forums and it really doesn't take any longer to use mine then the ones supplied. 

My thoughts exactly. Geez! Lurk a while, do some searches, before you post a question that's been asked and answered a thousand times before.

Wow! You know a forum has become successful when it has threads to be, and being, necro bumped! Congratulations!