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Observations on cigar (people) culture.

NYHCx516xNYHCx516x Posts: 728 ✭
in General Discussion
The entire cigar culture that I have encountered over the past year has been incredible. I was thinking about this during my car ride from the hotel to the country club for the wedding in chicago this past weekend. My girl and I ended up driving an older couple to the reception, one thing led to another, and me and the guy were in our own world talking cigars on the ride over. Well to do guy - he actually assumed I was a doctor just from where I worked and the wedding I was going to... the truth is far from it. I work for a medical org, but in patient relations, dont even have a college degree. None of that matter, we both loved and talked fine cigars.

It seems that every person I have come across in the context of cigars, has been welcoming and open, regardless of basically everything else (political views, money, cliques, everything). I have made some of the most interesting friends and have had some of the most interesting experiences in the last year in the cigar world.

Outside of the cigar world, same thing once cigars are mentioned. Bridges open up and seemingly instantly, friends are made.

just some random thoughts, and a thanks to everyone here for their part in it!

Comments

  • xmacroxmacro Posts: 3,402 ✭
    Lucky! Everytime I start talking cigars with someone around me, it always ends in disappointment when they start talking like they know it all, and then say something dumb like "yeah, those mild cigars are only for beginners; it's all that light-colored leaf that makes it weak - when you smoke the dark stuff, you know it's gonna be good".

    Blah - I seem to live around idiots. I wouldn't care so much if they didn't know, but when someone cops a know-it-all attitude, it's just too annoying to talk to them or try to explain anything

  • wwhwangwwhwang Posts: 2,878 ✭✭✭
    This is true, actually lol. Talking and sharing cigars with my fellow soldiers back in Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Hood actually opened up a lot of conversations and helped break the ice when I was meeting new people. I think I may have converted at least 3 people from cigarette to cigar smokers. For some reason, a bunch of Privates called me The Don when they saw me in my friend's house smoking a Ruination lol.
  • smoke_em_if_you_got_emsmoke_em_if_you_got_em Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    NYHCx516x:
    The entire cigar culture that I have encountered over the past year has been incredible. I was thinking about this during my car ride from the hotel to the country club for the wedding in chicago this past weekend. My girl and I ended up driving an older couple to the reception, one thing led to another, and me and the guy were in our own world talking cigars on the ride over. Well to do guy - he actually assumed I was a doctor just from where I worked and the wedding I was going to... the truth is far from it. I work for a medical org, but in patient relations, dont even have a college degree. None of that matter, we both loved and talked fine cigars.

    It seems that every person I have come across in the context of cigars, has been welcoming and open, regardless of basically everything else (political views, money, cliques, everything). I have made some of the most interesting friends and have had some of the most interesting experiences in the last year in the cigar world.

    Outside of the cigar world, same thing once cigars are mentioned. Bridges open up and seemingly instantly, friends are made.

    just some random thoughts, and a thanks to everyone here for their part in it!
    What do you actually do in the medical field if you dont mind me asking? I work for a medical equipment company and just enjoy meeting other people from the medical field. I get to work in hospitals all over the state of VA and have met some very interesting people in doing so. From doctors, nurses, even patients and their famalies. Then I come to a forum like this one and get to meet or at least reach out to many interesting people who all have one thing in common...CIGARS!!! Its great.
  • NYHCx516xNYHCx516x Posts: 728 ✭
    smoke em if you got em:
    NYHCx516x:
    The entire cigar culture that I have encountered over the past year has been incredible. I was thinking about this during my car ride from the hotel to the country club for the wedding in chicago this past weekend. My girl and I ended up driving an older couple to the reception, one thing led to another, and me and the guy were in our own world talking cigars on the ride over. Well to do guy - he actually assumed I was a doctor just from where I worked and the wedding I was going to... the truth is far from it. I work for a medical org, but in patient relations, dont even have a college degree. None of that matter, we both loved and talked fine cigars.

    It seems that every person I have come across in the context of cigars, has been welcoming and open, regardless of basically everything else (political views, money, cliques, everything). I have made some of the most interesting friends and have had some of the most interesting experiences in the last year in the cigar world.

    Outside of the cigar world, same thing once cigars are mentioned. Bridges open up and seemingly instantly, friends are made.

    just some random thoughts, and a thanks to everyone here for their part in it!
    What do you actually do in the medical field if you dont mind me asking? I work for a medical equipment company and just enjoy meeting other people from the medical field. I get to work in hospitals all over the state of VA and have met some very interesting people in doing so. From doctors, nurses, even patients and their famalies. Then I come to a forum like this one and get to meet or at least reach out to many interesting people who all have one thing in common...CIGARS!!! Its great.
    The office i work in is called "Patient Resources". We do ... ALOT. Main points - Primary Care Doctor referrals, helping patients find specialists, helping with complaints (and compliments) to the dr's and system. Also handle alot of social service stuff for medicare/medicaid/uninsured patients. And tons more, but thats the gist.
  • smoke_em_if_you_got_emsmoke_em_if_you_got_em Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    NYHCx516x:
    smoke em if you got em:
    NYHCx516x:
    The entire cigar culture that I have encountered over the past year has been incredible. I was thinking about this during my car ride from the hotel to the country club for the wedding in chicago this past weekend. My girl and I ended up driving an older couple to the reception, one thing led to another, and me and the guy were in our own world talking cigars on the ride over. Well to do guy - he actually assumed I was a doctor just from where I worked and the wedding I was going to... the truth is far from it. I work for a medical org, but in patient relations, dont even have a college degree. None of that matter, we both loved and talked fine cigars.

    It seems that every person I have come across in the context of cigars, has been welcoming and open, regardless of basically everything else (political views, money, cliques, everything). I have made some of the most interesting friends and have had some of the most interesting experiences in the last year in the cigar world.

    Outside of the cigar world, same thing once cigars are mentioned. Bridges open up and seemingly instantly, friends are made.

    just some random thoughts, and a thanks to everyone here for their part in it!
    What do you actually do in the medical field if you dont mind me asking? I work for a medical equipment company and just enjoy meeting other people from the medical field. I get to work in hospitals all over the state of VA and have met some very interesting people in doing so. From doctors, nurses, even patients and their famalies. Then I come to a forum like this one and get to meet or at least reach out to many interesting people who all have one thing in common...CIGARS!!! Its great.
    The office i work in is called "Patient Resources". We do ... ALOT. Main points - Primary Care Doctor referrals, helping patients find specialists, helping with complaints (and compliments) to the dr's and system. Also handle alot of social service stuff for medicare/medicaid/uninsured patients. And tons more, but thats the gist.
    Right on man. Hopefully you all get the thanks and recognition that you all deserve for what you do.
  • NYHCx516xNYHCx516x Posts: 728 ✭
    smoke em if you got em:
    NYHCx516x:
    smoke em if you got em:
    NYHCx516x:
    The entire cigar culture that I have encountered over the past year has been incredible. I was thinking about this during my car ride from the hotel to the country club for the wedding in chicago this past weekend. My girl and I ended up driving an older couple to the reception, one thing led to another, and me and the guy were in our own world talking cigars on the ride over. Well to do guy - he actually assumed I was a doctor just from where I worked and the wedding I was going to... the truth is far from it. I work for a medical org, but in patient relations, dont even have a college degree. None of that matter, we both loved and talked fine cigars.

    It seems that every person I have come across in the context of cigars, has been welcoming and open, regardless of basically everything else (political views, money, cliques, everything). I have made some of the most interesting friends and have had some of the most interesting experiences in the last year in the cigar world.

    Outside of the cigar world, same thing once cigars are mentioned. Bridges open up and seemingly instantly, friends are made.

    just some random thoughts, and a thanks to everyone here for their part in it!
    What do you actually do in the medical field if you dont mind me asking? I work for a medical equipment company and just enjoy meeting other people from the medical field. I get to work in hospitals all over the state of VA and have met some very interesting people in doing so. From doctors, nurses, even patients and their famalies. Then I come to a forum like this one and get to meet or at least reach out to many interesting people who all have one thing in common...CIGARS!!! Its great.
    The office i work in is called "Patient Resources". We do ... ALOT. Main points - Primary Care Doctor referrals, helping patients find specialists, helping with complaints (and compliments) to the dr's and system. Also handle alot of social service stuff for medicare/medicaid/uninsured patients. And tons more, but thats the gist.
    Right on man. Hopefully you all get the thanks and recognition that you all deserve for what you do.
    Thanks are few and far between, but very cherished and very nice when they do come in. :)
  • SchroozSchrooz Posts: 165
    My dad was a life long cigarette smoker, multi-packs a day, before he gave it up because of poor health. A nervous wreck and irritable man that I remember him in my younger years and it was not just because of the little business he was trying to build at the time which eventually provided me with opportunities a man with his background would not even dream of being able to provide his children. I think if he smoked cigars instead, things would have been a lot better off for him and me in terms of our relationship. Enjoying a cigar now I get to thinking how really laid back an activity it is. A time allowing for reflection and conversation that can go on a long ways because a cigar does not evaporate in 3 minutes. The cigar   being such a complex product with a rich history that is made only by proven artisans in the industry itself provides something to a father and son who enjoy it. I wish I could send him a box of premium cigars, something for which he would appreciate .
  • NYHCx516xNYHCx516x Posts: 728 ✭
    Schrooz:
    My dad was a life long cigarette smoker, multi-packs a day, before he gave it up because of poor health. A nervous wreck and irritable man that I remember him in my younger years and it was not just because of the little business he was trying to build at the time which eventually provided me with opportunities a man with his background would not even dream of being able to provide his children. I think if he smoked cigars instead, things would have been a lot better off for him and me in terms of our relationship. Enjoying a cigar now I get to thinking how really laid back an activity it is. A time allowing for reflection and conversation that can go on a long ways because a cigar does not evaporate in 3 minutes. The cigar   being such a complex product with a rich history that is made only by proven artisans in the industry itself provides something to a father and son who enjoy it. I wish I could send him a box of premium cigars, something for which he would appreciate .
    very well put. and having lost my father when i was very young... my heart goes out to you on that one. My dad was a pipe smoker, and I would have loved to have been able to sit and talk with him over a pipe or cigar. (it dosent sound like your father has passed, but not sure if you spend time with him now from the way that read...)
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Posts: 14,633 ✭✭✭✭
    yeah, cigars are about taste and relaxation.

    but the reality is, cigars are about comradery (sp?)
    if you wanna smoke and keep it to yourself with quiet contemplation, get a pipe.
    if you want to have great conversation and great friends to share a smoke with, get cigars.
    Kuzi's Forum Links Page
  • fla-gypsyfla-gypsy Posts: 3,023 ✭✭
    Your right about cigars opening up relationships. I got to know one of my companies Executive vice presidents when he saw the cigar in my pocket during one of his visits. He knows my name now and I call him by his first name.
  • NYHCx516xNYHCx516x Posts: 728 ✭
    fla-gypsy:
    Your right about cigars opening up relationships. I got to know one of my companies Executive vice presidents when he saw the cigar in my pocket during one of his visits. He knows my name now and I call him by his first name.
    ive got an "in" in HR now too, the VP actually, due to talk of cigars.
  • ENFIDLENFIDL Posts: 5,836 ✭
    I can honestly say my gf and I our relationship got better after I started smoking cigars regularly. She comes and sits with me and we get good quality time to talk and catch up, i work a lot so we don't always have that. Like now I worked 7 days straight to include two 12 and a half hour shifts one on Sat and one on Sun. I got called in this afternoon and I hadn't gone to bed to try to get back on a normal sleeping schedule before we leave for the vacation.
  • babsdpubabsdpu Posts: 143
    It has been great to have met you as well, sir!!
  • The SniperThe Sniper Posts: 3,910 ✭
    Truly a great opportunity to meet great people, this hobby of ours. Last week I went into a B&M that I had been to only once before to pick up some Cohiba Pequenos (is it just me or are those getting harder & harder to find?). There were a couple guys working the counter when I went to pay, BSing with a couple mroe guys who were just hanging out, about nothing really... when I came up, the conversation shifted somehow in order to include me.

    Spent about 20 minutes shooting the breeze and sharing some laughs with five people I had never met before, and walked out fo there with a three-mile smile just from spending that small amount of time with such great & friendly people.

    And thats just speaking on one isolated episode at one B&M on one day - if I get started on all the awesome people Ive met & excellent friends Ive made on the CCom boards I could be here all night!

  • j0z3rj0z3r Posts: 9,403 ✭✭
    I've had great experiences with complete strangers at b&ms, just smoking cigars and shooting the breeze. I think it really helps to have a common interest and go in with no preconceptions and an open mind and just let everything flow from there. Initially I expected to be ignored or not taken seriously due to my age, but I've found that not many cigar smokers care about that, if you smoke cigars you're one of the boys and I really like that aspect of the hobby...especially since my profession is one where I'm constantly written off and treated like a know-nothing because of my age.
  • LasabarLasabar Posts: 4,472 ✭✭✭
    I have had people complain about my smoking when in large groups, like at the fireworks or things of that nature, but I agree that at the B&M there is no shortage of awesome people!

    And I will agree that I do get many people that act like they know everything about cigars and I just sit there, shut up and nod....
  • TatuajeVITatuajeVI Posts: 2,378 ✭
    I've had great experiences meeting different cigar smokers as well. Typically good people and this forum is a great example of that.
  • stephen_hannibalstephen_hannibal Posts: 4,317 ✭
    Man this is so true... I went to a herf Saturday with a bunch of people I didn't even know. Had a blast... cigars are great social lubricant.

  • LasabarLasabar Posts: 4,472 ✭✭✭
    stephen_hannibal:
    social lubricant/
    I tried to use that once... Two restraining orders and a cabbage truck ride to Toledo later...

    I don't use it anymore
  • stephen_hannibalstephen_hannibal Posts: 4,317 ✭
    Lasabar:
    stephen_hannibal:
    social lubricant/
    I tried to use that once... Two restraining orders and a cabbage truck ride to Toledo later...

    I don't use it anymore
    That's why it says "for external use only"... wait... that can't be right.

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