The perception of cigar smokers

[Styler]

I was sitting in the garden yesterday afternoon enjoying the last of the sun with a SLR Regios. My wife had just put our baby down for a nap and came out for a chat. She decided to take my picture without me knowing and upon inspection of the below image she said "You know, this photo says one thing... wanker!" She's a real lady.

So it got me wondering about the general public's perception of cigar smokers. Is there still that link to fat-cat capitalists, 80s yuppies, the pompous upper class, etc? If my own wife thinks I look like a wanker while enjoying a fine cuban then god knows what a random passer-by thinks! Obviously this wouldn't stop me and I don't really care what people I don't know think of me but it irks me when people make uninformed judgements.

I'd imagine things are only getting worse with the modern trend of vilifying tobacco users, regardless of their method or rate of comsumption. You wouldn't look at someone sipping a fine scotch the same way as someone taking a slug of cheap vodka from a half bottle in their handbag so why look at someone enjoying a fine cuban in the same way as someone chain smoking 80 cigarettes a day.

I suppose the average person never gets to see or hear about the hobby of cigar smoking/collecting/ageing so making that distinction would be difficult.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Maybe I do just look like a wanker in that photo

[bolivr]

I admire you posting this. That took guts. IMHO you look like a bloke enjoying a cigar in the sun. The mrs is being a bit harsh I would say.

For me, people who do not know me and find out I smoke cigars seem just a bit mystified. I don't think they have a firm cultural reference a lot of the time as it is a rare thing in Australia. A lot of them seem genuinely interested in finding out a bit more about these rolled up leaves I show such enthusiasm for

[Ghabanos]

The Mrs is right on the money....

Kidding aside... I let it slip into conversation sometimes, usually without any negative reaction, but it isn't anything that most are educated on. So, for me I don't tend to talk too much about it... Except with my other botl. I feel that there is still a bit of a negative stigma associated with cigars. That's why I appreciate this forum so much... Botls are few and far between...

[FrankBlack87]

I kinda think Cigar Aficionado is to blame for this misconception...

[FrankBlack87]

I was on their site the other day and they had this video about "matthew mconaghey and cigars", which i only clicked for curiosity, since i cant stand him, and i swear it was 20 min of him just lounging around posing for the camera smiling with that stupid smirk, but with a cigar in his mouth......... seriously wtf..... no one wants to see that. the most moronic cigar related video ever.

[Wil]

I kinda think Cigar Aficionado is to blame for this misconception...

The average Joe in the street has never heard of Cigar Aficionado. I think the perception that cigar smokers are wankers is due to the fact that cigars have often been associated with power and wealth. And let's be honest, most powerful and (seriously) wealthy people are wankers.

[BMWFan]

We all know that look. It means you are enjoying a good/great habanos that is on. There is a distinct difference in your look and manners when smoking a good or great cuban, versus smoking a dutch master, phillie, swisher, or any other run of the mill non cuban. Some of the ncs are very good i.e. davidoff, padron, fuentes..I am sure there are many more but those are the ones I've tried.

We see a portrait of a man enjoying a great cigar, and like you we don't care about the haters because we know the joy of the cuban leaf and they obviously don't.

[riazp]

When i'm smoking a cigar in a public place i'm perceived as a f'n ******* who is giving automatic lung cancer to everyone in a 1 mile radius of my cigar...seriously unless i'm at home or at a cigar bar, I dont feel comfortable anymore to smoke a cigar, unless i'm alone in a corner somewhere away from everyone. It sucks, but thats the reality of society.

[JohnnyC]

I agree with you riazp...you feel stigmatized if you light up in public.

I am a casual cigar smoker at best. Being that I live in the great white north and that I will only have a cigar outside of my home my time is limited. I really would not enjoy smoking a cigar in January standing in 6 inches of snow. But getting back to the subject I believe the media has created a persona that all smoking is bad. That all smokers are infringing on all non smokers rights. That I believe is why we are ostracized whenever we light up.

And Styler as far as " Wankers " you look pretty cool. In all I believe your just a man enjoying life with a little sunshine, a cold beverage and a fine cigar.

[Rehman]

Aaaah, whaddathey know. "People always judge others by what they are themselves," my dear old grandad used to say. They see us enjoying a cigar and they think we're getting off on ourselves (for that is what "wanker" means, innit). They don't know, they don't get it. They think we're flaunting our wealth - and when they know we're not wealthy, they think we're extravagant pseuds. There's a saying in my language, "tak kenal maka tak cinta". It means, "you can't love what you don't know". That's something people ought to be reminded of once in a while. But I've given up on this too, and now never smoke a cigar in public. It's demeaning to the cigar.

[CanuckSARTech]

Aaaah, whaddathey know. "People always judge others by what they are themselves," my dear old grandad used to say. They see us enjoying a cigar and they think we're getting off on ourselves (for that is what "wanker" means, innit). They don't know, they don't get it. They think we're flaunting our wealth - and when they know we're not wealthy, they think we're extravagant pseuds. There's a saying in my language, "tak kenal maka tak cinta". It means, "you can't love what you don't know". That's something people ought to be reminded of once in a while. But I've given up on this too, and now never smoke a cigar in public. It's demeaning to the cigar.

Excellent thoughts, Rehman, well put. I'll have to remember that saying - very well put and thoughtful. But I especially liked your last two sentences - it's funny how we worry about what other people think of us, when it has nothing to do with us; it's all about the enjoyment of the cigar.

Interesting. Thanks.

[CBL]

I have to admit that I rarely look "good" smoking a cigar imho. I have A LOT of pictures of me smoking cigars that my girlfriend or friends took, but rarely do I think: that's looks cool. I look pretentious and arrogant, to such an extent that I often hide my cigar when smoking in public.

That's my own perception though. No one has ever told me that I look like a **** when smoking a cigar. And when I just started smoking cigars some girls even found it a turn on (or so I was told).

I think it has something to do with my age, smoking a cigar in your early 20's might come off as showing off or esthetic bragging even. That combined with the fact that bad guys on TV and in movies tend to smoke cigars makes the perception so much worse

[Colt45]

As Roberto Salas said to Tony Bourdain:

"The camera is one of the worst liars in the world".

[BobKincaid]

Me, I smoke 'em where I can, when I can and damn the lot of society for what they "think."

My best response to your inquiry is to recall how folks react the first time they hear their recorded voice: "Is THAT what I sound like?" Well, yes, it is. It's just not what you sound like inside the resonance of your own skull. SameSame for visuals, Styler. If your head wasn't tilted back, if you weren't in a relaxed seated position, never mind looking like a wanker, you'd look like a psychopath, all hunched over and leaning forward, smoke billowing back into your eyes. If relaxed equates with wankerdom, the world needs a helluva lot more wankers.

What's in the beverage can? That's the only possible ****-o-meter reading in the whole tableau (because to my American eye it looks like a tallboy of Budweiser).

[Styler]

Some great thoughts here guys, at least I'm not alone in feeling the piercing gaze of the public eye when trying to enjoy a stick in the open.

Yes, I'm afraid to say that is a can of Bud, thanks for pointing that out Not my usual beer of choice, I normally prefer the craft stuff but my wife likes to keep a reserve of cheap cooking lager in case we have guests and that was all we had in the fridge yesterday. Which reminds me, I need to replenish my alcohol stocks!

[laficion]

This is really a great subject that, as far as I know, has never been mentioned before

here on the forum, Bravo, many of the replies are quite interesting.

Although I can understand the concerns that may arise on the perception others may have about

cigar smokers & cigar smoking, I can't say that I've had any real problem on how or what people

were thinking seeing me smoking a cigar, maybe it's the fact that I don't feel guilty

when I smoke in public and that I reflect a certain self-assurance.

However, there has been times when people have stoped next to me to ask what I'm smoking

and it becomes a real conversation tool, It's always an enjoyable moment.

Now, as to the photo above,Yes, the only thing that may justify the word "wanker" is

the beer that you're drinking.

Other then that, you're looking good

Here's a photo of Montaigut and I on his last visit here, smoking in public,

no one had anything to say.

[Puros Y Vino]

Excellent thread. I really haven't felt the sting in public from smoking cigars. Generally where I've gone it is accommodated. The venues have the proper ashtrays for instance. And in some ways, it gives the place some "ambiance". If you smoke at any rooftop or patio in Yorkville (high end neighborhood in Toronto), cigars are part of the scene. Oddly enough, the only time I got the "maldocchio" (evil eye in Italian) was a Tuesday night at the Mambo lounge. It is their weekly Cuban Cigar night. There were six of us smoking at one of the patio. A couple sat down at the other end and was staring over at us. They left within minutes. No loss. If you can't smoke cigars at a Cuban owned establishment then that's just wrong.

[Orion21]

There is a distinct difference depending on where you live in the world. In the US and Canada smoking is vilified to the point of being only one step above a pedophile in the eyes of many. I can't remember how many times I have been out and a stranger will be smoking and the crowd glares with disdain.

I will use a personal example:

When I was in Toronto enjoying an afternoon of cigars at the LCDH with a few of the guys from FOH there were numerous complaints about the smoke coming from the patio by the Starbucks patrons next door. I was having so much fun I didn't even realize, but was told afterwards. During the same afternoon we moved to a "cigar friendly" patio bar near the LCDH and located ourselves away from most of the people on the patio (there was even a second larger tables of cigar smokers). But during our time there no one sat near us. And even a couple of attractive women who sat four tables away ended up moving to the opposite side of the patio. The comment from the server while they were moving "there is nothing we can do about the cigar smokers."

So to answer the author's question, yes I do think people think we're wankers for the most part. Partially because we are burning $10 and $20 bills, but also because of societies blind lemming belief of the anti-smoking lobby.

[cottierm]

I usually smoke my cigars in my own garden. However, when I have one on the patio of my local LCDH, I usually read a book or talk with the fellow CC lovers who happen to be there at the same time. In the last case scenario I don't think that any of us gives a damn about what pedestrians passing along us are thinking as we are way too engrossed in our passion.

I was sitting in the garden yesterday afternoon enjoying the last of the sun with a SLR Regios. My wife had just put our baby down for a nap and came out for a chat. She decided to take my picture without me knowing and upon inspection of the below image she said "You know, this photo says one thing... wanker!" She's a real lady.

So it got me wondering about the general public's perception of cigar smokers. Is there still that link to fat-cat capitalists, 80s yuppies, the pompous upper class, etc? If my own wife thinks I look like a wanker while enjoying a fine cuban then god knows what a random passer-by thinks! Obviously this wouldn't stop me and I don't really care what people I don't know think of me but it irks me when people make uninformed judgements.

I'd imagine things are only getting worse with the modern trend of vilifying tobacco users, regardless of their method or rate of comsumption. You wouldn't look at someone sipping a fine scotch the same way as someone taking a slug of cheap vodka from a half bottle in their handbag so why look at someone enjoying a fine cuban in the same way as someone chain smoking 80 cigarettes a day.

I suppose the average person never gets to see or hear about the hobby of cigar smoking/collecting/ageing so making that distinction would be difficult.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Maybe I do just look like a wanker in that photo

[darinjanssen]

Great thread! It seems everytime I smoke in public, there is a different reaction. Brazoseagle and I were at a steakhouse enjoying dinner, and afterwards, we both lit up cigars and enjoyed a few drinks. I was amazed at how many people came by and said the cigars smelled great, or it reminded them of their grandfather. One of the bartenders even came over and talked to us about cigars for a good 10 minutes (bar patrons were not too pleased), but said he was going to get back into smoking. That is not the usual experience, and even my wife couldn't believe how many people came by the table.

Usually we are met with stares for lighting up in public. But it doesn't really matter anymore, because almost all the bars & restaurants are now smoke free.

So Styler, your style is similar to my own. Prop up a chair on the porch....enjoy a beer and a fine cigar!

[Puros Y Vino]

There is a distinct difference depending on where you live in the world. In the US and Canada smoking is vilified to the point of being only one step above a pedophile in the eyes of many. I can't remember how many times I have been out and a stranger will be smoking and the crowd glares with disdain.

I will use a personal example:

When I was in Toronto enjoying an afternoon of cigars at the LCDH with a few of the guys from FOH there were numerous complaints about the smoke coming from the patio by the Starbucks patrons next door. I was having so much fun I didn't even realize, but was told afterwards. During the same afternoon we moved to a "cigar friendly" patio bar near the LCDH and located ourselves away from most of the people on the patio (there was even a second larger tables of cigar smokers). But during our time there no one sat near us. And even a couple of attractive women who sat four tables away ended up moving to the opposite side of the patio. The comment from the server while they were moving "there is nothing we can do about the cigar smokers."

So to answer the author's question, yes I do think people think we're wankers for the most part. Partially because we are burning $10 and $20 bills, but also because of societies blind lemming belief of the anti-smoking lobby.

Hmm.. I was there with you Aaron and didn't clue on to any of that. We've read the threads about the LCDH's issues with serving drinks on their patio, most likely a complaint from Starbucks, which I have not frequented since. At our second stop, Remy's I could've sworn there was a bevy of beauties behind us. I didn't recall them moving away or not and quite frankly I did not care. If they can allow cigarettes then they can allow cigars. Those that don't like it, can leave. While some may find it annoying, I find young adults that can barely hold their liquor making a ruckus equally annoying. If there is one "truism" I have found in our hobby, is that we drop serious coin to purchase our goods and enjoy them out with like minded individuals. Most bars know that "smokers" are their main meal ticket. All the previous indoor bans made them treasure their patio's even more so. And cigar smokers are the more generous of the patrons out there. Guaranteed.

[cigcars]

I was thinking of an improvised poem of how to tell detractors to go to hell, but in reading everybody's comments, I think better! Seems to me to be a case of "all kinds to make a world": those who hate our passion/those of us whose passion it is; "Mayo, please!/Ugh, I HATE Mayonnaise!!! on and on and on...It's OUR perception that counts, and a great get together amongst our fellow BOTL cannot be a case of contention...as long as those who dislike our habit stay fast and away!!

[Lotusguy]

Wanker? No!!! More of a Tosser :D

[Cohiba Stevie]

Great thread with great substance.

I have never experienced people being c*nts in reaction to my cigar smoking, probably because i choose to smoke in locations were I can do it out of their way but still smoke comfortably. The only thing I am conscious of is that people may look at my cigar smoking as unusual or untraditional because of my young age, and in a sense they are right, I'm 23 years old and honestly there are not many cigar enthusiasts at my age.

But I dont care. I smoke cigars because I enjoy them, simple as that.

Don't get me wrong, Im still a wanker.... But not because I smoke cigars.

[semery74]

I asked my wife to translate the "woman's speak" in this jester and she conveying to you to get off your a$$ and finish your honey do list. :jester: