How Do Your Friends and Family Respond to Your Cigar Smoking?

[Amanda]

One thing I noticed right away when I started smoking cigars is that they illicit a rather strong response from just about everybody. While some of my friends were rather intrigued when they first saw me fire up a stogie, most wrinkled up their noses and expressed disgust. Let's just say my parents are not exactly thrilled about their little girl being a cigar smoker. Other friends have been a little stand-offish as well. Fortunately, my best friends have been more accepting. Many of them have even tried a cigar of their own, with mixed reactions. Of course, most of them already smoke cigarettes, so it's probably not as big of a leap.

On the other hand, I've been pleasantly surprised by the attention I've gotten from guys when I smoke cigars in bars. I'm sure it repels a certain number of guys, but I still seem to be attracting more guys than I did before I was a cigar smoker.

I'll be eager to hear how the rest of you guys have dealt with peer response to your cigar smoking. Have a Happy 4th by the way.

[Buhz]

I think it depends on your age when you start smoking cigars. I only started recently, but i'm 33 so most of friends and family have realized that I'm an adult (my girlfriend my disgree on that) and am capable of making my own choices.

Also there is a weird attitude towards cigars. There is a ton of info about smoking an its hazards but very little that is put forth in the mass media. So part what happened to me was people not sure how to react to me firing up a cigar. The smell is usually what people comment on, some love it, others hate it. I only smoke outside so I figure I can be rude about people telling me to put it out Most people I've dealt with have preferred the smell of a cigar to cigarettes.

So how I deal with peer pressure is to basically figure I know what I like, I know the consequences of what I'm doing and friends family can deal with it as long as I'm not impacting on them.

[SFG75]

In terms of family, my parents think the cigar butts are the product of my brother in law. He got me started smoking and our wives have come to expect that when we're together, cigars are going to be smoked. She has been very supportive and doesn't mind my habit as long as the kids are down for night-night time. Friends at work aren't as accepting. While we trade barbs back and forth, one of my friends (a home ec. teacher) runs the school's "Tobacco isn't for kids" program or something like that.

You're correct, they do bring out a strong response-though it's easy to point out that double-cheeseburger that mr. or mrs. critic is holding when you're under the gun.

[cigar no baka]

My father and brother in law smoke cigars, and my wife, stepson, mother and sister all smoke cigarettes, so I was the black sheep of the family until about six months ago when I started with cigars.

Friends I don't smoke around unless they also smoke cause most of them are non smokers.

[mithril]

family is discusted (sp?), wife tolerates it, and friends encourages it.

[cigarsarge]

Don't matter to me how they react. If you don't like my cigar smoke don't come around me.

[chrisboy]

strangers give me the 'look', friends are okay about it (might even share a smoke with me sometimes), family tolerates it. frankly, i dont care.

[grand cru no 2]

Don't matter to me how they react. If you don't like my cigar smoke don't come around me.

Ditto!

[labmonkey]

my wife loves them...she usually doesn't smoke cigars on her own, but she enjoys trying whatever I'm smoking, and has on occasion smoked a whole cigar. The rest of the people in my life could care less...either that or I could care less about their reactions...not sure which.

Generally though coworkers and friends are very interested to hear about cigars and I have had some great conversations about it with non-smokers who seem a lot more accepting of cigars than cigarettes.

[jaewing]

I just started smoking cigars in January this year. Wife tolerates it, thinks I smoke too much (4 or 5 a week) and will occasionally smoke with me. Many of my family do not know yet. While I am not actively keeping it from them I do not come right out and announce it either.

Guess I will jump off that bridge when I get to it.

[Roham]

My dad hates cigarette smoke. But he doesn't know anything about cigars. And when I told him I don't inhale he said second hand smoke is still harmful. Then I told him I only smoke out side or with all the doors and windows open in my house and he said if that's the case it might not be so bad, but it's still a waste of money I never once smoked a cigarette in front of him. He is very against them. About 3 months after I quit smoking I came out and told him so, even though I had never really admitted to starting. My mom thinks it's ok just as long as I am not smoking cigarettes too. She likes the smell too Her best friend's husband is a doctor, and he on occasion enjoys a cigar too so that helped my mom see that it's ok. My older brother is still smoking cigarettes and when he hears I quit he says he hates quitters "nobody likes a quitter"

Other then that I don't care what anybody thinks of my habit. And I think I enjoy the looks I get from time to time. It's also nice to be doing something different. If there is one thing I hate, it's being the same as everyone else.

[MMAB]

None of my friends or family have objected. Of course my mother expressed concern but that's what mothers do.

Many people show an interest. Some like the smell of a cigar others don't. Some could care less. Of course I smoke outdoors ninety-five percent of the time. So who can object?

Interestingly, and I've pointed this out before I'm sure....in pre-Victorian times it was perfectly acceptable and common to see a woman smoking a cigar. Queen Elizabeth and other English Royalty made cigars popular with both sexes. Queen Elizabeth also smoked a pipe.

The cigar band's origin comes from women not wishing to stain their white gloves with tobacco. So a band of silk or other fabric was placed on the cigar to help prevent staining of their gloves. It has evolved into the band it is today.

The Victorian era brought about social change and it was then considered too improper for a lady to smoke a cigar..........Typical Victorian bastards.

Oh! You can see nothing has changed! Damned ing society sticking it's nose into people's lives and affairs. Oh! Everything's just got to be so-o-o-o-o-o damned "PC" (sarcasm, sort of) People are just way too concerned with other people's lives. Either because their own life is seriously boring or they're just plain ignorant (sincerety).

Amanda...you go right ahead and enjoy your cigars. The next time someone gives you crap about it tell them that cigars were originally designed for women to enjoy (that's the truth) and men picked it up later.

Some of the men that come over to you while you're smoking a cigar probably respect you for your courage to stand out from the current social norm (sincerety). Others....well......are probably turned on (honesty). None-the-less, I bet they're all good guys.

Also, and this is important....check out this link>>>>>>>> www.cigarwoman.com

I hope it gives you some support to know that you're certainly not alone!

Good smokes Amanda!

[kevin7]

Wife usually herfs with me

Parents quit telling me what to do years ago,they could give a shit less about my habbits


At 6-02 265 lbs I usually don't get unsolicited remarks or dirtry looks from strangers


K7

[Lazy1]

My Stepfather and Father in law are Cigar smokers so the close people in my life either support it or tolerate it.
My Brothers can be aassholes when it come to me smoking but " Them" if they don't like it.

"The people that mind, don't matter. The people that matter, don't mind"
- rapper "The Game"

[Amanda]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets "the look"..lol. I guess I've always been one to enjoy making a spectacle of myself, at least a little bit, so for the most part, I don't mind when my cigar smoking turns some heads. So far, most of my cigar smoking has been at my apartment or in my car. I smoke them when I go out, but I usually only get to the bars a couple times a month. I'll probably be attending some county fairs, the Iowa State Fair and other outdoor events this summer, and will likely get my first experience smoking cigars publicly. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

MMAB, thanks for the interesting history lesson on women and cigars. I'll have to remember that the next time my dad tells me cigars aren't for girls..lol. Thanks for the link as well. I checked out the Cigar Woman site and expect I'll be visiting there often.

[CoventryCat86]

My Stepfather and Father in law are Cigar smokers so the close people in my life either support it or tolerate it.
My Brothers can be aassholes when it come to me smoking but " Them" if they don't like it.

"The people that mind, don't matter. The people that matter, don't mind"
- rapper "The Game"

Great quote Leo I hope you don't mind but I'll be using that one for a long time to come

Oh and Amanda, something tells me that you don't have too much trouble getting guys attention in bars LMAO!!!

I too am like you, I spend most of my time smoking in my car or at home so I don't smoke cigars around non-cigar smokers very often.

I was smoking a cigar OUTSIDE at a car show once and some guy who was 50 feet away started whining I just ignored him and kept smoking

[jdavis4082]

my parents are against it but i dont worry too much about it. they always thought i would amount to nothing and my sister is who i should look up to. she is living with them again and in the middle of a divorce, I own my own house and am happily married and will not have kids until we are ready. i am 20 years old, im the youngest homeowner i know. i now think and will probally always think that i am better than my peers.

[volshooter]

I used to smoke cigars, Kools, a pipe , chew, and dip. I quit for years but took up smoking handmades when my now dead father started going south. It has been almost 2 years and I don't really care what they think. I'm 46 and they can kiss my elbow. I have health problems but I will not give up the stogies till I'm ready. I try to only have 1 or 2 a day but busy days 5-6 are the norm. Being not "PC" I tell family to go (^^%%^$) I don't live for them. Right now I'm smoking Trinidad y Cia. (about $12 on the 20 From JR's) Their good smokers but not so good chewers.

Rick


The world would be a better place if we all smoked a good cigar or pipe"

[Roham]

The world would be a better place if we all smoked a good cigar or pipe"

Or a joint

[VTCrosscut]

My wife doesn't mind, she bought me a humidor for our first wedding anniversary and a Xicar cutter for my birthday. No smoking in the house, but I'd rather be outside anyways.

My mother-in-law goes to the Dominican Republic a couple of times a year and always brings me cigars. Maybe she's trying to get rid of me. Oh well, at least I get free cigars out of it.

My mom of course hates smoking. My dad smoked a pipe for a long time, but quit about 10 years ago. He’s recently started smoking swishers or black and milds while he’s grilling or working in the garden. I’ll take a few sticks with me next time I go visit and see if I can convert him to premium cigars.