I've often pondered why people smoke cigars. At one time, during the so called 'cigar boom', many held a cigar in their hand just for status. It was the 'fab' thing to do ... and when that era busted ... many went on to the next 'cool' faze, and said they no longer enjoyed cigars.

Makes me wonder.

I smoked cigarettes sice I was 15 ...and am addicted to nicotine. I smoked Camel (humps) the majority of that time (I'm almost 50) ... and quit when I started smoking cigars. My life with an addiction totally changed. I no longer 'had' to have that nicotine 'fix'. Cigars were a whole different experience, for a different reason. I smoked them to relax from the tension of daily life, for the same reason I thought I smoked cigs for ... br>
I didn't relax with cigarettes, they just made me want more, and made me more tense. Cigars are fun ... and the whole experience was different. The ritiual of cutting, lighting, and tasting the flavor changes of one cigar, from beginning to end, watching the smoke curl from my lips, captured my soul. What was even more wonderful, was finding out that every cigar was different. All cigarettes are pretty much one dimensional, and I believe their purpose is just to give you a 'nicotine injection'. Cigars are a kaleidoscope of sensations ... and the most poignant one I found, was the many new friends I made in the process.

I found that some of the most generous, caring, and intellectually stimulating people I have ever met in my life ... are people who have a 'love of the leaf'...

Those who stay with cigars and truly enjoy them ... are those who love the finer things in life, most importantly enjoy the friends that are made along the way.

I've never found anything yet, that has had such an impact on the way I have been able to interact with my fellow human beings ... than my slide into the cigar world.

Slim,Thanx 4 all the compliments. That aside,pretty much my sentiments exactly. X

...Amen...............Barry

... and this, my friends, just barely delves into my thoughts on the subject. There is so much more ...

Most cigar smokers in my mind can be considered intellects. It allows time to ponder, time to appreciate, time to reflect. Unless it's a kickass smoke and you just say WOOOHOOO the whole time your smokin it. Then you fart, the whole thought process is ruined. Oh well.

Mr. Mean, 2 fart references in 1 evening? Rough eats tonight or what? he, he,.Barry

I think it would make a fantastic in-person discussion ... some of this sort of thinking was on my mind recently as I wrote about my nightly cigar ritual that even the dog paces herself by each evening ... many of you are like me and have a variety of brands in the humidor ... what influences your choice when you pick one out? what of your lighting process? Are a lot of you like me and prefer company as you smoke or are some of you solitaries? And yes, Slim, I too have noticed the personality and intelligence of cigar smokers ... newbies to this board sometimes mistake what passes for humor here as the locker room rantings of a bunch of 7th grade boys, but as they become more familiar, learn that Slim is right about the thoughtful, warm and generous nature of nearly everyone here ... if we lived in close proximity to one another, the gatherings would be really an incredible event ... perhaps a bit different at first without the mask of anonymity the 'Net offers, but that'd be overcome pretty quickly .... damn, I'm developing a case of the warm-fuzzies ... gonna cool off now, but might come back to this thread later ...

I'm going to be the Devil's Advocate here (please don't slamboli me!). The cigar smokers I know run the same gamut as society in general. The herfers I know range from blithering idiots, racist rednecks, infantile post-adolescents, to towering intellects, the devoutly religious, free-thinkers, pillars of society. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a misanthrope and I prefer to smoke my cigars solitary most of the time. I know most of you don't agree, so there's no need to flame me, but I'd like to know if anyone remotely shares my views.

Well, I would have to say I'm not too religious

I agree that all kinds of people smoke cigars. But given the cost of cigars, I'd say that most of the high-end cigar smokers have to earn a decent living. And although that doesn't necessarily mean we're a more cultured lot, many of us do have incomes that allow us to indulge ourselves. I too have smoked cigars since my teen years and I'm sure I fit into one of those other categories along the way to my current situation. After all I haven't alway's been the polished professional that I am today. Twenty some years ago when I started my military career I was a rough around the edges, party hardy, loudmouth, head banger that enjoyed an occassional premium cigar between my regular Swisher Sweets. Gee some things never change. Except my last Swisher was one from the new hand-rolled line. I just had to try it for old times sake.