Connoisseur Wisdom

I was on the /r/cigars sub-Reddit this evening, and someone posted a great comment that I had to write down. It was sage advice given to a person who was seeking an opinion from the community on a particular brand of cigars:

Piece of advice: Smoking cigars is 100% subjective. Although it may seem OK to get a general consensus on a certain stick or brand, just bear in mind – What others like, you may not. What you like, others may not. It’s all about what you like to smoke. Getting samplers and trying new blends is a great way to find more sticks you like than ones you don’t.

Always remember – The difference between a connoisseur and a snob is: a connoisseur cares about what’s in their humidor. A snob cares about what’s in yours.

Wiser words could not have been spoken!

I’ve had many passions in life, and I’ve always loved to share those passions with other like-minded people. Back in the ’80s, I was involved in a few special interest groups (SIGs) in programming and computers. I learned so much from my interactions with other members and to be honest, those associations helped launch and nurture my career in technology. And I’ve shared other passions such as wine, artisan bread baking, guitar, and golf with other enthusiasts and aficionados. The experience and knowledge I’ve gained and passed on have been more rewarding than I can say.

But on the flip side, no matter what the interest group, there will always be snobs. You can spot them a mile away. They’ll spend most of their time interrogating you on what you have, then say asinine things like, “I only drink (smoke, play, etc.) such and such. All others pale in comparison.” Or they’d veil their contempt by saying something like, “I’m curious. Why would someone ever consider ________?” Or to ensure that everyone knows just how experienced or knowledgeable they are, they make newbies feel like idiots when they ask newbie questions.

Luckily, the connoisseurs far outnumber the snobs, and most are quick to jump on their holier-than-thou attitudes. But despite that, they’re out there. I’ve learned to develop a thick skin with those folks, and I normally just ignore them. But sometimes I do engage, but make sure to veil my rebuke in positivity such as, “This is why I love this hobby! There’s so much variety that any palate can be satisfied. You do you.”