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Do you think it's haughty to consider oneself an aficionado?

To consider oneself a cigar aficionado is:

  • confident but humble

    Votes: 35 26.5%
  • conceited and cocky

    Votes: 22 16.7%
  • well, it depends...

    Votes: 52 39.4%
  • a cigar what??

    Votes: 23 17.4%

  • Total voters
    132

stroke

Brian
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It's kind of interesting I haven't seen something like this thus far. What say ye? Is considering oneself a cigar aficionado confident or cocky? Encouraged or frowned upon? Humble or conceited? Also, in your own words, how would you describe a cigar aficionado? What makes a person a cigar aficionado?

I look forward to the many different responses!!
 

strife

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Good question, in my opinion those that call themselves aficionados usually don't know anymore about cigars than what they've read or heard in conversation. I'd rather consider myself a slightly obsessive hobbyist with a passion to learn all that I can about my hobby.
 

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Brian
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That's kind of where I'm coming from. I was recently explaining my cigar hobby to someone and I thought "well, I'm not an aficionado, per se, but... well, am I? Nah, don't think so..." Aside from my many friends on BOTL, I know much much more about cigars than anyone I know. But, in comparison to many of the brothers here, I'm just a yearling! lol
 

ciggy

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Good question, in my opinion those that call themselves aficionados usually don't know anymore about cigars than what they've read or heard in conversation. I'd rather consider myself a slightly obsessive hobbyist with a passion to learn all that I can about my hobby.
Could not have said it better myself!
 

njstone

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I'd say I'm an aficionado just as much as guys who read or even review for the publication of the same name ... but overall that word is pretty "stuffy" sounding to me. I like strife's answer better.
 

TravelingJ

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I think Colin Ganley coined the most appropriate term. I consider myself a cigar passionado. Aficianado? No, that's not me, but I'm more than passionate about them.
 

jmatkins

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I also like Strife's answer. I do feel confident in what I know but when I talk to others I see how little I do know.

Also Sunday I was watching the game at my local Cigar Bar and the guy I was talking to asked me was I a cigar aficionado, since I brought my own cigars and knew more than him......I just said I know what I know and smoke what I like. I also gave him my last cigar, it was just a Famous Nicaraguan Habano Robusto and he was grateful and enjoyed it more than his NUB Maduro. I also think it is about sharing the wealth.

Good topic!
 

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Brian
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I would say I prefer "enthusiast" over "aficionado". To me, aficionado seems to have a... whats a good word... lofty connotation to it, I dunno... Kinda seems like such a term would be reserved for the elite.
 

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Brian
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I also like Strife's answer. I do feel confident in what I know but when I talk to others I see how little I do know.

Also Sunday I was watching the game at my local Cigar Bar and the guy I was talking to asked me was I a cigar aficionado, since I brought my own cigars and knew more than him......I just said I know what I know and smoke what I like. I also gave him my last cigar, it was just a Famous Nicaraguan Habano Robusto and he was grateful and enjoyed it more than his NUB Maduro. I also think it is about sharing the wealth.

Good topic!
can I quote this?
 
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There are fewer actual aficionado's out there then claim to be. And those that are will probably be too humble to claim they are, but can share a wealth of knowledge.
 
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I didn’t vote because my opinion crosses all four options. I think to consider oneself a cigar aficionado has connotations of reaching a pinnacle in ones cigar smoking career. To me smoking cigars is a journey undertaken with different degrees of enthusiasm. Because of widely varying definitions of words like cigar and aficionado it comes down to what you believe the word(s) to mean. I certainly would not automatically assume a self proclaimed cigar aficionado to have more knowledge or understanding then me.

Its like golf – some are good at golf and others bad – but no one ever masters the game, its gust not that finite. Can one ever master the art/ritual/habit/knowledge of cigar smoking?

As thought by a noob....:peace:
 
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When I think aficionado, James Suckling comes to mind. I'm definitely not like that, nor do I ever want to be. I would love to have the knowledge he has about cigars and wine, but it just comes across as pompous when he says it. That's the association I make anyway. So, the "I know what I know and I smoke what I like", pretty much sums it up for me also.
 

iCraig

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Don't consider myself one by any means. The word has almost a negative connotation to it, on the pompous, "I'm better than you and know more than you" end of things.

I know what I know, and I'm always learning and yearning to learn more about cigars, tobacco, etc. And of course, I like what I like.

Aficionado? Not at all.
Passionate consumer who enjoys sharing his hobby with others? Absolutely.
 

Fox

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One definition: "An enthusiastic admirer or follower; a fan." I do not see anything lofty, pompous or negative about the term. :dunno:
 

Jwrussell

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I would say I prefer "enthusiast" over "aficionado". To me, aficionado seems to have a... whats a good word... lofty connotation to it, I dunno... Kinda seems like such a term would be reserved for the elite.
Agreed. I would have to be much more obsessed and single-minded about the hobby than I am to even approach the term "aficionado". To me, a true "aficionado" is someone who not only knows a ton about the hobby, but is also able to distinguish various things about a cigar simply by taste. At least that's what I think of when I hear the term.
 
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For a number of reasons, aficionado has a negative connotation to it. In the strictest of terms, I guess I am one. But I prefer to think of myself as a passionate hobbyist, one who seeks out all the pleasure and knowledge his hobby has to offer with a love of sharing his knowledge and experiences with others. Just like the stamp collectors and model makers.
 
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