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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

Craig Mac

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Mostly when I even hear the term in working at the lounge, it is regards to someone else... as in "he's an aficionado" or "he's not an aficionado". I don't think I have ever heard anyone refer to themselves as such, I would find that to be a little arrogant.
 
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Strictly speaking, I think most people on this board can be considered aficionados, myself included (though there are plenty here who are way more educated about cigars). But would I ever call myself an aficionado? No. There are less self-aggrandizing ways to refer to what kind of smoker I am.
 
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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.
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.
I like the idea of these for myself.
 
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I think it's similar to being attractive. I mean, all day every day people are telling me how damn hot I am. But to say that myself would just be arrogant and rude! :)
 

danthebugman

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Well...it depends...I guess...nah, I keep envisioning a guy wearing a sweater over his shoulders. I'll happily be known as anything but an aficionado.

Dan
 

smokingIsh

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I enjoy a beautiful woman, family and friends, cigars and good drinks, and good times involved with these things as often as possible. Some call me many things listed and not, although most involve cursing.
 
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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.
Perfect!
 

WARDOGG

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A lot of people I know consider me an afficionado simply because I've been smoking cigars for about 15 years and know a lot about cigars. However, I do not consider myself an afficionado by any means. I agree with a lot of the brothers. I'm just a passionate hobbyist.

An affcionado, to me, is someone, whom like others have said, knows cigars and the industry inside and out. He/she can detect different tastes in cigars every time and can identifiy a cigar maker without ever seeing the label.

As far as someone calling themselves that, I do think it's a little pretentious. However, if it's a title that they have earned from the industry and cigar makers then I don't see a problem with it.
 
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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:
This truly is what an aficionado is. We are all aficionados. It really is a harmless word to describe what we are. Unfortunately, the word "aficionado" has been bastardized.

Maybe, it is the magazine 'Cigar Aficionado' that has made us make the word haughty or stuck up. The title could be translated as 'Cigar Admirer', 'Cigar Follower", or "Cigar Fan"...pretty harmless name really. But, the magazine has gone away from focusing on cigars, and has focused more on a expensive lifestyle that requires alot of money to maintain the lifestyle the magazine promotes. In todays society, rich normally equals haughty or uppity. Love or hate the magazine, it is one of the more influential and popular periodicles in our cigar culture.

Maybe the regular Joe cigar smoker now associates the word "aficionado" with that haughty lifestyle. Someone who knows copious amouts of information about cigars or the cigar industry, I would regard as an expert not an aficionado. I am not that expert. But I am an admirer/fan of cigars...an aficionado.

This is just a theory I have. Make any sense?
 

stroke

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This truly is what an aficionado is. We are all aficionados. It really is a harmless word to describe what we are. Unfortunately, the word "aficionado" has been bastardized.

Maybe, it is the magazine 'Cigar Aficionado' that has made us make the word haughty or stuck up. The title could be translated as 'Cigar Admirer', 'Cigar Follower", or "Cigar Fan"...pretty harmless name really. But, the magazine has gone away from focusing on cigars, and has focused more on a expensive lifestyle that requires alot of money to maintain the lifestyle the magazine promotes. In todays society, rich normally equals haughty or uppity. Love or hate the magazine, it is one of the more influential and popular periodicles in our cigar culture.

Maybe the regular Joe cigar smoker now associates the word "aficionado" with that haughty lifestyle. Someone who knows copious amouts of information about cigars or the cigar industry, I would regard as an expert not an aficionado. I am not that expert. But I am an admirer/fan of cigars...an aficionado.

This is just a theory I have. Make any sense?
I think the mag has some influence, but it's akin to the use of many other words in the English language in that it may not necessarily be used in the "proper" context. Although the "proper" definition is admirer, fan, follower, etc, it (IMO at least) means something a little different. Like someone else said (I'm just being too lazy to look for it lol) it's something that isn't bad when someone else refers to you as such, but not something I would want to call myself.
 

FireDoc83

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Definition of AFICIONADO
: a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity : devotee

I think I am with KiloWhiskey on this. The mag has given it a bad rap!
 
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Everyone is always learning.

Even Roger Ebert doesn't consider himself a "film aficionado", because as many films as he's seen, there are 100 times more movies out there he hasn't seen, and that grows every year.

Same for cigars.

So, yes, I think it's a little douche-y to dub oneself an aficionado.
 
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I enjoy a beautiful woman, family and friends, cigars and good drinks, and good times involved with these things as often as possible. Some call me many things listed and not, although most involve cursing.
Suddenly I'm inspired to quote Bull Durham....

Well, I believe in the soul, the c*ck, the p*ssy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days
What were we talking about again??
 

smelvis

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I know so much in my real life way more than most, In the cigar world and on these boards I know so little it's scary :) Who knew there was so much to know about cigars I learn something new daily. Pretty damn cool I think!

I hate the word aficionado because it reminds me of the magazine I have so little respect for that and most people I have met who are such with wines and stuff are pretty snobby! :)

That's why I like these boards this one and my home board where we are all the same regardless of what we do to earn a living, Cigar people are the classiest people I have ever met the most generous down to earth people a very cool hobby to have.
 
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Around my friends, I am an aficionado. :ccool:

I never used the term unless I was talking about my love for Whisk(e)y.
 
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