Well after smoking cigars for about 11 years regularly either on my patio, in a bar before the bans and now on out door restaurant patios I finally had someone make a little sniveling remark at me. I was at a wonderful restaurant in their outdoor area. It's in a bustling neighborhood with old brownstone buildings. The patio is just wonderful, it's got lots of trees, lamps, brick ground, wicker furniture, and Christmas Lights of course. Pretty big too but still cozy. It's behind one of these brownstone buildings off a busy street, so you get a little sound of the city but not an overwhelming sound.

Anyways, I was finishing up and these people walked by us. The guy in the group who was about 40 and professional looking said to me as he was passing, "Thanks for the cigar smoke." I looked up and his back was to me and he just kept walking. What was I going to do, chase him and make a big stink of things?

So the next morning I had that thing in my head where I figure out a zillion things I could have responded with. I could have told him about cigar rights and how his kind was ruining the world. i could have easily used my karate moves I learned in special forces (well youtube) or maybe even some of the moves I learned on arfcom. Was I going to channel Tony Montana? Han Solo, Captain Kirk? Maybe Jar-Jar Binks?

So I finally came up with the most perfect response, here's how it should have gone down:

Guy: Thanks for the cigar smoke.
Me: Hey come here.
Guy walks over to me showing me he's much tougher than me and not intimidated by me in the least bit.
Guy: Yes.
Me: You know this is a cigar friendly patio. See (point to ash tray), that wasn't there when we got there. We asked the server and she brought it over. Have you ever smoked a cigar?
Guy: No, I don't like em.
Me: Wow, you know what I'm going to ask next, if you've never had them, how do you know?
Guy: herp merp
Me: Hey, check this out, (pull Fuente Double Chateau out of my pocket). Take this and smoke her on your patio or something tomorrow night. Smoke it with a brown drink like scotch or an aged rum or bourbon.
Guy: herp merp
Me: Don't worry, no hard feelings.


So from now on I'm never going to take the it's my right approach. I'm always going to take an extra cigar, just for such an occasion. I mean really, give a guy a cigar, is he really going to complain to management about me then? I don't want to loose this wonderful patio to the health attics stuffing their faces with food and booze.

I think back to my cigar buddies and come to think of it all my buddies are cigar buddies because of me. It's kind of like taking and anti- to go shooting with you instead of arguing with them. Anyways, always bring extras for future friends.

i love the smell of cigars,maybe he was thanking you

no doubt.

If he really had a problem with it, he would have said something before he walked away. These people are out there, you just got to know how to deal with them. Probably won't be the last time.Oh yeah, save your sticks for someone who you think is going to enoy them, not just throw them away. Not everyone will smoke a cigar, especially one handed to them by a stranger saying "smoke it". Might end up in the dumpster!
I can appreciate your thoughts & kindness though. Smoke on!!

nm

I do this also....

+1

I think ignoring him and people like him are the best idea. Quite frankly you can try the "conversion" but thats hinging on a lot of "if's" and likley a waste of a good cigar. Rewarding someone for being a prick just doesnt compute.
Being an ass is probably the worst thing- even if you want to.

I was fairly drunk at my favorite local Biergarten. I was as far away from the doors as possible, but this girl snaked her way over just to say something to me. She says, "Good luck with lung cancer! I can't believe they let those gross things in here!" I looked her right in the eye and deadpanned, "I know, I didn't think they were going to let you in either." She didn't really get it at first, then it sort of sank in and she scoffed and walked away.

I get way more people (especially girls) that say, "I love the smell of cigar smoke, my father/grandfather/favorite uncle smoked cigars." So I just take it in stride.

I would have thought you would have ground the cigar out on his forehead after blowing smoke in his face.

Try smoking a pipe, they will sit down at your table.


But I've said too much...

lol....ya blame them? Who doesn't like a good pipe smoker?

Punch them in the chest...hard, when they go down, step on their throat, ash on their forehead, then kneel down and tell him "cigars are relaxing, try one sometime"!