…you know the one I mean When you take a pinch of snuff in front of someone who has never heard of it and you catch them gawping at you. “Its snuff” I say, as if that will help. “Whats snuff ?” they ask in that tone of voice that suggests they believe it to be illegal “Its powdered tobacco” “Really?” the tone is incredulous now “Yes” cue further strange looks “Did you snort it up your nose?” “No, you sniff it” “Why?” “Because its nice” “OK…does it hurt?” “No” “Is it bad for you?” “Theres no evidence to suggest it is” “Right…” “Would you like to try some?” “Erm…no” I’ve lost count of the number of times i’ve had a conversation along these lines. I stopped using snuff for a few months for no particular reason and now i’ve started again the memories come flooding back! How people can fail to know what snuff is is quite beyond me, its only the oldest form of tobacco in Europe!
cigerette smokers are also interesting “whats that” “snuff” “eh?” “Powdered tobacco, you sniff it into your nose. The nictotine goes through the skin then.” “Oh, why would you do that” “its nicer than smoking and no cancer” “really?” “Yup, want to try some?” “No, I will keep ihaling carcinogenic byproducts of tobacco combustion thankyou.” “suit yourself”
One Thing I noticed cigerattes smokers do is assume since it won’t kill them it can’t be as good. Which is funny because I never thought cigarettes smoking caused brain damage.
LOL @ Bish and Bob, you make interesting points!
Well snuff taking is quiet common round this neck of the wood and in our local there are two communal snuff boxes. Myself, ermtony and another pub regular tops them up, usually with end of box dust. The box in the bar must have around 100 varieties of snuff in there, and last night a gent walks into the bar, orders his pint, takes a pinch of snuff and remarked that every-time he comes to the pub there is always a different snuff on offer.
Recently while on a trail with a couple of friends, we stepped off into some shade to partake of some snuff. A couple walks by us and gives us a look that made obvious they believed us to be partaking of some illegal substance. Indeed I overheard the word “cocaine” muttered by one of them. -sigh-
I’m currently unemployed, and got told “you cant do that in here” when snuffing in the jobcentre. The security guard looked quite relieved when I showed him the tin.
Maybe it’s the types who drink in my local, but when I first took snuff in, everyone tried it, and I now get asked ‘what flavour have you got with you tonight?’ !!
@pauljmuk I’ve noticed that alchool lowers peoples inhabitions a lot. Often I’ve noticed people who won’t do snuff before a few drinks will do a lot of snuff after a few drinks.
It’s true that after a few drinks people get more open trying new things like snuff. Apparently, a few drinks also brings out the giver in me. I’ve gifted several tins away to people that show genuine intrest in snuff. Friends or strangers. Only problem is that I usually bring my favorites along and only when I reach for them next day, I remember giving them away. Oh well, off to place another order. Apparently I need to stock up on small tins of something suitable for newbies, or carry my not-so-favourites in my knapsack with me.
Jari T Thats a good idea, carry around a few tins of Toque (good for beginners, I found) to dish out in the pub and spread the good word! lol