I usually dont visit the loggers forum. Kind of got here by mistake this time. I started cutting wood when I was around 6 yrs old working with my dad. I started chewing when I was around 10 or 11. Started out with beechnut pouch tobacco. One of the timber cutters used to chew that brand and he offered some to me. Hind sight says that guy should have been kicked in the rear end for giving tobacco to a small kid. Anyways, whether its tobacco, snuff, twist, plug, pouch, or alcohol and drugs, they are all habits that are hard to break. Certainly habits to be discouraged. Having chewed/dipped for over 40years, I dont need some smartass with a chip on his shoulder to totally disrespect me because they dont like my habit. They dont know me, havent worked beside me, nor have they walked a mile in my shoes. To think they are better than everyone else and not have any kind of tolerance for others,, well, to me it shows just how little a person they really are. They might think highly of themselves, but I am certain others dont see them in the same perspective.
I dont smoke, never have, yet i work with many that do. I think smoking is a lot worse than dipping simply because smoke just doest effect the smoker, but every one around them also. Still, My co-workers smoke and its not up to me to make them quit. As long as they make a reasonable effort to not smoke around me, what they do is their business. If they are smoking and I walk up to them, I dont tell them to put their cigaretts out, and I dont spit my snuff in their faces. If I am in the cab of a machine and a smoker climbs up there with me, I will ask them to not smoke in my cab. No problems unless the smoker wants to get beligerent and showing his butt. If they respect me, I will respect them, blow smoke in my face and expect something nasty in return. Its not my way or the highway, the road runs 4 ways, north, south, east, and west, the direction you take will show whether your a leader or just another yapping dog in the pack.