Goths and clove smoking has been a longtime parodied, true to form, and consistent nuance of the Gothic subculture. Anyone who has been in a Gothic or Industrial club knows the familiar sweet, yet spicy cinnamon like smell of the draped in black cancer stick. Dark, smooth and sultry these conversation starters and occasional pickup magnets never fail to attract attention until the night is over and the first rays of sunlight beckon sleep.
While I am not a cigarette smoker, I have been known to enjoy a clove here and there with a few drinks. Lately I went as far as to stuff Djarum blacks into the discontinued in the U.S., fabled red and black Sampoerna Xtras box, just to get the satisfaction of confused looks.
Author Alicia Porter Smith ponders the question on her blog Stuffgothslike , “Why do Goths smoke cloves”?
“Is it because they are worse for your health than regular cigarettes, therefore beckoning Death at an accelerated rate? “
Perhaps unconsciously the urge towards rebellion and self destruction does drive Goths toward clove smoking, however it could also be the color, spicy/sweet taste and morose appeal.
Regardless of whether one is a smoker or not, another stab at withdrawing civil liberties has been actualized. The Obama administration has approved the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a move that gives the FDA control to regulate every aspect of Tobacco product advertising, distribution and who knows what else. The first step of which is banning “flavored” products, or using the terms “mild” or “light”. We all know that when something is banned, people go out of their way to try and find it, import it, or create it to no end.
If the Government was paying 100% of everyone’s health care costs, I can understand their having a say in what you put into your body – since illness related treatment and prevention would come out of their pocket, but this is not yet the case.
I say let “we the people” make our own decisions about what we can consume, grow in our backyard, or purchase… are we one step closer to a totalitarian dystopia?
What do you think?
12 Comments(+Add)
While smoking is bad for ones health, it’s rare when someone doesn’t know that. Most smokers just don’t care. This act is asinine. I am not a smoker, but have at times enjoyed a clove. I can only hope that those in control see the error of their ways.
I’m not a huge smoker either.. normally I indulge in a menthol or clove every once in awhile (preferably at the clubs with a drink).. This is total and utter bullsh*t..but then again its no secret mankind is slowly sliding downhill into oblivion. We needs our yummy black cancer!!
I think this is a really stupid move… Does no one remember what happened from 1920 to 1933?!?
I am a regular smoker, of most any cig, though I do prefer Blacks and menthol. I know I’ll probably die of lung cancer. I’m going to die anyway, I may as well enjoy doing it
As the first poster said, the government does not pay for our healthcare. We do. I don’t believe they should have any say in what we put into our bodies. I agree with the warnings, because some people are ignorant enough not to know what’s bad and what’s good, but complete control? Are we comunists? Nay, we are not. We live in America to be free, in “The Land of the Free,” and yet, daily, we are having more and more of our petty pleasures taken from us? What’s next? Ice cream? Sex? Masterbation? The Church has done its best to take this away. “Seperation of Church and State” is an outright lie.
*is done ranting* But, like I said, this is a stupid move, and there will be many, many uprisings to follow.
Remove all restrictions on smoking. let people of any age purchase them. Allow smoking anywhere. And line each cigarette with a little cyanide. The problem will solve itself in time.
I always smoked them for the taste, the smell, and that fun crackling sound
Honesty I see the point in the government trying desperate measures to promote good health in our country, in order to emulate the current health status rates of other countries (particularly in Europe) in which the people are genuinely healthier. That said, it’s a broken philosophy. History will show that when an American is told that they cannot possess something, they will go to great lengths to make sure that they do. This is the country of Greed; a sin that we paid for with the blood of Native Americans and African slaves and Chinese railroad workers and God knows who else. It is unfortunate that the intelligent, healthy people of America are overshadowed by the tarp of stupidity cast out by the mind-numbingly drugged and wholly dumb masses around us, but this is a fate we must face. Because nobody in a place of power wants to admt that our thirst for technological advances and simple solutions for modern living are more of a poison to our health than even the tainted food bought from cheap farmers at a supermarket near you, a scapegoat was needed to put the blame on. The reason is to give the people a symbol of sorts, to give them hope that ou government cares about our individual health, and thus smokers have been demonized in general amongst the people. In hindsight of the problems we face in the food industry alone, not to mention our addiction to games, computers, and the tv remote, the hazards faced from smoking pale in comparrisson. This is just one more step amongst the stairs to try to make the health-conscious masses feel a little more assured in our elected leaders, though it is my affirmed belief that this is only a feint to a much larger and threatening issue for which there is no real cost-friendly solution.
The dreams and aspirations of the country we know as “free” has never been. There has always been control over the people here. Taxing cigarettes will not stop the people from going out there and buying them from different countries and bringing them back here.
Freedom is used loosely here. There is no such thing. I have always know this. Sooner or later, out procreation will be controlled. We will have bar codes..there is nothing Music will be controlled. Everything. I am already sick of the change going on. The government is going down hill as the years pass by.
I understand what he is doing, and I agree. yet it is NOT his decision on what we put into our lungs. He might as well legalize murder. As people will not have their stress reliever.
He might as well shut down all our fast food restaurants. As they do not promote good health. America will not stand for it. The government will sooner or later revoke their decision. Sooner or later.
I do not think it will last, nor will it be allowed to happen. I am sure that there is still some faith in humanity that someone will stand up. Maybe even us.
The economy will fall either way. This is just as the person said before me. We are just a scape goat.
Being someone born with a lung disease, I support Obama. If people could smoke and only do themselves damage than that would be fine with me BUT when you smoke around others and in clubs, you are affecting everyone’s health there. Drinking on the other hand is different. My health isn’t going to be affected by someone next to me drinking.
Why should I have to suffer b/c of your addiction. If you wanna smoke outside, then that’s fine with me. Also, I think by getting rid of the terms “light” makes sense since it’s misleading making someone think they are smoking something with less nicotine in it when it’s not actually true. I think it’s also appropriate to show the actual ingredients just like anything else that is taken in by the body.
Also, you have to remember there are A LOT of people on Medicare or who have no insurance and end up in the hospital due to smoke related problems so in a way the government is paying for some of the expenses related to smoking. So if you pay for your own health insurance and you smoke outside or at home only, then I have no problem BUT most people don’t fit under that catagory. So that’s my 2 cents
Interestingly enough, clove flavored cigarillos will still be available and actually cost cheaper because cigarettes are taxed at a higher rate. That said, I cannot wait to vote against this authoritarian president. he has no right to tell me how to peacefully live my life. I hated George W. Bush, but Obama is making me wish GWB was still president. I’m going to stock up on cloves so there can still be that wonderful spicy aroma when I go to clubs and events.
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been a smoker for decades and although I know it’s killing me I don’t have the willpower to quit. But I found these new, “healthy” cigarettes that let me get my fix without damaging my lungs. Check out my blog!
I am curious when clove cigarettes actually became popular within the goth/industrial subculture and if there was a particular reason for this. Does anyone know? I haven’t been able to find information on this anywhere.
I smoke 2-3 clove cigarettes a month and never smoke them when I’m in an enclosed space with non-smokers. Tanya, I agree that non-smokers should not be submitted to the health risks of second hand smoke, but the tobacco bill signed by Obama is seriously flawed. The bill was only passed because Philip Morris came out openly in support of the bill. After this the senators who were holding up the bill (and had, of course, received campaign contributions from Philip Morris) agreed to vote for it. Philip Morris supported this bill because they do not sell any cigarettes which fall under the ban. Supporting the bill allows them to weaken their competitors who sold the now banned varieties.
Banning all flavorants besides menthol makes no sense, except in the context of Philip Morris using their political muscle to weaken their competitors. It is also important to note that Obama himself was not the architect of this bill. It was initially crafted during the Bush administration; however, the needed support for it was only obtained after Obama entered office and the language banning flavorants was added along with a menthol exception. I no longer live in the U.S. and am fortunately able to purchase the Indonesia form of djarum blacks here, which are much shorter, thinner and less sweat than their American counterparts, but still smoke-able nonetheless. However, the government here recently announced they are also considering banning flavored cigarettes because they make smoking more enticing to youth and ‘hide the burning sensation’ of your first puff as a non-smoker. This is probably a result of either U.S. pressure or a desire to emulate the U.S. as I have not encountered a single young smoker here who smokes clove cigarettes. I am hoping such a ban does not take place here as well so that I can continue to enjoy my occasional clove.
Thomas – I am not certain when the association between Goths and cloves was made.. other than that it exists – and probably due to some of the points I mentioned in the article.
Luckily you are still able to get some outside of the U.S. , our only choice now is to import. I do miss the Sampoerna red and black box ones!