There are times I am with people, not friends mind you, people who are acquaintances, that I will not put a snus in while in their presence. If it's already in, no one can tell but in an extended situation where a new snus may be needed I do not.

Now, all of my friends know I snus and I do it right in front of them. I offer to the smokers and tell my non tobacco using friends to suck it when they give me crap for being addicted. I don't publicly call them out for having sex with stuffed animals and I just ask the same courtesy in regard to my tobacco habit.

Some call it being respectful of those who are not considered friends. (it's not respect, I barely tolerate these people)

Some say it's that I care about what these people think. (I could give a fu- I mean I COULD care less but that would be too much work)

Some say I actually feel guilty for using tobacco. (I also am told I should feel guilty for making out with my ex-wife's cousin before we were engaged, but I don't.)

I think it all boils down to the fact that if these people were not idiots, I would be their friend and would not have any problem with this. I know I am not the wisest person in the world but, I also know I do not have to talk to people who annoy me with their mere presence beyond the expected common social courtesies.

I will do without snus in their presence to avoid a conversation in which I am led to believe (by their uninformed and asinine statements) that I need to defend my beloved snus to someone who has no ability to comprehend that IT IS MY CHOICE! There is no need to try and convince me that I made a poor choice. I have not. I have researched, and completely understand what I am doing and I like it. PS. you smoke.

I am not so rude as to tell one of the parents of my child's friends or my child's teacher to "eat sh- refrain from continuing your current diatribe against tobacco to me, I am addicted and nothing you say can change my way of thinking." It would just make certain social functions and PTA night awkward so sometimes, not putting in a pris is the correct choice for me.

What have I learned from all of this?

I learned:

1. Avoiding tobacco related aggravation is the hardest thing I can do in a day.

2. Somewhere, some uppity @$$**** is ready to try to ruin my day.

3. If I am not snusing in front of you, you mean less to me than the last poo I flushed down the toilet.

Am I embarrassed?

No. I am avoiding stupid conversations.