Why is Dip more popular in the Midwest?

• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  I was just reading a thread, with multiple huddlers talking about their favorite tobacco, and it made me wonder why Dip is so much more popular in the Midwest.
  
  Do they target ads more there? Just a way of life? I only know one person in New York that dips, and he is from Ohio originally. It's not my thing, and I am not condeming those who do it by any means, just sort of struck me as odd that its very popular in Ohio (which I witnessed when I lived in Columbus) and basically non-existent on this side of Pennsylvania. Thoughts?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  What's funny about that is a couple of years ago a guy got transferred into our Akron office from West Virginia. His first day there I loaded up my normal dip of Copenhagen, and he said he never thought he would see anyone in Ohio dip.
• SnotBubbles

  Because the Midwest is full of a bunch of hillbillies who have sex with livestock. Tobacco usage is a hillbilly thing. I use Skoal Cherry.
  
  On a serious note, I bet there are more people than you think elsewhere. In big cities, it's probably just not as noticeable because there are more people and it really isn't the most popular form of nicotine usage.
• Fab4Runner

  

  Because dudes here are disgusting?
• David St. Hubbins

  

  Because the Midwest contains Appalachia
• UA5straightin2008

  

  because everything is better in the midwest
  
  but really, i got hooked on it from another lacrosse player...then went to a military school where EVERYONE did it and that just took me over the edge
  
  it is obviously a big thing in baseball, but a lot of high school/college lacrosse players use it as well as hockey players
• Little Danny

  

  I have lived in about every region of the country at some point. I can state with a fact the Midwest has nothing on the deep south as far Dip and chewing tobacco. A larger percentage of the population chews and dips down there compared to here. I even knew of some women who Dipped down there.
• Devils Advocate

  

  gRAVITY AND WARMER WEATHER WILL MAKE PEOPLE PRONE TO SLIP FUTHER SOUTH TPWARD kENTUCKY. tHE DIP IS JUST A WAY TO MAKE YOUR TEETH FALL OUT AND HELP YOU FIT IN DOWN THERE
• UA5straightin2008

  

  iTS REALLY COOL TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS. aND TO MAKE THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH SENTENCE LOWER CASE
• tcarrier32

  

  what the hell else are you going to do while snowed in
• LJ

  

  BigAppleBuckeye wrote: I was just reading a thread, with multiple huddlers talking about their favorite tobacco, and it made me wonder why Dip is so much more popular in the Midwest.
  
  Do they target ads more there? Just a way of life? I only know one person in New York that dips, and he is from Ohio originally. It's not my thing, and I am not condeming those who do it by any means, just sort of struck me as odd that its very popular in Ohio (which I witnessed when I lived in Columbus) and basically non-existent on this side of Pennsylvania. Thoughts?

  Just an FYI, Philly and NYC are not the only cities in PA and NY.
  
  Not trying to be abrupt here, but smokeless tobacco has always been considered a cheaper "working man's" option to cigarettes. You aren't going to see it as much in cities.
  
  Go out to Rochestor, Ellicotville, Harrisburg, etc and you will see people chewing and dipping. I am pretty sure PA and WNY are not considered the "midwest"
• Devils Advocate

  

  UA5straightin2008 wrote: iTS REALLY COOL TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS. aND TO MAKE THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH SENTENCE LOWER CASE

  i AGREE
• UA5straightin2008

  

  
• coyotes22

  

  I think more guys are chewing now, b/c of all the smoking bans going into place.
  
  You can chew anywhere, i.e. a bar, while drinking. JMO
• Swamp Fox

  We have a death wish?
• Timber

  Chewing tobacco was popular where I grew up. Before there were rules against it in school... Baseball players in high school would chew during high school games (including the state tournament), the manager would chew, and many spectators would be chewing as well.
  
  It was not socially unacceptable to do it.... Almost all of my friends chewed, and I began with chewing tobacco (only outside) and progressed to dip... to have the ability to chew inside. If you do not put too large of a dip in, you do not even have to spit. Most everyone chewed skoal... and then one day I tried Copenahgen. It almost knocked me on my ass while golfing one day. I chewed about all day every day, until I finally gave it up.
  
  I was already hooked before finding out how unhealthy smokeless tobacco was. Their was not much information out there at the time concerning all of the long term potential health risks. I miss it, but so glad not to be hooked any longer. I have now invested money in Altria and feel a little guilty making money off of other peoples habits. Worldwide people are not going to stop smoking, chewing and drinking beer any time soon. It also pays a nice dividend.
  
  I really miss it after a meal, golfing, or while doing yard work. I can close my eyes and smell it...
  
  If you do not do any tobacco products... do yourself a favor and do not start.
• krambman

  

  When I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be able dip, like the kind you put chips in.
  
  When I was younger I lived in a small town in a rural area. I was too young to have friends who did smokeless tobacco, but I certainly knew people who did it. We then moved to a very affluent, well educated, white-collar community. There were a few guys on the football team who did it, but for the most part, I never saw anyone doing it. Now, this is not a generalization or an assumption of status on anyone here who does smokeless tobacco, but my guess is that the majority of people who do are low income and less educated than those who don't. Also, I'm sure it's far more prevalent in rural areas than in major cities. I live in Columbus now and I see far less people doing it here than I did when I lived in Springfield a few years ago.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  krambman wrote: Now, this is not a generalization or an assumption of status on anyone here who does smokeless tobacco, but my guess is that the majority of people who do are low income and less educated than those who don't.
  
  I have dipped Copenhagen for 25+ years. I don't have as strong of formal education as some here do. I have a B of S. I make an above average income. Live in a 5 bedroom 3 bath all brick house on the 13th fairway of the local country club in a very white collar town.
  
  Goes to show, there are exceptions to all generalizations.

• e_lee

  Its pretty popular here in South Carolina. But I gotta guess it is more popular in more unrefined settings, whether they be in Ohio, New York, South Carolina or France.
• UA5straightin2008

  

  krambman wrote: Now, this is not a generalization or an assumption of status on anyone here who does smokeless tobacco, but my guess is that the majority of people who do are low income and less educated than those who don't.

  if that is not a generalization, then i dont know what is
  
  i was born in raised in upper arlington...as about as white collar as you get...gettin my BS in Biology with chem minor...dipped for 4 years now...
• krambman

  

  UA5straightin2008 wrote:

  krambman wrote: Now, this is not a generalization or an assumption of status on anyone here who does smokeless tobacco, but my guess is that the majority of people who do are low income and less educated than those who don't.

  if that is not a generalization, then i dont know what is
  
  i was born in raised in upper arlington...as about as white collar as you get...gettin my BS in Biology with chem minor...dipped for 4 years now...

  It's a hypothesis; a proposed explanation of an observed phenomenon that can be studied and either proved or disproved by quantifiable data. In my observations the majority of people I've encountered who use smokeless tobacco work in low income jobs or are less educated, or come from families that were less educated and low income. I'm not saying it's true, just my observation, and if studied and tested, I believe would be proven to be correct.
• Timber

  I think many of you are putting too much emphasis on income/education. I think you may be barking up the wrong tree. I think it is more of a cultural issue... Being outside working construction, farming, etc would lead to chewing tobacco (rural setting) more than an office setting. This may lead to similarities in income and education comparison, but not the core reason... Cultural differences.
  
  Just like the reasons we have far more murders than other countries where guns are prominent... many countries have guns, but few murders. It is our culture in The USA that creates the fighting, the angst and method of retaliation, the way we react to stress/challenges, road rage, etc. JMO (PS... I do endorse responsible gun ownership)
• Fab1b

  

  I would like to say down here in the south it is very very popular!! I just don't know how anyone can put that stuff in their mouths, I have tried it, puked end of story!!
• coyotes22

  

  krabman wrote:Now, this is not a generalization or an assumption of status on anyone here who does smokeless tobacco, but my guess is that the majority of people who do are low income and less educated than those who don't.

  
  
  Dont forget, we also listen to Garth Brooks, watch NASCAR, and have huge bonfires in the summer with plenty of Bud Light!!!!
  
  
  
• THE4RINGZ

  

  I do like me some Garth, Bud Light, and bonfires. Never got into the whole NASCAR thing though.