Trigger Warning

Trigger warning: I’m not sure what’s worse wanting a cigarette or smoking one. The (ant)arctic freeze was a little hint of winter, and I peeked inwards, in a sort of existential reverie only to realised that when I get very cold, I suddenly hang for a smoke.

It’s been about 30 years since I lit up. It was winter, it was a boys’ camping getaway and I had my first and only romance with nicotine. 

And now when the temperature drops I remember the experience, or, more specifically, the brand I smoked in the freezing cold, in my late teens.  It’s a fact that the cigarette brands that enjoy success in the tobacco industry all seem to have some detail of red in their branding. It’s about fire. Unless you’re a Camel Man. Then it’s a burnt beige, to brown, which does make me wonder who the hell would want to light up in the heat of the desert. Addicts obviously.

So I turn to artificial intelligence to find out what the real difference is between a Camel Man and a Marlboro Man.  The difference lies in their targeting and archetype: the Marlboro Man was a rugged, stoic human cowboy representing freedom and independence, while Joe Camel was a cartoon animal representing cool and reckless hedonism.

I must say I had to look up Joe Camel — he rang a bell somewhere in my youthful consciousness. He was a 1970s, hip and happening, smoking camel. 

Otherwise, I’m a sucker for fresh air. Literally.