First off, I am new to the cigar world, and no-one is holding a gun to my head. Quit being a humaniterian, hippie, tree hugger, who thinks he/she is more qualified to tell me, or any other person that cigars are bad. If you don't like cigars then move on with your life, or simply get up and walk away. Most people I know are polite as to where and when to light up anyways. Here is an example for the newbie cigar smoker.
Before lighting that cigar, we should have a little talk about what you're getting into here. Cigar smoking can be a very enjoyable activity, however some forethought must go into the process. Cigars, like any natural tobacco product, contain nicotine. For the vast majority of cigar smokers the nicotine is not the sole attraction. However it is there and if not managed properly can cause unpleasant effects, especially in the new cigar smoker.
Smoking a cigar is best done after a reasonable sized meal that is "sitting well" with you. Never smoke a cigar on an empty stomach unless you know what you're doing and are familiar with the cigar in question. Beverages such as port, brandy, scotch, bourbon, strong ale, espresso and Dr. Pepper are good accompaniment for a cigar, however they are no substitute for a comfortably full stomach.
Some people salivate when they smoke cigars. If you find yourself salivating, by all means try to spit most of it out as opposed to swallowing it. I believe one reason the full stomach helps is that the food in it soaks up the saliva which you do end-up swallowing. This spreads the absorption out over a longer duration thus helping to avoid the problems noted below.
A note on puffing a cigar: Do not use your lungs! Lungs are meant for breathing air, not concentrated cigar smoke. The use of your cheeks, jaw, tongue, palate, etc. is mandatory. Failure to puff properly may result in coughing, dizziness, nausea and a bad cigar experiance.
