"Soon, I was lurking on BBQ forums searching for answers. What did I do wrong? How can I keep the fire burning properly? Is it something wrong with ME, as a man? How do you check a meat thermometer when you’re not supposed to open the grill even under threat of torture? Would buying one of those smart thermometers (it sends temp alerts to your phone!) help, or is that cheating? When do I wrap my shit in foil? Is THAT cheating? Will I die alone? The stall. How do I survive the dreaded stall? Even now, I can sense other smoker men reading this and judging me for my faults. “Yep, see now the reason you fucked up there was because you didn’t use a brine!”"