when you try to put out a fire...what do you pour on it? usually, water (if youre really unlucky, gasoline). its common sense that water makes paper slower.

and whats in your mouth? water (if youre unlucky...well i wont even go there).

just think about the answers to those two questions, if it doesnt come to you why people do this to a joint, then you should put the joint down!

by the way i know it as being called "baptising" it, and alot of the old tokers that i smoke with, the same guys who roll their joints as tubes with the ends twisted off and no filter, do this on every joint they smoke.

also if anyone watches kids in the hall, you may remember the sketch "hes hip, hes cool, hes 45" in which he pulls out a joint, baptising it and says to his son "hey, wanna split a doobie with your old man?"