Thread: Im Still a Newbie

Hey Gents,

Sure has been awhile since I last posted.. I'm willing to bet everyone here would agree that this year has been a complete shit show lol. A few hours ago I found myself browsing through some really old post of mine, and kinda reminiscing about the beginnings of my Straight journey. It's been four freaking years now that I've been shaving with a straight, and about 3 years honing them. What was honestly the most profound thought I had to today was the fact how little I actually know for facts verses what I think I know. Over the years I have accumulated tons of razors, soaps, brushes, stones, strops, etc.. But even though I've had great triumphs and reached milestones. I am still humbled by how little I really know. Hope you gents are doing well, and I am grateful to be part of this amazing community!!!!

-Laramie-

I've been shaving, restoring and honing straight razors for 12 years and every time I start a restore or honing a razor I learn something new. At times when I apply what I've learned and it doesn't work I feel like a Newbie.......

Glad to see you back Laramie. Being a tradesman what I sometimes do and find that I look for in any other technician or anyone who supposedly knows something is the ability and confidence to say, "I don't know." What it shows to me is that they acknowledge how much they don't know. The true sign of an intermediate at any pursuit is the belief that they are.an expert or at least have a full grasp on it. It shows great maturity to admit what one doesn't know.

The way I see it, newbie is just a word for someone who is prepared to challenge themselves and learn new things. That's a good thing in my book. Gaining experience and expertise doesn't mean you should ever stop being a newb in spirit. Most of the most accomplished people I know consider themselves newbs.

I know this because I am an expert on newbs and know everything there is to know about newbiness.

James.

Glad to see the boys are still here lol.

I too still feel a little unsure now and then. I think its normal. Well, its normal for me.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I too still feel a little unsure now and then. I think its normal. Well, its normal for me.

I sure hope it is normal - it is my constant state of being. I've discovered (the hard way) that the day you are 100% certain of something is the day that fate/life/whatever walks up and smacks you around the head with a large haddock.

Hubris is the killer of personal growth IME.

James.

“Whenever I've had success, I never learn from it. Success usually breeds a degree of hubris. When you fail, that's when you learn.”

Moby

My conclusion, with respect to all things straight razor shaving-related, is that I must have learned an awful lot.

I don't really understand because i am brilliant at everything, then the alarm went off and I realized it was time to get up.

I still hope to learn how to hone razors myself, but I just figure that I will mess them up. I have five razors in rotation that keep me going, and another 70 or so that could make the trip to the Mecca of razor honing that is Akron Ohio. One day, I will take one of those junk razors and watch some videos on razor honing, and just jump into it, but who knows when that will be? I can say that I must be a wizard at stropping because my blades stay sharp for a good long time. (lifes little victories).