Thread: ....how can there be this many questions about shaving?!!?

I question nothing and just go with the flow.

In my experience, because I know so little, I find it much easier to ask questions than it is to answer them. Seriously, I have been the recipient of some excellent straight razor advice on SRP. Taking up the straights and all of the accompanying activities, if someone is serious about it, naturally generates a ton of questions. This is the place to get answers from those who know what they are talking about.

Some similar comments from my wife...

• "The old-timers couldn't have spent so much time on shaving as you are." And,
• "The old-timers couldn't have had all the fancy equipment you mention as owned by SRP types."

Valid points! But, it misses the essence of the experience.

I suspect that the "regular old Joe" shaving with a straight in 1880 didn't know nearly as much about shaving as many of the SRP members now. (Not speaking about the professional barbers, but the do-it-yourself shaver on the farm.)

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

...the do-it-yourself shaver on the farm.)

I'll bet most adult male farmers in 1880 were bearded!

When each question has multiple valid answers you get more questions about the answers which of course leads to other questions, which when answered are all asked again the following week.

Kevint said...

"...other questions, which when answered are all asked again the following week."

Assuming (I think rightfully) that the questions are not being re-asked by the same people, the great number of questions sounds like growing up. When we are young, we ask tons of questions. As we grow up, we in turn help the younger less experienced set.

Personally, getting sappy, listening in on men being men, helping each other is very satisfying.

Right, but isn't it slightly more respectful of people's time and effort and willingness to help by spending some appreciable time in Advanced Search mode?

There is certainly nothing wrong with seeking advice. There is something wrong when the expectation is to have everything spoon fed upon demand. Or imagining that one's situation is so unique that the last "which hone" thread somehow didn't cover all the bases.

It has almost nothing to do with men being men when instant communication demands instant gratification; when the best answer to a question is another question: "Did you even try?"

Kevint, you are right, it is reasonable to expect prior research.

The original question was, "How can there be so many questions?" I just read the responses again, and I don't think anyone said the obvious... We ask so many questions because this IS complicated stuff, requiring knowledge and physical skill.

It takes skill to swing a bat... It takes skill to wield a straight!

You're right about searching archives before asking. Maybe when a new member makes his first post, one of the first responses might be to welcome the member and make a point of directing them to the extensive cache of all kinds of helpful information contained in the archives. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to provide a link to a wiki or an earlier post about the same question.

Also, I think sometimes it helps for a person to actually say, I've just checked the archives and didn't find anything, before asking the question.

Because when we started we knew nothing. After we started we found out there is a lot more to this hobby than anyone would have ever dreamed.
Speaking for myself I want to know everything I can find out!