Thread: I’m irritated and annoyed! But also grateful.

There are some things I feel we, or I at least, need to acknowledge.

Perhaps we as a group of dedicated straight razor users should have seen this coming. Just as the more senior fly fishers (of which I am one) were distraught and annoyed by the Yuppies invading fly fishing after the movie “A River Runs Through It”, we straight “Old Bulls” complain about the new guys driving up prices on Filarmonica, Puma, Wade & Butcher choppers, and damn near everything else. I recently read a post that denigrated opinions from members who may have joined a shaving forum after 2009!

Gentleman, we should rejoice that new converts to the straight blade come to us every day.

That said, I am the first to confess impatience. At times I wish to grab these insolent interlopers by the neck and cry “Just shut up with the questions and do as we say;” But, alas, they are intelligent and rightfully question and challenge us, albeit
sometimes with disrespect And in all that is Holy why should they not? Even though we are the keeper of the way, few are experienced enough to qualify as a true guide through this maze. In retrospect their questions and challenges seem proper (but not the disrespect), concerning the way that leads to deeper understanding. So who among us is orthodox? So what if I’m irritated and annoyed! But also grateful.

Orthodox there is? Is the Zen of Shaving with a straight blade orthodox? I think not. We of the straight blade are to be counted among the true individualists (and conservationists) of the 21st Century!

Please, let us welcome these new converts to what a good friend once described as “The One True Way.”

Let us have patience with the new traveler within our community, for it is our community and it is growing, no matter if we like it or not. We are becoming more a society than a community.

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft,. Ferdinand Tönnies.

A little scotch clears the mind apparently!

While I respect your opinion, if the first line is an obstacle that deluts the message I shall delete it.

Originally Posted by Hawkeye5

While I respect your opinion, if the first line is an obstacle that deluts the message I shall delete it.

Not in the least and don't you dare delete it.

Oh hell, too late

Yep. Ya got to be faster!!!

I personally think this concept is important and I really didn't want the first line, that I had been sipping some excellent Scotch Whisky, to destroy the whole thread. No harm, no foul. I appriciate the heads up.

Great post!

As one of the newer members here, I'm sure I've asked my share of dumb questions, and probably stepped on a few toes at one time or another. I appreciate all the help I've gotten from the more experienced folks here.

Thanks!

Three reasons to be thankful you get "irritated and annoyed" Hawkeye,

1. There are new members everyday and the forum is growing.

2. These new members think enough of us to seek out our opinions.

3. You have enough experience to give the new members good advice.

This is a great forum but as with any forum, without new members it would die. So be thankful that you get "irritated and annoyed", it's a good problem to have.

I really do appreciate the learning and wealth of knowledge shared here...especially from the cranky old farts - of which I hope to be in the future!

Originally Posted by SRC

This is a great forum but as with any forum, without new members it would die. So be thankful that you get "irritated and annoyed", it's a good problem to have.

I beg to differ. While everything that has been said so far sounds nice and dandy while you are on the reveiving end, it poses a challenge for the senior members. SRP has always been providing the most accurate, state of the art information. None of the self proclaimed competitors are anywhere near our collective level of experience and expertise. None have been able to provide anything even remotely resembling our Workshop area, or the Wiki with its razor database.

However, this has been taking a lot of drive and countless hours of work. Energy and time that could have gone into active forum participation. Personally, I opted for Wiki work after a glance at the site statistics. SRP is growing. And I feel it would be wrong to add random users as mentors or moderators, ie we hire for attitude *and* skills.

So, how many beginners can a forum take? I have been running and moderating internet communities (mailing lists, newsgroups, IRC channels, and web forums) since the 80s. And I have seen some die because there were more beginners than the senior members could handle.

Which is where courtesy comes into play. Call me old fashioned, but I consider it rude to enter a forum without having perused the FAQ. Ours is the best in class, and it answers most questions a beginner can have.

Ie I am all for intelligent discussion. The stress being on intelligent.

Regards,
Robin