Thread: Putting things into perspective, or why some reviews make me sad

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Sometimes I just want to tell the world that MWF IS THE BEST!!!!1!!

Robin obviously left out the part where he asked reviewers not to lie.

So by the logic of the initial post how many hundreds of soaps; how many hundreds of creams; how many hundreds of witch hazels must I try before I am 'worthy' to rate any one of them?

I understand the logic of having a set of things one has used in order to have some basis for comparison. Of course this makes sense.

however, I would argue that there is something to be said for people who have had success when just starting off, even with limited materials. When I first found this website last year I knew very little, as I'm sure most of you did at your own outsets.

If someone had begun shaving recently I believe in retrospect that I valued their opinions as much, if not more than those whom I took to be experts. For example, if someone was inexperienced but had success with a certain soap or cream (preferably on the cheap) I remembered that. For many of us, the heightened spending on this hobby did not begin initially but developed over time. If someone had just taken up straight shaving 2 months before me, and they recommended cream x, then, by God, I ought to be able to shave with cream x too. If their lathermaking tactics were unpolished (like mine were) and they had success then I felt good in making a more informed purchase on a cream over the internet.

If the problem is so bothersome, why not consider making a separate review section for newcomers? It is likely that people are going to try to rate things whether you want them to or not.

For many people this hobby is entirely new. It is also an extremely difficult one to break into. The amount of things a newcomer can get wrong is astounding. As a result, when something finally works for them they naturally want to brag about it! And since in most cases their friends and family have already gotten sick of them talking about it, they come to SRP.

A quick look at the mission statement of SRP: SRP rules of conduct - Straight Razor Place Wiki
indicates that the founders of this site observe the belief that "straight razor shaving and all of its aspects are fun and enjoyable and that everyone should enjoy this lost art." Everyone includes the newcomers; let them participate. Part of the reason why this site is fun is that it inspires people to take up this hobby. The line of thinking in the initial post has a chilling effect on new members and is not in keeping with the mission.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

How many members won't start a thread?

How many members really never post anything at all?

How many just don't like to write anything at all for a variety of reasons?

Guilty!

People are different in many ways.
Someone will like smell of tabac next person won't.
some people will love to use Japanese stone next one likes dmt's.
Some people loves hard strop's some don't.
Some people loves to use 8/8 blade others 5/8.
Should we say them don't use TABAC, dmt's,hard strops or 8/8 blades?
I don't think we Should put words people's mind and let them talk.
SRP has been great place to be because it allowed people say what they think. If we make censorship i don't think SRP or any other forum will exist longer. (could be but will be bored place to be)
New or Old straight user's will make mistakes always doesn't matter what we do. We are Humans not machines .
Reviews Belong to one person's personal opinion. You may like it next person won't.
Hope this will help. gl

I thought that Col Conk was the best soap ever created until I tried better....

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I thought that Col Conk was the best soap ever created until I tried better....

You mean it's not ????

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

People are different in many ways.

If they were not, there would be no need for reviews.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Someone will like smell of tabac next person won't.

Scent does not, as stated previously, get a rating.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

some people will love to use Japanese stone next one likes dmt's.

Emotions to not get a rating, either, for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

If we make censorship i don't think SRP or any other forum will exist longer. (could be but will be bored place to be)

This is in fact an attempt at proof by claim. You are the first person in this thread to introduce the concept of censorship. I wonder why.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Hope this will help. gl

Not quite. I think you slightly missed the point. The point being to provide more accurate, relevant, and informative reviews.

A review is a single data point.

What bothers me about a lot of reviews, particularly those on razors, is the proclivity of the reviewer to draw a broader inference than is warranted from using a single razor of a particular type and manufacturer.

Just because your particular razor rocks the planet of the straights does not necessarily mean that others of the same type will also do the same. And even if the others do perform similarly, you are certainly in no position to know that from a single sample of size one.

But more to the point, the onus should be on the reader of a review to make up their own mind. Weigh the evidence, read critically, assess the source of the information, and act accordingly.

Treat a review as if it were data. Both the reviewers and the readers would benefit if they did this, I think.

James.

Not quite. I think you slightly missed the point. The point being to provide more accurate, relevant, and informative reviews.

What are you trying to achieve?
Do you want to make example
People
x.y.f.t can review the soaps and b.d.f. h cannot because they don't have enough experience?
what makes you experienced person on telling your opinion about soaps(i brought you example?)
your membership on srp?
your experience using that particular soap?
how someone knows you have used 100 different soaps?
You may be used all your life tabac and love tabac and others don't like it ?
You can use 100 different soaps but you don't have a good Scent ?
or your quality of choosing soap is not good enough for others?
Some person can use soap for a months and have a lot better idea and more helpful then person used for years.
Depends on Person.
Just let the people say their own opinion. that is all.
I brought censorship because i understand you are trying to put words to peoples mouth.

Originally Posted by Bayamontate

I posted a review on a Joseph Fenton & Sons I just got and really like before reading this thread. I removed my review while declaring myself unworthy after 29 years of straight razor use. I don't think I fit the criterian set forth for posting a review so I bowed out gracefully. Like some, I like putting things in prospective as well.

..you did put things into perspective! Please post again your review Sir.

What i've understand about this thread, is not an "attack" to newbies in SRP or saying that "i'm better than you are..", or just "because i'm the older one in this school yard.."..NO! This "yard" its for fun and relaxation, for all of us, and free and open for who wants to enter and "play"! But everything, to work well and to be clarifying to anyone, included the members that doesn't understand well english and newbies, needs to be well organized. I understand the "frustration" to see so much work put in the review section, in creating a rating, allowing a reviewer to put down in numbers, what sometimes, can't be put into words, and the vice versa, not being used / used currectly. If someone don't understand well english, will look at these rating numbers to have a clue about the product!
If someone its so excited about a razor / another product and don't have experience / enought knowledge about the subject (very diferen't from being a newbie in SRP!), can place it in other forums. I think that making a review, be the author of a review, it's a huge responsibility! Don't need to do it with "expensive" words or writing as if you were writing a book for the Nobel Prize of Literature! Just need to show knowledge in the subject your reviewing about, and have fun when doing it!
It's like dating! 1st month you are in heaven! 1st year you are seeing that maybe its a "keeper"! After 3rd year maybe marriage! - You have the basics to do a review now! - After 2 to 5 years of it, you may have a clue of what expect for the rest of your life.... You have know knowledge and enought experience to make a good review about the subject !
"Just my 2 cents".

Regards, Filipe