Thread: Over-complication

Originally Posted by Alembic

Definately agree.

I have a friend that hunts with a compound bow that has every gadget, bell and whistle on it.

How about using an old English Long Bow?

I like to keep things simple. As basic as possible in fact. I rotate two razors (the second is only a recent addition), I've been converted to cold water shaves, my other kit is kept simple, and I much prefer the english (Welsh IMHO) long bow. I also own a compound, and in my hunting days, I shot barebow (no bells or whistles), while the rest would spend weeks at the range tweaking their wieghts, sights and what ever else they hung off the bow.


Mick

If shaving with a straight razor isn't simple, I don't know what is. With one sideways step, we've extricated ourselves from a reliance on massive corporations and their huge production processes, shipping, R&D., marketing costs...yada yada yada. If the shavepocolypse happened tomorrow, I could shave comfortably for the rest of my days. Total self-reliance is fundamentally a simple thing, isn't it?

Originally Posted by wdwrx

If shaving with a straight razor isn't simple, I don't know what is. With one sideways step, we've extricated ourselves from a reliance on massive corporations and their huge production processes, shipping, R&D., marketing costs...yada yada yada. If the shavepocolypse happened tomorrow, I could shave comfortably for the rest of my days. Total self-reliance is fundamentally a simple thing, isn't it?

Ok first of all I support PnG and those who chose to purchase from them because if it wasn't for their marketing dept I would have to live in the same town as my bear of a sister.

Ok all kidding aside. I appreciate the simplicity of str8 shaving, but I mostly like the time I take for myself now. I have a problem of wanting to try every aspect of any undertaking so I make it complicated then I reduce the complication as I fit into a groove. When I better understand what I want and what variations I will utilize most often then I will eliminate the clutter and focus as best I can on perfecting every stroke. I am not talking just a BBS shave, but a perfect stroke of the razor every time with precision, comfort and grace.

-G

Originally Posted by wdwrx

If shaving with a straight razor isn't simple, I don't know what is.

Hmmm. I think the point of the OP was the equipment was simple and low tech as opposed to the process being simple. If the process were simple, there would not be the high proliferation of "what the heck am I doing wrong" posts.

Have you ever tried to juggle balls or use one of those paddle, ball and rubber band thingies. Pretty damn tough for as simple as the equipment is.

I never said it was easy.... it's a small, uncomplicated task done with a simple, uncomplicated tool. But not necessarily easy to accomplish.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

I enjoy collecting cutthroats and shaving with them. I love the simplicity. I know that for many, it can be a very absorbing leisure interest.

Reading many of the posts and threads on the subject, I often wonder if some of us tend to over-analyse and unneccessarily complicate the very simple act of shaving. ie a very sharp blade, soap and water.

Does anyone else agree with the K.I.S.S. approach or am I a lone voice in the widerness?

You're trying to pigeon hole people with your post...

We are not all the same, nor is everyone here just to learn to use a straight razor...

There are quite a few different types of people in this sport...

The Shavers who you are talking about, are here to learn to shave.
The Hobbyists who want to learn every single aspect.
The Eclectics that love the history and lore of the blades.
The Environmentalists who love the fact that this is a clean and actually a recycled hobby
The Economists that realize that this is much, much, cheaper
The Sensitives who can't stand the feel of a multi-blade, or an electric
The Skin and Beard challenged that need a clean shave, but have skin or follicle problems that reacts to other ways of shaving badly...

The multitudes of others I am missing, and the combinations of the above...

Taking all those differences into account, sorta eliminates the KISS principle across the board,,, but each individual can have there own KISS shave system..

Three Olives in bottom of glass.....

Fill Glass with ice........

Pour vodka........

Drink.........

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I never said it was easy.... it's a small, uncomplicated task done with a simple, uncomplicated tool. But not necessarily easy to accomplish.

Ah - I misread "simple" as "easy". Thanks for the clarification.

I must admit when I started, thats exactly what I thought. "Razor, soap, strop, brush, water. How hard can it be?"

But then as I got more into it and realised there was more to the shave than the movies suggest, and starting honing, then started cleaning up the odd eBay razor with my Dremel I realised that I dont actually want it to be simple. I like it to be complex, because thats what makes it a fun hobby.

As Dylan says, if I wanted simple I'd just get a Mach 3 or something..!

Sure, you could get the basics: Two razors, strop, brush, soap and a barber hone and you'd get very good shaves for the rest of your life. Nothing wrong with that at all, if thats what you're looking for.

But I think a lot of us on this site like the debates about the micron size of newspaper ink and trying to work out how to set bevels on some eBay junker thats been horribly abused! Its what keeps it interesting, its a puzzle to solve and it makes this place a great place to hang out..!

Originally Posted by Lynn

Three Olives in bottom of glass.....

Fill Glass with ice........

Pour vodka........

Drink.........

Yeah, but doesnt that make the shaves more tricky...?