Thread: PIF

Straight Razor Place being the first wetshaving forum on the internet started a tradition that has been adopted by all the other forums and I can honestly say that this is one of our finest accomplishments.

It would be nice to keep that tradition alive and let the folks here know what you have done to help with this tradition or let us know if you have been the recipient.

There is no PIF too small or too large. Soaps, razors, honing, hones, and any way you have helped someone else become successful in this art. It is truly the foundation of SRP and part of our heritage.

Thanks.

Please excuse my complete ignorance.

What does PIF stand for?

Pay it forward.

Examples: Someone gave you a razor because you couldn't afford one. When you could afford to buy a better one, you gave the old one to someone else who couldn't afford one. Same with a strop. Giving a new person a nice soap to use because you have tons of them hanging around that you may never use.

Have fun.

Mr. Abrams:
This is a wonderful idea! Be certain that I will take it to heart.

Absolutely!!! The PIFs are a little more visible on some other forums, but it is alive and well here!!!!! One of the most attractive aspects of these forums is the gentlemanly conduct, well wishing, sharing of info, and helping others out. I have received some feedback from our very own Undream and spent time in his workshop (I need to make it over there again),GSSIXGUN gifted me a "damascus acrylic" razor for my little guy. I have sent out soap samples for people wanting to try out smells. The PIF is a great way to give back to the community.

I think that what makes the hobby of wet shaving so enjoyable is the sharing of it with others. I pick up DE razors all the time and gift them to friends and family. The straights I pick up seem not to want to leave my house though.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Pay it forward.

Examples: Someone gave you a razor because you couldn't afford one. When you could afford to buy a better one, you gave the old one to someone else who couldn't afford one. Same with a strop. Giving a new person a nice soap to use because you have tons of them hanging around that you may never use.

Have fun.

Yes, I get it....

I've done a little bit of that so far, but not enough.

I've had such kindness and generosity shown to me by this community and You are absolutely right, we all need to pay it forward. I've ended up giving away soap that was not my favorite, lending out a razor to a buddy that wanted to try this wonderful hobby and trying to be helpful at my local meet ups....I have not yet been SR shaving for a year, so I can't give a lot of advice and I don't have a lot to share, but I do have I'm happy to share.

The good will a PIF creates is priceless. Another help has been having guys over that want to look into wet shaving. They get one on one instruction/demonstration, get to try gear without having to spend anything, get to compare one kind of gear vs another. It seems obvious now, but it was a thread posted by a new shaver that got help from Joed if I recall correctly that turned the light on for me. The member wrote of how helpful it was. Then, having bought alot of razors, I thought it was too costly for those on a budget to have to buy everything to try it. So one friend came over, then another member, then another. It may be their only experience of a straight shave. The generation that had the chance to experience it as a treat by a barber is passing. Most states regulate it out of existence. We can provide an experience that has become hard to find.

PIF razors:
I have sent out quite a few over the years, but what I love most, is the fact that easily 75% of them came to me from members, that had no use for them any longer... They usually say "Glen I don't have the time/experience to fix this up for somebody, but please if you can, PIF this to anyone you think deserves it" I always try to mention that the razor was PIF'd from another person, but for the times that I forget, a huge Thank You to the members that have helped out !!!!!

This generosity, and willingness to share from our members here, is what I think I love the best about this Gentleman's Club we call SRP

I have PIFed my first (so it was nicked slightly) SRD latigo strop to a buddy of mine at work who needed some coaxing to start straight razor shaving (he was a devout DE user before my PIF). And, if it wasn't for GSSixGun's / Glen's unbelievable day of honing lessons this spring, I wouldn't be quite so immersed into this hobby as I am now. SRAD turned to HAD briefly. Honing my own razors as well as some friend's razors really took this sport of shaving to the next level for me, and for that I am indebted to Glen and his willingness to share his time and vast knowledge of razors.

And as for SRP, I have never known an internet community that could be all at once so cool, generous, and gentlemanly.