Thread: Maybe a Good Use for Gold Dollars?

I'm not hitting you with a 'real man' argument. In one post you were talking about teaching a young boy to shave, then in another you were talking about adult males (presumably) learning by themselves. If I said male or man I simply meant male or men.

And I'm not sure why you keep comparing learning to shave with learning to fire a gun. I don't know because I've only ever fired a few shots from a handgun, but your analogy again strikes me as flawed, the breadknife being akin to a plastic firearm attached to a 'shoot-em' game in an arcade.

My only real objection to your suggestion is about the 'Gold Dollar' razor, and I understand that you were using the name as a generic representative of poor quality razors. Others have said they are inconsistent, and I would take their word, but the one I have is outstanding, especially since it only cost $20.

Lawson, I'm sorry if something I've written has caused you some offense - none was meant; nor am I telling you or others how they should learn to shave. The only advice I would give is to enjoy the experience of learning.

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I'm talking about adult men, and good men, whom I know well, whose manhood and maturity are not in question.

What's the problem with having a few dry-runs before going to the sharpened edge?

I really see no connection between DE skills and straight skills. Totally different tools and techniques involved.

I'm still puzzled over your objection to taking a discarded, virtually worthless razor and spending a few minutes creating something that lets someone take a few minutes to practise.

When I teach shooting, we begin with "dry fire" practice and then "snap cap" practice so they learn physically the feel of the hammer, the trigger, the loading and unloading routine. Then when we go to live ammunition, they have the basic hand-eye stuff together and can concentrate on putting that 250 grain .45 Long Colt bullet right on the target.

What precisely do you find wrong with that? Why do you disapprove? Give me one logical, empirical reason why that would hinder a person from getting a good start in straight-shaving, at any age?

And don't hit me with the bogus "real man" type arguments.

You've confused analogies and experiences. Some of us have talked about younger people, but I started talking about colleagues and friends who just don't want to walk around with cuts on their faces. I thank anyone of any age would find it more enjoyable and effective to learn by starting with something that doesn't actually cut--even if jus for a few minutes to get accustomed.

I use the shooting analogy because it illustrates well the value of practicing with something that allows one to learn the physical actions before moving to something that can cause injuries. I also use that analogy because I have taught so many people to shoot and found that useful. I don't mean a plastic gun like an arcade piece, but a gun molded in the same shape and weight as the one it represents, created specifically to allow basic practice.

I'm not offended--I don't easily get offended. I am puzzled at why you seem so strict and intolerant of an effort involving minimal expense or effort to make it easier for folks to start straight shaving. That resistance, to me, sounds like the "you have to suffer because I had to suffer" argument. I was just pushing back a little.

Sorry for putting the Gold Dollar name in there--I became a red herring for others too. I should have just commented how so many of us do have a "real" razor that we regard as hopeless, and this might be a good use for it.

I think we understand each other now. Thanks for your input and experience!

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I'm not hitting you with a 'real man' argument. In one post you were talking about teaching a young boy to shave, then in another you were talking about adult males (presumably) learning by themselves. If I said male or man I simply meant male or men.

And I'm not sure why you keep comparing learning to shave with learning to fire a gun. I don't know because I've only ever fired a few shots from a handgun, but your analogy again strikes me as flawed, the breadknife being akin to a plastic firearm attached to a 'shoot-em' game in an arcade.

My only real objection to your suggestion is about the 'Gold Dollar' razor, and I understand that you were using the name as a generic representative of poor quality razors. Others have said they are inconsistent, and I would take their word, but the one I have is outstanding, especially since it only cost $20.

Lawson, I'm sorry if something I've written has caused you some offense - none was meant; nor am I telling you or others how they should learn to shave. The only advice I would give is to enjoy the experience of learning.

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I am puzzled at why you seem so strict and intolerant of an effort involving minimal expense or effort to make it easier for folks to start straight shaving. That resistance, to me, sounds like the "you have to suffer because I had to suffer" argument. I was just pushing back a little.

I think we understand each other now. Thanks for your input and experience!

Yes, glad it's all sorted out.

However, really, I'm not trying to be strict and intolerant. I enjoyed every minute of my early straight razor experiences which is why I recommend jumping right in. The only thing painful is waiting for the next shave.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Yes, glad it's all sorted out.

However, really, I'm not trying to be strict and intolerant. I enjoyed every minute of my early straight razor experiences which is why I recommend jumping right in. The only thing painful is waiting for the next shave.

Likely we both have been "hearing" each other via the medium of text as being a bit more sharp than we intended.

My experience involved some pretty bad cuts early on, so I am eager to save others that experience.

I definitely agree on being eager for the next shave. It's one more reason among many to bound out of bed in the morning. I used to hate shaving, now it's among the most pleasant moments of my day.

All the very best to you sir, and happy shaving, fellow ATG advocate!

kinda pointless isnt? Its all about the feedback given by the razor. I use gold dollars for a butter knife.

I have honed up and have in my rotation a gd, and just got another, so i would not wreck it this way, though loads on the bay need wrecking.

Not sure what you mean. We're talking about whether it is helpful to have a non-cutting razor to learn some basic razor handling, not about ...

...I give up!

Originally Posted by BARNFARKLE

kinda pointless isnt? Its all about the feedback given by the razor. I use gold dollars for a butter knife.

LawsonStone, thank you for your tip: I'm considering switching to a straight and I'll no doubt follow your advice. I agree that half the learning curve is being comfortable with the weight and balance of the razor. Time to order a cheapo!

Originally Posted by egarrulo

LawsonStone, thank you for your tip: I'm considering switching to a straight and I'll no doubt follow your advice. I agree that half the learning curve is being comfortable with the weight and balance of the razor. Time to order a cheapo!

I'd say that's a good use if you already have the razor, but if you're trying to learn about the weight and balance my personal opinion would be to use a butter knife, or just get a regular razor and learn by experience. It's worked for hundreds of years.

Originally Posted by commiecat

I'd say that's a good use if you already have the razor, but if you're trying to learn about the weight and balance my personal opinion would be to use a butter knife, or just get a regular razor and learn by experience. It's worked for hundreds of years.

The difference today is that for hundreds of years boys learned to shave directly by watching their dads or granddads or older brothers, then were taught themselves. It was a different experience. Today we have no such face-to-face help, so we need things like…internet discussion groups! Little boys also often had toy razors they played with, using soap, and so by the time they put an edge to their face, they'd seen more shaving than most of us will actually do in many years, plus they'd played with it, thought about it, maybe even tried it on their own.

Sad to say, we're in a different era!