Thread: Hobby or Sport?

Two words to encompass straight razor shaving, all of it. And in my brief time in this field I know I have scratched the surface, so to speak. But neither of these two words seem to apply. Hobby brings to mind, model trains, mustache cup collecting, quilting, etc., so in effect the word hobby doesn't communicate the dangerous aspect of shaving with an open blade the way real men have done for hundreds of years.
Sport makes it sound like we have shaving contests, maybe leagues, contracts, superstars (well, there are some of those, in fact I've got one as a friend).
So wondering if anyone else finds these two words deficient.
Me, I prefer ritual. And like some guy keeps saying....it is fun so maybe ritual is too Medieval, but hobby or sport?

After discovering SRP, it has become, "A Necessary Pleasure."

I think it's a little bit of all of those hobby sport ritual and necessity. I don't care what its called though it's fun!

My answer is; Yes

Honing old eBay razors: SPORT
Collecting, discussions, learning..: HOBBY
My morning shave: RITUAL

I would pick 'hobby' over a sport as 'sport' implies that it's a competitive, physical activity...which it isn't, really. For those of us that have been sucked into maintenance, restoration and general collecting of shaving, uh...paraphernalia, then I think 'hobby' is a reasonable term to use.

Perhaps it's simply an 'interest'. Cooking comes to mind as something to compare it with. You might be interested in that and you could make a hobby out of cooking if you, like...collected pans and regularly cooked for fun but I don't think I'd ever describe cooking as a sport.

I think that it also depends on perspective because I doubt that those of us who only own a single razor and simply wish to save money, with no interest in collecting or maintenance would consider it as a hobby, either.

To some it's probably just a skill and a means to an end.

I think it is in the eye of the beholder and their approach to it. This can change over time as well. In the beginning it was another way to perform a necessary function. Then it began to be a hobby. and in terms of honing a sport in a sense. Competing with myself in that aspect. The main thing is, call it what you want, the 'necessary function' I began with has become an enjoyable and fun part of my life.

If I thought of it as a sport, I would probably approach it more aggressively than I should. Then it would turn into a blood sport.

When I am on the classifieds here, on eBay, or ogling a vendors wares - it's a hobby.

When I am shaving - it's a sport.

When my wife looks at me and glares... I note it's really an obsession .