Thread: New article: Photographing razors

I am pretty new myself but I think repeat questions are a good thing because they are never the same. The trouble I had when I started was a single minded approach. I thought there were exact steps to shaving, stropping, honing etc but I now realize there aren't. There are general guidelines to everything and in those each straight razor user finds their own preferences and styles.
When a newbie asks a question it is never answered the same as the last time. If they take the time to read through all the threads they can pick up multiple methods and find the ones thats best for them.
So everytime they ask its a new opportunity for users to share their newest experiences with straight razor shaving rather than having it being posted once or written by one user in a wiki.
Another thing is that being new is EXTREMELY unnerving and frustrating. Besides the basic fear of cutting your face cut up, I feel as though new users are intimidated by the sheer volume and combinations of razors, hones, stropping etc. One generic article cannot possibly address every single permutation of equipment combination. As a newbie its really comforting to know that I am getting expert advice on my particular setup. Even when there is another thread dedicated to the Little Devil hone, I am freaking out because this hone is so rare, I want to be sure I'm not going to be destroying it or ruining my razor.

I'm not trying to tell you guys what to do. That's just my 2 cents. Take what you want and thanks for allowing me to share.

Thank you very much for your reply. I feel that we are not getting enough response from (former) new users who share their experience. This is why I am taking the liberty of re-arranging your post, because I think that your last comment warrants a response first:

Originally Posted by canyon289

I'm not trying to tell you guys what to do. That's just my 2 cents. Take what you want and thanks for allowing me to share.

The basic idea of SRP (somebody correct me if I am wrong) is to share experiences, and learn from each other. Another is that there is no "telling someone to what to do", because - at least as far as the Wiki is concerned - there is no "one way to do things". Every input, and every feedback is appreciated.

That said, some comments on the rest of your post:

Originally Posted by canyon289

I am pretty new myself but I think repeat questions are a good thing because they are never the same. The trouble I had when I started was a single minded approach. I thought there were exact steps to shaving, stropping, honing etc but I now realize there aren't. There are general guidelines to everything and in those each straight razor user finds their own preferences and styles.

While I concur with your view in general, I still believe that a basic set of questions - in this case, those by Joe Newuser - should be covered by a single document. The idea behind this document being to guide JN in the right direction. You speak of frustration below. Having found another well known forum before SRP, I think I can fully empathise. Nonetheless, I still maintain that SRP is lacking such a document. And I equally maintain that the most sensible approach to creating such a document is via the Wiki. Why? Read on...

Originally Posted by canyon289

When a newbie asks a question it is never answered the same as the last time. If they take the time to read through all the threads they can pick up multiple methods and find the ones thats best for them.
So everytime they ask its a new opportunity for users to share their newest experiences with straight razor shaving rather than having it being posted once or written by one user in a wiki.

You say "threads". That is obviously a reference to the forum. I have voiced my concerns about forums and sharing of knowledge previously. Once more: I believe that forums are the wrong way to share information. Forums are a medium geared towards discussion, and that they do well. In order for that information to become pertinent, it needs to be converted to another medium. In the case of SRP, the Wiki.

As far as "written by one user in a wiki" is concerned, nothing could be farther from the truth. Admittedly, SRP's Wiki is a rather bad example, because we are not very good at revising Wiki posts quite yet, but the general idea is that articles are reviewed and amended by the community. Take this article for example: Revision history of "What Every Beginner Should Know" - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by canyon289

Another thing is that being new is EXTREMELY unnerving and frustrating. Besides the basic fear of cutting your face cut up, I feel as though new users are intimidated by the sheer volume and combinations of razors, hones, stropping etc. One generic article cannot possibly address every single permutation of equipment combination. As a newbie its really comforting to know that I am getting expert advice on my particular setup. Even when there is another thread dedicated to the Little Devil hone, I am freaking out because this hone is so rare, I want to be sure I'm not going to be destroying it or ruining my razor.

And that is how it should be. However, I think that one article should be able to bind them all. Its aim being to answer the basic questions and enable them to ask smart questions.

Sounds very Germanic? Obviously. Reason? Just trying to ease others's way into straight shaving. Mine was not easy, believe you me. It could have been, though...