Reflections on our hobby

[Sarfa]

I'm bored and been looking at/thinking about razors all day on B&B and the Bay, so thought I'd post some random thoughts I've had.

There truly is something about our hobby that lends itself to Razor Acquisition Disorder. I mean, here I am, only one month into shaving with a DE ('67 Flare Tip SS, if you want to know) and I'm already thinking about better, older, shinier, golden-er, more aggressive. I've even been drooling over straight razors lately, and I don't know the first thing about shaving with a straight! I haven't finished my blade trial pack, yet I already "know" that I need a more aggressive razor than the SS. The only thing that has kept me from spending hundreds of dollars already is the hassle of having to have everything shipped to Japan...that, and the thought of my wife kicking my butt.

So what it is about this hobby that seems to inevitably lead to RAD? Do the blades and hardware appeal to our masculinity, balancing the softer side of this hobby, such as rose and lavender creams? Are we all trying, in some small way, to be like our fathers? Are men just naturally drawn to shiny objects? Or is it truly a quest for the perfect shave?

Honestly, I don't know what my feelings are. Certainly I enjoy having a BBS face, but that shouldn't necessarily mean that I need to run out and buy all the razors I can get my hands on -- and yet I want to!! Why?? Usually I am a very logical person, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around this one.

If anyone has any thoughts or insights they would like to share, I'm all ears!

-Sarfa

 

[Andy]

You are not alone, every time I go past an antique shop while at work I have an overwhelming urge to pull over and go in and look around (I work in public transport).
I sometimes find myself day dreaming about razors and new soaps/creams, and when talking to people occasionally think "yep, he shaves with a cartridge"
I say don't fight it, it is bigger than all of us

 

[Sodapopjones]

RAD has subsided from me, especially when I finally figured out I could get a great shave out of any combo except for DG blades.

SBAD however has now hit me instead, especially one of a kind unique brushes others can't buy

 

[Sarfa]

RAD has subsided from me, especially when I finally figured out I could get a great shave out of any combo except for DG blades.

SBAD however has now hit me instead, especially one of a kind unique brushes others can't buy

Although my post focused on RAD, the same rules and questions apply to any of the ADs -- brushes, soaps, creams, DEs, straights, whatever! Pick your poison!

-Sarfa

 

[Sodapopjones]

Although my post focused on RAD, the same rules and questions apply to any of the ADs -- brushes, soaps, creams, DEs, straights, whatever! Pick your poison!

-Sarfa

Like I said, RAD has subsided for me thank god too

 

[valmara1971]

Men like to collect things that's a fact. SWMBO has accepted that fact SWMBO is not happy about it but that's life. Opps SWMBO has just read this as I type now I'm going to pay! I'm sure the AD's will subside over time they must otherwise we would all need to buy bigger houses to accomidate our hobby!

 

[raisindot]

I'm bored and been looking at/thinking about razors all day on B&B and the Bay, so thought I'd post some random thoughts I've had.
Sarfa

I think that's what it boils down to...boredom. I would guess that most people are extremely bored at work (or working at home, or in the unemployment line), and that sends them to places like B&B, and all this reading encourages RAD, SAD, BAD, etc.

I don't think it's specific to shaving, although the amount of time and money we spend for a hobby that takes, at best, 30 minutes a day is amazing.

Generally, "*AD" is a particular guy thing. On just about any hobby site, whether it's shaving, guitars, radios, baseball cards, beer bottles, liquors, coffee, cigars, guns, knives, watches or whatever you'll get the same variation of *AD. I think it's a genetic thing encoded in the male psyche, going back to the caveman days when the man's role was to go out and "bring things home." Only today instead of bringing home fat, wooly mammoths we bring home Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap.

Jeff in Boston

 

[DougK]

I might be a member of a minority here in that I don't view shaving as a hobby but rather as something that I have to do almost every day. I want to be able to get a good, close, consistent shave but I don't want to spend a ton of money in pursuit of that goal. I'm probably lucky because the commonly available and inexpensive products such as VdH soaps and brushes, Personna blades, and Bigelow/Proraso and KMF creams that I've tried all work well for me unless I mess up with my technique. I've pretty much got a good daily routine at this point, so why mess with it?

It is entertaining to read about the other options that are available, though. I'd like to try a straight razor and a high-end badger brush at some point, but my shaves won't suffer if I never go that route.

My wife also likes to surprise me with little samples of cream or soap from time to time, but since I didn't spend the money, those don't count.

 

[bythbook]

I think it's pretty simple:

the large portions of our brains that were once focused on finding, pursuing, bringing home food (Protein Acquisition Disorder - PAD; or Calorie Acquisition Disorder - CAD, obviously) are still present, but generally disengaged. When we find something or some pursuit that engages those under used parts of our essential selves, we - focus.

We - pursue.

We - acquire.


It only appears to be a disorder because we don't need the product.

Sports, war, sex, stamps, razors, guns, toys of all descriptions can - and do - substitute for prey/sustenance.

see? we can't help it.


.

 

[strat1117]

I think it's pretty simple:

the large portions of our brains that were once focused on finding, pursuing, bringing home food (Protein Acquisition Disorder - PAD; or Calorie Acquisition Disorder - CAD, obviously) are still present, but generally disengaged. When we find something or some pursuit that engages those under used parts of our essential selves, we - focus.

We - pursue.

We - acquire.


It only appears to be a disorder because we don't need the product.

Sports, war, sex, stamps, razors, guns, toys of all descriptions can - and do - substitute for prey/sustenance.

see? we can't help it.


.

I like the way you think, young man.

 

[bythbook]

I like the way you think, young man.

hahaha

& I forgot to include my motto: more... MORE... MORE... MORE!

 

[dpmtherrien]

I do believe that I've got my RAD licked, as of right now I've found my go to razors and the thought of another one does not even cross my mind. It wasn't that way when I first started wet shaving though. I must have bought well over a dozen razors. I did find what worked for me, and the ones I just plain liked and enjoyed. I got rid of what I didn't have any use for on the B/S/T, and now I am very happy with what I've kept.

Now shaving brushes, that's another thing. Thought I had that under control too. After well over 6 months with the brushes I use, I just bought a Savile Row. Oh well, I didn't have a Savile Row so I guess I'm O.K. I hope.

 

[JPM]

I too have been bitten by the bug. At least I can tell SWMBO it's cheaper than my other obsession. I'm an avid griller/smoker. When I bought my sixth piece of equipment for $3,000, SWMBO was ready to give me the Fried Green Tomatoes treatment. (Human barbecue.)

Now I can tell her each new piece of equipment is only $40 or $50. Should keep her at bay for awhile.

 

[Dennis]

I think it is the search for an unknown razor/soap/aftershave/whatever that is better than what you used to date. You have only shaved with this razor or that soap, and you are curious if the thing you don't have is better or not. Until you shave with an open comb razor, you will never know. Or an Injector. Or a GEM. Or a tallow soap, etc....

 

[rod251]

I think it is the search for an unknown razor/soap/aftershave/whatever that is better than what you used to date. You have only shaved with this razor or that soap, and you are curious if the thing you don't have is better or not. Until you shave with an open comb razor, you will never know. Or an Injector. Or a GEM. Or a tallow soap, etc....

I agree 100% That's why in less than six weeks I have tried 3 razors, 4 soaps, 3 brushes, and 5 brands of blades!

 

[rod251]

Oops, I forgot, 5 brands of aftershave too!

 

[brianw]

I do not have any AD's(14 Razors), I do not have any AD's( 8 soaps, 9 creams),I do not have any AD's(10 aftershaves),I do not have any AD's (70 fountain Pens)........

I can quit at any time. Hello my name is Brian and I need a ten step program

 

[mkevenson]

RAD, cause they are small and relatively inexpensive. Now I was on a kick with antique tube radios, after several floor models and table tops. I ran out of space. I have seen some of our members collection of razors and they have to build large display cases. But for us mortals, most can fit in a nice holder in the shave den. Now where is my next razor, "come here razor", "where are you"

 

[andrew98]

These are some great suppositions about the origins of our various ADs. I agree with the cave man bringing home the bacon theory. Also, guys do indeed collect and hoard stuff for some genetically ingrained reason. It's possible the grass is greener on the other side of the fence (e.g., the untried soap that may be better than everything I already have).

Since I've discovered how great Techs are, I'm happy owning only a tech and a couple Superspeeds I'm attached to. I need to sell a couple Slims, Superspeeds, and a gold Injector (bakelite? handle). Since I began wet shaving I've been nuts about brushes, and I don't know if that will ever change. I am to the point that I only want to own one nice example from the makers I hold in high regard (Shavemac, Rooney, Kent). I really only want an '09 B&BLE, and I actually need to sell a few mid-grade brushes. Soaps are another weakness, but my 20 year supply has practically halted new soap purchases, with the exception of unusual deals like Provence Sante Green Tea. I couldn't pass that up.

This wealth of readily available information and abundance of enthusiastic enablers surely doesn't help quell the ADs. I don't know that mine have all subsided, but I feel more in control these days. Maybe there should be a "recovering addicts" forum for posts like this one.

-Andy

 

[Drubbing]

Yes, we like to buy toys, and razors and assorted tools start to resemble tools, but they're toys too. Men do like to acquire tools as a confirmation of masculinity, but we supplement all sorts of things for actual working tools.

Access at work and more of us working inside, coupled with the generally more introspective types that gravitate to niche interests, sees many us developing mini obsessions.

The vibe of some forums are partly to blame; some can actively promote ADs, others it's more passive just occurring through the access to specific information.

Another forum I drop into is a headphone one, and whilst it's as big as this one, is far more argumentative, letting subjectivity run free as 'expertise'. Audio is a minefield of opinion, and some products on the fringes are just flat out scams. All have differing levels of rabid devotion. Phones, Amps and DACs gets discussed to the point of exhaustion, and some people start to think they're missing out on something if they don't try lots of different things; small differences between products are magnified to night and day. Misinformation runs free. These also drive ADs.

This forum has avoided a lot of that misguided pressure, and the generally older demographic has a lot to do with that I think. The ADs here are more the result of wanting to tinker and improve, as well as the tools/toys needs fulfilment.