Most men, throughout young adulthood, are "one of the guys". There is certainly nothing wrong with this as it is one of the transitional stages that we travel through on the way to becoming a true man & gentleman. An appropriate question for a "guy", who by choice or circumstance, is standing on the threshold of gentlemanliness and wondering what to do next, would be: "What is a gentleman?"
In performing some light research into the subject, one finds the following descriptions:
As many/most of these descriptions in some way refer to behavior or virtue, it is also appropriate to search out the meaning of virtue as it relates to being a gentleman.
You are now, most likely, starting to wonder, "Just where are you going with this?" In explanation of this post: In my own life, I've spent the last decade navigating my own transition from guy to gentleman. While the transition is not complete, and arguably, the journey is a never ending one, I feel that, in at least a small way, wet shaving has advanced this transition/journey a few more steps in the right direction. How, you may ask? For starters, I believe there to be a lot of truth to the old adage about looking good being equated to feeling good and behaving good or well. I also believe a cleanly shaven, healthy face to be a sign of refinement which can add to one's capacity to "mingle on equal terms in good society". Finally, as a member of this board, I get to opportunity to guide others into doing something they need to do for their own good (just as some of our senior members once did for me).
Maybe there is some amount of factual goodness to the overall impression or mood that I have intended to communicate here, or maybe these statements are the senseless ramblings of someone with nothing more pressing to busy them on a Saturday morning. Either way, for me, wet shaving and the benefits thereof, have begun to mean much more to me than simply slicing the hair off of my face.
In performing some light research into the subject, one finds the following descriptions:
1. A well-mannered and considerate man with high standards of proper behavior.
2. A man who behaves properly.
3. A man of refinement.
4. A man with capacity to mingle on equal terms in good society.
5. A man who treats others in a respectful manner, not taking advantage of or pushing others into doing things they do not choose to do. The exception being to push someone into doing something they need to do for their own good.
2. A man who behaves properly.
3. A man of refinement.
4. A man with capacity to mingle on equal terms in good society.
5. A man who treats others in a respectful manner, not taking advantage of or pushing others into doing things they do not choose to do. The exception being to push someone into doing something they need to do for their own good.
As many/most of these descriptions in some way refer to behavior or virtue, it is also appropriate to search out the meaning of virtue as it relates to being a gentleman.
good, goodness, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtuousness, beauty, distinction, excellence, perfection, caliber, merit,quality, stature, value, worth, honor, integrity
You are now, most likely, starting to wonder, "Just where are you going with this?" In explanation of this post: In my own life, I've spent the last decade navigating my own transition from guy to gentleman. While the transition is not complete, and arguably, the journey is a never ending one, I feel that, in at least a small way, wet shaving has advanced this transition/journey a few more steps in the right direction. How, you may ask? For starters, I believe there to be a lot of truth to the old adage about looking good being equated to feeling good and behaving good or well. I also believe a cleanly shaven, healthy face to be a sign of refinement which can add to one's capacity to "mingle on equal terms in good society". Finally, as a member of this board, I get to opportunity to guide others into doing something they need to do for their own good (just as some of our senior members once did for me).
Maybe there is some amount of factual goodness to the overall impression or mood that I have intended to communicate here, or maybe these statements are the senseless ramblings of someone with nothing more pressing to busy them on a Saturday morning. Either way, for me, wet shaving and the benefits thereof, have begun to mean much more to me than simply slicing the hair off of my face.