Misunderstood products

Me. My wife never understands why I am almost running out of shave soap and need to buy more.

Great post olschoolsteel , you almost slipped that last one by me and right when I was thinking the exact same thing - I'm probably the most misunderstood "product" in my house It probably doesn't help that I really can't provide a coherent response to the occasional "why do you need all this stuff?" question from my wife.

There have been a couple threads where the drooling mob tried to attack, but they were quickly thwarted by the efforts of both members and admins of DFS. Those types of attacks aren't tolerated here, regardless of the person or vendor they are against. Attacking in general is frowned upon, as it should be, and it tends to keep those that would have it otherwise at bay...for the most part...

And I agree...anyone with a modicum of "google ability" should easily find all the accusations, all the factuations, and all the in-betweens of the mostly-contrived Scarecrow in PAA's closet. In fact, I believe links have been shared on this forum to most of the mashups AND the clearups...

I would like to be a fly on the wall if some of those attackers were given unnamed samples of a variety of artisan soaps to try. It would be nice to see the unrestrained reactions...

The problem I had with most of that whole fiasco was posters that called his soap, "Fantastic, AWESOME, the best soap I have used to date." Then a bunch of accusations come out and a WEEK LATER the same posters: "The soap SUCKS, WORST I have used, wouldn't buy it, etc." I'm pretty sure the soap formula didn't change much in a weeks time.

I could make a case about how other artisan soap/razor creators suck with the way they handle things now, but then that would bring out the fanbois that would defend them crying about how they don't. Then that would lead to me saying that they need to get out a pair of knee pads and the thread being closed because they can't handle the fact that their favorite artisan is being criticized.............so I have decided that I just don't care to even post any criticism anymore. It won't change an already made up mind. Such is life.

And this is a shame because it eliminates criticism from the discussion and it should be a large part of it...

Not every soap can perform flawlessly. Not every splash can be the best splash out there. Not every razor can be a gift from the gods.

These are all things we inherently understand as intelligent individuals, but I'm sure many of us avoid posting criticism because we know the firestorms are coming...

Anyhow...I don't recall any other artisans that went through the type of witch hunt that PAA did, but I think straight razors in general could be categorized as "misunderstood". There is a mystique surrounding them that many try to maintain, and which keeps new users at bay. People think it takes some kind of special skills only possessed by a select few and it just isn't true. Everything from honing to wielding just takes practice, and people are literally afraid of cutting their own throats if they try. I'd like to see less mystique and "untouchable aura" surrounding the use and maintenance of straights...

Maybe not the right topic entirely, but trying to circle focus away from OAA and back to a more generalized topic of discussion...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any other "misunderstood" products anyone can think of besides PAA?

Barbisol, which is arguably "traditional" and "vintage," since it's been around since 1919. Ditto for Barbisol "canned goo," a product that has been around for well over half a century.

There have been a couple threads where the drooling mob tried to attack, but they were quickly thwarted by the efforts of both members and admins of DFS. Those types of attacks aren't tolerated here, regardless of the person or vendor they are against. Attacking in general is frowned upon, as it should be, and it tends to keep those that would have it otherwise at bay...for the most part...

And I agree...anyone with a modicum of "google ability" should easily find all the accusations, all the factuations, and all the in-betweens of the mostly-contrived Scarecrow in PAA's closet. In fact, I believe links have been shared on this forum to most of the mashups AND the clearups...

I would like to be a fly on the wall if some of those attackers were given unnamed samples of a variety of artisan soaps to try. It would be nice to see the unrestrained reactions...

The problem I had with most of that whole fiasco was posters that called his soap, "Fantastic, AWESOME, the best soap I have used to date."  Then a bunch of accusations come out and a WEEK LATER the same posters:  "The soap SUCKS, WORST I have used, wouldn't buy it, etc."  I'm pretty sure the soap formula didn't change much in a weeks time.

I could make a case about how other artisan soap/razor creators suck with the way they handle things now, but then  that would bring out the fanbois that would defend them crying about how they don't.  Then that would lead to me saying that they need to get out a pair of knee pads and the thread being closed because they can't handle the fact that their favorite artisan is being criticized.............so I have decided that I just don't care to even post any criticism anymore.  It won't change an already made up mind.  Such is life.

And this is a shame because it eliminates criticism from the discussion and it should be a large part of it...

Not every soap can perform flawlessly. Not every splash can be the best splash out there. Not every razor can be a gift from the gods.

These are all things we inherently understand as intelligent individuals, but I'm sure many of us avoid posting criticism because we know the firestorms are coming...

Anyhow...I don't recall any other artisans that went through the type of witch hunt  that PAA did, but I think straight razors in general could be categorized as "misunderstood". There is a mystique surrounding them that many try to maintain, and which keeps new users at bay. People think it takes some kind of special skills only possessed by a select few and it just isn't true.  Everything from honing to wielding just takes practice, and people are literally afraid of cutting their own throats if they try. I'd like to see less mystique and "untouchable aura" surrounding the use and maintenance of straights...

Maybe not the right topic entirely, but trying to circle focus away from OAA and back to a more generalized topic of discussion...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think this perfectly lends itself to the topic and I also believe you got at least some of it right about why straights may be misunderstood.

BadDad you make a good point on straights - early on when I investigated what was involved in the use of straights I read a blog on one of the vendor sites about initial preparation and regular maintenance of a straight razor - I was very quickly struck with the thought "@#%$& are you kidding me? I don't have enough time in the my life let alone a day to do all that stuff!!" I am a process oriented person but it just seemed overwhelming to me.

There have been a couple threads where the drooling mob tried to attack, but they were quickly thwarted by the efforts of both members and admins of DFS. Those types of attacks aren't tolerated here, regardless of the person or vendor they are against. Attacking in general is frowned upon, as it should be, and it tends to keep those that would have it otherwise at bay...for the most part...

And I agree...anyone with a modicum of "google ability" should easily find all the accusations, all the factuations, and all the in-betweens of the mostly-contrived Scarecrow in PAA's closet. In fact, I believe links have been shared on this forum to most of the mashups AND the clearups...

I would like to be a fly on the wall if some of those attackers were given unnamed samples of a variety of artisan soaps to try. It would be nice to see the unrestrained reactions...

The problem I had with most of that whole fiasco was posters that called his soap, "Fantastic, AWESOME, the best soap I have used to date."  Then a bunch of accusations come out and a WEEK LATER the same posters:  "The soap SUCKS, WORST I have used, wouldn't buy it, etc."  I'm pretty sure the soap formula didn't change much in a weeks time.

I could make a case about how other artisan soap/razor creators suck with the way they handle things now, but then  that would bring out the fanbois that would defend them crying about how they don't.  Then that would lead to me saying that they need to get out a pair of knee pads and the thread being closed because they can't handle the fact that their favorite artisan is being criticized.............so I have decided that I just don't care to even post any criticism anymore.  It won't change an already made up mind.  Such is life.

And this is a shame because it eliminates criticism from the discussion and it should be a large part of it...

Not every soap can perform flawlessly. Not every splash can be the best splash out there. Not every razor can be a gift from the gods.

These are all things we inherently understand as intelligent individuals, but I'm sure many of us avoid posting criticism because we know the firestorms are coming...

Anyhow...I don't recall any other artisans that went through the type of witch hunt  that PAA did, but I think straight razors in general could be categorized as "misunderstood". There is a mystique surrounding them that many try to maintain, and which keeps new users at bay. People think it takes some kind of special skills only possessed by a select few and it just isn't true.  Everything from honing to wielding just takes practice, and people are literally afraid of cutting their own throats if they try. I'd like to see less mystique and "untouchable aura" surrounding the use and maintenance of straights...

Maybe not the right topic entirely, but trying to circle focus away from OAA and back to a more generalized topic of discussion...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually I think it fits in nicely, and I will tell you why. Despite owning and then selling all my straights and stones I've been getting the itch to try them again and you know what crossed my mind? Aww got to get a strop, got to get stones, which stones, do I repurchase the glass stones or role with regular stones! In my opinion there has never been a better time to get into straights! I saw a Wade and butcher for barber use go for $225 the other day, unheard of even four years ago! Fillys are still price quite high but everything else is rock bottom. Still not sure I want to take the plunge again but god I miss them....

It looks like this controversy is a couple of years old, leading me to believe that he has learned some lessons and modified behavior. Who knows what the whole truth was? Some of the allegations have been shown to be untrue. Either way, I do believe in second chances. Remember the Prodigal Son.

Douglas Smythe, the alter ego for the real world Erik Hodges. His his wife or girl friend, Frances Towle, is his business partner. I'm very big on shaving entrepreneurs that try to innovate. Douglas and Frances try to innovate. They brought back the double comb safety razor. The have a shavette that is new as well.

I'll go ahead and bring up OneBlade. I've read almost everything I could find on them. In my view they aren't mis-understood and the core issue is that their profit motive goes well beyond what is healthy for success with some of the product being high end luxury with an enthusiast community that watches their every move.

Also, part of the issue is that they they are entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs make many mistakes as they find their way.

Moving to the positive, I view the development of, and Gillette's perfection of, safety razors and the OneBlade as the two great breakthroughs in the history of shaving. Of course, not all will agree with that. They will probably get the issues with the Core worked out. They did so with Genesis.

It would be interesting to attempt a demographics of wetshaving. The internet gives the impression a short list of forums and blogs represent all consumers with a good percentile bar hopping all. It is also very America-centric by default. If PAA has been driven into the wilderness by high priests of The Golden Bull then Eric/Douglas must be doing a healthy business with the cast from Star Wars at some caravanseri watering hole. Indian blades get little regard but unless one is a Sikhe more Indian men shave with those blades than all of us with our feathers and Polsilvers combined. How many Indians are active on forums, and for that matter how many US/EU shavers have no interest in posting their Shave of the Day or forum bromances and just want product? The term 'second chance' is being tossed around. I haven't had opportunity to give PAA that first one yet. I know no other vendors who did and will never get that second. I boycott Amazon. I don't need shaving Jeff Bezos and Zuckerberg's dictating where my drone delivered soaps will come from.

WOW, great thread...I just love DFS. Much respect Andrew et al! If ever you folks would like me (or Fran) to do an AMA post, just say the word. Thanks again for being such great folks.
D

WOW, great thread...I just love DFS. Much respect Andrew et al! If ever you folks would like me (or Fran) to do an AMA post, just say the word. Thanks again for being such great folks.
D

I think that is a great idea.