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. It's just that I resent, with a passion, the apparent self-evidence with which we should put such things on a pedestal and in whose presence whe should all bask in awe and grovel. Parenting on itself for me is not something to necessarily applaud, or even good parenting. I feel that that is what you owe your child, that you really do the best you possibly can and then some more. And I respect that. It's just that many people are so full of them selves about being this or doing that what really gets on my tits. It is not that you do something well, beautifully, etc. what in my opinion is repulsive. It's the shameless exhibition that is involved in search for approval that is repulsive, the hypocricy that shows in this.
:. Be happy but don't be an ass. I just had to get that out of my system (I even wrote it twice), really I am a pretty jolly camper .
Pithor said:After much frustration about the 'post reply' button once more eating my lengthy rant, here it is once more, revised and all. I apologise for its length and it sometimes sidetracking into a rant on my pet peeve, but I hope you'll all bear with me and I trust you all have an attention span of longer than two minutes.
I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that it is at least mildly hypocritical or at least untrue that many say that they shave with straights because "I respect the tradition and history of it, it is much more environmentally friendly, etc."
That is mostly just clear cut bullshit. The way the largest part of straight collectors and shavers approach the subject has nothing to do with honouring the history of it or higher ideals. It's more a vanity thing than anything else, and I admit that. I shave with a straight razor because I think it is cool and hope that some of its coolness rubs off on me. But I like to keep it in perspective, which seems very hard for some.
Just because shaving is nowadays considered an everyday chore - or ecstatic bliss as some will have you believe, blowing their digital wad over their own and other's 'Shave of the Day' - does not mean it was. In fact, it most likely wasn't. 'Back in the days' I doubt many people had over ten straight razors. Most pobably did not even own one, shaving was done by a barber. The richer, well-off folk probably went to see the barber more regularly, and might have a small collection of razors. A real gentleman probably would not even consider shaving himself. The less well-off people, when in need of a shave, not even remotely an everyday activity, went to a barber simply because it was much cheaper than a razor and equipment. Doubtfully even the barbers owned more than a good handful of razors and one, maybe two stones, let alone the average joe. I mean, why do you think scissors-grinder/sharpener was a reasonably normal profession up to around halfway of the 20th century?
We own luxury items. Some people closets full of them. Passing it off as pure nostalgia would be lying. Of course it has something to do with it, but not to the extent many profess it has for them. I admit that for me it is, in the end, not much more than vanity and a pass time. But I try not to turn it into something it is not: an accomplishment to be publicly displayed and admired.
To illustrate: I posted one such 'Shave of the Day' myself once, but felt it was uncomfortably exhibitionistic. I did it because I was very enthousiastic about shaving with my first restored (read: overly polished) and honed razor on my La Veinette. I'm still remotely proud of that, so sue me. But this is not my point.
My point is that I find it mind boggling that it seems commonplace to give people standing ovations for succeeding in (common) tasks. Sometimes it almost physically repulses me to see people in what I would call a shoulder-patting middle class circle jerk. People have this need to exhibit themselves, and others seem almost too eager to applaud that. It's like watching these shows where people lose lots of weight by 'rigorous training' and 'self-discipline' to create a better self for themselves . "I'm very happy for you," I think, "that you succeeded in trying to approach becoming the person you want to be by shedding blood, sweat and tears" But this shameless exhibition expose the facade of 'doing it for yourself' and show that really all it is is some sort of grotesque quest for approval fed by low self-esteem, or in a harsher term: vanity. People are very touchy and hypocritical about this when you point this out. The goal seems to justify the means, but in my opinion the means illustrate or even make up a vital part of the goal. It's not black and white. Same goes e.g. for the ridiculous admiration of 'best intentions'. But I digress.
This, in my opinion, grotesque applauding and public shoulder patting is visible in many ways, including the 'wet shaving community' (horrible term by the way, has someone already started The Church of Wet-Shaving? Jeez). It's like when at my age, a lot of friends or acquaintances are having children, and some of them suddenly seem to look down on you because "you have no idea how hard it is to raise children". These people tend to flock together, agreeing on how hard such a responsibility is, yet very important, special and rewarding. I bet it is. I know it is difficult, I heard the stories my mom and dad told about me when I was little. And I was a nice kid, go figure
In short my point is: I don't think there's anything wrong with doing anything, be it collecting razors, raising children, running a marathon or whatnot, just don't be so high and mighty about it. Do it for the right reasons, and be honest at least to yourself about these reasons. People are too easily impressed and willing to show appreciation openly and grotesquely, because it is what they crave themselves.
That's my theory and I'm sticking with it
Really, I am
TM280 said:Ralfy,
You make me want to start posting a "shave of the day"...
regards,
Torolf
