Fads

OK, then the issue is that of convenience. There are usually compromises made for the sake of convenience and its up to each individual to decide whether the compromises are acceptable. The thing about TWS the way we do it is that most men aren't even aware of the compromises they're making. You can look at that in two ways, blissful ignorance or uninformed choice. Personally, I like to know the real price I'm paying for convenience.

The original blog post explicitly discussed traditional wet shaving as NOT a fad. The articles primary point was in showing ways that traditional wet shaving did NOT fall into the classification of a fad...

And I agree.

I still do not see the similarity between traditional wet shaving and bread making, but perhaps because I do not make bread. A more fitting comparison to traditional wet shaving, in my opinion, would be scale model building. With all of the 3D capabilities of modern printing and computing for manufacturing scale figures, there is, and always will be, a strong community of hobbyists that prefer to piece together plastic kits and make their own models from scratch. It takes a lot longer than new, digital means, but is much more gratifying to a hobbyist, so convenience is traded for that experience...

Just my humble opinion...


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Well BadDad , bread making and TWS can both involve lots of dough.

I think OP was trying to start a discussion, and in that he's been successful. Whether or not TWS is a fad or not is a question that perhaps we, as practitioners are not ideally situated to respond to, at least not objectively. Few will readily admit to being a fad-ist and whether or not something is a fad can really only be determined in the rearview mirror.

This blog post https://wetshavingtimes.wordpress.com/20...ust-a-fad/ proposes that wet shaving is not a fad. I’m not sure I agree so I’ll throw this out there for comment.

The conclusions we are expected to reach from the arguments above are either:  1. wet shaving is a not a fad or 2. wet shaving is a fad.    When evaluating the logic of an argument, it is always wise to first examine the terms used.  Let's examine the words used in one of the proposed conclusions.  For example, "Wet shaving is a fad."  First, it is necessary for everyone to agree on the definition of the words used.  

1. Wet Shaving:  a shaving technique using water.  Therefore, this term encompasses all shaving processes where water is used as all or a constituent of the skin lubricant used during shaving.  The only form of shaving that falls outside that category is shaving with certain types of electric razors.  More likely, what is intended  is a term something more akin to "traditional shaving."
2. Fad:  Generally, a fad  aka as a craze, is an activity that rapidly becomes very popular for a brief time, then just as rapidly ceases.  Examples of fads are the hula hoop, the pet rock and perhaps the bread maker used in the OP argument.  This is distinct from a "trend" which may quickly rise in popularity like a fad, but eventually becomes part of the long-term cultural norm.

If one assumes that the term "wet shaving" is what is actually meant and since this has been an ongoing and uninterrupted shaving technique since at least the neolithic period, the conclusion that wet shaving is a fad is clearly false.  On the other hand, if what is meant is "traditional shaving", which would include the use of vintage or vintage-like razors and more or less traditional lathering products and techniques, then both the terms "traditional" and "vintage" should be a very strong indicator that the term "fad" would not apply.

Further, the reason that readers are having trouble with the bread maker as part of the argument above is because it is what is called a "false analogy."  The bread maker might be relevant as a supporting argument about whether the One Razor is a fad, for example, because both represent some gadget. However, it can not be compared to traditional shaving products in the more general sense because there is no equivalence.  A more appropriate baking comparison for "artisan" shaving products would have been neighborhood bakeries.   One could say, "Like neighborhood "artisan" bakeries, traditional shaving is a fad."  Since we know that neighborhood bakeries have been around for centuries and continue to produce products, clearly they are not a fad. Likewise, since traditional shaving (straight razors, safety razors, brushes, etc.) has continued uninterrupted for over 100 years and continues to this day it is, therefore, not a fad.

It might be more interesting to investigate whether shaving with plastic gadgets with a dozen blades was a fad common during the latter half of the 20th century.

The conclusions we are expected to reach from the arguments above are either:  1. wet shaving is a not a fad or 2. wet shaving is a fad.  

Exactly. Its a question. And I believe the blog post meant "traditional wet shaving".

My Father still makes bread every day, in a cast iron pot. Tastes delicious.

I don't think traditional wet shaving is a fad, but I think there was a resurgence in the last 5-7 years. In countries like Italy, shaving with a brush is normal and has been going on for decades,, but the cost was always low (Omega boars, Proraso or Figaro croap).

I can't see anyone that's been using a brush, soap and a safety razor (for a few years) going back to goo and plastic carts. Carts are $2-4 each versus 10-20c for a DE blade and clog way easier, once you have the technique figured out, you can shave in under 5 minutes.



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