Like you, I was treated very well by the rank and file members in my short time at B&B, and was surprised at how friendly they were. The only reasons I left were that some vendor names were banned (very petty) and certain members were severely mistreated. If you are happy, then that is what counts. It is really good that you found The Shave Den in the process. I hope you find all that you are looking for in your wetshaving journey!
They despise Timber Tools, allow name calling, and unfounded accusations, but other than that, it’s a useful resource.
I guess I can join the long list of people banned from B&B now... a mod sent me a message which asked to confirm receipt and I guess replying "acknowledged" was against the rules
TSD was my first fourm i joined and is one of the best options IMO. Still consider it my home base although i dont post as often as i used to, the people here are wonderful and you couldnt ask for a more civil group of enthusiests. Another excellent fourm is The Shaving Cadre, ran by Chris Lindsay the man behind CBL Soaps. Even though he also makes soaps it is far from being a shill site whatsoever. it is a smaller crowd but many of the people are also menbers of other fourms. Cannot recommend them enough as it is a great fourm and despite the many options there are only a few that are really great places to frequent. I am also on several other fourms but do not particapate nearly as much as i do with these 2. Some fourms look down on people unless you have the best of the best $1,000 razor or brush, that is not what this hobby is about, rather its about finding what works best for you as we are all different with different needs and tastes (YMMV).
Personally I have been disciplined at B&B (for using none Vender ok'd product site posting )and when I look back I did not follow some of the standard rules( I was new and don't always read rules) and I have to agree politics are so disdaining now a days it's good that Politics are frowned on these forums and who needs a lot of swearing . So some moderating is good IMO. So have some good shaves and K.I.S.S (keep it simple shaving) IMO with a few other topics of interest on the forums.
My son has shown interest in joining a shave site, so he asked my opinion on a few of them. I told him the good and the bad of ones I've joined. I told him The Shave Nook is very nice and great people, but isn't as active as I like. I told him about B&B that it has a lot of information and interesting people, but to treat it like a library; keep you mouth shut don't draw attention to yourself or you may be booted out. He finally ask where I like to spend time, so I told him about TSD ....... friendly knowledgeable people, lots of fun, and if you keep you content clean and respectful; you'll never have a problem. When is doubt .... ask a moderator .... they're good people.
Methuselah's Beard Forum is the oldest I know, but exchanging stone tablets via donkey was a real bear. So I joined here.
Updated list on the oldest wet shaving forums and Facebook groups: 1.Sharprazorpalace forum(the old straightrazorplace forum) 2.Shavemyface forum 3.Badger and blade forum 4.The shave den forum(was created in 2007) 5.Theshavingroom.co.uk forum(was created in 2009) 6.Subreddit wicked_edge(was created in 2010) 7.Romanian forum forum.barbieritdelux.ro(was created in 2011) I am Romanian, that's why I've listed it 8.Shavenook forum(was created in 2012) 9.Damnfineshave forum the second incarnation(was created in 2015) 10.Atgshaving forum(was created in 2016) 11.The Facebook group Straight Razor Place Facebook(was created on 1 March 2018) 12.Theshavingcadre forum(was created on 14 March 2018) 13. The new straightrazorplace.com forum(created July 2019). 14. Romanian Facebook group RomanianWetShaving(created on 22 November 2019).
The original SRP Facebook Group created By Tony Clark in July 2009 and still active with 4400 members https://www.facebook.com/groups/SRPstraightrazors/
Most forums have their own form of Dramapopolis. Most ofthe US and UK forums started over splits and differences. On Facebook it's just easier to to splinter off because no infrastructure ramp up is needed. It's the nature of the internet.
This is a great site but the only suggestion I have for the owners and maintainers here (and maybe no one else agrees with me and will think I'm in outer space) is that the posts would be a lot easier to read if the background were changed to something like a white color. Due to my age and poor eyesight I have a real tough time reading some posts because there is not as much contrast between the color of the font and the background. I wish my eyes were younger but they don't make them any more
do I'm not an owner and/or maintainer as you put it, but your comment got me to thinking. These kinds of things often have a setting, or settings, where you can change how you view it. I began looking after I read your comment and found this one does as well. Go to the top right-hand corner of the page where you will see your "user name", "inbox", and "alerts." Place your cursor on your username LaneP which will open a drop-down window with several options. One of these options will say "Preferences." Click on preferences which will open another menu with several choices. At the top is a drop-down menu titled "Styles." Click styles which will open a menu of display choices. While I didn't try them all, I did try one that is titled "Cool Blue." Click that one and "BE SURE" to go to the bottom of that window and click "save changes" before you close the window. After you do that refresh your screen if it doesn't automatically change, or just click on the title of something. You will now have nice shades of blue where you see shades of brown on this style, which by the say is called "vintage." And the backgrounds for text in responses is in white with, I think, the contrast you want. ????
