I appreciate your questions and observations. It's always good to mix things up and keep people thinking. Keep rolling.
Here's my story. I worked in a manufacturing environment for a long time. We lived by the Deming quote below. It fueled our continual improvement process. Sometimes people with opinions only (and no data) derail a business' goal to make lots of money. However, in a
hobby (the reason I'm here), I think everyone's opinions and all the banter that goes along with it make things interesting and fun. It wouldn't be nearly as much fun if I had to defend everything with data. In fact, I come here to take a break from the real world. That's just my opinion.
You can look at many people in this hobby and quickly tell that subjectivity often rules. Just look at the vast collections of gear and software that many folks have. Some folks simply like variety and the experience of trying new and different things. I purchased PolSilver blades recently because I liked the colors on the packaging.
Here's my take on technique. I was a beginner when I started wet shaving, but I have a decent technique now through several years of
focus, practice/
repetition, and
learning from others. The theory of wet shaving is pretty basic. I understood it, but I cut myself routinely when I got started. I really think focus and practice helped me develop proficiency. I've never seen two people shave the same way (I've watched a ton of YouTube videos), and I wouldn't expect them to do so. I'm always ready to steal someone's good idea and incorporate it into
my technique. If developing good technique is your goal, there's no other way to get there, in my humble opinion.
Here are a couple of quick examples where blind reliance on theory alone falls short for me:
I know the theory of why an airplane flies, but I can't fly one because I have not practiced.
I've heard dermatologists and others advise against shaving ATG. I've been shaving ATG for several years. I've not had a single ingrown hair, and my skin has never been in better condition. The
theory of ATG shaving causing skin problems makes logical sense, but I'd be curious if folks who espouse this theory have actually
practiced it for themselves using good shaving technique.
My two cents. Carry on!
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