why is wet shaving associated with old age? lol

[Deleted member 2936]

I am 99% a DE razor user on cream or soap since 1985.
No idea if i was ever young or old now.

Not to make you feel old as I'm sure you're young at heart really but I was born in 1985 lol

Do you remember your first ever shave? Or is it a vivid memory? I mean we're talking 35 years ago, that's a long time

 

[Steve]

I am 99% a DE razor user on cream or soap since 1985.
No idea if i was ever young or old now.

Let me help. You were never young.

 

[chazt]

The OP asks a fair question. While I don’t necessarily agree with the theoretical (or is it rhetorical?) concept raised, I do see the point. Gents above have astutely pointed out that current advertising focuses on cartridge products. That part is simple; that’s what the corporations are currently producing. They need to move product to increase their bottom line for the sake of the shareholders. Really though, from a pragmatic business point of view, why would they put money into advertising products that don’t yield big profits? That part of it makes sense. As to why traditional wet shaving is “associated with” old age, perhaps because the implements are seen as relics from a distant age, as Sir Paul expressed of the Gibson Les Paul in the tune “Rock Show.” Who better to associate with “relics” than those who’ve achieved “old age?” Btw, would someone kindly define old age? When exactly does it begin? I need to know if I should be concerned

 

[MntnMan62]

Because young people don't have the time to spend on the little things in life. And many older people have the same opinion. That is why companies that make cartridge razors will always be able to sell billions of dollars worth of them each year. The classic wet shavers market will always be a small niche market. And I'm ok with that.

 

[JamieM]

Traditional wet shaving will never ever become a popular choice, it's golden days are far far away, I choose this form and style of shaving because I enjoy the slower more thought out process, the fact you need tools that need maintenance brush soaps creams balms and scents, I'm of the opinion that wet shaving appeals to the more practical-minded individual, although there's always an exception to the rules.

 

[halvor]

Because young people don't have the time to spend on the little things in life. And many older people have the same opinion. [...]

To the contrary, I find. Especially if you accept a broad notion of ‘little’, to include slow and local: increasing number of people going game hunting, at least over here; interest in all cuts and parts of local, grass fed cattle; reinvigoration of old traditions in arts & crafts, etc. Looking it up and sharing stuff on it online from your smartphone, sure; small scale producers announcing sales and farmers’ markets on Facebook, yes, so a little of both worlds. And all the while being concerned for the global. Maybe ‘act local, think global’ is really starting to take? Anti-growth, anti-consumerism gains traction, more so among youth than the older gens. Or am I overthinking, looking at this with tinted lenses?

(Another aspect is the increasing chasm between internationalists and localists, not sure how that fits when layered on to the above, whether both groups would be found at the same market. Perhaps the young are more frequent among those internationally oriented and also among those at said market ? I believe Brexit votes followed that trend, as does the polarisation inn the US to some extent. Young-old, urban-rural divides.

(If not going strictly off-topic, I realise I certainly am broadening it here!)

 

[Steve]

Youth has always been idealistic, and to some degree, altruistic. But after decades of working you will at some point say to yourself, 'Why am I working so hard for so little reward?' Then you'll want a nice car instead of your electric scooter, a nice house of brick and mortar, rather than your yurt in the forest, ad nauseum. Cultural, societal, age, and educational divides are apart of civilization. Aristotle complained about the lack of manners, and respect towards their elders shown by Athenian youth in 450 B.C. Nothing has changed, nor will it. If it's diametrically opposed to what their parent's generation found acceptable, you can be sure young adults will embrace it -- no matter how short-sighted, or unworkable. $24 for a pack of four cartridges? $9 trillion over 10 years to save the polar bears? Not a problem, the rich will pay it; except the rich are meeting in Davos to figure out how to enslave you.

 

[HereticHermit]

In all seriousness, in addition to what gents have observed above, before hard selling became norm I was a DE wet shaver. Either the fads passed me like a blue bolt or I was too dumb to notice how I am missing on the latest and greatest bandwagon. I think in a given societal setup I just transitioned into adulthood and early career without much change of habits that pass on from older generation to younger ones. I wet shave out of habit or probably it is etched in my mind with a sense of discipline and being part of grooming which makes you presentable.
As a junior school cadet, I had drill Sergeant bellowing in my ear, why I have not shaved before tumbling out on parade ground. When I moaned something about water scarcity in the camp; he yell and informed every unshaven lily livered poltroon standing on spindly legs that he shaved with his tea instead of having it in bed because water is scare in camp and that he would rather die and collapse on his own legs then present himself without a shave before his superiors. I don't know if he was honest or lied through his teeth but I got the message loud and clear and it was to stay with me for all my upcoming life.
As an aside, on topic of frugality and spending, in recent times browsing through online forums and few YouTube videos I realized the subtle message spurring watchers to spend inordinate amount of money on latest and greatest of wet shaving gear. It made me wonder how buried forefathers even in first world countries will react if they were to see the wet shaving drama unfolding today because they never can wrap their head around how wet shaving became rocket science where 'weight of razor alone will do the actual shaving'.
I don't know if wet shaving is considered old men activity but for me personally, it stands for gentlemanly orderliness since long.

 

[Chris]

When I moaned something about water scarcity in the camp; he yell and informed every unshaven lily livered poltroon standing on spindly legs that he shaved with his tea instead of having it in bed because water is scare in camp and that he would rather die and collapse on his own legs then present himself without a shave before his superiors.

This is one of the best things I’ve ever read on here, well done!