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There is nothing wrong with your pictures, most people feel the same about their own photos, well I do anyway!
SOTD is Bragging?
- Thread starter Bogeyman
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No, it's not bragging ... it's pride. And why not? You've spent time finding and money buying what you think is wonderful kit! Show it off! Folks do with their cars, cats, wives, whatever. Sure, with the same money I could buy the same car, find the same cats or acquire the same wife ... or those razors, that shaving bowl and that brush.
No, it's pride.
No, it's pride.
If a gentleman wishes to show and tell his dally shave then why not, a lot of people gather ideas of their own from these posts, and may what to try some kit on display, the photos in all honesty are razor porn, but it's nice to know asking a question is only some typing away.
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I think it's the most interesting and important part of the forum.
It's were you start to really engage with people and it's the most informative section. I say this with no hint of shame. It creates a great sense of community. There you go I said it.
I remember when I first joined. I was simultaneously intimidated and blown away by the photography more than the gear. I'd only just joined so I had no idea how much anything cost anyway.
I'd like to think we are all above bragging. It's a very cynical way of looking at it. Which is definitely not what we are all about.
It's were you start to really engage with people and it's the most informative section. I say this with no hint of shame. It creates a great sense of community. There you go I said it.
I remember when I first joined. I was simultaneously intimidated and blown away by the photography more than the gear. I'd only just joined so I had no idea how much anything cost anyway.
I'd like to think we are all above bragging. It's a very cynical way of looking at it. Which is definitely not what we are all about.
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Now I don't see it as bragging, we all come from different walks of life and we all have different income's , so it stands to reason that some people will have more expensive gear. It makes no difference to me if someone is showing the £500 razor they shaved with or the person showing the second hand £25 razor they shaved with. I find what people shave with very interesting and I like the photography and how people show their shave kit.
It annoys me however when just because someone has the latest thing be it a razor or brush or even soap that they get called brand snobs or willy wavers or any other such names, we are here because we enjoy this hobby / illness call it what you will and we enjoy sharing our daily shave on SOTD. Long may it continue
I agree.
I myself see SOTD posts to be akin to blade preferences. We all have different skin types, facial features (other body parts can be shaven too), hair growth, follicle thickness impacting our choices for blades; leading to the 'YMMV' construct which also applies for SOTD posts.
How little or how much you have spent (as value is relative) should not be relevant as I see the SOTD to catalogue one's experience through photography or a caption this delightful hobby of romanticising an activity which for many is a burden.
In addition, I myself have absorbed some indispensable information and received great advice from SOTD posts and to echo the sentiment above, long may they continue.
OP
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Not bragging or boasting mostly it's just showing off - subtle difference but different all the same.
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What is the subtle difference between bragging and boasting and showing off? Nobody likes a show off, is that what I / we are doing on SOTD?
I tend to believe that showing off/bragging/boasting in SOTD is a phase. Many new comers who discover a new passion buy the expensive musts (not that much on this forum) and like to show them to the others like kids with their new toy. It has to do with some kind of need to be recognized and after a while the need to impress will vanish eventually.
Personally I enjoy much more a nice photo with either cheap or expensive pieces as a whole composition than the content itself. Sometimes I even suspect some people to buy expensive gear just to match the others items (in theme, colour, etc).
Personally I enjoy much more a nice photo with either cheap or expensive pieces as a whole composition than the content itself. Sometimes I even suspect some people to buy expensive gear just to match the others items (in theme, colour, etc).
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bragging
ˈbraɡɪŋ/
noun
bəʊst/
verb
gerund or present participle: boasting
I meant it in the terms of 2 and 3 rather than the use as a term of disapproval sense. As usual with English meaning can depend on usage. Seems to be the two main purposes of SOTD to me, few if any of the posts I have seen have a "and just look how much they are worth peasants!" price list attached.
ˈbraɡɪŋ/
noun
- 1.
excessively proud and boastful talk about one's achievements or possessions.
bəʊst/
verb
gerund or present participle: boasting
- 1.
talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.
- [INTRANSITIVE]SHOWING DISAPPROVALto behave in a way that is intendedto attract people's attention and make them admire you
The children start showing off the minute anyone comes into the house. - 2
[TRANSITIVE]to show people something that you are very proud of so that they will admire it - 3
[TRANSITIVE]to make something look very impressive or attractive
I meant it in the terms of 2 and 3 rather than the use as a term of disapproval sense. As usual with English meaning can depend on usage. Seems to be the two main purposes of SOTD to me, few if any of the posts I have seen have a "and just look how much they are worth peasants!" price list attached.
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Well I don't know about that, my SOTD today I put up a picture of a Omega 49, a Pal adjustable and a tin of Klar Kabinett none of which I am very proud of and I couldn't give two hoots if it is admired or not and I don't know how I would make any of those items look very impressive or attractive, they are what they are.....tools to enable me to shave. I take a certain pleasure from looking at other peoples shave kit and I guess other people get the same kind of pleasure doing the same and that's why I post on SOTD. However it is your opinion that it is a form of showing off and I have to respect that.
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I see where you're coming from here - that being said I initially took no photos but thereafter focussed on composition or layout rather than what items I specifically had there. I've bought items for my own personal use and to suit me needs/wants, whether that be on colour/design/shape/reviews/ability etc. I'd rather spend less on an item if I can, having bought almost all my items second-hand, so cost is irrespective. Similarly, I always buy within my means so ensuring I'm not out of pocket - I would not like this hobby to become a toxic one. I.e. I love the look of the ATT Calypso, with the black and contrasting blue, but I'd rather spend £20 on my second-hand RR Hawk and 'upgrade' it with a £16 handle from Maggards. I cannot honestly justify the near-£100 price tag.
I think a lot of people, especially the younger generation, are guilty of fuelling their need to be recognised, as you say. There's a culture of 'likes', 'follows' and 'subscriptions' in almost all aspects of social media, and the significance, or focus, is larger now than it has ever been. There's been discussion of social media status (being 'liked') causing an endorphin response, so triggering a hounding for additional 'likes'. It's akin to eating something sugary, getting a positive hormone response and hence craving sugar.
Either way, I don't particularly mind if someone likes or dislikes my photos, text or equipment. They're welcome to their opinion and I'm happy to voice my thoughts and spend the time taking the photos for my own satisfaction. Ultimately, the items I own I like. The photos I take, which I've composed, I like.
The cost of the items featured in other's photos doesn't come into it much for me. I'm getting to the point now where I can see cost distinctions, as I familiarise myself with brands, but for the most part I can't particularly distinguish between a £50 razor and a £5 one (take the Futur vs Mingshi example), so I base my enjoyment on the look of the equipment, the composition of the photo and (if any) post-processing.
Tl, dr; So much of this is subjective, from cost to photos, or indeed text.
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Don't see it myself as bragging... I tend to prefer the SOTD posts with a photo and a little description of the shave. Those I find the most informative ones and are the ones that make me spend a few minutes searching the internet for additional info on blades, razors or a soap that I never heard of. Most of the times I don't even buy them, just put them on my wishlist or just discard them for whatever reason (price, availability in Europe, etc). I try to make this kind of SOTD posts. A photo and a bit of my "review" or a commentary of something of that shave that was more salient to me and that can be useful for others or interesting to share.
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Yes but it is a very nice photo of the things you don't care about so wouldn't that count under definition 3? The only reason I ever look in SOTD is to look at the pics pretty much solely for the aesthetic pleasure. It's why I don't post in there any more - I have no interest in photographing shaving gear, not my thing, and I use the same stuff for months at a time.
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I've never thought of it as bragging. I am impressed by a lot of the photos both in terms of both the photography and the kit in the photo. It's a form of window shopping for me - much more interesting than browsing a retail shaving site. I really enjoy checking it out.
The only downside is when people at work see it on my screen and say "WTF are you looking at?"!
The only downside is when people at work see it on my screen and say "WTF are you looking at?"!