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Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

johnwhiles.com

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Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#641

Post by sinsterizme »

gruez wrote: post #542
sinsterizme wrote: post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry I didn’t mean it like a logical conclusion. Here’s a study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17593716/

The linked study reported 7-337 ng of PFOA emitted per pan, over the span of 20 minutes. According to [1], the concentration of PFOA in the average american's blood is 2.1 μg/L, which is orders of magnitude more. I concede that there's technically some PFOAs left over in pans, but I stand by my claims that the pans themselves are a non-issue. [1] https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/...

A pan would conceivably be used thousands of times over its lifetime, so I still see these amounts as pertinent

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#642

Post by newaccount2021 »

agentultra wrote: post #529
Frost1x wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>And my time I suppose maintaining the razor which isn’t much at all. Definitely not the case for me. As someone whose been recently exploring properly sharpening some high quality kitchen knives at home, there's a cost in time for sure to do things correclty both learning and executing. Once you learn, it's not too bad but there's a learning curve and time factor that's difficult to ignore. I need to set aside a goo…

Sure, learning how to sharpen is non-negligible. Like most skills it takes time to gain proficiency at first and pays off later. I only have to sharpen my straight razor maybe twice a year at most. Kitchen knives depends on use but a typical sharpening is 15 minutes maybe? I might do this 3 - 4 times a year. I do woodworking with hand tools which need to be sharpened far more often and that is fairly time consuming..…

No post body was provided.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#643

Post by travisjungroth »

kcplate wrote: post #534
radicalbyte wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't had ingrowing hairs since I switch to a Merker razor with Feather (Japanese) blades. You have to be very light handed, mind. Blades cost $0.25 each and I use about 10 a year.

I use a Merker safety razor with feather blades too. Definitely recommend not just for the shave, but for the value.

I switched to a Feather razor as well. It’s expensive, $100 or so, but very nice. I have thick hair and soft skin and it works well.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#644

Post by jseban »

gruez wrote: post #502
mirker wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For coffee: French press + grinder is straightforward and has little maintenance. Machines have to be descaled.

That's still much more work than a pod machine. With a pod machine you just pop a pod in, put a cup under, press a button, come back 1 minute later and you're done. With your setup you have to pour out beans, wait for it to grind, start boiling water, wait for it to brew, and then clean everything up.

Yep it's a lot more work. I think the "wait until it kinda looks like it might be ready before you press down" part is the most annoying step of the french press.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#645

Post by pfranz »

robonerd wrote: post #584
drgvond wrote: post #539

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why is a thread on electric razors not the top comment on a post about the expense/waste of straight razors? The post doesn’t even mention straight razors [1]. Also, I’m not sure electric razors are the less wasteful solution. Any electric appliance is likely to be much more environmentally costly to manufacture than a simple gadget. It certainly can’t compare with safety razors (or double-edged razors, as called i…

> It certainly can’t compare with safety razors I've been using a safety razor for years and figured I was getting a pretty good deal out of it. Then a few months ago I reached into my travel bag without looking and sliced my finger open badly; the resulting stitches and tetanus shot came out to about $200, probably wiping out whatever money I'd saved by using them. I still think it's a good deal.. if you're careful.

I've looked around a lot, but find traveling with safety razors to be surprisingly annoying. I cant really find anything that will clip or wrap around the top like I can for cartridge razors. The other problem is flying with them. Since they're large and metal they often get flagged. If I remember correctly, the advice was to put the blades in your checked bag, but I still get flagged because they see a big handle and I often travel without checking a bag.

I also switched away from a DE when I shave in the shower. I'm too afraid of dropping a heavier handle with a sharp blade attached.

I still much prefer DE/safety over cartridge.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#646

Post by avgcorrection »

betwixthewires wrote: post #629
avgcorrection wrote: post #610

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of corporate propaganda has gone into this line that the consumers are the most to blame for “disposable crap”.

They are. You don't have to buy any of it.

It’s not a multi-billion industry on account of it not working.

This individualistic refrain doesn’t make sense in the context of a critique of the overall system. Maybe as advice on how to be a self-flagelating low-eco-impact consumer or how to better master your personal finances. But ultimately it’s just an excuse for corporations to do the usual thing because the buck stops with the consumer (and corporations can just claim that they are just fulfilling a need that someone else would fill in their stead; they only sell the proverbial guns, they don’t pull the trigger).

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#647

Post by hackernewds »

this_is_eline wrote: post #462

While I believe that many things stated in this post are correct, this still has that hard 'old man yelling at the internet' odor. If you are to compare stuff, stuff like modern razor cartridges and double-edged razors, you ought to mention the convenience side of the things. I hate being the devil's advocate, but shaving with 4-blade cartridge designed for easy shaving is still 'miles' ahead compared to shaving with…

Why do you then use a double-edged razor? something doesn't add up

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#648

Post by PaulKeeble »

ericmay wrote: post #604
hattmall wrote: post #592

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of George W Bush vs Al Gore in that Bush had a modest ranch house with all the eco friendly features and Gore, the environmentalalist had some 20,000+ foot megamansion.

Yea... it was unfortunate that so many people focused on that instead of the general problem and now we are barreling toward a very bad outcome. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what wealthy people do - they're going to be just fine regardless of what the rest of us do, except that if we kick and scream about their big houses and refuse to do anything we just wind up inheriting the problem and they're still right where…

Greta Thunberg the way she travels to the conferences is admirable, she genuinely lives what she is talking about and it is a stark contrast to every single politician that turns up to a climate change conference with a giant team in a plane and lives extravagant lives.

Its not about the complete abolition of everything its about the hypocrisy of being one of the biggest polluters in a country let alone the world while suggesting others on substantially less consumption drastically change their lives when they are least financially able to do so.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#649

Post by Spooky23 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #632
betwixthewires wrote: post #580

My dad bought me one of these bulky 12 speed razors, 5 years ago. I've used 1 cartridge from it about 6 months ago. I hadn't shaved my face since before they came out. I use a clipper to keep it trimmed. Why use any disposable product whatsoever. His point on single use plastics is spot on. I know a lot of people that love to lecture me about my moralistic views, the types of people who believe in overpopulation and…

> Start refusing to buy things and stop making excuses and until then you should feel ashamed to lecture anyone about anything. This does not make sense to me. The single biggest consumption item is living in a detached single family house with yard space (due to knock on effects of everything you consume having to travel further, including the people in your house). I know this, and I can advocate for change such th…

Like all environmental discussions, they always degrade into whatever moral failure someone cares about.

Throwing out 500 lbs of unnecessary plastic packaging has nothing to do with single family houses.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#650

Post by jseban »

mr_mitm wrote: post #526
kareemsabri wrote: post #509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's weird that men still shave at all to be honest. The world is casual enough that you're not expected to have a "close" shave. I use a Wahl Peanut with no guard, takes maybe one minute. Costs $65 and lasts 5 years easily. You can also use it to give yourself a buzz cut, if you're so inclined, and save even more money.

Believe it or not, some men like the look and feel of a close shave. And for many, saving money is not a number one priority when getting a hair cut.

It makes you look younger, that's probably the fundamental benefit (same reason women shave).
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