Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money • Hacker News Board

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

#671

Post by ericmay » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:26 PM UTC

gernb wrote: post #638

ericmay wrote: post #604

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

people need to set examples. "Do as I say not as I do" it's not about distraction, it's about showing you're sincere. If you're like "save the planet" out of one side and on the other planning your 5th airflight you don't "actually" care. it's like asking poor countries to bare all the burden of climate change and rich countries doing little. "I've got mine and sorry you don't but too bad, you're not allowed to have…

I don’t disagree. But at the end of the day it’s our problem. So it doesn’t matter what they do.

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

#672

Post by SergeAx » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:26 PM UTC

mint2 wrote: post #666

SergeAx wrote: post #417

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was under an impression from Internet forums that massive cast skillet will have some benefit while dealing with larger pieces of meat, so the skillet will not drop the temperature the moment product touches it. Then I refreshed my memory on some thermodynamics, but it was too late.

Isn’t Cast iron heat conduction poor compared to copper or aluminum? I’d think a heavy copper clad pan would be better. Or a giant salt block for meat cooking

I beleive induction stove leverages bad thermal conductivity.

It was not a Teflon, some other patented non-stick coating.

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

#673

Post by robonerd » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:26 PM UTC

pfranz wrote: post #645

robonerd wrote: post #584

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 an…

I suppose I've been getting lucky, but I've flown probably two dozen times (domestic in the US) with safety razor + blades in my carry-on luggage and it's never been noticed. The first time was a mistake, but after their scanners didn't notice I stopped caring. This has reinforced my belief that the TSA is mostly worthless.

I'm not sure how I'll pack my razor next time (the time I cut myself was the last time I traveled) but I'll have to change how I do things going forward. Maybe I'll put the whole thing into one of those plastic clamshell soap containers, although that would be a bit bulky.

One subtle problem I've noticed with shaving in the shower is whisker splinters. Twice (both times during the pandemic, after not shaving for two or three weeks) I've gotten a whisker embedded into the bottom of my foot and didn't figure out what the strange pain was until a few hours later when it worked itself in deep enough that I couldn't ignore it anymore. I think this only happens if I've let my hair grow too long, so now I avoid this.

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

#674

Post by adonovan » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:26 PM UTC

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…

Quite. It's easy to find fault, but if you could magically rank everyone who's ever lived by the indirect CO2 reductions of their actions, I'm pretty sure Al Gore would be near the top of that list.

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

#675

Post by betwixthewires » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:28 PM UTC

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…

Yes, there is. Personal fulfilment. Living up to your own standards.

Why do you want to consume because everyone else is doing so? Is the only reason you're willing to consider doing otherwise to save the world? Is life worse without the disposable products? Why are the decisions you make in your life contingent on some insurmountable, unachievable goal such as "everyone else must do it first"?

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

#676

Post by karmakaze » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:29 PM UTC

nzealand wrote: post #596

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…

Shaving. It's not a religion. It's easy to experiment. 1. Don't shave. Grow a wild and wooly beard. 2. Electric clippers. For that permanent five o'clock shadow look. 3. Electric shaver. Easy. 4. Cartridge + foam. Smooth. 5. Double edge safety razor. Very smooth. Requires some skill. 6. Straight edge razor. Super smooth? No idea personally. 7. Laser. Also no idea personally. What this article completely misses, is th…

I'm not particular about keeping a specific look so don't shave every day. Some days I'm clean shaven, other days with shadow+ and sometimes with more.

The most convenient thing was a Gillette Styler that would last for I can't count how many months, but was ultimately disposable. I later found a MINISO brand that was less than half the cost that was rechargeable with only minimal paper packaging. Not as close but good enough. Ultimately it's disposable too but I'm still on my first one.

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

#677

Post by mint2 » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:31 PM UTC

SergeAx wrote: post #672

mint2 wrote: post #666

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t Cast iron heat conduction poor compared to copper or aluminum? I’d think a heavy copper clad pan would be better. Or a giant salt block for meat cooking

I beleive induction stove leverages bad thermal conductivity. It was not a Teflon, some other patented non-stick coating.

You’re right cast iron is quoted as the best for searing meat, with heavy duty copper a strong contenders. But I think this is a case of there being trade offs I.e dishwasher friendliness

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

#678

Post by betwixthewires » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:31 PM UTC

avgcorrection wrote: post #646

betwixthewires wrote: post #629

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

But it's true. If people don't buy it they won't make it. We have all the power, not them.

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

#679

Post by autoexec » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:31 PM UTC

nzealand wrote: post #596

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…

Shaving. It's not a religion. It's easy to experiment. 1. Don't shave. Grow a wild and wooly beard. 2. Electric clippers. For that permanent five o'clock shadow look. 3. Electric shaver. Easy. 4. Cartridge + foam. Smooth. 5. Double edge safety razor. Very smooth. Requires some skill. 6. Straight edge razor. Super smooth? No idea personally. 7. Laser. Also no idea personally. What this article completely misses, is th…

I don't think the article was attempting to say there are only two choices, just that some choices are pretty shitty compared to some alternatives that exist and that it's gotten harder and harder to access some of those alternatives.

I'm in the electric clippers camp personally. A good model can easily last you 10+ years and keeps my dry skill happier. I'm lucky they are still easy to find. Good luck finding a straight razor in your local shops if that's what you're into though.

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

#680

Post by mgraczyk » Sat, May 07, 2022, 6:32 PM UTC

I appreciate the writing style, but this article is shockingly naive to me.

Convenient consumer products tend to sell better than less convenient ones, even if the product is worse. That's the entire story. People have finite time, so when they receive more income they will tend to spend it to reduce the time they spend doing things that they don't care about.

I for one hate spending time doing all the things that the products in the article make more convenient, and happily pay more so I can spend my time on other things.

  * I don't like shaving, so I optimize for razors that get the job done faster (more blades, easier to swap a new blade)
  * I don't like cleaning pans, so I buy pans I can clean faster and don't have to "season"
  * I don't like filling bags with tea, so I buy tea bags that are pre-filled
  * (nespresso) I actually enjoy the ritual of making espresso, so I use a real espresso machine
  * I bike every day to and from work, so I take it a step further and buy an E-bike with no shifter
  * I don't want to fiddle with chromecast or fire stick, so I just use my TV's built in smart features
  * (inner city shops don't sell individual pieces of fruit) I live in SF, it's very easy to find individual fruits here
  * I don't like going to grocery stores, so I pay to have groceries delivered to me

My time is precious to me, so instead of spending money on luxury items I spend money to save time. Evidently so do most other people.