new thread
I just read this post and, like everyone else, I was appalled at the level of stupidity that some can allow themselves to sink to. Others in response to the post made some very good points regarding our "Founding Fathers" and the fact that long hair was once accepted for men. But, you don't need to go as far back as that to find great examples of men in power who had no problem expressing their individuality. Not neccessarily in terms of long hair, but maybe it could apply to some extent here.
Just look at some of the military leaders of the Civil War and the many different styles and lengths of facial hair that were worn. Most of them aren't pictured with long hair as well, but regulations for hair length don't seem to have existed for military personel then as they do now, given the fact that you see very few, if any, "crew" cuts in those days. George Custer wore his hair at about shoulder length for some time, having it cut short only about five weeks before he was killed at Little Big Horn.
Just look at our earliest Presidents and the different styles they sported. These days, you see very few if any politicians, most especially the President, sport any kind of facial hair or hair any longer than two or three inches off their head. And you won't see any styles outside of what is now considered to be the "norm".
I don't think this is a new thought, but I have an idea that people who would so vehemently express their disgust for anything or anyone who might be outside of their own concept of normal are probably trying to cover up for some personal fault that they wouldn't want for anyone to know of. Unfortunately, they do this by attempting to demoralize and humiliate someone else for something that is NOT a fault. It's the best that they can do for themselves and, for whatever reason that probably God himself doesn't even understand, they believe it lifts them up. But, all that they really do is make everyone else aware of the fact that they have been raised "in a box" and led to believe that what is inside that "box" is "normal" and anything outside of it is "alien" and needs to be stamped out.
Fortunately, those of us here were not raised "in a box". Or, if we were, we found the way to step outside of the "box" and embrace what we found there.
So, always be proud of who you are because that's the best way for us all to keep on growing, in more ways than one.
Hi Patrick,
that's great comments - the 20th century short-hair craze may just be a temporary phenomenon - talking in terms of cultural history. Well, 20th century? Actually, it's more like 1880's until 1950's with spillover into the early 21st century.
Sometimes, the thing to do to those unhappy destructive little people you and Red Tail Wolf described is - smiles and genuine kindness. It totally disarms them, and if they continue to hand out cr@p, they will look bad even in the eyes of many short-hair fans.
Well, what else can we do? I suggest we speak out to protect fellow males against stupid hair rules whenever the opportunity is right. We could give out compliments to young longhairs in some situations (whenever there is no danger of misunderstandiungs). At other times, we also might eg tell the superiors of a male long-hair that this young gentleman just provided excellent professional service. This would protect them against what I may call "meta-discrimination" or "prophylactic discrimination", born out of concern how the sight of long-haired male employess might reflect on their department.
I suspect, there are a lot of other little ways as well, and small initial steps ultimately have lead to toppled dictatorships...
Happy growth and peace to you, Red Tail Wolf, and all others!
Hans-Uwe
I agree. But, that can be a very difficult thing to do in certain situations. I think RedTail showed incredibly admirable restraint in a very difficult situation and I certainly applaud him for that. And I don't blame him in the least for finally lashing back, though what he had to say in return was not even close to the same sub-level which those around him were obviously speaking from. He retained his dignity whereas the others were giving theirs up, if they even had any to begin with.
You're right, Patrick, and there are also those situations, where it is better to display firmness and to show where the limits are. And, it is more than clear that Red Tail Wolf handled these situations exceptionally well. Behavioral theorists would recommend sharp rebuttals and an instant return to co-operativeness.
Hans-Uwe
I agree with you completely. I have found that some of these people are just so insecure in who they are that they have to degrade everyone else to establish some sort of superiority in their own minds. These people resort to personal attacks, innuendo, and degrading comments when they have no facts or other meams to support their position. A good example; if you ever look at the "buzzboard", there is a guy named "Curt" who has no response to those who support other ideas than his except for calling them names. He's is on a second grade mentality on a permanent basis.
We all get negative comments now and then; I just don't always take such a passive position as "RedTailWolf" did. When some jerk asks me "why don't you get a haircut" in a derogatory manner, I usually reply somewhat to the tune that "If I did, God forbid, I might end up looking something like you", or "to expose ignorant people".
I realize that not all will be so forward, as my wife tells me I have a definite lack of tack sometimes.
I had a professor at Tulane a few years ago who looked right out of the sixties; long frizzy hair and beard, granny glasses, etc. After talking with friends at other schools, I found out he was one of the top two or three people in his field in the world. I find guys with longer hair have a confidence about them that many others do not have, as it does take a certain kind of person to put up with the inequities of others without blinking.
Big George
And another thought in my mind is that I have no problem with guys who choose to keep their hair cut short, buzzed or even shaved altogether, so long as that's the choice they have made as a matter of personal preference as opposed to a choice based on what certain elements of society dictate they should do. And you can tell the difference just in the way someone carries themselves and the way they interact with those who choose to wear their hair long.
I can tell a story of my own that deals with comments made towards my hair (which is still in the awkward stage at this point and not quite what I think of yet as long) but that isn't negative at all.
I encountered a guy at work the other day who works in a different department and I only see him from time to time. He asked if it wasn't about time for one of my buzz cuts. But, he wasn't making the comment to be a jerk. It was based on the fact that the last couple of times I've started to grow my hair and just couldn't get myself through the awkward stage before having it all chopped off. He does keep his hair buzzed, but he's a nice guy and I feel that it's just his personal preference and that he isn't looking to shove some "stay in the box" philosophy down my throat. Any time I see him, he always offers a very friendly and outgoing "Hey, man" whether my hair is cut short or growing long. Just a good example of what I spoke of in my first paragraph here.
I must admit that I don't think I would want to let my hair grow as long as RedTail's, but that certainly isn't to say I don't appreciate what he has acheived with his hair as he does indeed have an awesome head of hair. I can only dream that mine will look as good as his once I reach my own target length. And hey, who knows, once I get there I may change my mind about growing it further.