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Does anyone else get this? the reason I rarely wear hair in a ponytail is because it is easier for people to get up behind you and with a swipe from a huge pair of scissors, intsantly hack that tail off!
I guess the question would be where the "paranoia" is coming from. do you live in a neighborhood or spend much time in places where people walk around with scissors and the malicious intent to do this sort of thing? I wear a ponytail a lot and this thought never occurs to me. I mean, likewise, people could walk arournd and easily stab you in the back with a large butcher knife, but there'd have to be some (external) evidence or environment (for example, if I've seen more than one incident of people getting stabbed in the back with a butcher knife in my neighborhood)to make me fearful of such things happening to me.
Or, is the fear coming from inside? If so, that is, if there's nothing externally in your world that gives you reason to fear this,and if the internal stuff is overwhelming--getting in the way of your life--it might be a good idea to go and talk with someone--a counsellor of doctor.
Robert
I think I know where this paranoia is coming from as I occasionally have it myself, spending as much time on public transport as I do.
Basically Robert the major difference between getting stabbed in the back and having your ponytail hacked off is that with the latter it is possible to not know that it is happening.
Of course if the person was really violent about it you would notice, but even one vicious snip can cut a lot of hair off, if not the whole ponytail.
But lets say that you are drowsing on the train (etc.) or absorbed in a loud film at the movies or sleeping (a big fear here for many)-it is possible for your hair to be at risk without you noticing until it is too late.
Likely? No. Yet understandable as a potential paranoia for some? In my opinion yes.
Whoa whoa guys, I dont have some problem or anything or have to go to counselling! And to people who tell me to not wear it in a tail, I do do that all the time. And yes Deanof316, thats what I was getting at. I was just asking if people who regularly wear their hair in ponytails ever thought of it when they go out.
That's cool. Glad it's not a big deal. But, you did use the word "paranoia". I took you seriously.
Robert
Some guy a couple of years ago was arrested after having chopped off the ponytails of several women over a period of weeks down in Long Beach. Yeah, he was one sick puppy.
We've also very occasionally, like once a year, heard of someone pulling such a stunt somewhere on the planet. But your chances of getting your mane singed by lightning are surely greater.
I'd just be cautious where idle and immature hands might be sitting behind you for awhile. On a city bus or in a movie theater come to mind, so don't let it hang down over the seat and in front of some bored person who hasn't grown up yet. Toss it over your shoulder and in front of you if that eases your mind. Other than in such places, I'd not worry about it.
Bill
A tail isn't that easy to cut through quickly, but it could happen over a period of a few minutes without your ever knowing about it until it's too late.
Keep it in front, tuck it inside your coat or shirt, etc., etc.
I've felt that way before. I will usually feel that way in movie theaters. But then, all I do is take my tail out. :-)
Does the trick for me.
I've worn my hair in a pony tail for many years (waist length)
and never had a problem.
If you do feel threatened, tuck the pony tail in your
shirt, drape the hair down your chest, or even take the pony tail
out and let the hair fall on your chest/shoulders.
I have cut my own hair from time to time and when cutting through it always took a bunch of scissoring motions to go through that hunk of hair. It is easier to grab your hair when ponytailed but certainly not easier to cut it that way if speed and stealth are the goals. You'd be very aware of what was going on before all your hair was gone.
Now a knife however, that could do some fast damage. Yet, I was at a knife show over the weekend surrounded by knives and did not give my hair a thought. Fair amount of long haired men there too, not just the visitors but on several knifemakers themselves. All these tables with folding knives left open for display and large fixed-blade knives all over and nobody seemed concerned for their safety other than the vendor with Band-aids scattered among his knives for those who didn't know how to handle a sharp blade safely.
Worries aren't always based in likelyhoods, I know my fear of bears while backpacking is just as out of proportion but still the concern is there. Isn't it such a waste of your time to fear your hair getting cut when you could enjoy wearing it in a ponytail and not giving it a thought? Perhaps it is enough to know that if you did get assaulted you could grow you hair again. I think having a plan like that to deal with an actual problem if it occurs is less wearing than long-term concern beforehand. Now if only that would work when I worry a bear will eat me.
Elizabeth
It's crossed my mind before. I just imagine doing some permanent damage to the perpetrator.. Hair grows back, but other things don't..(cue evil laugh)
I had sort of the same thing. I was afraid that someone would come in my room when i was alseep and cut my hair. Even if he or she would not cut them all off they could do some reall damage.