new thread
Many of us here have what can clearly be called a longhair identity. We knew from the time we were boys that long hair was us.
I personally faced religious and familial opposition to me having long hair so that was my reason for not having it until I finally broke free. But what about men without those restrictions? Why do they cut? Why cut something that obviously grows as nature intended? Do they really want to cut or is it society somehow exerting an influence? This has always fascinated me. Why spend the $15-$20 monthly or bimonthly to have oneself mutilated at the hands of a barber willingly?
Why cut the hair that protects the scalp and shoulders and beautifies the individual? Why intentionally do this to oneself? I'm very curious....
Hi Jason,
I think you are already relatively familar with my story, but I will repeat it here. The main reason I cut it in 1999 was because I took up golfing during the course of that year, and was subject to some negative comments, and actually decided that long hair was interfering with my game. (getting in face while putting, etc.) For some reason, I was hesitant to try a ponytail, as I had never worn one before. It was in early 2004 that I started to grow my hair back again, and even though I was still golfing, and still received the negative comments, did not cut, I was determined to have long hair again. I wore a ponytail when my hair was long enough, and it has served me perfectly on the golf course.
David
Jason, I think you have alluded to most of what I am about to say. I think men cut there hair because of societal pressure. They want to fit in and from a very young age are conditioned by there parents and the rest of society through the media to do just that. I know from my own childhood that longhair always had a negative image. Men with long hair were thought of as a little off. Eggheady classical music types that were a bit weird, derilicts, criminals or religious fanatics. No righteous Christian would have long hair(As I look over the Minister's pulpit at the crucifix--Hmmmm!) It is so deeply ingrained into most men's brain that they do it with out question like lemmings marching to sea.
peace, jonalbear
Well said and I don't leemings and I don't follow and pack that's for sure.
Cheers,
John.B
I disagree with this in the sense that maybe some men do cut for societal pressure, but what about someone like me who liked short hair and the convenience it brought. I had no negative pressure to keep my hair short and in fact every reason to grow it out when I was in college in the 80s and big hair was cool with all the big rock bands. I didn't grow it then simply because hair was not important to me then. I think it is unfair to all people like me to be accused of knuckling under to society because we were cowards or lemmings. Please comsider that hair is not life to everyone, it wasn't for me then and it isn't now either. Because we chose a different path than you did please do not assume we were or are mindless weaklings, we made choices that we believed in, same as you did.
You may be right for some men but not all, that's all I wanted to say :) I am not sure why this thread is setting me off so!
My feeling is that the idea of "society pressures" are often overexaggerated. In existence, sure, but definitely overexaggerated.
I bet a lot of guys, like me, cut their hair simply because they prefer having their hair short. For some it's just easier to deal with. You get up in the morning, throw on some gel, and you're out the door in no time. As many of us now from personal experience, the hair can get rather unruely(sp?) and frustrating as we let it grow out, and I'm sure some guys just don't want to deal with that, so they keep it short. Not for social reasons, but just because, for them, it's easier to deal with.
For me personally, I got my hair cut regularly because I've always had naturally thick hair that would puff out as it began growing out. So every few weeks, I''d go get it cut so that I could get it back to a manageable length.
It could go either way. You could ask why anyone would want to cut their hair, while someone else could ask why anyone would want to let their hair grow so long. Both opinions will likely remain unchanged at the end of the day, so my feeling is that everyone should just do whatever they want with their hair and not bother themselves with why someone else wants to do what they're doing with their hair. :)
PS: This post was not meant as a deliberate attack on you personally. I just feel that's their too much of an anti-short hair feeling from some people on this board, when I really don't think there should or needs to be. I mean, we don't like it when people attack us with our long hair (or growing out hair), so why should we attack others with their short hair?
Michael24, I don't see this thread as an attack. Why do you?
peace, jonalbear
What just being cautious. Didn't know how it might come across. I've had well-intentioned posts on other forums be mis-interpreted as attacks or flames is all. :)
I don't know for sure why Michael saw it as an attack but this is the part that struck me in a very negative way:
Why spend the $15-$20 monthly or bimonthly to have oneself mutilated at the hands of a barber willingly?
This sounds like we are masochistically deranged, doing something unspeakably horrible to ourselves. It's just a haircut! The language there was so inflammatory.
The other point that bothers me is this:
Do they really want to cut or is it society somehow exerting an influence?
Now there may be no way to ever test this out as we are so thoroughly indoctrinated into society from such a young age that how can anyone tell what choices they make are theirs or the society they grew up in. That applies to hair or it could apply to loving to eat chocolate, how do we know I wasn't brainwashed into that one too? I cannot tell either way, but I certainly would give people the benefit of the doubt if they feel they can tell what they are pressured into and what they choose freely. I chose to grow long hair now against the mainstream, but just as surely I kept my hair short by my own desires, not others. I think we should accept that people can make their own choices and that just because many people share a similar choice it doesn't mean they didnt each choose it themselves.
To me, Chris, haircuts were something "unspeakably horrible". What I'm asking is whether more men really are innate longhairs but still subject themselves to the cutting procedure due to societal pressure even if they don't fully realize it.
My main point is that to some of us, hair cuts are not horrible as you describe, yet I have this feeling that no matter how many people told you they made the choice to cut their hair willingly you would disbelieve them, saying they are being influenced by society and don't know it so they choice wasn't really theirs to make.
When I posted my opinion on this do you believe it? That is a serious question. Or am I merely society's pawn?
I believe I made the choice, and whether you believe it seems very important to the question you asked.
There are so many personality types out there that I imagine there are some people who cut their hair to fit in but would never tell you so even if they knew the truth in their own minds. Where would they fit in on your question?
To me this question is a loaded question and a philosophical one at heart. It is possible that you are also giving in to societal pressure in countless ways while thinking that the choice is yours all along. From the foods we like to the way we dress, what seems natural to some degree has to be dictated by the society we grew up in. At some point we all make the choice to break with the expectations of society on any issue you can name. I do believe those choices are real.
I still have this feeling that you believe society has this dark sinister purpose and is brainwashing people to follow its orders and even then erasing the knowledge of this influence from people's minds. I know very well that society does dictate standards and that we follow them, I said as much in a post I made about gender and hair styles (about braiding and such feeling more feminine to me than I am comfortable with). The thing is that I know that this is from society, but it is not unconscious or hidden to me. I am fairly certain that my taste IS set by society on that matter but that choice is not a hidden one.
So I suppose in answer to your question theoretically there could be some people as you describe, but how can you ever actually "find" even one of these. Because even if they existed they would swear up and down that their tastes are their own choices. How can one prove otherwise? This question is unanswerable by any real examples, it is theoretical philosophy to me.
I amm sorry you found haircuts unspeakably horrible but at the same time I cannot even imagine what that means. I cannot see the difference between a haircut and cutting fingernails, why is one so different from the other? This to me is the part I don't understand at all.
That's when you throw a hair tie around it and wear a ponytail until you can deal with the length again. I've been known to go for weeks on end wearing a ponytail because I didn't want to mess with keeping my hair out of my face. Ponytails are quick, easy to tie, and extremely convenient - not to mention a much, much better alternative than chopping off several months to a year or more worth of growth.
Hi Jason,
I'm sure there are many reasons why the do it and hopefully we have a choice in life as to what we do. Still a shame we can' save all of them.
Cheers,
John.B
I seem to go through times where I feel I would enjoy having short hair again, and then I go through times where I want to grow it to waist length. I think it's a personality trait of mine to want to try different things. When I feel like cutting I always try to remember the 2 week rule.
This applied to me when it was short too, I would alternate between liking it short and the desire to grow it long.
Also for me personally I seem to change my hair during significant changes in my life. When I am comfortable in where I am workwise, and in my home life I seem to want to grow long, and when I'm stressed out and nothings going right I seem to want to cut it all off. Some how my long hair indicates inner peace while my short hair has always given me a more agressive sense of myself in relation to others, to allow me to get over difficult times.
Maybe someone with a degree can figure it out?
Wow man, this sounds exactly like me!
Although most of the time, the idea of cutting my hair is usually brushed off (no pun intended) quickly, except for a few months ago when, well, alot of things were quite wrong, especially health-wise.
Thank God for the 2-week rule (1 month rule, in my case.. haha), music, headbanging, the mlhh, supportive friends... and continuous long hair!!
Firstly, you make the mistake of assuming that what "beautifies" you beautifies everybody else. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," as the saying goes. Just because you like something doesn't mean anybody else has to, and we must remember this if we want others to accept us for expressing our own ideas of beauty. If we want others to accept us, it's only fair that we accept them as well. You just have to realize that some people prefer how they look with short hair, and it's unfair to criticize them for cultivating a look they like.
Secondly, long hair is not an easy thing to maintain, natural as it may be. It requires cleaning, detangling, drying, and nourishing, among other things, and it can get in the way of our work. Yes, once it's long enough, it can be tied back, but if one's lifestyle involves tying back one's hair every day, the appeal of long hair may be undermined. Tying back one's hair all the time can lead to vicious knots as well, so it's not a foolproof plan. Therefore, long hair may not be convenient to some people's lifestyles, and if they love their lifestyles enough to not want to change them to keep their hair, then why criticize them for cutting it? If the haircut makes them unhappy, that's another thing, but in many such cases, the people emerge happier for the haircut.
Thirdly, our hair does not protect us as it might have long ago. Long hair can be a hassle in hot climates, making tying it back practially a necessity, though it's probably better to have some hair than no hair to prevent sunburn on the scalp.
Now, I know you're referring more to "born longhairs" cutting their hair than the average guy growing out and later cutting his hair, but you have to realize that hair is not some substance that we'll receive divine punishment for shearing. Crap happens in life, and people may cut their hair to relieve stress. People also make mistakes, often when in relationships; we're only human, after all.
So, in short, just live your life happily, man, and let others live theirs, even if what makes them happy you can't understand.
Peace
I understand what you're saying but I'm talking about men that would have long hair if not for the subtle influence of society. They may think they want short hair but absent societal influence, they would go with more natural long hair.
Hi there I was under stress in my life and having to tie my hair back every day cetainly did take away from the pleasure of having it long. I also hated the time it took to wash and having to condition it. Now I wash it very quickly. I would also agree with your comment about socirty's influence. If long hair on men was acceptable I may have kept it long.
I am probably not typical here as I have never had a "longhair identity" or been born a "natural longhair" either. I have seen these phrases here and there in posts and it seems to be assumed that everyone here feels the same way. Now when I was about 12 to 14 or so I had a slightly ahaggy (collar length) hair but that was as far as I ever grew it. Most of my life was with an average cut, never have I had a buzzcut or shaven head nor was it ever longish even. And starting out growing so late in life at 42 also means I am far from typical here.
My connection with hair has never been as strong as it seems other people's deep feelings about hair are. Often to me it seems that I don't fit in here that way, it is just hair after all. It would not be the end of the world if I needed to cut it. I often consider it even now without recoiling, even these days.
So I do not face any restrictions to cut my hair. Possible reasons for cutting my hair:
If I found a job that was worth more to me than my hair I would easily trade.
If the hair became too much work for the pleasure it brings me (this is the one most likely to take me down!)
If someone very important to me (like my partner) really liked it more shorter I would cut it (so far that hasn't been any problem at all)
Just because nature does something (like let us grow hair) doesn't in and of itself mean I want that to happen. I cut my nails because despite nature letting them grow they would look ridiculous (to me) long and they would interfere with doing things. Nature also provides natural hair oil but I don't like the way my hair looks and feels without washing it daily so again I interfere with nature and think I come out ahead in doing so. So for me just because nature does something doesn't mean it's what I want.
I enjoy longhair more than the majority of people (obviously) but the portrayal of people getting a haircut as "willing mutilation", that seems to me to be way to strong. A hair cut is no different from taking a shower or cutting your nails. It is something people do as maintenance of what they see as an optimum state. I cannot see how that can be mutilation in any serious sense. It is not akin to people who take razors to their arms, that is mutilation to me.
I used to get haircuts to preserve what I felt was how I looked best, exactly the same as a longhair not cutting their hair. I suppose my inability to see haircuts as horrible things probably colors my answer to this question. If at one point I thought short hair beautified the individual (or at least made them look not to awful in my case :) ) and longhair was a sign of neglect than getting a cut serves the exact same purpose as a longhair taking great care with his hair. Both of them just want to look their best to themselves and the world. It is simple, yet this question makes it seem that people like me had some bizarre and convoluted sacred masochistic ritual that requires an elaborate explanation :) Nope, we all just want to look cool is all!
I agree
I think in the past there was less social acceptance of long hair, except to some extent during periods when it was 'in'. We may have got to a point where no one much cares if you have long hair even during periods when it's out of fashion, or no one much who is worth worrying about. However, this means that a lot of the guys in a group like this are diehards, because we all had to deal with hassle in the past. A few are still dealing with it.
Most guys have always had short hair, because they are surrounded by short haired guys and because they were taken for regular haircuts since an early age. It may be free will to keep doing the same thing, but it doesn't indicate a lack of influence by osceity.
I can see what you mean. So maybe Jason's strong hatred of haircuts comes from being forced to do them for so long unwillingly. I never really had such trauma so I cannot really understand the depths of what drives him to call it mutilation. Is this like some kind of post traumatic stress or something maybe?
I also do agree that free will can be exercised when I make the choice to not do certain things because of how I grew up. I do know I am making those choices however.
I think I was just kind of blown away by the depths of feeling from Jason about hair, even on a hair board. Makes me wonder sometimes if I really belong here after all. I am not the same at all.
Simply put, I look better with the long hair. It also sets me apart, which is in some environments a bad thing, but usually its a good thing.
Plus, its not nearly as boring for me.
Because sometimes men realize that they look sh*tty with long hair, and that it's a bloody mess. Just because it grows doesn't mean it should be allowed to grow indefinitely. How long are your fingernails?
I am not responding as a troll, but rather as a longtime reader and often contributor to this forum that is willing to concede that long hair isn't for everyone. And I have long hair.
But who says it looks shitty? Who says it's a mess? The media, who often portray longhaired men as less than desirable? Is it truly his opinion when he marches into the barber shop? J
weather can probably play a role in this cutting ordeal. I live in Florida and it is extremely hot and humid all year long. I admit that having longer hair around here can be very frustrating at times. Especially if it is curly. It always ends up looking frizzy and gets all sweaty and dry. Due to the sweating caused by the humidity, I am forced to wash it everyday which causes it to get even drier. I honestly don't think much of it and haven't had any thoughts about cutting it however, Some men feel it is more comfortable to have their hair short in this kind of weather and avoid the whole mess mentioned above.
What an interesting thread, --- and even more interesting are all the different replies that I've read so far, below!
I especially can relate to what MattT said about when his life is going well, he is relaxed and lets his hair grow; but when things aren't going easy in his life, he cuts it short... I think I'm rmemebering what he said fairly accurately (hope so, anyway)! The reason I cut my hair short in Y2K is because of that very thing he described: my life was not going well (I was going through a lot of mid-life crisis issues at the time), --- and I was desperate to do SOMEthing!!
Others made some excellent points, --- like Chris G, Chris H about the climate issue, Michael124, jonalbear, DavidN about his golfing goals... everybody, really.
Here's my thoughts: shorter hair gives humans the added advantage of greater ease & convenience, --- this is true, even if I was to only cut my hair a few inches shorter than it now is (because I would have less snags & tangles, which would require less maintenance on my part). If I ever get really old and/or physically incapable of being able to care for myself, most likely I would agree to have my hair cut considerably shorter, --- if not outright, "short"... In other words, short hair has its practical advantages (as many atheletes would also point out, to use another example).
I am a very committed longhair; but, believe it or not, even I would cut my mane short under certain extreme or unusual circumstances (like if someone offered me an obsene amount of $$$ to do so - lol)!! The one item of comfort, though, that helped me get through my depression after my Y2K haircut, is the following fact as a fixed reality about hair: no matter who decides to cut, and no matter how short, Mother Nature still dictates the ultimate truth... because your hair will ALWAYS grow back!!!
Thanks for starting this interesting thread, Jason!
- Ken
Luckily for myself, I was never "forced" to cut.
Now however I DO get my hair cut about every 3-4 months. Reason is because just after waist level I reach terminal. (About 4" pastmy waist.) THe hair by that point has just had it and does not really look (to my eyes) appealing at all and ruins the overall look. And the biggest reason for having my hair kept at waist level is the problems those terminal worn-out hairs cause. The tangles and knots are unbelievable and just take up too much time trying to save what is not worth saving as it causes additional troubles for the good hairs that have not reached the end of their cycle.
This is the factor that causes me to cut. Luckily, I am VERY HAPPY with waist-length that looks healthy right down to the ends.
Intentionally ? let's imagine a child, born and grown without parents or friends ; let's say he lives in the jungle, among monkeys (Tarzan :p). I'm wondering if, when adult, he will have the idea to cut his hair... Now, I suppose that, back in the time (some tenth of centuries ago), men had long hair because they don't the idea to cut it. And, they live in society (the beginning of society), who apparently don't exerce this type of influence. And I'm wondering who were the former men wanting their hair cut...
I remember that a famous man and warlord(Was he "Alexandre le Grand"?) tell to his men to cut their hair to fight to prevent enemy from grabbing if during a fight.
So, all this elements allow me to say that the person have a part of "responsability" and I think it's not entirely the fault of the society.
Hoping that my answers weren't off topic ;)
Vivien
so long ago. I did this for personal reasons but if there was a culture where it was accceptable for men to have long hair as women can maybe I would not
I think it's society. For whatever reason.
I mean, look at pictures of people back in the 60's and some of the 70's. Things were so different.
Me, I always wanted my hair parted in the middle and down to my chin or shoulders ever since 6th grade. I supposed I can consider myself a longhair who wasn't able to be a longhair for the first 6-7 years (until after I graduated)!
Although my goals have changed since then... chin length.. shoulder length.. chest length... mid-back length... oh, what the hey, might as well shoot for waist/belt length at this point.. hah
I have been watching this board since the ceasar cut took storm for ten years. I like guys hair, from semi short - Business cut to long and flowing.
The reality is hair grows... so why not try different looks? I think most cut because there board with the look. Then they cut it and want it back. I truly believe some look wrong with long hair, others right. but most important is how you feel looking in the mirror.
Again its hair, not gold or precious metal, never to be grown out again. Like anything taken to seriously can ruin the fun of it.
just my take on it
Paul
I don't think we could ever get a definitive answer to this question if tried for a hudred years!
I for one am not sure that to the majority of guys with short hair that it ever even occurs to them to grow out their hair. Whether that is through the forces of the social setting that they live in or their religious background or media influence or job restrictons, who can say. There is the tendency among a smaller amount of people to question most everything and wonder and marvel at the reasons for things such as where time began and what happens if one were able to exceed light speed and such deep, dark questions, but for a greater number they are just as happy to get their entertainment and fill time by spending money or barbecuing with the Joneses and never thinking about where the end of the universe is. BUT, the subset who ponders also contains a goodly number of males who have short hair. How to explain this? Why certainly the pondering one can't have time to possibly ponder it all. He is so concerned with his quantum theory that it never occurs to him to not cut his hair. For he is used to cutting it, and why bother to deviate when other such things loom for him to spend his thoughts on? And certainly, in that greater set who love barbecuing with the Joneses and voting for candidates whom they believe really will deliver better healthcare sometimes take it upon themselves, having decided to break a few rule, may grow their hair. Now also, with certainty an infinite number of subsets may exist even down to the individual guy being his own subset of all masculinity. Who can answer this except each fellow? And then who can say that is was not the very question posed to that certain fellow that planted the seed? Had it never occured to him to grow hair, perhaps he'd never have done it. Everyone will never shout "Eureka" in harmony.
Any discussion of societal and religious influence on the body will always lack definite answers and to answer it definitely is to make sweeping generalizations that inevitably sweep someone away unintentionally. I wonder too what a man who is chronically male pattern bald would say to the follow nature argument? If he has just a small amount of hair left and cuts it, he is after a fashion following nature's lead!
Also, I find that it is easy to get into one mode of thinking, a monomania of sorts, and this mode then colors all the rest of my thinking, and thus I believe that this is the fallacy of the human mind. For we see in others what is in ourselves. Things have the significance that they have because we deem them significant. For instance, Jerusalem is basically a tract of earth just as good as any other on the planet. And yet it is this tract that is the sanctum sanctorum of three religions. The source of endless warfare. Would that some wise soul had at some point said, "Oh, that's ok, it's just dirt, we'll just move our temple to Damascus or Tyre and call the whole thing off." And so it is with hair. For to the Zoroastrian, Jerusalem is just a tract of land like any other. And for the guy with short hair, it's just hair to be cut to look cool. But for the guy who attaches significance to his hair, his own sanctum santorum, well to cut it is to blaspheme its significance that he has given it. Of course, then in between lies all the permutations that one might imagine from he who has long hair and would cut it with not too much anxiety to the short hair who'd never even think to grow it. And so, in a circle, we arrive back to no good answer except that one which each of us must hold for himself that is true to himself. To imagine that what seems valid for us is valid for another is quite a mistake. That very sort of thinking taken to extreme is what has probably caused the lion's share of conflict of all kinds since the world began.
Personally, I have quested to grow my hair because I feel most comfortable with it so. I never did enjoy a hair cut, but did it for lack of a flash of thought that allowed me to realize I could grow it for myself, long having been an admirador of long hair. I'd be loathe to cut it, but for me to imagine another feeling the same would be unreasonable at best.
Hum, I like the analogy with Jerusalem :)
I think the reason why men cut their hair is their same as the reason why men live in neat rows of houses with immaculately manicured lawns.
Modern man likes to think of himself as civilized. What distinguishes man from animals is that man is in control of his environment. His neatly cut hair (like his neatly cut lawn) is a triumph of man over nature.
But mankind is only fooling himself. Without constant maintenance, all things revert back to their natural state.
Longhairs like us can see through this madness. We realize it is futile to continually battle nature. Nature will win.
Just my thoughts for today. Now I need to go cut the grass because the city has a weed law. Silly mankind.
Ed
This is a great observation. Whenever I drive through these weird housing developments where everything looks like it popped out of a giant injection mold, I wonder why on earth people choose to live in such places. They are so artificial looking that to me they are surreal neighborhoods.
Since I made my home in an old neighborhood where no two houses are alike, and I threw in the towel on having a perfect photo-shoot lawn 10 years ago, (and it has slowly been going back to nature ever since), my hair seems to fit right in with the big picture.
A man cuts his hair or keeps it neat and trimmed to fit in with social life. People will except him more with a clean look. The people at my work excepted my long hair and everyone there has a buzz cut. Most people just want to blend in, most people are trendy Monkey see Monkey do. If a buzz cut is in, or the spike look, or shave your head bald look, no matter what the style is people (men) will follow. Tv, whats the new look for Fall, who cares!! do want you want wear what you want. I dislike trend. My opinion on growing long hair, you have to have guts to deal with day to day life and what people might say, I never gave a shit, but I do have a short fuse and sometimes a bad temper. But I've learned not to give a fuck.
Eric.
Random hero
I understand that from YOUR perspective, you think it's natural. But have you ever thought that maybe the "shorthairs" think that what THEY do is natural.
You know, this bothers me alot. Many of you guys come on here and expect everybody in the world to treat you no differently than anyone else, despite the length of your hair. But you are no better than those people who do, by differentiating yourselves thinking that guys who wear short hair are "mutilating" themselves. Maybe they think that short hair is "cleaner and neater", than having long hair that says "I'm just letting my appearance go".
As far as the "natural" and "as nature intended" argument? Well, let's take it a little further. Body odor is certainly natural, so I guess deoderant isn't in your bag of toiletries, right? And I have YET to find a tree that sprouts nail clippers, so your finger and toe nails must be at least a couple of feet long, right? And I have yet to also find naturally occuring soap raining from the heavens, so bathing is not in your daily list of "things to do"?
You don't want shorthairs telling you to cut your hair, right? So don't tell shorthairs that they should start letting their hair grow either, and belittling their choice to not do so. You're against the "norm", but you want to establish your own "norm" to impose for your order.
Your view in my opinion is hypocritical.
I fully realize that I gave my opinion about long hair being natural and beautifying the individual. I have a right to that view and this is certainly the forum to express it.
Having said that, I would in no way wish to force short haired men to grow their hair long. I never said that. I know there are some men who have given it thought and prefer their hair short. That is fine.
What isn't fine in my opinion is that so many men don't give it much thought. They go to the barber shop because it's expected of them. I'm convinced that if the whole societal taboo about men not having long hair was removed, there would be many more longhairs.
Oh, okay, I see now. My mistake. You're talking about guys who just go to the barbershop, whether they really want to or not, just because it's expected of them. Kind of similar to people who buy trendy clothes to fit in with the mainstream crowd simply because it's what most everybody else does, or people who act a certain way because it's how society expects them, even if it's contrary to their feelings.
Yeah, I agree with you on this one - people should be taught that they have much more freedom with their appearance than they think. We would definitely see more of the things we only observe on the fringes of society, be that for the better or the worse.
At any rate, this is a fashion thing. Note that lots of younger guys have shaggy hair nowadays; longish hair is coming into fashion. Who knows what things will be like in 2107?
Peace
I have said here before that I spent most of my life as a short hair. During that time I did not think about hair much at all. I didn't despair that society constrained me and conspired to keep my hair short though I desperately wanted it long. If I wanted it long I surely would have done so before this.
The thing I am not sure you realize is that for most people hair simply is not important either way, short, average or long. This I know from many years of experience. Maybe it was habit and inertia that kept my hair average length so long. So society dictates? an average to short length as OK. I comply? through habit. I get little satisfaction OR grief from my short hair.
OK now to your vision of a society in which long hair was encouraged and praised. I enter this society as the person I was three years ago, I look around and by default and example and thus grow my hair long. So now I am a long haired man in a society that has many many longhairs and yet I again gain little satisfaction or grief from my long hair. What has been gained??
Just because this new vision of society has many more members of the population in it with longer hair, the total amount of "hair joy" for the total population is the same as before. So again I wonder what has been gained.
I don't believe any societal change could bring about more people who care about hair. That I believe is random chance of each individual. That is the crux of the problem, do you see what I am saying?
tired with looking after it and having to having to tie it back for work and brush it to keep it looking good. I was also finding my hair was being pulled from my scalp as I tied it back too. I personally looked at women who wear shorter styles and that is what really inspired me to get my hair cut short. I also saw a few girls at my work who went short and looked great.
Yes I am always sorry when someone does cut their long hair off. But having done it myself can understand why
Its like a liberation in a way for me going short. But I think its a personal thing for every person their reason for going short
This is such a loaded question, and one that certainly doesn't have easy answers. Why do you have a longhair identity, when it appears that the majority do not? Why do you feel that cutting it is mutilation? Why do men have facial hair, and others shave it off? Why do some feel that longhair on men = gay/hippy/biker/insert other word here? Why do some feel that women over 35 or 40 should aim for a shorter hair style? Why are intersxed individuals, such as myself, often forced to conform to society's gender standards of male and female, in which infants who don't have the correct 'parts' are mutilated and assigned a gender? Okay, ALL rhetorical questions, that you need not answer.
So, it comes down to this, hypothetically speaking. Why does a guy, who is not pressured by family, religion, job, school, etc., decide to conform to societal standards and dictates, and chop off his hair, rather than letting nature have some influence? Why indeed! Does he do it because he really wants to, or because he has been so brainwashed by societal norms and trends to do so? Maybe it's a bit of both. He does it because he wants to, because he prefers to 'fit in', prefers the modern trend, and likes to be on the cutting edge of what's "in". He may think he looks better, women prefer it, fashion trends lean that way, corporate success is portrayed that way; or perhaps he never gave it so much as a thought. If society, fashion, and modern trends, gravitated towards longhairs; chances are that men would be longhairs instead. Why were the Celts and Vikings longhairs?
A book could be written on this subject, and yet you still would not have a definitive answer. Alas, there is no satisfaction of the curiosity on your part. A scientific survey might give you a correlation, but causation would be nearly impossible to prove. Because in gathering the data, you won't be able to get a precise answer from individuals due to their own personal biases, opinions, and the effects society and peers have on them. The correlation may be that it is societal pressure, but, statistically speaking, correlation does not equal causation. What causes men to cut? The one's who do may not really know why. This thread has certainly made for intresting reading, even though no one could really answer the question at hand.
Carol
Real interesting topic jason, thanks for bringing it up. lots of reasons. they vary depending on where a person is in the journey. one early on is lack of patience. in the industrialized countries at least, we're very conditioned now to expect immediate gratification. I want long hair. Is there a pill for that? Sure. Take this at bedtime and wake up with 3 feet of hair. Oh, it doesn't work that way? Forget it then.
I do think climate is a factor. I'll freely admit that if I lived in Fla. where it's really hot and humid most of the time, my ability to cope with long hair would be put to the test. here, we have that kind of weather for about 8 weeks each summer--that I can deal with. But Daytona or Houston? All bets off.
Jason:
Interesting topic. I think as some have already said... its something that is highly personal and can never really be fully answered.
I'm a bit confused about the term you used "long hair identity". I personally believe that who you are is made up from the stuff on the inside and not the outside.. No matter what changes on your outside ... it doesn't effect the core person you are on the inside... sure.. long hair may give some people more confidence or make them have higher self esteem ... but I'm talking about the spirit and the soul of a person.. it remains unchanged..
As far as your familial and religious opposition are concerned .. I am truly sorry about that. We've already discussed the Biblical passages in the past that have discussed long hair on men ... in which most everyone knows how I feel about them.. I wonder... that if your upbringing from your younger days would've been like mine ... would you feel as you do today.. There should've never been ANY opposition. You said, "I finally broke free." - I'm sorry .. you never should've been in prison.
Why do people cut? Simple ... just plain choice. Ultimately.. in this country we all have freedom. We may say societal pressure, peer pressure, or whatever ... but here in America ... its our choice.. yours and mine.
Be Blessed...
Tristan