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How has your ability to take criticism improved than when you had short hair. I use to find comments like you look like a girl, or cut your hair really offensive.
Now when people say a slur or something otherwise offensive to me, I just ignore it. I understand how a politician is able to take so much criticism and keep on going.
Yes I suppose it has. To be honest, nowadays I get many more complements than abuse. Longhair is very acceptable here in Spain and its much more common. OK - I'm occasionally ribbed about getting a haircut by people who know me, but its good natured and I very rarely get abuse from strangers.
Honetly, i've gotten used to it. Heh, they're just jealous, of course. =p
This one guy always tries making jokes about I looking like a girl, or my weight. It was a little annoying at first, but now I just tell him to get some new material. =/
If I reply with anything at all I'll say something like, "Well, you grow yours how you like it, I'll do the same", or I'll just shrug my shoulders and move along.
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Splat
I've only gotten a grand total of two cat-calls from jagoffs in the 5 years I've had long hair.
The first, I've presented the one-fingered salute. The second, I couldn't identify who did it so it went ignored.
The third may be met with this: "Sorry, but I'm straight." (No offense to anyone here that are homosexual, but most men who try to insult longhairs this way are usually heterosexual with homophobic tendencies and may respond amusingly at this kind of retort, though this in itself could be considered stereotypical.)
Some other stereotypes I've heard of are that people with long hair tend to be like "rock stars" or "hippies." Though, I will hazard a guess that many long hairs are just like me: complex and in defiance to what the stereotypes suggest (A.K.A. each uniquely individual instead of all neatly fitting within one demographic).
I usually listen to new wave, classical, or Enya and tend to have views that are center-right (equal rights to homosexuals and heterosexuals and in favor of stem cell research, but also ardently pro-gun and in favor of a competitive free market). YMMV, but you get my point; I'm hardly a hippie or a rock star yet I have long hair.
And I feel so strongly with long hair that I can't cut it; the thought is synonymous with cutting off one of my fingers, so it's definitely not about vanity in my case (and, as I imagine, with other longhairs here, too).
But, anyways, it seems that having long hair is becoming more acceptable socially, though there is still some intolerance to it. - Reinhart
I am only a few months into the journey but if any guy tells me I look like a girl I'll just let them know they have awful taste in women.
I just tell them I'm sorry if they don't like the way God designed me, but as for me I'm perfectly content with his decision.
My typical response is similar to Michaels.
"You must run around with some awful ugly women, but to each his own"
or
"Attractive women really like my hair, and you think I look like a girl? I prefer my shoes to yours any day"
Being older seems to temper the comments, and the "big" part of "Big George" tends to stifle most of the rest.
Big George
I get loads of criticism from my peers at school, I get aggravated with it but I'll get over it.
-Josh
I never really have the problem of being confused for a girl, in part from being 6'2" 195 lbs and having a light beard. The only time a stranger ever called me out was at like 1am leaving the strip of bars, a bunch of drunk military guys walked past and one of them said "F#@$ing hippies!" It was pretty much just one of the noobies of the group trying to impress his friends with how tough he is, and was riding a heavy dose of liquid courage. I yelled back some nasty taunts and they all kept walking.
I think that if people actually take the time to insult your hair it is because they are jealous, whether they know it or not. They think you threaten their attention getting, and belittle their individuality, so they try to 'prove you wrong' with words.
I have been getting some negative comments lately. I'm hoping that its just part of the awkward phase. (on the upside, I recently got a new job!)
When I get negative comments, I do my best to ignore them and remind myself that it is simply someone elses opinon, and if I want to live my life according to how other people think I should live it, then I should cut my hair.