new thread
OK, let me admit to a prejudice right up-front: personally, i totally HATE the word, "lifestyle"... Being a gay guy, I occasionally hear that word tossed around rather recklessly, in reference to me "choosing" the "gay life-style", --- like it's something as easy to change back and forth about as changing one's clothes, like puting on a different sweater (Hmmmm, let me see.... shall I wear my new GAY sweater today, or my traditional STRAIT one??)...
But, I'm getting side-tracked here... Talking about sexual ORIENTATION should be an off-topic thread to be saved for another day (or... maybe NOT - lol)!!
Anyway, here's my question, for any and all who would like to reply:
Does having long hair turn into a LIFESTYLE?
I don't know the answer myself (which is why I'm asking - lol)....
Here are what I consider, in my own humble opinion, to be a few examples of different "lifestyles":
1) Being rich & famous, with tons of adoring fans flocking around you and photograhping / tape-recording your every sneeze or belch;
2) Vowing a life of self-imposed celibacy in order to live on an isolated mountain top with other sexually deprived strait men who pray every day, shave their heads, wear dark-colored bathrobes, and say "Ommmmmmm..." together;
3) Married with 15 children and owning and operating an orphanage;
4) Living the single life; but, your only close friends are your 4 cats, 8 dogs, large tropical fish tank filled w/ Piranas, and pet ostrich who eats the rats you raise.
(OK, so I vaguely resemble #4, --- only I have another human being I live w/, too - lol!!)
So... back to my original question: Is having long hair a "lifestyle"??? (And if so, WHY do you think it should be called such?)
- Ken scratching longhaired head in San Francisco
Ken,
I think that any group that doesn't conform to the majority culture or status quo culture gets tagged as having a "lifestyle". So, I agree with you that it's a term that is often used by some to delineate themselves from "others" with the slightest hint (or not so slight) of disapproval in their voices.
There are all kinds of things we take on that distinguish our lives. I certainly think that being a man with long hair is one of those distinguishers. Religion. Work. Clothing. Music preferences. How you like to spend your non-working hours. Places you volunteer. The neighborhood you choose to live in (or that your finances "choose" for you!!!).
I guess if I were to use the word "lifestyle" positively, it would include those things that I have chosen in order to "style" or craft (a word I like better) my life with.
Bob
Hello Everyone,
The term "Lifstyle" is a term coined by ad agencies, in order to put people in "boxes" in order to better market products to them. You will hear terms like "Young and Influential", or "Bohemian Mix", or even "Trailer Trash", being used by marketers in order to help target what advertising ends up in your mailbox.
Is "wearing blue jeans" a lifestyle? If you have collected thousands of pairs and you are on Ebay all day buying and selling them, and you go to conventions and trade shows about them every weekend, yeah. On the other hand, if you just have a few pairs but that is nevertheless all you wear, one would say "no", even though you do spend some time washing them, drying them, and once a year shopping for them.
One obviously must have long hair all the time if one is to have it, but does the topic take up much thought - much of your time? More than just washing and combing it, and perhaps occasionally going to a salon?
A lot of guys when they first get into something they spend more time at it, giving it a lot of thought. When it becomes routine, that wanes. It is probably a fair statement that most longhaired men who have achieved the length they want and kept if for a few years don't think about their hair any more than they think about their blue jeans.
Too much hanging around here, though, can turn into a lifestyle. [grin] Maybe we should all be spending more time at the beach. Of course, hanging out at the beach can become a lifestyle, too!
Bill
I'm seconding Bill's post. So as to avoid a dreaded "me-too" post, I will add that longhair seems to be more a sign of various non-traditional lifestyles/life choices, than a "lifestyle" in its own right (barring the totally hair-obsessed person). And then, not everyone who embraces any given non-conformist life-view will have long hair.
As you say, if your life revolves around it, it could be, but even with all the meets I go to, and the long haired girlfriend, it doesn't really take over my life...yes, I am a long hair, but I see that as distinct from it being a lifestyle.
Ken You are so right. "Lifestyle" is one of the words that should be banned from the lexicon. Everything that surrounds you and encompasses you determines lifestyle and everyone's is uniquely different. The term should never be used to denote a certain class of people because it tends to restrict the members of that group to someone else's preconceived idea of how a certain group of people should behave or look. Longhair isn't a lifestyle choice anymore than being gay or having short hair or liking coffee or not watching TV or wearing earrings is. In short as a society we spend way to much time classifying things and too little time doing anything of true value.
peace, jonalbear
I also hate the word "lifestyle" because I don't want to fit into any of the major ones that are out there.
But if I must be 'classified' then let it be as a Bohemian (and yes, that
means a lot of different things and it has no real standard).
There are so many different kinds of men that have long hair that I don't think that the hair itself can be a "lifestyle". But we have one thing in common -- we are somewhat unique in a short-haired men world. Is the desire to be unique a lifestyle?
G'day Ken,
This is one of the most interesting threads I have come across today. It is totally relevant you mention your sexual preferences because both longhairs and gay men alike are on the receiving end of prejudice from conformers. This is why I think you are one of the most valuable contributers on the forum.
In my short time of being a longhair I would say yes this is a lifestyle but "ONLY" during the 'beginning' phase "OR" the phase where you are leaving your older self to discover your true self "OR" you live in a strict society under a controlling government.
To break this down.. as a longhair male we generally receive far more attention than a shorthair especially because of the simple fact not many men have longhair!
Depending on location and surrounding culture - longhair becomes a lifestyle even after discovering yourself as an individual within a conforming style environment because:
1) We may get similar attention as a celebrity would... with the exception of taking pictures perhaps providing our hair is long enough!
2) We may be on the receiving end of unfair treatment and discrimination
3) People tend to create stereotypes about long hair which goes back to point 2
4) Society, religion, and government discourages men from growing their hair out so we are viewed as outcasts in society
Now I have only called this a lifestyle if people are unwilling to accept us for who we are. If people cannot accept us for who we are then we certainly lead an alternative lifestyle.
During the beginning phase of growing hair out.. the people closest to you will comment on your hair and may judge you or even begin to exclude you from their inner circle.
In a western style democracy Ken I do think people are becoming more tolerant of longhairs and gay men alike. I know gay men are encouraged to talk on the Oprah show and Oprah is a massive influence in america for acceptance and rejection of all prejudice.
If you have friends who can accept you for you are live in a society which encourages acceptance, individuality and a democratic government then and ONLY THEN longhair no longer becomes a lifestyle.
Hope this has helped...
Peace
Ryan S - in aussieland
If you have friends who can accept you for WHO you are AND live in a society which encourages acceptance, individuality and under a democratic government then and ONLY THEN longhair no longer becomes a lifestyle.
bed time for me I think.. lol!
Interesting post Ken and I've never thought of having longhair as a "lifestyle". But we know how people like to label, box and catogorise people.
As I say to people I'm just me and yes I have longhair and I really hated have it short and it keeps your head warn in winter!
Cheers,
John.B
Great topic, Ken;
Actually, I think it is the other way around and many of the O/T posts on this board over the years seem to verify that. There are certain fortunate individuals who break from (or never entered) the "main-stream" to follow their instincts for a fulfilling Life according to their needs, desires and talents. Those who have gravitated here are from very diverse worlds of art, music, occupation and relationships. (Not to mention those of us in the coveted Lifestyle #4 !.....who told you about the Ostrich??). We all are staunch in our individuality and thus the Longhair is another expression of that, not rebellious as in the past, but a statement of uniqueness. We are living in a lucky time when men can not only wear their hair long (or not), but also dress comfortably and fashionably.
Thanks for the soap box, Ken !
Walter
I think it's a lifestyle simply because you have to change your lifestyle in order to grow your hair long, at least your outlook to people's views... I have cchanged many aspects of my life because of my hair, and almost everything I do I hae to take my hair in consideration...
It's a lifestyle in my opinion, but it's a pretty good one for me, as I love my hair ^^
Interesting question ken. I guess my answer would be, no.
First, What the heck is a lifestyle anyway? I think the term is used to refer to a way of living that has a number of dimensions or facets that harmonize with each other to form a distinctive way of life. Long hair can be part of a lifestyle but not one unto itself. Even if you really got into hair and did things associated with it all the time, that wouldn't make it a lifestyle--it would make it a hobby. Long hair is often associated with other activities and social/political views and philosophies but it's still part of a whole, not the nucleus of something.
By the way, people usually place "lifestyle" in the context of talk about those who lead relatively sophisticated and prosperous lives. But anyone can have a lifestyle--I have one for example--it's just not glitzy, exciting, and captivating. Karl Lagerfeld has one, which is pretty interesting, and he also has long hair, but I'm sure he wouldn't tell you his hair is his lifestyle. I'm getting tired of the word lifestyle--it sounds like a term from the advertizing world--so I'm going to end this now.
Long hair is a lifestyle for some and a trend for others. For many people it is a trend or a period of their life where they want to change how they look. These people will repeatedly go through long and short hairstyles to go along with the current trends or to simply make a change in their stagnant life.
Then there are those that have a long hair lifestyle. They grow their hair out to create an overall image to themselves and/or to other people. Unfortunately, the sub-group of these people are the long hair obsessed or long-haired extremist. Their life revolves around their hair and the thought of even trimming causes them to shudder and break out into a cold sweat. Think of them as the polar opposites to some of the people on the Buzzboard. Some people over there are obsessed over short hair and the sight of long hair is intolerable to them. As a person who frequents both boards I've noticed that the extremists of both group are the reason for the rift between the two boards. Some people here might disagree with that statement saying that the Buzzboard attacks the MLHH through the verbal comments posted or the pictures taken from this site. Then again, a person from the Buzzboard could say that the MLHH posters show disdain for Buzzboard members when a long-haired person goes for the taboo buzzcut and they receive comments from people on this board such as "another on bites the dust" or "what a shame". My personal favorites are the rare videos posted where someone on Youtube cut off their hair and a member here describes that it made them sick just watching it.
So, I guess in a long, drawn out way long-hair or short-hair can be a lifestyle depending on the level of severity or passion that a person chooses to allocate to a collection of protein strands on the top of their head.
I don't think that long hair is a lifestyle in itself, but, it may contribute to a particular lifestyle, Now, the gay sweater is an entirely diffrent matter.
jeffrey.
Please put me down if I look like that in 20 years!!!
Cheers,
John.B
Yes. I'm living a long haired life style which the Beatles inspired me to start doing when they first burst onto the
music scene.
Lifestyle: A way of life chosen by a person or a group.
The Beatles inspired me to grow my hair, many others
in the rock music scene inspired me to continue.
Is it a style? Probably.
Is it a lifestyle? Definately not.
My life has not changed since growing my hair. Neither has my "lifestyle".
IMHO, it can be part of a lifestyle, which is ill-defined but includes a selection of the following:-
Environmentalism;
Drugs;
Motorcycles;
Rock;
New Age;
Political activism;
Freedom;
Self-expression
(other things I forgot to list?)
Not everyone is into all the above, in fact very few are, but most are into several of the above, and if they aren't, then they are just someone with long hair.
Those who buy into several of the above know who and what we are. Some don't like the label, and some don't even think they are worthy of it, but how many have never been called a HIPPIE?
Keep your freak flag flying!
My understanding is being gay is not a lifestyle, scientific
eveidence seems to indicate that being gay is something you're either born with or that you decome in the first year of life.
So no being gay is not a "chosen" lifestyle.
Ken, m' man! You MUST do stand-up! LOL! You're one o/t prime humorists here! Thanks for (very nearly) always generating a laugh fr. me! "Lifestyle". I meant, w/t "chosen" lifestyle comes the long hair. And WITH the long hair, affectionately call'd a "freak flag" back in the day (the anthemic Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young ditty, "Almost Cut My Hair", which seems to be a common theme here of late, a PLETHORA, the polar opposite of a dirth, eh, heh, heh, heh, but I digress), oh no, then the gay question sneaks in?
Ahem, gay, straight, bi. Whatevs. I used to slap "A FAGGOT WAS HERE" stickers in the most inappropriate places in the City. That was thirty years ago. I was in college. They were white type on a lavender background. They sold at the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop on Christopher Street, NYC's gay mecca. I was twenty, a punk rocker, an idealist, naive.
Back then, as well, ya saw the "lifestyle" word flung around a lot, too. Now, it's the name for a brand of prophylactics.
I believe in nature vs, nurture, that is, I take the nature vote over the nurture side. We're all predetermined genetically, personality as well. Ever see how a litter of puppies or kittens starts to show distinct personalities within weeks of bein' birth'd? Ain't got nuh'in' to do w/ which parent had an influence, or how nurturing the home environment was, the school system, the cardboard box they were born in.
Yeesh, good evening. I'm turning in for the night. And I'm retiring the "l" whirred fr. these postings anymore.
Snoringly yours,
Quenyan (RicK)