new thread
I wanted to know if there once will be an era when the longhairs will be as accepted and common in both legal positions and everyday life as are the short-haired? Will the 5-10% that the longhairs make up jump to some higher quantity should this world become a bit more liberal and allowing?
Also, what made the number of longhairs decrease so rapidly and nearly absolutely? The question is important because I believe the moment the rational people start examining the "cause" for men to cut their hair short, they will hopefully re-consider and allow the tradition that lasted for centuries and perished only in the beginning of the XIX century to continue.
Perhaps once we get rid of the "establishment" things may get better! Also people with a narrow view of the world and hungup in how people should look and dress...quite simple!
Cheers,
John.B
The cause is not rational Nikola, so it doesn't matter if they examine it or not. It's based on what their taught as a child, same with any prejudice. They will not reconsider unless they are put in a position where they are forced to. The whole idea is based on an emotional impulse, not intelligence or logic.
I don't see any shortage of longhairs lately, so I believe we can make a change. Talk to others about it. Besides, a most of the shorthaired don't mind our hair at all and in fact many would help our cause if it ever was put in the spotlight. Like I keep saying, most of my friends wear their hair short. They don't want me to cut mine and I'd loose respect from them if I did.
It has been said here that it's hard to bring it up to another longhair. I don't find it hard to do at all. If I see another the least I do is nod in their direction. If I have time and feel like it, then I'll walk over and say something like, "Cool hair, how long you gonna let it get?" or "you remind me of so and so..." referring to some well know longhair. Sometimes I just go right to the point, "have you ever had any problem with people telling you to cut your hair?" After that it's easy to mention discrimination. Most seem to want to talk about it.
What's fun is having this conversation in public in earshot of a bunch of shorthairs. Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot.
Some of you are probably thinking yeah, "he's out there making us look like an ass..." No, talking about this discrimination in public creates awareness of it, even if it's just a small bit of awareness. You can easily mention how somebody gave you crap about your hair (or your kids) and not bash those standing around.
Most of my conversations with other longhairs have been fun and even bonding but a few have not been. Once in the bookstore I approached a guy with a tail midback. The talk went easily until I mentioned starting a group. Then he said something I won't forget, "longhairs defending other longhairs, interesting, but it's not something I'd get up in arms about."
I was a bit taken back. After a second I couldn't help myself, I started laughing. It just caught me by surprise and I actually laughed right in his face. At that point I couldn't do anything else except walk away.
I think if longhair was suddenly ok the 5% would got to about 10 or even 15%. It doesn't matter, there are always men who will want to grow their hair but it's not for everybody.
Paul
Experience with one's own long hair being (dis)respected is of a relative nature. You claim you haven't heard too much of nagging; I, on the other hand, have. From the majority, that is; I managed to hang up for those who were glad to approve it. I would say that depends from which country one comes from.
Second, I never stated I cherish hanging out with longhairs more than with shorthaired men. I have most of the shorthaired for my friends too.
My point was not the apotheosis of the longhairs contrary to the (socially acknowledged) apotheosis of short hair but breaking the prejudices which result in the longhairs being the minority.
Really?
Maybe I said too much. Your post stated: "I believe the moment the rational people start examining the "cause" for men to cut their hair short, they will hopefully re-consider"
The heart of my reply was, "The cause is not rational Nikola, so it doesn't matter if they examine it or not. It's based on what their taught as a child, same with any prejudice. They will not reconsider unless they are put in a position where they are forced to. The whole idea is based on an emotional impulse, not intelligence or logic."
The rest was just me venting. I didn't say you cherished hanging out with longhairs more. Where did you get that?
I understand the point. Contrary to popular opinion, I am not an ignorant hick.
I think I stand with the majority of those here who want to break the prejudices which result in the longhairs being the minority.
I also think I stand with the ones who would like to do something about it right now. Those seem to be the minority.
Well said and look out for the "establishment"! We'd hate to cross an Executive Order!
Someday, maybe, my great great grandkids will see it, I doubt I will though.
*I want to know as well and shall soon be consulting my magic 8 ball which I bought yesterday at Goo-Goo's Toys Store at 1/2 price.
*Longhairs in modern times have been in the minority. Unfortunately, rational people seem today to be even more rare than the Longhair. Highly educated, loaded with college degrees, Chairmen of "Bordes" etc. The piece of paper is worshiped beyond all else while common sense and being ones own self continues to seem to vanish more and more within our society and what they are conditioned to.
I've heard some sources say that *beards* disappeared during WWI because you needed to be clean shaven to wear a gas mask. Clean-shaven became the military standard, people got used to the look.
Long hair may have met its fate around the same time because that was the first war where soldiers lived in filthy trenches for a very long time. If you've got a razor to shave your face and no shower to wash up with, you might as well go for the baldy too. Close quarters meant head lice spread easily too. Shave the head, no more lice.
When the soldiers returned from war, the relatively hairless look marked them as "real men". The rest of society began to follow suit, and from there on out the herd instinct, and later the rise of the advertising machines, took over.
Yup! And the corporate drone mentality continues to perpetuate that image of "real men" being clean-cut short-haired males. Which is why common put-downs expressed towards longhairs include "gay", "fairy", "girl", because in the minds of the drones, these are not "real men".
I think we can agree too that to be a "real man," or for that matter, "real woman," or "real" human being, involves a hell of a lot more than a shave and haircut or whatever. Virtue does not from the outside spring.
I just caught a few minutes of a football game on NBC; I think it was that game that comes after the Superbowl or whatever that is the all-stars from the AFC and the NFC. But anyway, during the commercial break, there was a commercial for Coke Zero featuring the Pittsburg Steelers player, Troy Polamalu, who happens to have long and flowing hair. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but Polamalu tackled what looked like a team owner or otherwise with a young boy looking on in awe. Polamalu then opens a Coke and drinks it as the kid continues to look on, still awestruck. That Coca-Cola is featuring a long haired guy in its ads say something. I'm not sure what, but it's something. For a company like Coke, that spends billions of dollars on advertising to create a certain image, that's making billions of dollars off of colored sugar water, their ad execs must feel OK about having a longhair as the hero of the commercial.
MB
At last we're not portrayed as a villain or druggie.
I liked the commercial too and who knows maybe the kid will grow up and grow his hair long.
Kevin
There was an era of acceptance of long hair in my own lifetime. In the 1970s it was impossible to hassle guys for long hair because everyone had it. Now, I grant you most of it wasn't all that long in real terms, but it was very widespread, definitely a majority.
So what happened? Fashions changed and pressure to cut came back.
This started with the punk movement, who had reached the ridiculous conclusion that long hair was 'establishment'! Maybe this had become true in the music industry, but your average bank manager had just grow their hair a little bit over the collar and over the ears to appear just a little less square. Pretty soon, though, all the guys who had it long just because it was in cut it short, but they didn't even get punk haircuts, suprise, suprise.
Then in the '90s came the ridiculous trend for shaved heads. it wasn't punks who spearheaded that one though - it was bald guys! The shaved head was the new combover, and yet somehow it caught on with people who had no need to disguise balding because they didn't have any.
Which brings us to now, and the fashionable length is probably not quite even as long as it was in the '70s. The only positive thing you can say is that it has taken three decades to lose what what was gained on just one.
As to legal jobs, I am a patent agent and I work in a law firm, and my hair is down to my waist. I know one guy who is a partner in a law firm and has shoulder length hair. Not as long as mine, but even so. Mind you, he wears Hawaiian shirts as well, but then he is a partner, so who's going to tell him not to? The partners in my firm wouldn't let me dress like that, although I probably could on Fridays as it's casual day.
That's sure some interesting info on men's longhair from the 70s to present day.Its certainly fascinating what triggers a longhair trend but as for me I've always liked longhair and wear it that way whether its in fashion or not.Personally I don't follow fashion trends as I dress and wear my hair in a way that appeals to me.If its the "in" thing at the time that's great but should the trend end I'll just soldier on with the look.Thanks for posting that enlightening reply.
Mark