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Apparently all Alabama longhairs shop at WalMart on Dec 19. As soon as we walked in today we were seeing them everywhere. I walked past one guy who was obviously a biker. His hair was to his waist. I said, "Great hair man!" He looked confused for a second then replied, "Oh, I appreciate it."
A few minutes later I noticed several more bikers, some shopping, some standing around talking. Many of them had very longhair.
Later I noticed maybe 5 or 6 other men (not bikers) with shoulder length or longer hair. Very unusual. Most of the time I only spot 1 or 2.
So many longhairs out at once, well it is Christmas shopping time so it's not really that odd. But then we finished shopping and was in checkout. Just as I swiped my card one of the bikers come up and said, "let me help you out partner." and handed me a $50.00 gift card.
Recruiter? Just a nice guy? Who knows but it's Christmas so I accepted the card graciously. If I can ever afford a Harley I might check out their club. Lol.
Paul
Nice touch.
Hey Paul that's a cool story from Wally World:)The fact that the biker gave you that gift card was a nice gesture.Was he the one who's hair you commented on earlier?If it was then he must have really appreciated you acknowledging his mane.I would be reluctant commenting on a guys hair not knowing how they might react even though I would have liked to.This is New Jersey you know!Yikes.
Mark
Hey Mark, no it was a different biker but they were all there together, same club. Actually, that guy didn't have very longhair, just over the collar. I got the idea that he may have been the president or some other high up. Along with the gift card he gave me a club card.
Yeah, the acknowledgment of another man's mane can be a ballsy thing to do. I just like to see their reaction. I think it's something that's missing in the whole longhair "culture", rarely do we even give a knowing nod to each other.
So, what would happen in New Jersey? I heard it was a fairly civilized place.
Paul
Im from NJ, and commenting on another guys hair is a risky move haha
I dont know if its homophobia or what, but I could see people taking it the wrong way... A lot of Jersey people just arent that outwardly nice, so a compliment of any sort could me misconstrued as mockery
It's true, I think Connecticut along with New Jersey and the tri-state area was recently recognized as the most unfriendly places to live. People just don't talk to strangers. People can live in a neighborhood for a decade and not know his neighbors at all!
Bruce
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Hi Bruce unfortunately your statement is more true than false.Especially if you are living in the highly populated areas of the state.Maybe no so much in the rural areas.I'd be very reluctant commenting on some guys hair, as awesome as it may be,to a total stranger.Maybe if Paul lived up here he would chance it and possibly get a positive response but you never know.
Mark
Hey Paul,
That's a great story.
I haven't been able to visit MLHH in awhile but when I do I see this positive post. We do need to see more of this. (and not just the $50 comment)
Daniel
Hey Daniel, I was hoping you were still around. It's good to hear your voice here again.
Paul
Yeah Paul I'm still around, just been to busy lately to stop by there for a few weeks.
Daniel
Despite his being with some longhairs, he could have bought into a not-infrequent longhair stereotype and thought you were homeless or poor. I say this because it happened to me once in St. Louis. I was sitting outside a doughnut shop one morning with my mouth full eating a doughnut when a very dressed up yuppie type came out of the shop with a big bag of doughnuts for himself and a bag with one doughnut which he gave to me. My mouth was full so I just nodded and by the time I could have spoken, he had already gotten into his very new expensive car and driven off. It was clear then that he had seen me sitting there when he went in, felt I needed to be fed, and decided to buy one doughnut to give to me.
I guess I'm gonna hafta look scruffier. You got fifty bucks, and I only got a doughnut!
Bill
Lol! Yeah, that is pretty funny Bill.
I don't think this guy thought I was homeless or anything. Although I dress casual most of the time, my "go shopping" clothes are the best WalMart has to offer. Hehe.
If he thinks I'm poor, well he's dead on. Having 5 kids will damn sure keep you spending.
But if I hadn't spoken to his friend in the first place, I don't think he'd gave me that card.
Paul
Great story Paul! I see a number of longhairs at the local supermarket but words are never spoken. Maybe its time to break the silence!
Bruce
I'm sure it is. It's ok to say something like "nice car" or "that's a cool hat, where did you find it?" It even seems to be ok to mention someone's beard. Head hair? Touchy subject. Why? Cause of all the crap the hair haters throw around concerning longhair. Most longhairs just don't want to hear anything else about it. "Just leave me alone and let me grow my hair."
It's not really that hard to say something positive about someone's hair and stay "manly". Personally, I don't care if their hair is nice or scraggly, the only thing I care about; they choose to grow it out and defy all those who give them a hard time about it. I usually just grin and say, "Hey! Another hippie! Alright!" Then they want to get into a conversation about hair.
Or, you could mention the hyperboard to 'em and tell them how we like to trash talk all the hair hating bosses and stuff.
Paul
I never have a problem telling a guy with long hair that his hair is really nice. I don't see a difference between telling a woman her hair is nice, or a man. If it's nice hair, it's nice hair. As long as guys don't mind hearing it, I will continue to compliment them. But if you guys think it may make them uncomfortable I won't because I wouldn't want to do that.
Generally, when I am giving a hair compliment, I keep it simple and do it "drive by". Depending on the appearance of the person, some variation on "Great Hair", say it and keep going. Oh, and make sure my hair is down/visible...so there is "professional courtesy". If they wish to continue the conversation, they can, or they can say thank you, or they can let it go. The reaction I get (predictably) is "Thanks, you too!" but sometimes a conversation ensues...no response is rare, and I don't think I've ever gotten a negative response.
Personally, I'm not too keen on being called a hippy, but in most cases it is meant favorably, so I let that go.
The dynamic changes when it is two very long hairs...either it is very brief, or pretty involved...and I know that I have received (and given) discounts based on mutual very long hair!
Did you give one to that hippie sitting across from me on the 44 O'Shaughnessy a couple of months back? After his comment to me about my overall grooviness, I mentioned how long your hair was when you let it down, and he said, "That is way too long for a guy. Yuck."
Well, as I recall, you also had more teeth than he had....
Bill
Heh. I wasn't driving, so no discount there!
Yeah, the simple "drive by" acknowledgment is the usual way I compliment another longhair. Much more and they might think you're coming on to 'em or something. The reactions I get are much the same.
I don't really like calling another longhair a "hippie" as some may see that as derogatory (don't know why). But most longhairs have been called a hippie at one time or another so it's kind of like an inside joke.
I have looked over at a stranger while standing in line and asked, "you think it's time for a trim yet?" That one rarely falls flat and they mostly respond with "oh, hell no", or "after you" and laugh. The best thing is the weird looks from the shorthaired hearing this. lol. It really messes with their heads. (Oh god, they're taking over!)
Paul
Yeah, I've found that to be the case in what others say to me. Now that I have a long beard, I get comments on that quite a bit. Before I had the long beard, I would get comments on my look in general, on hippies in general, on the shirt I was wearing, or occasionally on a bandanna I was wearing. I almost never got hair comments. Yet, if I did not have the long hair, I would have gotten few (if any) of the other comments.
So I just take my clue from what others say to me, and I don't specifically mention hair much unless they seem open to it. If a guy has clearly spent a lot of time on his hair beyond just washing it, combing it, and growing it, he is apt to appreciate comments - an example of this would be a man with awesomely neat and long dreads - and I might say something then.
Truthfully, it is really obvious to both me and another longhair that we are both longhairs, so we don't have to talk about it and whose hair is longest, just like two black dudes aren't going to talk about both being black and whose skin is blackest.
Long beards are RARE though, and that is probably why they get discussed.
When you have a foot long beard, you can do just about anything and come off as "manly", but my experience is that the rules about what you say to other men about their looks don't change.
Hell, I don't have to say anything. The smile alone says it. What ensues after that is most often just the small talk that everyone says is missing nowadays. Well, it isn't so much, when you encounter your own kind.
I'd only do that if they sounded like they needed support. Otherwise, it comes off the same way as talking about their hair does. Believe it or not, most longhairs are perfectly happy with their situation and are accepted by the crowd they run with, which may have few if any longhairs in it. Tell someone like that to go to a support site, and you'll come off as not as a savior but as a creep.
On the other hand, if someone really does need support, this site can be seen as a godsend. Anyone who's been around here for awhile should be able when talking to a longhair to tell the difference.
Bill
talk about beards my goatie is getting longer
Birdman
checking to see if my pic still exists
Yes, and I see your beard still exists, too!
Bill
I'm gonna have to do my Christmas shopping in Alabama from now on.
Talk about Southern Hospitality! LOL
If your thinking of Harleys and you ever find yourself up in my neck of the woods I'll take you to the plant (they do tours)
Kevin
That would be cool. Thanks.
Hi Kevin,
Yea, I love plant tours of manufacturing facilities.There is nothing more cool than seeing how things are built.The last automotive tour I did was at the GM plant in Linden,NJ which unfortunately is a wasteland now since it closed down and has been demolished.I've done brewery tours too which are cool.Anyway here's to longhair compliments for the guys and factory tours!CHEERS:)
Mark
Well aren't you the lucky ones! I've visited the presidental villas a few times and not even a word of that tour. Must be southern favouritism..rofl!
Cheers,
John.B
Well you'll just have to come back!
I'm always holding back something to keep my guests returning.
I'll gas up the Rav.
Kevin
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Wow, Paul, that is really cool. That guy was really generous. A lot of biker clubs do charitable stuff. Seeing that you have 5 children, (I thought you had only 3.) consider it a blessing in this down economy. Hopefully you will be able to afford a Harley someday. I have heard it said that raising just one child to age 18 costs about $250,000. At that rate, 5 would cost about $1,250,000.
Scott
Hey Scott, we had 3 until a year ago. Our youngest was born of the 20th of Dec. (He just had his first birthday) and we took in my nephew from foster care. He's 14 and been living with us for little over a year now.
Haha, but all those dependents helps you out in Tax season!
Paul
Very cool Paul. I always get in a mixed feeling situation when I see a fellow longhair that I want to tell "right on!" Majority think it's a come on when it isn't so I usually keep my mouth shut, but that's the way it goes sometimes.