new thread
Hi Hairy People,
I guess it's confession time: Dear Hairy Father in Heaven, I think I have sinned!
I want to take this opportunity to apologize to any of our newcomers here who are too shy to show a pic of their face to us yet. I don't mean to be cruel or too demanding or sarcastic in my comments to anyone only willing to reveal a pic of the back of their head for me to look at, -- it's just that I'm a bit "cruel" and "demanding" and "sarcastic" by nature (LOL)!!
As far as any of you long-time regulars here who only post pics of the backs of your head... Well, now that's a different (and meaner) story!
I guess my pet peeve re. this issue is this: if you wish for me to say hello to you after introducing yourself, or sharing a recent update on how your hair is doing, wouldn't it be nice to at least show SOME PORTION of your face in that picture?
Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned; but, in "real life", if someone were to turn their back towards me after introducing themselves or trying to engage me in a conversation, I would interpret that as rather cold and inhuman thing to do.
So, I'd like to propose a solution for those who hesitate for any reason in not wishing to reveal a pic of their face on this site: How about revealing at least a LITTLE BIT of your face, then? As I mentioned in my reply to Bill earlier, below, long hair is so PERFECT for helping to conceal whatever portion of your face you don't wish the outside world to be able to recognize! A little bit of face, though, can make all the difference in the world in me wishing to say a hearty "Welcome!, -- or, NOT....
Just an idea from a long-time longhaired, sometimes cranky, old geezer here...
- Ken in San Francisco
Oops. Guess I played into the pet peeve this last time. I really thought I was uploading one of the front pics. Oh well. Hopefully the link to the blog with containing "full frontals" made up for it...
Actually, I was NOT thinking about your update at all, because you provided a link to more pics -- including several shots of your face in front. I thought your update was just great!!!!
I was more referring to guys who ONLY show us the back of their head... which to me, often looks like I'm talking to a wig (LOL)!!
Thanks for your reply!
- Ken
I understand completely. But I understand why some people are hesitant to show their face. For me back when I started growing my hair I was getting a lot of crap from my family for doing so. Had they found me on this site posting my pictures I'm sure it wouldn't have gotten better. To them and most of my friends at the time, it was unheard of to have such a desire and want to grow your hair out.
But now I don't have to worry about that thankfully haha.
Thanks for your reply, Ceasar!
It's good for me to be reminded of other's family situations (and other difficult circumstances)... It was a long, looooong, looooooooong time ago that I was a teenage still living at home!
My only worries about any family member disapproving of seeing my longhaired pics would be that of my flat-topped military-loving father rolling over in his grave (but he can't get out of his permanent "home" beneath the soil in order to view any of my current pics now - LOL)....
Ah, to be young and worried about such things!
Thanks again, Ceasar!
- Ken
I'm not so sure I go for the "hair blowing in front of your face" ploy, simply because windblown hair doesn't show your hair in a particularly flattering state. That said, many of us do post such pictures for fun, and most often those who do that also post more serious pictures that show what their hair is actually like.
As for not showing your face, the site allows that. It also allows using an anonymous name. We all surely agree we'd rather have a longhair come here that way rather than not at all, should he be too under too much pressure off line. These guys are the ones who probably need the support we provide here the most.
That said, be aware that:
1. Hair looks a lot better with a face than without it. A mane seems incomplete without the face that goes with it.
2. People can't give good feedback on what you might do to improve your looks if they haven't seen the whole package. They can't tell your approximate age, the shape of your face, how long your neck is, whether you have facial hair, or even if you are male.
3. Long time users here know that most people who post with their real name or with their face shown are genuine, while a substantial number of people who don't post that way are frauds. This is not saying to anyone, "You are," but rather, that you will find the path to acceptance to be a lot shorter if you are open as to who you are.
In closing, I would point out that there is no closet for longhairs. Everyone on the street knows you are longhaired, so you are not revealing anything people don't know already by posting here.
Bill
EXACTLY!!
I guess that's why it's one of my pet peeves to only see the back of someone's head... I'll eventually "get over it"; but I'm thinking that in most cases AT LEAST if someone shows maybe a semi-profile back-of-the-head shot, instead of a literal dead-on back shot (that makes it look like a wig floating on an assumed attached body), that would be an improvement!
Thanks for the reply, Bill! Also, on another topic...
I'll be forwarding an e-mail to you privately re. the upcoming Beard Championships soon!
Long Lox 4ever,
Ken
Hi Ken,
Like I've said before I reckon they must have something to hide..lol! In that case put a bag over your head!
Cheers,
John.B
Hi John,
Many MANY people have told me how much better I look with a bag over my own head -- the only problem with that is then they are unable to see how nice my hair looks... I guess that means I'll have to cut a hole in the top of the bag in order to show off my glamorously long hair (LOL)!!
- Ken
Well Ken, for those old enough to remember there was this GREAT game show known as....you guessed it "The Gong Show"!LOL.And if you ever seen it they had this guy at times wearing that shopping bag over his head telling REALLY bad jokes.Now wonder he became known as The Unknown Comic.No internet to hide from back then though.
Mark
I guess I should apologize here aswell, as in my picture I posted a couple of months ago was off the back of my head.
I am a long time supporting of men with long hair.
So here's a frontal picture.
Please excuse my tongue etc, it was actually a picture I uploaded originally to a piercing site. Haha.
Keep on growing guys!
Hi Aamie,
Now that's what I would call a bonafide proper facial pic also showing your hair.Now isn't it cool we also see you are into piercings.Goes great with longhair too!So thank you for setting a good example.Cheers
Mark
I love the existence of body art. It really mixes in with expressing yourself. I personally don't have any tattoos - just my piercings. And long hair on men (and on women!) is an expression of who they are! The discrimination disgusts me. Good day :-)
And your red hair is drop-dead GORGEOUS as well, I might add!!!!
Thanks for the reply, Aamie!
- Ken
Hey Ken,
That's quite a statement but I have to agree with every word of it.In a way I might see why some people might not want to show their face but in the case of our community I don't see why it would be an issue.It's not like you are being inappropriate displaying yourself and don't want others to recognize you.We are here as friends and you certainly don't turn your back to a friend.So show your face and be proud of your hair:) That's all.Nothing sinister about that ...right!So good for you saying what's on your mind because as friends we can take it:)
Mark...in slushy New Jersey
Thanks so much for the reply, Mark!
Ahhhh, slush!! I remember it well... (back in the day of when I used to live in weather country like yours - LOL)
Looking forward to chatting w/ you this weekend!
Later,
Ken
I can understand your point, and to a large extent I agree. It does help connect people and goes a long way to building community if we all know each other. By which I mean putting a photo of yourself on the internet involves a leap of trust; and that can be difficult.
I grew up on an internet before facebook, and social networking. It was unheard of, almost taboo, to post personal information online. Though I've changed somewhat from that mindset since then, I'm sure a lot of people are still like that, and aren't willing to completely trust people online they've never met.
And, almost as if to prove a point, here's a webcam pic I just took. This'll be my third pic uploaded here: my first one was 'back of head'; and the second time included a 'before' picture. I've been lurking/posting for about a year, I think, and I admit that I wasn't sure whether to trust 'strangers' on the internet with my likeness at first. However, after time spent here, infrequently posting, I've come to place a level of trust with the people on this site. (Off on a tangent, this is the first portrait pic I've taken where I had to curl my tail up to fit it all in!)
So, my perspective is trust. And I think that though most of us have come to accept this board as 'safe', not everyone has yet, or even will.
Hi Jowii,
Well, now I need to apologize for maybe talking out of both sides of my mouth a little bit here...
In my opinion, it is STILL a good idea to NOT completely trust people online that you've never met before. This site is very carefully moderated to help prevent sleazy and slimy human snakes from doing too much damage to innocent and unsuspecting good-hearted MLHH regulars, especially since most human snakes historically have a taste for targeting the YOUNGEST users of any website board like this (meaning, unfortunately, guys in your age bracket)...
It never hurts to always use a little bit of CAUTION and WISDOM re. posting either photos or personal information.
I'm not a parent; but, I am an uncle to 6 beautiful nieces and 3 great-looking nephews. Judging from your pic, you are roughly somewhere in their age group (my oldest nephew being 25 now; my youngest niece being still 17).
Please don't be TOO trusting, -- there's a reason why MLHH has all the Moderators that we have here (I know, because I used to be one of them), as well as there are other things in place to help protect our regular users from people who are genuinely UP TO NO GOOD --if they can get away with it...
I have met many a "wolf in sheep's clothing" in my lifetime. Sometimes they are slithering around on the Internet, prowling around for their next unsuspecting victim to give them a seemingly "friendly" e-mail; sometimes they can come from right next door (as was the case of an evil man who victimized 3 of my nieces in IL)... So, please PLEASE don't be too trusting, Jowii. I'm not saying this to try and scare you; but saying this as an uncle who once had his heart broken, because 3 of his favorite nieces were all too trusting of a man who SEEMED "safe" to be around, but unfortunately wasn't.
- Ken in San Francisco
So many people show themselves and suffer no ill effect yet a few claim doom and damnation may fall upon them if they show any part of their face.
As Bill said your welcome to be anonymous yet people will always treat you with a bit of suspicion. It's like going to a big party with a paper bag over your head and you refuse to take it off. People will be different towards you.
I'm not particularly handsome (understatement) but I don't wear bags to parties, perhaps I should give it a try though.
LOL
Kevin
I know, ain't that the truth!!
Hey Kevin, next time you visit SF, we should try that idea together (it's too lonely doing it all by myself here, although folks who know me and recognize me by my voice will tell me how much more handsome I look w/ the bag on - LOL)....
Thanks for the reply, Kevin!
- Ken
Good idea!
I'm sure if we cruise the bars with bags on our heads we'd probably get hit on a lot.
Beware SF !!
Good one Walter.
I think you said it very well Ken. There are a few longtime posters here who never post a pic and we accept them, but even they are regarded with suspicion sometimes.
A new poster should include a pic. I think they should want to show off their hair, wth? I'm damn proud of my mane... even on the days it looks like straw.
Paul