new thread
I just responded to a post by Antinous below where he mentioned that he was told that men can't have long hair because they don't know how to care for it.It implies that its instinctive in women how to properly care for longhair from birth so its OK for them to have it if they choose.On the flip side men never got that gene at birth so their hair, should it be long,will always look like a rats nest!lol.So after thinking about that I thought it would be fun to ask the following question in a quick survey.
What bogus reasons were given to you as to why men shouldn't have long hair?
Thought it would be interesting to see all the reasons condensed in one thread.Anyway have at it and lets see where it goes.Cheers
Mârk
To be honest, I think the whole genetics argument is a load of rubbish. You just have to compare the condition of men's and women's hair to see the lie there. Men's hair tends to be in better condition overall because we don't usually do anywhere near as much styling, colouring etc as women do.
I've lost track of the number of times women have asked me what I do to maintain my hair. The advice I give is usually along the lines of wash and condition it, but otherwise leave it alone.
I would point out in a number of cases women's hair doesn't look
as good as men's because the women color their hair,
straighten their hair, perm their hair, or do things
like take medication that leads to hair loss.
I agree these arguments are a bunch of rubbish and should be treated as such.Most women wreck their own hair with all these harsh chemical treatments which longhaired guys seldom do to themselves.I've colored my own hair but with natural product so no damage there:)At least for me I can let negative comments roll off my shoulders but thankfully I haven't received any in recent memory.Cheers
Mârk
OK Mark, I think probably the most common reason men get for why they shouldn't wear long hair is that it makes them look "like a girl". I suppose my thick full beard and mustache are completely invisible to them. Short hair on a woman doesn't seem to make them look like a man though again for obvious reasons. Oh Well!
peace, jonalbear
Hi JB,
Yea, that "looks like a girl" argument seems to be the most common reason and it is funny how invisible a beard is to them too!LOL.Hey, great pic of you BTW:) I can't think of any legitimate reason why you should not have longhair!Cheers
Mârk
I must confess, there have been a few times when I've thought, "She's got great hair," and then had to cross off the "S".
Yes, i heard all the reason. "You look like a girl, etc" however I remember countless times a woman or women hace cooed over my hair and wished theirs was as nice, silky, smooth, etc. Sometimes expressing exasperation as to why mens hair, when long, was always so beautiful. It simply is a matter of environment and care, true.
It's funny whenever a reason is given as to why a guy shouldn't have long hair it never holds water.Interesting how none of their reasons can be taken seriously but I think its because they don't know themselves so they just come up with ridiculous reasons.Guess we'll never be totally accepted except by ourselves:)Cheers
Mârk
Hey Mark! :-)
When I was younger, a "Nibby School Teacher" in Grade School told me several times that I should get my hair cut because "Birds would build a nest in it!" LOL :-) The 1st time I laughed which didn't make her all too happy, and either the 3rd or 4th time I was sent to the main office for laughing at her! Luckily, back in those years the teachers name were listed in the phone books, and so my Dad gave her a call and set her straight. She never said it again. My own Dad had long hair when young, but this was common in the early 1900's when many boys had non-stop growth long hair up until the age of 5 years old or so. This teacher was probably born late 30's? She was quite the study as I remember. (A complete study in stupidity.) But she DID go to church every Sunday and of course the depictions of Jesus with his long hair were deemed ok.
So, no Rats Nest for me. Birds! LOL :-)
Hope all has been well with you. Take care Mark.
Justin~
Hi Justin~
That was a cool story about your past school days and what a strange comment from that teacher.Very cool your dad set her straight with that phone call but I don't think that would work in today's climate.I'm sure its in the teachers union contract that they aren't supposed to have to deal with parents complaints. Anyway I'll deal with a birds nest on my head instead of risking sunburn;)Cheers my friend.
Mârk
I've heard all the common ones, but the one that bothers me the most is the one from the military. When I was in the Air Force, it was explained to us that men were required to shave facial hair and maintain a short haircut because it ensured equipment would fit properly and wouldn't become a hazard during combat. I'll give them the facial hair because it would be impossible for a gas mask to form a proper seal on a bearded face, but I call BS on the haircut part. Not only do I disagree with their logic, but they allow women in uniform to have long hair. I personally believe that unequal requirement makes the military guilty of sexism.
Very good Michael as that is a very good reply to my survey.Just the kind of input I was hoping to get.Even though I agree with you on the beard part, due to gas mask usage, longhair can always be secured under those beautiful helmets they love to wear!LOL.Yea, funny how the women can keep their longhair while the guys have submit to ugly buzzcuts.Thankfully I never participated in that institution.Cheers
Mârk
Mark,
I've heard them all, but probably some of the most idiotic ones included the fact that we Men lack women's sexual anatomy to "are you going to wear a dress and high heels too?"
by this idiotic reasoning it is as if women are "entitled" to grow their hair because they are women and Men should not because they are Men. you'd be surprised at how many imbeciles actually believe such b.s.
common sense is not prevalent among the masses.
Hi Paul,
Yes, that certainly has to be a top 5 in the bogus argument department why guys need to keep their hair short.Heavens to Betsy a guy should look anything other than bald and fat!Certainly have to admit their are enough of them around but you are correct that argument is El Stupido.Thanks for your input my friend.Cheers
Mârk
OMG, Mark, to be honest, I've mentally and emotionally "blocked that all out" -- remembering that would remind me too much of my anti-longhair bigot of a dad (LOL, but true!)...
Hmmmm, let's see.... "Women would kill to have hair like yours!" is one of my all-time favorites, -- so I think I'll stop at that one!!
- Ken
Hi Ken,
I think you kind of nailed it.I can imagine the number of women who get insanely jealous over a guy with much nicer hair than their own.With that said they will criticize the poor guy and shame him into getting a haircut.You give me too much credit being your own hair is waaaayyyy up their in the high end department;) Cheers
Mârk
I was told by a VERY attractive woman - which both p*ssed me off and hurt my feelings - that I should cut my hair "because girls are supposed to have long hair and boys are supposed to have short hair and thats just the way it is supposed to be." She couldnt / wouldnt elaborate or explain WHY. Just kept saying "because boys arent supposed to have long hair. No other explanation that "just because". She was so adamant and venemous about her stance on long hair that it was very insulting. And she was a young lady around 25ish and from the "big city" so I would not have expected that from her. From an old lady from the country or back woods, maybe. But not from somebody who looked and acted so modern.
Hi Element,
I have to say not only is that a bogus reason it's also "NO" reason!So she couldn't even back up her own argument? That is very maddening.She obviously was brainwashed at a very young age to think like that.Very sad but I'm sure she'll find a short haired guy that will satisfy her closed minded opinions.
Mârk
1) You look like a girl! (Under the weird impression that only females can have long hair.)
2) You look like a hippie! (under the wrong impression that long hair is no longer in fashion - apparently unaware that 'retro' is in fact extremely fashionable.)
3) You look like a homeless bum! (Under the impression that men have long hair only coz they can't afford a haircut. God forbid we have it simply coz we prefer it.)
4) You look like a drug addict! (Yeah right, all long-haired men do drugs; short-haired men lead faultless lives.)
5) You look like a wannabe rockstar! (Right, so only rockstars can have long hair; the rest of us have to look like mindless clones.)
6) You don't look businesslike! (I'll tell Richard Branson that.)
7) You look weird! (Only coz the person saying it is a boring unimaginative sheep.)
8) It's against the rules! (Yup - rules made by some balding fat guy who's jealous, some woman who perceives it as a threat to woman-only territory, or some other control-freak.)
9) You look disgusting! (A bit vague that one - but I should point out that I keep my hair scrupulously clean!)
I'm sure there's more ...
Damon
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Hi Damon,
I'll give you the full five stars for your nine points of bogus reasons why men shouldn't have long hair.I'm sure some of these naysayers could think of may more dopey reasons to go with your nine but who cares what they think anyway.Hopefully the guys on the receiving end of these comments don't take them to heart and wear their hair with pride:) Cheers
Mârk
Thanks, Mârk! I'll treasure my five stars! :)
Cool sig, by the way. Love the a-circumflex!
Damon
Hi Hairball,
In my youth, instead of hearing that long hair doesn't look good on men, I heard that it just didn't look good on me :p . More recently, though, I've heard that it doesn't look professional enough. What an excuse, huh? It's good enough on women in the workplace, but not on men if they take good enough care for it :/ ? Sadly, what has this society become???
At least we're not as uptight as Japan is in the workplace ^_~ . I guess I can count my blessings on that ~o~ .....
Sincerely,
yoshiki
Hi yoshiki,
I'm surprised to read your comment about Japan being uptight.Now I've never been there but I see many Japanese around my area and frankly the young males who do grow their hair long look so awesome!There is something to be said about Asian longhairs.
I've never understood that about what is considered professional.I thought wearing a suit was being professional not so much the person in that suit having longish or longhair.Have to wonder who comes up with these standards anyway.Cheers
Mârk
Hi Hairball,
Well, to tell you the truth, I haven't been to Japan myself (would love to go there one of these days :D )... so I can't really say from experience - it's just what I have gathered from my friend in Japan and what he says when he talks about his workplace. From the formalities, the rigidness, the uniforms & name tags, everyone working as a team instead of as an individual, etc... just sounds pretty closed to things being different. I totally agree, the Japanese guys that I've seen with long hair totally rock, but I have the feeling that they're more on the periphery of society instead of the norm. I bet when they move to places where grown-out hair is more acceptable, if they want to, they go wild with it ^_~ !
I do know when I lived in China (for the two years that I did), that there weren't many long-haired Chinese men. The ones that had long hair, though, were perceived as thugs and gangsters. Then again, stereotypes run rampant... and it's been six years now since we have left, so things may have changed since then.
Anyways, just my two cents ;) . Until later ^_^ ~
Sincerely,
yoshiki
Well when i first tried growing out my hair when i was 15 i was told by family and friends that it didn't suit me and that i looked better with shorter hair. There was no strong parental opposition as i was still allowed to grow out my hair but not exactly any encouragement either. My folks just saw it as phrase that i was going through. Also got other comments that long hair didn't suit the shape of my head and i looked more handsome with it short and the women i dated when younger preferred it short or shaggy length only. With working never had any problems with being called unprofessional as i mostly worked outdoors doing manual work like gardening and landscaping work where hair length didn't matter too much. Most of my critics have been guys who were balding who would sometimes tease me. I believe that most of them were just jealous. For many years i would cut it short in summer and let it grow for 8 months in the winter. In Australia it is very common to see guys with long hair especially in the larger towns and cities. cheers duncan
Hi Duncan,
You have to love it when people are trying to be soooo helpful that they basically are saying you look like crap with longhair in hopes you'll cut it short to really look common as dirt.I wonder how many of people would ever tell a woman a certain aspect of them would look better if they changed it.Yea, I could see that going over well!LOL.
That's cool Australia is more or less longhair friendly:)Makes me want to visit the place someday.Anyway yet another lame reason why a guy shouldn't have longhair.When will it even end.Cheers
Mârk