new thread
Today I was standing at the bus stop by a busy street near my university when a guy who was driving past shouted at me "What the %$!* are you supposed to be!?" in a voice so shocked it cracked several times. I found this funny because today was one of the rare days that I was dressed in mainstream clothing, so the only reason he could have freaked out so much is because of my hair. Who knows what he would have done if he'd seen me in the flashy 80s rock style I usually wear.
After this happened, I was trying to think what I'd say if I actually wanted to answer the guy's question. "Who I want to be", or "your worst nightmare" are some possibilities that came to mind. Anyone have any better ideas?
Off-topic question: is there a rule regarding how often members can post photos? I have a cool one I'd like to share, but I just posted a photo a few days ago and I don't want to overstep my limit.
... thanx for that post Soren ... your example exemplifies why 'long-hairs' have guts, tenacity & steely strength of conviction ... & so many more qualities to long to list ... this is why I am so proud to be a long hair ... ur lack of response was the most dignified ... good on you & may you always hold your head high ... cheers CEM :O)
PS: = I may well exceed my pic. quota too = sorry everyone !!!! ;P ... hehe
Your hair is beautiful, and I like the effect of the sunlight on the colours. The photo I plan to post is in a similar style.
People have done this to me numerous times in the past. Frankly I think you handled the situation correctly. The real anomaly are those who choose to wear their hair short unless they're bald or in bad health. People are just ignorant because they're programmed by society and out of touch with nature. Long haired men are more pure as G-d had intended for His creation, which is a credit to us.
Sören, I thought you lived in Norway(?) where long hair is pretty common. I live in a city in southern England and long hair is so common here (at least in the uni part of town) that I hardly ever get a reaction to my hair. To my clothing yes (I also usually dress in "flashy 80s rock style"!) but not to my hair.
As to a suitable response ... How can you respond to total stupidity? My reaction would probably have been the same as yours: a stunned silence.
Giving a cutting retort to someone like that might be seen as disrespecting the mentally impaired and thus not politically correct. You might gently suggest he gets back on his medication. :)
Damon
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LOL, I live in America and have never even been to Norway. I've posted about the Swedish perspective on longhairs before, but my knowledge of Sweden is simply due to studying abroad there. But at my university long hair on guys is not so unusual, so I was really shocked to get such a reaction near campus.
I think you slightly misunderstood me; I didn't actually want to say anything to that guy, because I know it's not wise to talk back to rude, potentially unstable strangers. I was just thinking, hypothetically, of how I would answer the question if a response were called for.
I realised you were talking hypothetically. I just didn't phrase my answer very well. ;)
Yeah, I'm not surprised you were shocked. There are so many guys with long hair where I live (s studenty area) a remark like that would be totally bizarre. Sadly, my g/f lives in a more chavvy area and although no one has said anything yet, I do get slightly apprehensive waiting at the bus stop - especially coupled with the way I dress (band Ts, satin shirts, skinny jeans, studded belt, Converse, etc.). I'm kinda skinny but I figure maybe being over 6' tall will help keep them at bay ... I hope! Gulp! :)
Damon
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Sometimes it can be effective to answer a question with a question. You might try a response along these lines:
"An adult, human male. What's your excuse?"
--Val
P.S.--There's no real limit regarding how many pictures you share here. Just keep them on-topic, and don't post so many that it gets obnoxious.
And don't post the same picture over and over. Not at all saying you do, but some people have, and to use Validus's words, that "gets obnoxious".
Avatars are available to those who want to identify all their posts with a photo, and those who want to do that should get one.
Bill
That having been said though it may depend on how you are
posting to this board.
For example if you post directly from your cell phone or
a netbook connected to a cellular network you may have a
data limit that you have to avoid.
Post all the pix you want. I like your pix!
This would be unheard at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA on the Northern California coast where I still have a house there. With so many haired men in this University town, people who tend not to agree with this look just stay away from the area because of all the hippies there. Some people, M and F, dye their long hair in purple, blue, green, or pink, and then stroll thru town showing off this look. This just helps to keep those who don’t like long hair as far away as possible.
Many of the long haired men there major in computer tech or engineering to make sure they get a job just tying their hair back at the interview, and still get hired. A major consideration to go to HSU is that long hair is well accepted, and it’s a good school.
I think its better to post pictures attached to replies since this takes up the same space on the entry line. The only way to see the entire hairstyle front, back, and side is from multiple angles using many pictures
Don
Humboldt State University sounds like a cool place. Both the physical and social environment of my university leave a lot to be desired, but I can't change schools because I pay low tuition fees here, and saving money is my priority now. I know California is more open-minded than most of America, but it's also a very expensive place to live.
That really is an odd reaction since people who say that are just telling you that they've been living under a rock for the past 50 years or so and possibly have no clue at all that human hair grows...amazing.
Hair Religion
I used to get stuff like that back when i was in my teens and
twenties. Now that i'm 57, I no longer get that reaction.
Most of my relatives older than me have died off, and the many
older individuals I come in contact say nothing about my hair.
Since i'm in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War I encounter a number of older men, none of them say anything about
my hair.
I would also point i'm not the only one in the organization that
has long hair. There are a few others. It also helps that
i'm 57 years old now.