new thread
After evaluating things going on in my life and where I seem to be heading, I feel like it's time to move on from MLHH and see what is next for me. Having reached the goals I had for hair length, I want to thank those who gave me input--Absolom, Duncan, and Ian in particular. I have enjoyed my time here in the past, but I do not feel like I fit in here now. I wish you all well in your endeavors.
Steve
I must admit, I did wonder why your great picture, didnt seem to recieved much attention. I found myself wondering what did this guy do...
But do what makes you happy.
You look great.
Peace
I'm coming to a better understanding now about the importance of good communication. Thanks for your encouragement. Sure do appreciate it.
Sorry to hear you feel the need to leave the mlhh Steve but we all have our own reasons for participating in various forums or activities.Maybe we out grow them or just accomplish as much as we can with them.Whatever your reason it was a pleasure having you here as an active user.In my case I feel my hair has reached its pinnacle but still enjoy reading about other guys journeys to become a longhair.Also there is more to our users than just their hair and I enjoy learning more about others interests.Regardless I'm sure you have your reasons and I accept that fact.I wish you the best in the future both health and hair wise:)Thanks for being a part of mlhh and if you ever change your mind we will be here for you.Salute!
M$226;rk
Thanks. I appreciate it. After reading all the input my message received, I see a lot of the reasons that I didn't feel part of things was my own lack of communication. Thanks for the inspiration, Mark. I'll be sticking around.
I'm happy to hear your sticking with us Steve as this is a great community that helps one another:)I know it must have been hard to read the comments but if it helped you it was worth it.None of us are perfect so sometimes we need reminders from time to time.Anyway enjoy the rest of your weekend and see ya soon:)Cheers
Mârk
Good luck with your endeavors, and I certainly wouldn't mind if you swung by from time to time.
Steve
Please stop in from time to time.
Good Luck to you in all your ventures.
Walter White Tail
Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear that you feel you no longer "fit in" here, but I have an alternative idea I'd like to present to you. Here goes:
One of the ways users here get a lot of replies to their posts and updates, etc., is whenever a regular user is consistent with a few simple common courtesies -- like saying a simple "thank you" to those who have taken the time to reply to your update or give you positive feedback about your hair. If someone doesn't have the time to say a lot of individual thank you's to each person that responded, then at least a "group thank you" acknowledges that the original poster has indeed read all of the kind comments.
The same is true for whenever someone asks us a question, seeking advise from us. Many times, for example, I have gone out of my way to praise somebody's hair when they share an update, or to answer many users' questions in the past. However, if all I hear back from someone time after time is basically NOTHING -- no "thank you for your reply", nor "thank you for your kind words of encouragement", or even any acknowledgement that the original poster had even read my reply... then let me be honest: I lose interest in wasting my time replying to that person in the future, since they never seem to take any time responding back to me, not even saying even the simplest of expressions of appreciation or even a basic acknowledgement.
A great community of any kind happens whenever there is a lot of give-and-take, a shared caring for one another, especially shown by maintaining a few basic common courtesies -- which shows both gratitude and respect towards others.
I'm not saying I am "perfect" at this myself; but I definitely try to remember my manners as much as I can remind myself, even when on the internet!
Interestingly, it looks like many people have already taken the time to reply to this particular post, showing that they care, and giving you some wonderful positive comments for you to read... It will be interesting to see whether you take the time in return to say even a short basic thank you to the group. I don't need an individual reply if you don't have time, nor of course am I expecting a bouquet of flowers or a fancy new sports car for all of the times I've replied to you in the past and heard not even a peep acknowledging that you read any of my past responses -- just SOMEthing acknowledging that I took some time out of my day to give you some feedback would be nice!
I apologize for sounding a little harsh here; but you are far from the only one who has posted regular threads on MLHH who seems to not know the value of saying a simple thank you.
Sincerely,
Ken in San Francisco
Hi Ken,
I think you were forthright but offered a fair assessment of the situation.
Steve,
You seem like a genuinely nice guy and I for one don't want you to leave the community. Although your name has never been mentioned specifically, the matter of making no responses *ever* to those who take the time to respond to your posts has become pretty obvious. It's just human nature to want some acknowledgement even if it's a group thank you as Ken outlined. After this has gone on for a long time, it's not surprising that you didn't receive much feedback for your latest update.
Jason
Jason, I really appreciate the wake-up call from both you and Ken. I really didn't know my personal comments would make that much difference to anyone. I haven't ever given myself all that much credit in that area, I guess. Now that I'm aware that the problem lies with me, I would like to stay and give it another go, if you don't mind. Again, sorry for the fault on my end. Thanks.
I never thought of it that way. I always thought I was contributing a pretty large part of myself here on the board and have really tried to be an encouragement in the past. I won't say that I'm perfect at that, because we can always improve no matter how hard we try at things like that.
To be truthful, I can't ever thank you guys enough for all the encouragement and support you've given me in the past. I don't have many friends in person who share the interest in long hair that I do. At times, you all have been the only ones I could talk to about it because you were the only ones who really understood. If I have ever caused anybody to want to back away, making them think that I don't care about them, etc., I'd like to say I'm sorry, because that was never my intention at all.
I will make it a point to be more personable and more giving. Thanks for pointing it out.
Steve
------------
It is sad to see you go, Steve. It is possible that you would fit in better if you interact a bit more with others here. I have Asperger's, and yet, still manage to interact with many of the other longhairs here.
You have incredibly thick hair, much thicker than mine, and I do like seeing your updates. Again, God has blessed you with a great mane.
Scott
Hey, Scott. Thanks for your input; it really helped me see that I need to adopt a better way of communicating. The guys here are all great and almost everyone has really helped me get to where I am now. I see now that I do need to interact more and become more a part of things. Thanks for the suggestions. We'll give it a go.
Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear that you don't feel a part of this community. However like Ken and Jason and others say it's nice to contribute both to posting progress pictures and to acknowledge other people's replies. Give and take so to speak. I have enjoyed your interactions here and am pleased to have helped you along on your long hair journey. I would be genuinely sorry to see you go as I feel that you have so much to offer others in way of inspiration and helpful advice to the newbies and others only just starting out on hair growing as well as the more established long term long hair veterans. I remember how back in July 2008 I visited this long hair forum for the first time and how it greatly helped me on my long hair journey. As well as that my consciousness has shifted considerably in being enriched by the great diversity of members here. Members from different backgrounds, from teenagers to senior citizens, conservative to liberal, religious and atheists, straight and gay, all of which can bring people together that share the common passion for long hair. You do belong here Steve and I think of you as yet another Long Hair Hyperboard success story.
Cheers,
Duncan
Thanks, bro. I appreciate that. As you probably read by now, I do see their point and also see I spoke too soon about leaving. I really do want to be a better inspiration, just like you've been to me. I won't be going anywhere. Cheers.
Would hate to see you leave, Steve. Your presence here contributes much in your own quiet way. It's the diversity of different personalities (as well as hair types/colors) here that make this board special.
Stick around - we love you!
Hugs,
- Oren
Thanks, my friend!
Hi Steve, and first off, thanks for the mention. I'm so pleased to hear you are now going to stick around. Even now, when I have the buzz cut to end all buzz cuts imposed upon me by my "condition" it's good still be considered a part of this forum. You have been my inspiration and mentor in the past, and even now, I still feel like a "longhair" so stick with it and continue to inspire the next generation. Best regards, Ian
Thanks, Ian. God be with you, my friend!
I've been part of this forum since its begining. Little Bird was a teenager, Jason was with his hair by his ears and John had a fringe!! So long that it allowed me to grow my hair and cut it off super short many times and then grow it back again. Now it's short and growing again and guys like you are for me like incons of longhair. I think sometimes we don't notice our importance in a context, but other people do. You may think you don't fit in here anymore, but many people will miss you if you leave. I think it's not a question about "fitting", it's about "being part of something". I think all of us belong in here. Like Duncan said the diversity and respect that we find here makes us part of this. I'd hate to see anybody leaving. Even short haired now and future longhaired again, I feel longhaired at heart as I suppose everyone here feels and that keeps us united and being part of this, it's part of our identities. Please reconsider it. Happy New Year everbody (I'm a bit late, but life has been crazy around here... LOL)
;-)
Thanks, Walter. I appreciate that.
I don't know how many times I've wished I never left that first post. But, you have been great in helping me learn that I need to work on my own communication. Thanks for the inspiration!
Steve
Thanks so much for your reply to me personally (below), as well as your comments here, I much appreciate both, Steve!!
We are all learning and growing (hair, as well as "otherwise" - LOL); so no worries about your original post re. leaving. I suppose we've all felt that way at times.
I'm so glad to hear you're going to stick around -- as you can tell by all the responses you've received, nobody here want to see you go!
Take care, and thanks again for your kind comments!
Long Lox 4ever,
Ken in San Francisco
I wish you would not leave the hyperboard. Maybe your next step is to be apart of the people who run this hyperboard. The leaqders of this hyperoard would probqb,ly need your help. Ask them qbout it.
Birdman
Hi Steve,
I sure hope you stick around MLHH. I for one, have always liked seeing your hair when you post photos. It is the members who have hair like yours who inspire me to keep growing. Unfortunately I don't get to see any current updates of many of our members' hair. I bet there are some great heads of hair on our members here.
I feel you very much fit in here and hope you keep posting updates of your wonderful hair. Please don't leave and take care of yourself and your hair. We need you here.
Ted
Thanks for the encouragement, Ted. Have been doing some more thinking and I realized I "jumped the gun" a little. It happens. At any rate, I'll be around. Thanks again.
Hey Steve,
I might be new here and don't know you well enough yet, but upon reading the lovely comments you've received from other members here, I believe you see and feel just how appreciated you are around here :)
Guys like you inspire me, would be nice If you stuck around and taught us "newbies" more about the fun and turbulations of growing long hair!
Thanks. Sometimes a guy has to be reminded that he has the capability of making a difference. To tell you the truth, I didn't think I did. Thanks for the encouragement.