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The other half and I spent a long weekend with friends in Switzerland and I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of other long-hairs there. My own locks were on the receiving end of a lot of positive attention both from locals and also the cabin crew and some of the passengers on the flight back.
There was one incident that left me feeling uneasy, and that was while standing on the platform in Geneva waiting for the train to the airport. This strange-looking guy gave me a weird look and then started walking around us staring at me the whole time. I haven't a clue what he was up to, and he boarded the train and sat across the aisle from us and kept staring. It was quite disconcerting, but we lost sight of him when we arrived at the airport.
There's an old story. God created Switzerland, and all the other countries were jealous because of the beauty of the mountains and lakes. Then God created the Swiss to compensate!
Those people can be charming and can be bloody minded with their conformity and addiction to "The System". I had four years at Fribourg University and know what I'm talking about. I lived for a short while in Lausanne and often went to places like Bern and Zürich.
The Geneva lot are about as bad as the people in Basle. Response to "Hello, good morning" in Basle - a dirty look and "Ugh!". It's about time we Brits went in there with our Empire!!! :)
And I had short hair in those days!
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I had a great time and thought the people were really friendly, but then I was with local friends, which always makes a difference.
The Brits have been and done that in the days of the Grand Tour, which explains a few things. :-)
I loved how efficient and well-organised everything was. We could really learn a lot from them in terms of synchronised timetables on public transport etc.
WOW, what a weird experience re. that strange guy staring at you. Occasionally I've experienced a few strange stares; but fortunately not to the extent of that guy that you just described. I look at it this way: HE is the one with the problem, not you!!
Thankfully the many compliments and favorable comments you received during your trip will far outweigh this one negative experience; but still, it's not easy to know what to do about a weirdo like that!
On another topic...
I hope you give us an update with pics of your hair soon, it's been awhile, Viking!
Take Care,
Ken in San Francisco
Thanks, Ken.
As requested:
WOW - you've got some incredible length - great braid! Looking good, Mr. Viking!
Fitz
Awesome braid !
The Spaf Man
Just to play devil's advocate... there are many times I see a random man with awesome long hair down the street / at the local store or whatnot.
I do feel like complimenting them on their hair, in a "rock on" sort of a way, but I always feel if I look too much, stare too carefully or give them a compliment, it might freak them out, or be interpreted as a "weirdo move" ;) hehe.
So I avoid 2 things: Turning my head after really hot women, and turning my head after men with awesome manes :D Hahaha
You are a gentleman! If I see something I like, I look... I think I have perfected looking without getting too weird about it, but I do, indeed, soak up the beauty I behold with these eyes of mine...
Thought of this post just toway, while standing in line at the local supermaket.
The guy in front of me in line, had some really nice, long, dark brown, fine hair pulled up in a wavy manbun which looked absolutely awesome!
I was thinking to myself... be a man, Raul! Let him know his hair rocks! Do it! DO IT!
And..
I didn't :D Hehe.. I guess I would have loved to be approached by either a woman finding my and my hair attractive, or by a man growing his hair our thinking my hair looked awesome, and yet, I couldn't bring myself to just tap him on the shoulder, and out of nowhere go, DUDE, Rad HAIR man!
Maybe next time!
I do that too. :-) I don't mind people looking or even touching in some cases, but I felt very uneasy about this guy walking around and around us staring. I wasn't sure if he was going to give me a compliment, reach for the scissors or try to grab my backpack.
Now TOUCHING is really strange notion to me.
Are you saying that some people you don't even know just come to you on the street and touch your hair?!
I mean, I am all for touching the hair of co-workers and friends, but strangers?! If someone were to do that to me without be giving my permission first, they might end up with a less than friendly reply ;)
It happens to me all the time. It's usually women. They seem to assume they have the right to touch a man's hair. There have been a few times when someone has walked up behind me and tugged my braid. I tend to tell them where they can go and what they can do when they get there. I don't understand why they usually seem to be shocked at getting a negative reaction. After all, pulling a complete stranger's hair is perfectly normal behaviour, isn't it?
Others are more polite and ask questions about how long I've been growing it and what my haircare routine is. I don't mind chatting to them and if they ask permission to touch my hair, I usually let them.
I had that happen once on a city bus. I figured he just thought I was hot and left it at that. My guess is that in absentia I helped him jerk off as soon as he got home. [grin]
Just as strange, I've occasionally taken an available seat next to someone and they'd immediately get up and move to another seat. This struck me as, "What power I do wield!" They probably thought hippies have cooties.
Bill
Maybe it's good that they get up and go to another seat, since riding in a bus with a vacant seat on the side is much more comfortable hahaha. In Brazil this doesn't happen with too much frequency because, since the buses around here are always crowded, any vacant seat next to a stranger around here is a miracle.
I've never had that happen. I usually get the ones who want to chat when all I want to do is read.
I never try to read on the bus. There is too much going on for me to get deeply into anything else. I'm one of those guys where "real world" trumps cyberspace or other diversions. My hearing is not the best, so I key in heavily on what I see. Also because I don't hear much, I'm not comfortable blinding myself to what is going on by continually staring at something. On the other hand, despite my poor hearing, my personality is "outgoing". People have different strengths and weaknesses, and different personalities. This comes out when we find ourselves together in a place like on the bus.
When I see someone lost in their devices or other diversions, I leave them alone if I notice, but sometimes I just don't, because I never find myself in that mode. I'm also outgoing. That's just my nature, and it's likely the nature of those who chat you up.
Bill
Well, Viking, if your hair looked anything like how you look in your avatar photo, I'd probably stare at you, too. I agree with Ken - share a new update photo sometime.
And good to hear from you.
fitz...
Thanks, Fitz
Hi Viking..
I'm glad you had a good trip.. I would just think of him as someone who secretly wants hair like yours.... (I know I do..)
All the best... The Spaf Man
Thanks, Spaf Man
Hi Viking,
I am happy to hear you had a nice trip (aside from the weirdo)! It's always good to get compliments that's for sure! I would love to visit Switzerland someday. It sure is beautiful.
Ted