new thread
Prejudice. I was thinking today. When someone asked on the board why a guy would cut their hair short, I decided that it was good to reply, because not all guys with short hair prefer short hair or are vain as the question implied. Here I am a guy that really wants long hair, but have settled, (note the word choice), settled on what does work the best for me. I tried for 3 years before accepting that my amazingly stiff, straight hair did not look good long. (I was passed the awkward stage) I have noted that in the past, guys with long hair have experienced or are concerned about prejudice due to their hair. I guess I can't help but wonder if deleting my message is because of prejudice against someone with short hair. It would seem that is the case. I would have expected a more open mind and understanding from those that experience prejudice. (I wondered if Buzz Cut Guy was a bad name, but I saw others such as Buzzo, so that is not the reason).
Few longhaired men would feel a prejudice against shorthaired men as you fear. Because shorthaired men outnumber longhaired men by a factor of about forty to one, this web board gets a lot of posts from people who are shorthaired and either are prejudiced against longhaired men or are just not knowledgeable about what they post because they have never had long hair. Even if only ten percent of shorthaired men are so inclined, that group would still outnumber us by a factor of four to one.
All who are supportive of longhaired men are welcome here. Longhaired men would see nothing wrong with the name you have chosen. However, to maintain the ambiance of the community here as one supportive of longhaired men, we apply a gut-reaction sincerity test to any posts from others. You have never posted on the board before and you did not give your e-mail address. You thus have no identity - no reputation to precede you. If you posted a brief comment with little or nothing of a supportive nature revealed in your post, it is understandable that one of our moderators might have mistaken you for one of the way-too-many trolls that we get. Your post just now was approved because what you wrote passed the sincerity test. :-)
You mentioned possible prejudice directed toward yourself. Unfortunately, it is the large amount of prejudice directed toward us that requires we take the measures we do.
Actually, I remember deleting your message today and I'll tell you why. Imagine screening messages and seeing DOZENS of 'xxx' posters and others who want nothing more than to wreck the integrity of the board. After many of these messages I find yours at the bottom, with the 'Buzz Cut Guy' name. Unfortunately, I assumed it was another violater and didn't let it pass.
Now that this has been brought to my attention, I apologize and will look closer the future. Thanks.
- Brian
Dang, I had no idea it was that bad. Sounds like they keep you busy. Thanks a lot man.