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Tarikh ,your attitude towards your elders and the world need to change.You
have an improper attitude and show no concern for the feelings of others.
It is very important
that you change the way you look with your hair and the way you interact
with other people.It pains me when somebody makes a comment about you to
me.Some people may call people weirdo,other call them odd.I am sure you do
not want to ba called so.A pleasant word ,a pleasant attitude towards your
own people is very pleasing to God.I.It is time to call upon wisdom ,Tarikh.You are of a wisdom age
now.Wake up.Reflect on your behaviour.Reflect on your outlook .Think of how
many people can you see around you with your outlook of life..
I'm sure that a pleasant word and a pleasant attitude have nothing atall to do with the length of your hair.
I agree. There seem to be two issues being concurrently addressed here: hair length, and the outlook/attitude. Obviously this person felt strongly enough to take the time to write to you, so give the letter some creedence and consider what could have caused the writer to feel as such. Despite the fact that they were unable to separate the two issues, be the bigger person and think about the way your interpersonal interactions are perceived.
There's not enough information here to really give you further advice, but please feel free to post more regarding the interaction (or interactions) that elicited such a response. Rebellion is a great thing IF there is a good reason.
Harmony is always preferable to being a rebel without a cause.
Adding on to the wisdom of elektros and Dan, there are more things concerning this elder than hair length. Do listen to the details of their complaint Tarikh. If people have no other concerns, hair can be a minimal issue. If other problems are present hair can unfortunately be heaped in with the other real issues. Perhaps resolving some othe the other complaints, if
any of them are indeed legitimate, will help toward a better opinion of hair and the whole person being formed. Unless there is a history of senility or another reason to dismiss the elder's words, I am hesitant to say just ignore them.
Elizabeth
There again, he could just be saying that Tarikh has a bad attitude because he won't cut his hair, or because he has been hassling Tarikh and got a reaction for doing so.
Ooh, elektros, that is a good thought I had not considered. Yet, even a haircut demand can be refused respectfully and still maintain a good attitude toward elders. A calm reaction with reasonable arguments, think Tarikh channeling Bill C. here, would go a long way in keeping the interaction pleasant and cast Tarikh in a good light.
Elizabeth
This letter may talk about wisdom, but I fail to see any in it - other than the insight from a person that wants you to cut your hair to conform to society.
- Brian
My response to that letter; how I'd respond:
"Please explain the problem with my attitude, be specific and give me an example. What is wrong with how I interact with others?, please be specific and give me an example. Again, please be specific and tell me what others have told you about me that pains you. Why does the length of my hair concern you? Your letter is very vague and opened to assumptions."
I don't care who wrote this, he (or she) is an ultra ass.
The ignorance of some people! :(
Was this entire thing brought upon by what one person said? I find it very odd that you are beginning to get such pressure placed upon you.
I don't understand why people are making the length of your hair a basis for your not caring about others feelings? Length of hair has nothing to do with personality!
Hi Sherri,
Im getting pressure because I changed location to where people are less cool.
Even in London, in the city centre no one would bother about your hair, but as you move towards the suburbs, you`ll see that people stare at you.
I would just ignor a letter like that and toss it into the wastebasket and forget about it.
was the person speaking an elder (elected official) in a church or was it just some older person that happens to know you?
I get a bit of flak from the more conservative baptists (and geez, my hair isn't even that long!), so I can't imagine what crap you're getting (if it is indeed an elder from a church)
That "Ball" Guy
The writer seems to indicate these two points are related, if indeed you don't have the "proper attitude" what has this got to do with the way you look? Or is a result of your reactions to comments people make about your appearance? Given the writers next statement I think not he/she is obviously more concerned with your appearance than you are... (Unhealthy they probably need councelling...)
Do you honestly care?
*incrediously* What have you done that's so bad Tarikh?????
Are you really such a bad infulence or are you just a long hair?
Honestly, this person is coming from a high an mightly perspective and could probably do with some help, their elevated self importantance and the importance of conformity need to removed from them very quickly otherwise we'll soon be living in a society of clones! Their need to bring religion into the equation just goes to prove the Athiest view that Religion corrupts more souls than it saves!
I think the content of this letter reflects a point that is understandable, I know it very good. The problem is that it only considers one point, and it tries to make it a general thing, which is certainly false, although it has a lot of agreement.
A new life always starts new with it's own try to understand the world and with it's own expression and this is sometimes forgotten by the elders, who may think they have learned a lot and know the best way of living.
But life is not infinite, for individuals it starts and it ends, and who will not give place for a new generation and their own ideas tries to end it, not only for the own life.
wolfgang
Elder, your attitude towards Tarikh and the world needs to change. You have an improper attitude and show no concern for the feelings of others. It is very important that you change the way you obsess on other people's hair and the way you interact with other people. It pains me when somebody makes a comment about you to me. Some people may call you a weirdo, others call you odd. I am sure you do not want to ba called so. A pleasant word, a pleasant attitude towards your own people is very pleasing to God. It is time to call upon wisdom elder. You are of a wisdom age now. Wake up. Reflect on your behavior. Reflect on your outlook. Think of how few people you can see around you with your outlook of life.
.
Thanks, Bill. This is it. Whenever we react, it is because someone is showing us the mirror. You make this so plain.
Robert
I really don't know how you are as a person, but you seem like a cool guy from reading some of your posts. Disregard what the creep or anyone else say's about your hair. If anyone lacks wisdom, it would be her. Remember there is nothing wrong with long hair..it is beautiful, adds character, and is exotic. These people who bash long hair, are so used to one thing(short hair) and don't know anything else. These are people who fear the variety of things the world has to offer. This is all they know...it's pathetic and sad, and only they can change themselves. Don't ever let negative feedback about your hair get to you...many end up cutting their hair because of it, and don't let that happen, because the majority of those who cut it, end up regretting it big time. I once cut mine and have vowed to never do it again. I realized, with short hair i wasn't happy, i didn't feel like myself, there was a huge part of me that was missing. Be yourself, it's so important, be proud to be a long haired guy..long hair looks great, otherwise i wouldn't have it!
Very true. Cheers
All I see in this letter is a man using religion for secular means of achiving power through making others conform. Don't give in, Tarikh.
I had a similar problem at church, not from an elder but from an elderly woman who attended there. There was another longhair there that caved under the pressure and and cut off his nearly waist length hair. From what I understand is that a guest speaker said something derogatory about long hair. He was probably also pressured to cut it by that elderly woman as well. I did not attend the church service with the longhair hating guest speaker, but even if I had I would not have given in. I have 12 years of blood, sweat, and tears invested in my nearly knee length hair and nothing they say is going make me cave in and cut it. My advice to you, Tarikh, is to not cave in under the pressure. If this problem is unresolvable then you may want to find a new church where your moral character is much more important than the length of your hair. Absalom
Cheers mate.
But I`m not Chrisitian and dont go to church.
I`m muslim and it`s even harder for me to go to the mosque in my area. People are so judgemental despite religion tells them not to be. It`s surprising the number of hypocrites you get in my area. I always have to hide my hair under a shirt.
However in a mosque in North London, there are quite a few long hairs who dont bother to hide their hair.
Sorry, my mistake, I should have known that but I have heard the word elder mentioned at church so many times that I automatically associate it with Christianity. There are elders in all major religions. It is so hard to deal with judgmental people. What do Islamic teachings say about long hair on men? There is one scripture in Christianity that seems to be negative towards long hair on men, although Samson and David's 3rd son who was named Absalom had very long hair. It seems like you are going through quite a trial right now with this issue. Be steadfast and try not to give in and keep it long. Absalom
You might want to ask yourself why would you be hanging around someone (people) who would say this?
Tarikh,
Are you sure it's your friend who is sending the letters? Maybe it's a 3rd party trying to undermine your friendship, or maybe your friend got manipulated by a religious cult attempting to convert everyone.