new thread
Now that my hair is at or near terminal length I have decided to grow my beard long, possibly terminal length. After seeing the magnificent long beard that Victor has I now want to grow mine long too. I am worried about one thing though as to whether a long beard may draw excessive negative attention to me due to the fact that Al Qaida terrorists often have terminal length beards too. In the light of 911 I sometimes feel growing a long beard may be a bad idea. Am I just being paranoid or is this a genuine concern? I welcome your comments. Absalom
It really depends on if you wear turbans or spend a lot of time around heavaly veild women
Thank you, you have a good point there, I never cover up my nearly knee length hair with anything. I do keep it tied up in multiple hair bands along its entire length to prevent tangling. Absalom
Thanks, I was also trying to be funny, which I rarely if ever manage. I'm glad I don't have to worry about it, after all I'm not a heavaly veild woman (Still trying to be funny)
I don't think it should be a concern. That is, as long as if you don't run at groups of people with bombs and guns.
; )
Your worry surprises and depresses me. I’m from the UK and we have been under threat from terrorists for 30 years. What that experience has demonstrated through those years of violence is that it’s not the long haired, long bearded wild eyed stranger on the street we should be most concerned about - It’s the short haired, polite and short shaven guy or girl in the designer clothes. Ultimately, you should not try to identify evil doers by the way they dress or the length of their hair or beard. A guy wearing a turban does not make him a member of Al Qaeda either.
Incidentally, did you get a look at the c.c.t.v footage of Mohammed Atta as he boarded one of those planes? Short cut, well dressed and close shaven. Not quite the 'typical' Al Qaeda member you describe.
I think the biggest thing we have to worry about is not any guy with long hair but the culture of fear, suspicion and paranoia that is fast developing in your society and mine.
Just don't change your name to Osama Bin Laden and you should be all right.
On the other hand, if you did and got captured, think how happy everyone would be.
David.
There is a little Egyptian boy called Osama in my daughter's class at school. They are only 6 and 7 year olds, so they don't appear to bother him. I hope Mr Bin Laden gets caught before this boy gets too much older.
Did the terrorists also have long hair such as yours? Millions of Men have long beards throughout the world. Hey.........what about "Santa!" I myself wouldn't be worried in the slighest.
I know you personally, and to my eye you don't look anything like Osama Bin Laden or Timothy McVeigh. No one will think you're a terrorist. Do terrorists ever wear multiple earrings in each ear?
On second thoughts, could that long "ponytail" really be a poisonous snake? Crafty little critter; look how it camouflages itself by trying to blend in with your shirt!
Yes you have a point there and I have decided to go for terminal length for my beard. Absalom
Absalom,
No, I don't think you'd have that problem. Think about it....one of the main goals of a terrorist is not getting captured. Wouldn't having one's looks fit the stereotype of a terrorist (if one was in fact a terroist) hinder one's success just a bit? Would an undercover cop wear his uniform on a drug bust?
You don't look like a terrorist. Sure, long hair and a beard may intimidate others and you might get the occasional tough-guy stereotype, but terrorist is stretching it.
Well, I know for a fact that NO Islamic fundamentalist has long hair, that's one of their no no's! I've checked out your pics and you don't look like you come from a Muslim country. Besides, if you look closely at the 'orthodox' Muslims, you'll see that they cut their beards in a very particular way (ie mustache short, bottom rounded).
A 'terminal' beard sounds like a good idea and I think you should go for it and maybe do progress pics!
Good luck,
Amon-Ra
I am planning progress pics for my beard. Thanks for the other info. Absalom
Thanks to everyone for all the support and I will probably grow my beard to terminal length. Absalom
Go ahead and grow that beard, man. If you can deal with it, be proud. I tried to grow a beard and it was way too itchy. And I know a friend who went bald at 16 so decided he would have a long beard instead. It is down to his crotch. 'Nuff said. Go for it.