new thread
I cannot believe the intensity that society has for men to have short hair. I wear two hearing aids because I am deaf and I want to grow my hair out to hide them. I have tried to grow it out into a bob type style since it is the style that will hide my aids completely. People still hassle me over my hair getting too long. I asked the hair stylist what would be good and she recommended this style (bob). My problem is that my parents and people around me disapprove of my wearing my hair long. I explain to them why I want longer hair but they still don't like it or even try to understand my motives. I like long hair too. My hearing aid dealer even suggested that I wear my hair longer to cover my aids so that they would be protected from temperature extremes. This still doesn't seem to matter to the people around me, especially my parents.
I've actually read that longer hair actually helps people to hear better by directing sound to their ears.
But, Jim, don't grow out your hair just to cover your hearing aids. They're nothing to be ashamed of. I know many people who wear hearing aids-- they're just as normal as the next guy. If you like long hair, defend your taste, then. Covering your ears might just sound like an excuse to people.
Remember, people are different- we are not all clones of each other, right? If you have hearing aids- they are part of who you are. If you'd like to try long hair, that is part of who you are. "Ignore those who are ignorant" is my motto.
good point
If you get long hair you first get another problem in addition.
Unfortunately most people react with hassle in case of changes their
life and you grow out your hair - this changed their life.
You could also paint their chairs with a new color but you found another way to irritate them.
Two years ago I started growing out my hair too and I decided
to have a bob too. Oh I realy love bobs but as longer my Hair was
growing as harder I got stupid remarks. But I made a mistake.
I was listening to much to all my good old friends. They all told
me to get a real haircut. And I did it! Oh boy I hate this moment.
A view weeks later I had a meeting with a group of new friends
(they never saw me with very short hair) and what a surprise!
They asked me how in the hell could I cut my wonderfull long hair!
They told me I look more creative with long hair and much cooler
and this was the first time a girl told me that she likes men with long hair and she adored me because of my shining long hair.....
So, if you wont to have long hair, go for it and watch out for friends
with a litle love for long hair and don't listen to these envious people.
AND DON'T CUT YOUR HAIR not even if you plan to do this, think about
for a week or two and then do something differnt....
good luck
francis
I can definitely sense where Jim is coming from. Though it is not "right", hearing aids are perceived as uncool by lots of people, and face it, they tell everyone you have a weakness. On top of that, long hair carries the message of being an independent man who stands up for himself.
Who can blame Jim for wanting to go out and socialize with others and have his disability diminished so others don't know of it, both at the same time? Isn't this what all the folks who wear contact lenses want? If anyone wants to throw stones at Jim, all you contact lens wearers had better duck, too!
Hang in there, dude, and stand up for yourself. You can't socialize with others if you can't hear them, and you can't get far if you don't look cool. You have a right to these things, man. Everybody else takes them for granted, and folks who admit you should take an equal slice of life should cut you some slack. This is what is called "an accommodation".
THanks Bill,
I couldn't have stated it better, especially about the contact lens wearers. Even though hearing aids are getting smaller, they still can be seen and a lot of people still stare at them and talk to you in a condescending manner when they see them. Lots of people tend to talk too loud thinking they are helping me. But, when I had longer hair, they talked in a normal voice and I could understand them beter.