The reverse Samson effect

[Razor X]

When I first started shaving my head, I was vaguely aware that to a certain extent, there was a mismatch between my physical appearance and my personality.  During the past few years, I've been told a few times that I look like an ex-military person and more recently, a cop.  I did some boxing at the gym the other day, and in the locker room, a younger guy about 19 or 20 saw my gloves and started a brief conversation about boxing.  He said that I "look like a good boxer" (hopefully he didn't mean the canine variety.    )

None of these perceptions really match my personality, but hearing these types of comments over a period of time has made me aware of the "intimidation factor" that we talk about here from time to time, and I have to admit that it's had a huge effect on my confidence -- in a good way, of course.   We're all guilty to a certain extent of judging books by their covers; I find it fascinating how people will make assumptions based on someone's physical appearance, and even though they may be way off the mark, if you hear it enough times, you find yourself subconsciously taking on some of that persona.

Has anyone else had experiences like this -- being told that you look like something that you really aren't?  What kind of an effect has it had on you?

[Mikekoz13]

Same thing... although, for whatever reason people have always found me intimidating.

Try getting a couple of visible tattoos and watch that effect soar..............

[schro]

No real change on how people percieve me from what I can tell.

[FR8TRAIN]

No real change on how people percieve me from what I can tell.

That's cause they always thought you were a BAD ASS Schro!

[DuffRyder17]

I agree I think ppl think I am meaner, more macho, and more intimidating than I really am... comes in handy sometimes, is a nuisance other times

[Dome of Steele]

From time to time people ask me if I do MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting.  I've never been asked that before. 

[GASlick]

I have to got to be the most NON-intimidating person on the planet!  lol

I've never had anyone think I was a bad ass at all.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Guys in the military and in MMA do then to have a disproportional amount of members with bald heads due to regulations and performance issues, so I can kinda see people asking that.  It's still a strange assumption because the look is hardly uncommon outside those areas, and from what I know the American military does not allow guys to have facial hair except for those tiny triangular mustaches.

I've been asked if I was in the marines because I was at an event and when I spoke I held one of my hands behind my back.  I do that a lot.  Self trained.  Years ago I heard the nonsense "Oh, if you cross your arms people think you are trying to close yourself off from others".  Since I have to do SOMETHING with my hands I decided to cross my arms across my back instead.  It has stuck with me, and until that day I never knew this was a military stance.  Now I've noticed military people doing it and sometimes feel like a fraud when I do it!

[baldaholic]

I seem to be another most not intimidating person.

No matter what hairstyle - if buzzcutt, clippershaved or shaved - people don't seem to find me intimidating at all.
At least noone said anything like that or reacted intimidated.

Greats

[D.A.L.U.I.]

No real change on how people percieve me from what I can tell.

That's been my experience, except that at first a lot of the people where I worked then said I looked younger .  It works for me.