strange encounter

[SultanofSwing86]

Yesterday I had what was one of those strange encounters with people who just don't seem to get it.
I hadn't seen this couple since before I shaved my head, something like 12 months, even though I have been shaving for about 5 months. So the first thing that the guys says is "you are looking very shiny today", to which I said thankyou as most of us are proud if our head is nicely smooth and shiny. Of course this lead to more conversation as they probably couldn't figure it out. So the next question was "are you doing this for charity or something", to which I said I was doing it for me and that it was a permanent thing. Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word permanent. The look of shock on their faces was extremely humourous. So the response then was "Oh is something wrong", I dunno maybe they thought then that I had some weird disease or was a cancer patient. But I shouldn't really look like a cancer patient as I was exhibiting very obvious stubble and I have eyebrows, so clearly I can't be going through chemo. So I responded that nothing was wrong, in fact I am very well.
So now they were really confused. So next they enquired "why?", then I explained that my hair had been falling out (I don't actually like to reveal this detail to people unless they really don't get it and are persistent). Now the guy who is also a young guy, is losing it slightly quicker than most and I remember him in the past expressing insecurities about losing his hair. So I guess that he is probably still slightly insecure about it. So at this point I probably should have taken a harder line and tried to convince him that he would be much happier if he shaved off the thin wispy stuff up top. Though I'm of the opinion not to tell others what to do with their hair as I don't like to be told that I should grow mine back. Perhaps if I had a couple of beers with him and he expressed any more comments about being unhappy with his balding then I would feel fully at ease to show him the light. Anyhow after explaining that my hair was falling out, he said "me too". This didn't really help as it just seemed to me that they probably still didn't get it because under a similar set of circumstances he as yet has not taken the plunge. I explained more then that my hair was falling out really fast, which perhaps they would never have seen as in the last 12 months or so it has really accelerated. Perhaps they still didn't get why I decided to do this, noticing the increasing level of awkwardness I then decided to change the subject at this point. Which seemed to be a welcome change for them.
Anyhow I atleast found this brief conversation mildly humourous, it was amazing for me that they were more quick to jump to the conclusion that I had a disease rather than just that I had shaved it because it was falling out. It's amazing just how some people don't seem to get why we make the choice to shave it off.       

[surfboardnyc]

I don't even bother explaining myself to people.  If someone ask me "why I did this", I just say "because I like it".

[Mikekoz13]

My usual tongue in cheek comment when someone asks is "Because I look stunning like this". I always get a laugh and that's usually the end of it.

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

Somewhere on the site is a thread on comebacks for questions that include the conclusion that we must have cancer to shave.  I've gotten the chance once or twice to use it and it works for most, except those born in the wrong zodiac sign.  It brought a good laugh.  The question being, "Cancer?"  The answer, for me at least, "No Libra actually, but thanks for asking!"

[Sgt. Pate]

Some guys are fixated that they must have hair.  It takes a little time and patience to get them to open up their thinking and realize baldness is not a curse and in fact, can be a wonderful gift.  Add to that, your confidence in being bald tweeks their frame of reference! 
 
People are just different that way.  

[Bald_freak]

I don't get any cancer comments, just "where did you do time?" Had one dude swear up and down I was his cellmate briefly.

[imb]

You bring up an interesting point in fact, a lot of people simply don't seem to get it. Get what would possess us to do such a thing. Even if you go through the awkward process of explaining that your hair is falling out, they still say 'oh you have quite a bit left'. This leaves me feeling just as bemused, why is it so incomprehensible to them, do they find it hideous, or what? Some insist that I should grow it back, oh yes, I loved the hair all over my bedroom, all over my pillow, I just loved being able to see through to the scalp as soon as I got up in the morning until I washed my hair, I just loved being frightened of the wind and rain, the elements! I too think I will amend how I explain it, no point going into details, they still wont get it. Ultimately I want to get across that it's a way of embracing who I am, coming to a realisation that hair isn't important.

[The Noggin]

Shaving the head to be completely bald on purpose is a rather new phenomenon in general (except for some special groups that did it before for various reasons). That's why many people would ask (loud or only in their minds): WHY?
I don't think it is already mainstream (at least where I live).

I suspect the "You've got to have great hair to be successful and happy" propaganda by the people that sell stuff might also play a role in this context.

[RyanJP]

When I was a Doorman/Bouncer I was late one night for work, I told my Boss and my co-worker that I was going to be late. Anyway I show up to the Bar late with my "security" shirt on. No ones outside and I hear chaos inside so I go running in with complete lack of situational awareness and observe this 6 ft 7 375 pound sly tongan which has a guy in a choke hold so my boss starts freaking out and my co-worker is trying to talk some sense into him which he wasn't doing a very good job, so I tell my co-worker to stand down and just go to the side and let me try to talk to him....the first thing I notice is when I get right next to him is that I'm literally looking straight up at him and tugging at his shirt to get his attention but that failed so I hop up onto one of the Bar booths and yell "hey nice haircut" and he turns his head slightly to the right and sees that I'm sly so he smiles, I swear to god this was the biggest smile I've ever seen so I laugh and he say's to me "how do I get my head shiny like yours???" ( he still has the guy in a choke hold and hes turning blue ) I tell him " Why don't you put him down" so the Big guy looks at me and goes OH !!! and immediately puts this guy down like it was an accident, my co-worker made sure the shrimp was alright and so the Big Tongan hung out with me the rest of the night I told him about the best way to shine up your head and eventually that Big Tongan, who always hung out with me when I worked always had my back and no one was ever out of line when I was on duty.

[ozzie]

When I was a Doorman/Bouncer I was late one night for work, I told my Boss and my co-worker that I was going to be late. Anyway I show up to the Bar late with my "security" shirt on. No ones outside and I hear chaos inside so I go running in with complete lack of situational awareness and observe this 6 ft 7 375 pound sly tongan which has a guy in a choke hold so my boss starts freaking out and my co-worker is trying to talk some sense into him which he wasn't doing a very good job, so I tell my co-worker to stand down and just go to the side and let me try to talk to him....the first thing I notice is when I get right next to him is that I'm literally looking straight up at him and tugging at his shirt to get his attention but that failed so I hop up onto one of the Bar booths and yell "hey nice haircut" and he turns his head slightly to the right and sees that I'm sly so he smiles, I swear to god this was the biggest smile I've ever seen so I laugh and he say's to me "how do I get my head shiny like yours???" ( he still has the guy in a choke hold and hes turning blue ) I tell him " Why don't you put him down" so the Big guy looks at me and goes OH !!! and immediately puts this guy down like it was an accident, my co-worker made sure the shrimp was alright and so the Big Tongan hung out with me the rest of the night I told him about the best way to shine up your head and eventually that Big Tongan, who always hung out with me when I worked always had my back and no one was ever out of line when I was on duty.

Outstanding! A really smart, and dare I say, sly way to turn a negative situation into a positive. 

[RyanJP]

Thanks Ozzie. Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.

[Mikekoz13]

When I was a Doorman/Bouncer I was late one night for work, I told my Boss and my co-worker that I was going to be late. Anyway I show up to the Bar late with my "security" shirt on. No ones outside and I hear chaos inside so I go running in with complete lack of situational awareness and observe this 6 ft 7 375 pound sly tongan which has a guy in a choke hold so my boss starts freaking out and my co-worker is trying to talk some sense into him which he wasn't doing a very good job, so I tell my co-worker to stand down and just go to the side and let me try to talk to him....the first thing I notice is when I get right next to him is that I'm literally looking straight up at him and tugging at his shirt to get his attention but that failed so I hop up onto one of the Bar booths and yell "hey nice haircut" and he turns his head slightly to the right and sees that I'm sly so he smiles, I swear to god this was the biggest smile I've ever seen so I laugh and he say's to me "how do I get my head shiny like yours???" ( he still has the guy in a choke hold and hes turning blue ) I tell him " Why don't you put him down" so the Big guy looks at me and goes OH !!! and immediately puts this guy down like it was an accident, my co-worker made sure the shrimp was alright and so the Big Tongan hung out with me the rest of the night I told him about the best way to shine up your head and eventually that Big Tongan, who always hung out with me when I worked always had my back and no one was ever out of line when I was on duty.

Outstanding story! The POWER of SLY strikes again!

[thebaboun]

Man that story is AMAZING!!!

haha!

(The bar one of course)