Have you noticed people being wary / cautious of you as a sly guy? - page 1 -

• Have you noticed people being wary / cautious of you as a sly guy? by Laser Man on 12 Apr, 2012 21:06
• I've had several instances in the past few months where I realize that people (mostly strangers, but some casual acquaintances, too) seem either wary or intimidated by my appearance (shaved head, moustache and goatee).  I've been told by several people (all women) that my "new look" is kind of intimidating. 
  
  The most recent example was meeting a realtor who I hadn't seen in a year.  My changed appearance seemed to elicit a wary and cautious reaction from her.  Things lightened up when my wife arrived, but I sensed the realtor's discomfort when when she met up with a tall, bald guy in a dark overcoat.
  
  Funny thing about it is that I'm not an intimidating person - I smile a lot and act polite and courteous.
  
  Have you experienced this kind of wariness or caution toward you since going sly?
• #1 by TheSlyBear on 12 Apr, 2012 21:53
• Can't say that I have. (Except when I'm in biker leathers. That seems to scare the crap outa a lot of people.)
  
  
• #2 by nuts on 13 Apr, 2012 00:14
• I can't say I have noticed anything like this.  Maybe I am a mouse but in the 8 yeares I have been sly with full beard I don't think anyone had been intimidated by me.
  
  I just smile and look cconfident which does wonders for my ego.
  
  Roger
• #3 by Paul the Headblader on 13 Apr, 2012 00:17
• oh, yea. I live in the "third world" so bald guys are like aeliens around.
  But they turn to be cool when they get to get to know me
• #4 by RoWilJr on 13 Apr, 2012 07:15
• Not really...kinda goes with the territory, being military and what not.
• #5 by Baldstu on 13 Apr, 2012 16:20
• Never ,
• #6 by Itall on 13 Apr, 2012 20:18
• Nope
• #7 by BaldHDbiker on 13 Apr, 2012 20:53
• No i haven"t. I"m very friendly and outgoing.
• #8 by Baldstu on 14 Apr, 2012 04:10
• I wear full leathers  meself sometimes   never a problem  but I think it is  the type of place where you live  . Mbe its different if you  live in some out back of  Texas  differnet response to Brighton  UK where  nobody  gives a head  turn  as to the way folk dress and there  are some very  intriguing ways in which  people look . The Sly bald look in Brighton is totally acceptable in leaisure and  buisness / profession  .Several of My surgical  colleagues are  sly bald
• #9 by Slyfive on 14 Apr, 2012 06:05
• Yes, but only for the first few seconds, then my smiles and manner turn them around.
• #10 by Cropduster84 on 14 Apr, 2012 06:25
• I live in quite a conservative/right wing/ part of England, where a lot of people I know regularly comment on my shaved/buzzed head. I think to some older people it's still seen as thuggish.
  
  I just turn on the smile 
• #11 by calbito on 14 Apr, 2012 08:53
• npsbg, I think I see the problem.  Looking at your avatar (I assume that is you), I notice you are wearing sunglasses, so I suspect that your eyes are sensitive to light.  This means that you probably have spent many years squinting in bright-light conditions, and have developed permanent ridges in your forehead between, and just above, your eyes, giving the impression that you are constantly scowling.  If you compare your picture to those of others in this thread, you will see that they do not have those ridges.  Combine that with a mouth whose corners naturally turn downward, and a somewhat rugged look to the skull area in general, and you have a person who looks quite intimidating.    I know because I have exactly the same problem.  In my case it is partially concealed by my glasses, so a possible solution might be to look for sunglasses which hide the ridges.  Also, tweaking the facial hair to hide the downward-turning corners of the mouth might help as well. 
• #12 by Baldstu on 14 Apr, 2012 09:19
• Quote from: Cropduster84 on 14 Apr, 2012 06:25

  I live in quite a conservative/right wing/ part of England, where a lot of people I know regularly comment on my shaved/buzzed head. I think to some older people it's still seen as thuggish.
  
  I just turn on the smile 
  

  very skillfull
• #13 by xnewyawka on 15 Apr, 2012 12:24
• I would suggest to give them a big bright smile, np, it should make all the difference. If you looked the way you do in your avatar, then I can understand the reaction.   
• #14 by tomgallagher on 15 Apr, 2012 12:42
• Quote from: Cropduster84 on 14 Apr, 2012 06:25

  I live in quite a conservative/right wing/ part of England, where a lot of people I know regularly comment on my shaved/buzzed head. I think to some older people it's still seen as thuggish.
  
  I just turn on the smile 
  

  
  Exactly the right thing  to do.