Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: benlen on December 15, 2012, 01:26:03 PM
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This is something I've been thinking about for awhile. Obviously, no one is socially obligated to shave their head, evidenced by the millions of partially balding men I've seen throughout my life in public places: airports, malls, cities, etc.
But I've always held a prejudice against men who are obviously balding and not shaving their heads, while men who shaved their heads I have always viewed in a positive, badass kind of light.
This prejudice even extends to men like Jason Statham, who only buzz their hair loss rather than shaving it.
For example, when I'm on the subway and I see a guy with a shaved head who has done so to combat hair loss, I always think, "Good for you dude! You look so much better than if you let your balding hair grow!"
And when I see an obviously balding guy, I think, "Gross man! Shave that s#@t off!"
And in terms of balding, I specifically mean guys with large or unsightly bald spots. If someone just has a receeding hairline but styles it well, that's fine.
And the prejudice extends mostly to younger men, not to older guys.
So my question to you guys is, is this just a personal prejudice of mine, or is it a "new social attitude" amongst the latest generation towards balding men? What do you think? Is there a social stigma now associated with balding men who refuse to shave their heads?
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I wouldn't say there was a social stigma per se, but shaving is definitely becoming the norm.
Nice beard, BTW.
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Actually, I think men are socially obligated to try to salvage what little is left. That's why everyone is so surprised when they find they like a smooth dome.
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New social attitude I think more men are finding that they would feel better buzzed, or shaved and also look better. Many jokes with hair like Donald Trump for instance. Of course there are some as Jessie Ventura with a pony tail. Old hippy from the 60's lost in the millenum.
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Yeah, whenever I see a balding guy, I'm thinking, "Dude, shave your head! Go B.A., your genes are screaming for you to just toss the lot!"
It would be awesome if my uncle would do it. He's a norwood 2.3, and is under the impression that if one shaves it, it'll grow back even thinner, due to some coincidences with gym buddies shaving for years and then balding. And I know he could pull it off.
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I feel bad for the guys who don't buzz or cut their comb-overs. I can understand severe balding, but the 5-10 strands of black hair plastered over a shiny dome never did make sense to me.
Bear
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Certianly there is no social obligation but in recent years with many more men adopting much shorter hair cuts they have come to realise that going sly is just another step and the end result is so much better. Fortunately the dreaded comboverf is becoming a thing of the past apart from dorks like Donald Trump.
A friend of mine aged about 63 unfortunately has a nearly bald head and goatee and what hair is left is pulled back in a ponytail. I want to grab him and shear it all off - perhaps in the future!
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I don't think there is a social stigma, just that society is more accepting of the nude nut.
I know when I first started going shy back in 1996/1997 in Oz, crikey!! :o I got some stares and comments but now days the amount of Sly people out there is amazing, young and old. They have their own reasons.
Me, if I see men trying to hang on to their last strands of hair (like my brother with his combover :o ) yeah it look silly but hey whatever floats their boat and makes them happy.
O0
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I think it's a generational difference. When Boomers like me were young, baldness was something to be avoided / delayed as long as possible, hence toupees, transplants, Rogain, etc. A shaved head was something associated with gangs, bikers, etc. Movies depicted villains with bald heads all the time.
It's different now. Shaved heads have become more mainstream and younger guys can pull it off without anyone thinking it looks strange.
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I don't think they are socially obligated at all. There are still more people out there that refuse to shave it then those that do.
It is just that shaved heads are becoming more acceptable in this day and age.
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I think we've all stated about the same thing.
Before I even contemplated shaving my head I never gave it a thought - for me or for anyone else. But now that I've done it I am much more prejudiced (which I'm not happy about) when I see guys (of any age) with hair loss that would look so much better with a clean scalp. And who's to say they are not content "as is" in which case it's none of my business. But still ...
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I think MPB buzzcuts are decent if a balding guy just doesn't want to razor-shave his head.... I can accept a guy if he has MPB and the horseshoe is pretty much clear of hair....Some guys with MPB that don't shave their heads can still pull the MPB look off good if they are comfortable with themselves and sport a decent moustache a la Dr. Phil (Notice in a lot of commercials you see guys with MPB horseshoes sporting a moustache and actually look decent)...But MPB ponytails and combovers do look crappy but if the wearer is happy, we should leave well enough alone.
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Meh .... Each to there own!
I think it looks terrible but if it makes them happy then let them rep it. :)
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I don't think that there is a social pressure, it just has become more fashionable and acceptable.
I'm not SLY, but I keep what I have buzzed short, my preference is that I feel I look better with some hair.
Though, like others have said, when I see guys with combovers and pony tails I do think to myself "That is WRONG! you would look SO much better with it cut short"
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Gotta echo most of the views already expressed here really. Surely its about what makes you comfortable and happy, if that is a slick dome or bald on top with a tail then so what. Shaving it all off makes me happier whereas my dad has the horse shoe grown in a cm or so, personally I think he'd look a bit silly if he had it a totally sly dome, but that is maybe because I'm used to it.
Sure, I see folks who seem to be trying to hold on to what little they have left and think it looks odd or amusing but that is just my opinion and rightly so they shouldn't worry about my opinion, just their own. I'm sure there are people out there who look at us sly dudes and think that is odd or amusing so whatever makes you happy!
It's places like this that are helping those who may not think they have an option to balding. Quite often a slick dome can be stereotyped quite negatively, people don't want to be seen as some sort of Nazi skinhead or wannabe badass, when in reality its just a way of styling the top of your head, it doesn't make you any different on the inside!
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I don't think they are socially obligated....even if they wear a ponytail! But they do owe it to themselves to try being sly or buzzing the fringe down!
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So my question to you guys is, is this just a personal prejudice of mine, or is it a "new social attitude" amongst the latest generation towards balding men? What do you think? Is there a social stigma now associated with balding men who refuse to shave their heads?
Personal prejudice. No question.
That being said you're not alone with it, this type of thing extends into every facet of our western culture. I think that "we" (western culture) at large have a problem with the "live and let live" style. Sometimes this manifests as a harmless judgement and sometimes it goes a bit further.
Maybe in the process of casting a person with a ragged horseshoe or a combover in a negative light we miss an opportunity to hear words of real wisdom concerning the age old question of "why are we here?". Maybe this man is so content with his life and how he relates to the world that his hairstyle is down near the bottom of his list of priorities.
Of course the first four words of my post would indicate that I am a fan of judgement, as well. I don't know, maybe it makes me feel as though I have some measure of control. Or maybe I think I can sway the opinions of those around me. Whatever the case may be I have to ask myself if my judgements really change anything for the better.
Probably not.
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The only obligation that an individual has is to their self. Do whatever you want to do so long as you arent coercing or hurting someone else.
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I wouldn't say there was a social stigma per se, but shaving is definitely becoming the norm.
Agreed. Especially here in London, where shaved heads are just too common these days.
I might buck the trend and start growing my hair back. ;)
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I agree with the previous comments made about this issue. I think that it is a personal choice. Even though it took me awhile to shave the dome smooth, I am glad that I did it. I feel better with the smooth dome. It helped my self confidence a lot. I am not really concerned whether or not others like it or not. It is me and part of who I am.
I like to compliment other sly guys on how good they look. I get mixed reactions but I think that most sly guys appreciate the compliment.
I look at it this way - either you have hair or you don't I make the best out of the situation.
Sly domeshave become more popular.
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I don't think there is any social pressure - - - but a shaved head sure looks better and feels better when a guy is balding
Most balding guys have enough sense to shave their heads - - -after all we are better looking than guys with hair - - - -
Mother Nature just created so many "beautiful heads" and the rest she covered with hair - - - -
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Mangosink mate O0 lol
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... Notice in a lot of commercials you see guys with MPB horseshoes sporting a moustache and actually look decent ...
We do? ??? What commercials are you talking about? I can't think of any except for the Acura commercial Dr. Phil is in. And I really don't think he looks great.
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... Notice in a lot of commercials you see guys with MPB horseshoes sporting a moustache and actually look decent ...
We do? ??? What commercials are you talking about? I can't think of any except for the Acura commercial Dr. Phil is in. And I really don't think he looks great.
You'd probably have to go back a few years. There are guys that fit the description I just mentioned in the old Cheer Detergent Commercials, the life insurance commercial where the guy puts his pocket change into a jar and the Bud Light commercial where the guy's toupee flies off while riding a bike (does that count?) I'm sure you could find a few on YouTube...I just said they look decent because that's how I remember my grandfather who was horseshoe bald with a moustache, (God, how I miss him)
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You'd probably have to go back a few years. There are guys that fit the description I just mentioned in the old Cheer Detergent Commercials, the life insurance commercial where the guy puts his pocket change into a jar and the Bud Light commercial where the guy's toupee flies off while riding a bike (does that count?) I'm sure you could find a few on YouTube...I just said they look decent because that's how I remember my grandfather who was horseshoe bald with a moustache, (God, how I miss him)
I don't really remember any of those. I'll check YouTube.
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You'd probably have to go back a few years. There are guys that fit the description I just mentioned in the old Cheer Detergent Commercials, the life insurance commercial where the guy puts his pocket change into a jar and the Bud Light commercial where the guy's toupee flies off while riding a bike (does that count?) I'm sure you could find a few on YouTube...I just said they look decent because that's how I remember my grandfather who was horseshoe bald with a moustache, (God, how I miss him)
I don't really remember any of those. I'll check YouTube.
While on YouTube, you could check out the Sesame Street Mad Painter Skits....Horseshoe bald guy with a handlebar moustache is constantly getting victimized by the Mad Painter (he does get even on a few of the skits, however)