Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => Reactions to being Bald => Topic started by: eag743il on August 24, 2006, 02:25:35 AM
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have any of you caught people staring at ur bald head, it happens to me a lot, i think that they are trying to figure out if im naturally bald or shaved, the truth is a bit of both, and does it make u guys feel self conscious?
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I've noticed that too. Especially when I first started shaving my head. It made me self concious, but after having a bunch of people tell me they liked my look with a shaved head, I didn't get as concious when I cought people staring.
They probably think your a good looking dude. ;)
I've also noticed now that babies stare at me a lot. My wife noticed it also. I think they can relate to me since neither of us have hair and I'm just a kid in a mans body.
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I noticed alot of people staring when i first started shaving my head. But now it seems like the "in" thing to do and us bald guys are everywhere. Its like someone decided it looks cool to be bald and over night everyone is bald.
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Just remember that the people staring have the problem, not you. They probably wonder what they would look like if bald.
I have twin grandsons about 27 years old and when we greet they have a fetish that they run their hands over my bald head.
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Bald people are not as common a sight to make most people feel comfortable with them. So, of course there'll be looks and there'll be staring.
I'm refering to people who shave their heads here, not bald people like Danny deVito for instance, who's only partially bald.
I think there's still this weird connotation regarding bald people (those that shave and have no hair left on their skull): "dangerous", "evil", "skinhead", "inmate"...
Many people feel a little uncomfortable or even intimidated around bald people.
It's also about being different. Bald people are different, and even if it's just because they're a minority. So they get attention.
It's like with black people in the US. White people don't get that much attention simply because they're more abundant, because
they're a more common sight.
There was this black fellow in the UK who made an experiment: through the use of a mask and makeup he turned himself into a white fellow for
a few days. And he said the most remarkable thing he noticed was the fact that he didn't get noticed. He didn't get as much attention being a white person now.
I believe that once bald people become a more common sight, things will normalise and people won't stare (that much).
Here's something funny I've experienced so far: People seem to treat me with more respect and more courtesy since I started shaving my head.
They probably feel a little intimidated.
But when I meet them, talk to them (real nice), they realise that I'm a nice guy. And they go "pheww...I'm so glad he didn't rip my head off...man, he's actually a very nice guy. I like him...". And once they've gotten over that intimidation, they relax and they treat me even better.
That's one of the nice byproducts of being bald, I guess. You just have to let your shaved head work for you...lol
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i like the attention in some cases makes you stand out from the crowd
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Oh Yeah they Stare Constantly, :o ....... They usually ask if i choose to shave or not.
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Children tend to stare at my head a lot. Funniest thing is, soon after I shaved my head, I would end up staring at myself for long periods of time whenver there was a mirror around. It wasn't out of vanity of admiration, but out of shock.
But now I can't even imagine myself with hair anymore.
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I hear ya on both items...LOL. My wife gets so jealous because all the kids will come over to me instead of her. She thinks it's because they like my bald head. Whenever I walk by a baby, they will follow me with their eyes - it's pretty funny.
I used to stare at myself a lot when I first started shaving. I thought for a while that I was becoming vain, but them I realized that it was like getting a new toy, car, or something...you just want to admire it for a while.
Welcome to Sly Bald Guys!
Children tend to stare at my head a lot. Funniest thing is, soon after I shaved my head, I would end up staring at myself for long periods of time whenver there was a mirror around. It wasn't out of vanity of admiration, but out of shock.
But now I can't even imagine myself with hair anymore.
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I actually had a black gentleman try to pick a fight with me at the gas station as I was pumping my gas, calling me a nazi and crap.
Against my better judgement I told him I would be happy to curb stomp him, not because he was black but because he was stupid.
Was prob a bit out of line, but I get just as pissed about reverse racism as I do racism. That and I am pretty sure there were bald guys long before neo nazi's or regular nazi's for that matter.......
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Pyronious, I know how you feel. I've been subjected to that type of ignorance before as well. Not always by someone of another race, but by people that think I'm an evil person because I shave my head. You can see my post about the "Though Guy reaction here: http://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/index.php?topic=12.0
I get mad when people think I'm racist, but I've learned to tackle it head on. I had an encounter the other day with a middle eastern gentleman that made a comment about me being racist because I told him he was being rude to a counter clerk. I just politely let him know that I'm sorry he feels that way without knowing me, but if he did know me he would know that I'm married to a filipino woman, I have a balck brother in-law, and soon to be chinese sister in-law, all whom I love very much. And, that him being rude had nothing to do with me being racist.
I was discussion this with my co-worker the other day who shaves his head and he was saying that people will avoid him on the sidewalk and he has had a guy at the gym that tried to befriend him because he thought my co-worker shaved his head out of white pride.
I guess this can be one of the disadvantages of shaving your head as a white guy.
I actually had a black gentleman try to pick a fight with me at the gas station as I was pumping my gas, calling me a nazi and crap.
Against my better judgement I told him I would be happy to curb stomp him, not because he was black but because he was stupid.
Was prob a bit out of line, but I get just as pissed about reverse racism as I do racism. That and I am pretty sure there were bald guys long before neo nazi's or regular nazi's for that matter.......
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The best advise I can give is totally be yourself. I know it's sounds simplistic, but here is a personal story showing some things I learned.
I was a bald, white, Correctional Officer who worked in a State Mens Maximum Security Prison. We also housed Federal Detainees, as well as Safekeepers (Sexual Predators who had been civally committed for life). When I was new there, already a long time bald "Yeti" with a goatee. Obviously it goes without saying we had gang elements of every type inside. Now, in my case, in which I base everything on "Safety first". I made it abundantly clear that I was "NOT" affiliated with any gangs, obviously I wasn't. Please allow me to explain a little bit. I did not go out and tell inmates, etc. That would be a stupid attempt. It's all about gaining respect, very much more on the inside, so, with my Firm, Fair, & Consistant attitude inmates came to realize I was one of the "good" C.O. I treated all the same, give respect, get it in return. They knew I would not get them in trouble for little things that are trivial, but with my discretion anything, "safety" oriented, I was zero tolerance.
A second note, spoken about briefly in another thread, is the fact I have visible tattooes... now, this makes me stand out "even more" as a potential rascist. Now, I just happen to be a collector of tattooes from all sorts of cultures (Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, Polynesian (sp?), Tibetan, & others). This was a wonderful method of showing all races, on the inside, that I was the true Yeti... "Good to all who gave me respect.." 8-) Once again thanks for listening... Sheese I feel like quite the story teller here in our new home. hehe I guess, hey, that's what a forum is for, right? hehe Anyways, I am very open & honest, so I hope my lil stories are enjoyable to read. All my best, ~Yeti
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I get a lot of people that don't know how to react. Only with my shirt off though. Reason being, the tattoo on my back is a Confederate Battle Flag, head of a Bald Eagle and the American Flag. Most people immediately think Skinhead or KKK. If they wanna think that, I say fine. If they wanna get to know me, I'm cool with that too. I just like seeing peoples faces when I peel off my shirt.
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Yeti, I have to say I'm glad you joined the forum. :)
You're a funny and accessible Yeti (we get to see more than just your footprints in the snow), and it's a pleasure to have someone like you on board.
Looking forward to reading your future posts...
PS: by the way, how did you get your nickname? Share your story...
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hehe Thx bro.. I appreciate that. As far as my nickname, well it was given to me, by some friends, many years ago. For a variety of reasons. I am rather muscular, rather hairy (all but my melon lol), love to eat, and am considered a "monster" due to my being a Defensive Tactics Instructor for the State of IA, not too mention 8 years wrestling growing up (in Iowa-Wrestling territory! ;) ), some Amateur MMA experience (NHB sanctioned fighting), etc. My background is very thorough. I never speak of my MOS or what I did in the Corp, only that I am a former Marine, and as I have stated before, spent 5 years as a Police Officer (until an injury that required 2 surgeries and over a year in a cast above an elbow.. ugh) and then 5 years as a Correctional Officer as well, not to mention all of the Private Security I have done. A little Executive Protection, Bouncing, among other gigs. Only (going on 36) years of age, but I have been around.. hehe As far as my D.T. Instructor status, that means I train Police Officers in several areas. (i.e. Weapon Retention, Pressure Point Control Tactics, Come-alongs, Takedowns, knife fighting, etc.) I'm a baad Yeti heheehe But most find me very friendly and outgoing, as my typing here hopefully shows. 8-) I love you humans... lol ...cheers ~Yeti
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He he, yes, you are indeed very cheerful and seem very nice...that DID come through in your posts.
Wow, your past experience record is impressive. You've done and seen quite a lot for your age.
Ok, see you around, take care...
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Thx, you too my friend 8-) /cyberhandshake ~Yeti
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I get the baby stares too. Hilarious stuff. I started shaving my head before Michael Jordan was bald when I lived in Humboldt CA. Mostly rednecks and hippies there so people stared. At the time, I was one out of two bald guys in what seemed like the whole county. Plus you just notice stuff more when you're overly self-conscious from herbalizing (which I've retired from, thank you). I moved down to LA after that. Less stares. And now I'm in the Bay and hardly notice anyone staring. Just a lot more guys shaving the nug now.
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Something interesting happened while we were on vacation. We went to an indoor waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Naturally, I wasn't wearing a shirt so I had my tat exposed. One of the lifeguards was a young black man. Floating down the lazy river, I started talking to him. (About how boring it was during the off-season) He was cool with me until I floated around and he could see my tat. After that his attitude completely changed. As we were leaving we couldn't remember what time they opened the next day. I saw this same young man sitting on a chair in front of the First Aid office, so I stopped to ask him. He was reluctant to talk to me, probably figured he had to since it's his job. When we went back the next day, my wife and I were playing with our son in the kids pool and noticed this same young man was at a station near that pool. My wife made the comment that he was giving me dirty looks the day before. I told her it was probably because of my shaved head and the tat. Later on floating down the Lazy River with my son and wife, he was guarding the River again. My wife was trying to get my son to say "hi" to him. Then she said, that guy was talking to us yesterday, then he saw we were with you. I told her it was his problem not mine. She responded with, well you can't blame him. I made the rebuttal that he was jumping to conclusions and didn't even know me. Besides, if I was such a bad person, would I have even talked to him in the first place? In my opinion, had he made the effort, he would've found out that I'm not racist. That's not what my tattoo is about, nor why I shave my head. Oh well...
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I too have a rebel flag tattoo. and it has caused trouble in the past, but my friends that are black laugh with me and assure me that it is the guy or girl who trips that has the problem. they know what i am about and that i will do whatever i can to help anyone i can, regardless of race or anything else. i guess it is like dad says" respect everyone till they show you they don't desrve it"
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Well said pburke. I talked to a friend of mine not too long ago (who is also proud of his southern heritage) he's getting a new rebel flag tattoo finished up. When it's finished it will have rebel flag and the words "Heritage Not Hate" around it. He has been trying to get this same piece done, but had trouble finding a good artist who didn't think it was racial.
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When I was getting this one there was an english guy in the shop asking all kinds of dumb questions. like" what are you gonna do if you go up north? or don't you worry what people will think? But his dumbest one by far was "Why would you want that?" to which i replied " if you have to ask you will never understand." he was an arrogant pr#$%. did not get any of my tats to make anyone but me happy.
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You're damn right!!! My wife commented the other night that she still doesn't like mine. I just responded with, "Oh really? Guess it's a good thing I got it on me and it's not on you huh?" She didn't like that response very much, but oh well.
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I think people will always look when they see a smooth bald head because it really is not the norm. No doubt it has certainly become a stylish look these days...
My wife was bit critical of me when i first shaved but I think she has now come to like it. I think because she was critical of my choice to shave I may have felt people were staring at me but I have now got over it and I feel very confident with myself and my look.
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My wife was bit critical of me when i first shaved but I think she has now come to like it.
Wait until you foget to shave for a few days. You'll be getting the "Are you going to shave your head today? Its getting long"
I already get that.
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I've also noticed now that babies stare at me a lot. My wife noticed it also. I think they can relate to me since neither of us have hair and I'm just a kid in a mans body.
When I went and had that pic in my avatar made last week, there were tons of families with little kids there. One little girl came up to me and just randomly started hitting this big ball in my direction. I think it was the bald factor.
But to me let them stare. I like attention, and to have people take notice. I also remember in HS, there was this girl who lived right around the corner from me, and the day after thanksgiving break she returned to school with a short bob. She had long mousey looking hair before. It was drastic, and I couldn't help but always gravitate to it honestly.
I am and have always been a sucker for drastic hair changes. I'll admit I like watching good makeover shows, when the person undergoes a drastic hair change. It's just interesting.
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i hear that alot too noner people also tell me i need to grow it back
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I get very few stares. I have had a lot of people tell me I look like I was born to be bald.
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Yeah, I get the stares too! When babies do it that's cool you smile and them and they laugh back. I hope people keep staring because I like being able to smile back confidently. I like being sly and not your average guy.
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Yup, I get a lot of people staring, too. Just yesterday, while walking down the street I hear someone loudly yell out behind me, "hey you over there, the guy with the bald head, we have the same hairdo, looks like we get it cut at the same place!" Bewildered I turn around only to discover a bald homeless street person parked on a bench. He probably has a different motivation than I, for him it means no head lice!! O0
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I've only noticed a couple of people glancing at me. No actual stares.
Actually, I've noticed people in general seem more intimidated with me, particularly at work. The clerk at the gas station wouldn't even look me in the eye.
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Yeah, I've had the occasional stare. I've gotten use to it now and really don't even notice it that much anymore. But every now and them I will take notice especially if someone is really giving me the glare and I'll find myself wondering what might be going through their mind at the time. ???
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I just politely let him know that I'm sorry he feels that way without knowing me, but if he did know me he would know that I'm married to a filipino woman, I have a balck brother in-law, and soon to be chinese sister in-law, all whom I love very much. And, that him being rude had nothing to do with me being racist.
I love the Feel Felt Found approach Tyler!! O0
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I approached a guy last night in the parking lot of my gym to ask hima question about his car. As I got closer to him, I noticed with every step he got more and more frightened about me approaching him, so I gave a smile and a nod and it seemed to relax his fears a bit until I could get close enough to ask him the question without yelling. I was thinking, "wow, do I look that mean?" Once I asked the question you could see a sigh of relief come over him It was the first time I really experienced that to that degree.
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Maybe he thought you were there to take his lunch money Tyler.
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I've noticed that since I have to wear a tie for work now, that people stare more than usual. Especially when I'm in the pickup aka "Mater" I'll have to see if I can get a pic and post it on here. Sure it's beat up, has a rusty tool box on it, Krylon special edition wheels and a CB antenna that's a danger to low flying aircraft, but why ya gotta stare at the bald Billhilly drivin?
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Yeah, I noticed that.
Usually a few old guys I work with. Used to worry about why's but then I get a lotta young lasses wanting to touch it so it more than balances out!
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Yeah, me too! With so many hot women trying to get to the front of the line I don't have time to notice others who are staring! :*)) :*)) :*))
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have any of you caught people staring at ur bald head, it happens to me a lot, i think that they are trying to figure out if im naturally bald or shaved, the truth is a bit of both, and does it make u guys feel self conscious?
Self conscious? Hardly. I don't count a day as a success unless at least one woman stares at me.