Sly Bald Guys Forum

Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: Turk on December 17, 2008, 08:32:21 PM

Title: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Turk on December 17, 2008, 08:32:21 PM
(in case it was unclear, I'm the dude in that pic, lol)

I'm 16 and a junior in high school. I've gone sly before in the past, but the only thing I'm unsure about is the negative things I catch from everybody else. I live in the dirty south, and I never hear the end of "skinhead", "nazi", "hey aren't you the dude from american history x?" (which is strange enough because my two best friends are black dudes)

and it's not only that, it extends into "bruh got leukemia" (like that's supposed to be funny or something). So basically, kids are cruel without a doubt. My only thing is, I've actually been physically threatened for being sly in school before. I don't wanna end up on the wrong end of a fight with the people there if you know what I'm saying.

But anyway, have you guys ever been confronted with the same thing? I totally wanna shave my head again, because I look like a freakin' old man with the hairline I have now. And I know the whole "just be yourself" thing, but when "yourself" is being physically threatened for just being itself, it gets a bit confusing.

So any thoughts?
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Ghost1988 on December 17, 2008, 08:42:53 PM
you seem to get girls fine by the looks of your default? if you get women and friends why do you care so much about your hairline? apparently they dont. if you just be yourself and people see your not a skinhead or w/e people will lay low and not start sh*t with you. it takes awhile for people to stop being ignorant.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: BALDANDRE on December 17, 2008, 08:45:29 PM
Tough one...if you're gettin' in physical danger..

but bro, do what YOU want...if you want to be bald, do it and try to brake the ideas people have about a slick shaved head..

like Ghost said, the girls still dig ya..you should do it for you!

Welcome bro!
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: warhawk on December 17, 2008, 09:03:10 PM
hey street:  welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  glad that ya joined us.  2 answer your question...i've had a few negative comments but  most were positive (thankfully no "physical" threats).  like U said..."kids R cruel"... heck people R cruel regardless if U had hair, no hair, short, skinny, fat, tall.  i hope that U can just B yourself & enjoy the chrome dome without any "physical" threats towards U.  again... welcome 2 the forum & keep us posted.

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: BALDANDRE on December 17, 2008, 09:07:46 PM
Ok...here's a better way to answer it..

what bums you out more..

the flack you get from a shaved head..

or the feeling you get from a receding hairline...

that answer should tell you what would be best for YOU!

Good luck young bro!
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Razor X on December 17, 2008, 09:19:30 PM

what bums you out more..

the flack you get from a shaved head..

or the feeling you get from a receding hairline...

that answer should tell you what would be best for YOU!


Bingo.  And as far as the skinhead/Nazi/leukemia patient thing goes -- the next time you're out in a crowd, take a look around for guys with shaved  heads, and you'll see that they come in all shapes, sizes, ages and "types".  By "types" I mean, you can still pick out the artistic types from the tough guy types from the types who probably wear a suit to work every day.  Same  hairstyle, but the overall look is still very different.  The only ones who are going to look like skinheads or Nazis are the ones who actually are skinheads or Nazis.

At the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself and go with the look that makes you happy.  Any 16 year-old who's got the guts to buck trends and sport a shaved head deserves a lot of credit in my opinion.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Turk on December 17, 2008, 09:22:42 PM
thanks you guys for the imput. I definently appreciate the support I get from the sly fraternity, as warhawk put it. bald is definently where I wanna go with it, and that's what I think I'm gonna stick with. I guess if anyone would call somebody a skinhead just because of the shaved head thing, then they're being prejudice themselves just by associating the way you look with who you are (which is hypocritical).

Thanks a lot guys!
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Razor X on December 17, 2008, 09:33:34 PM
The comments will stop once people see that they aren't going to be able to influence you into letting your hair grow back.  And if it's any consolation, you won't have to deal with this kind of thing for long.  In a little more than a year, you'll be out of high school and nobody will care if you have a shaved head.  Once you're in college, there's a whole lot more freedom to be an individual.  When the day comes to step into that environment, you'll be a lot more confident if you're the completely bald guy rather than the guy who's losing his hair.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Turk on December 17, 2008, 09:38:47 PM
exactly. Bald is probably the most liberating statement (and I'm told college is all about self liberation, lol).

So yeah, I'm definently goin' sly again. May Santa be good to you all!
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: champ007 on December 17, 2008, 09:39:18 PM
Welcome Street.
The guys have given you some great advice.
I would like to add that the way you present yourself can cause people to sometimes grasp a quick thought of what type of person you are without ever speaking to you. Be sure take a step back and try to see what might provoke something uncalled for, it could be a walk, having pants draped to your knees, even a look on your face. Young people tend to "pop off" at the mouth without thought, which usually passes as they mature. (sometimes they never get it though)
Sometimes a simple smile and handshake can break down a barrier.  8)
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: BALDANDRE on December 17, 2008, 10:18:30 PM
exactly. Bald is probably the most liberating statement (and I'm told college is all about self liberation, lol).

So yeah, I'm definently goin' sly again. May Santa be good to you all!

Awesome!

Now that you've made the SLY choice...

set up a photo shoot with those cute little ladies again..

but this time have your freshly skinned noggin' showin' in the center of the picture..

you know, nice and SLY! O:O
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Tyler on December 17, 2008, 10:40:26 PM
Street, welcome to SBG!  It looks like these guys have lead you down the Sly path.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Brkeatr on December 18, 2008, 03:58:20 AM
Welcome to the Forum Street !!    O0
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Mikekoz13 on December 18, 2008, 04:25:18 AM
Welcome to our humble Forum Street! Good advice from the guys..............
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: tomgallagher on December 18, 2008, 08:03:52 AM
Welcome aboard dude.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Papa Don on December 18, 2008, 08:43:45 AM
Hello Street.  The guys are very wise in their advice.  I to live in the South and I know what you mean by prejudices. Quite a few of the rednecks here have never heard the term "Never judge a book by its cover".  Hang in there, do what you want and they will eventually come around and accept you for the good person that you are.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: time2shine on December 18, 2008, 09:21:01 AM
Welcome Street.  You're in a tough time, where the trend can be ignorant comments.  Keep coming to SBG, and you'll get the support you need in standing your ground, and changing that stigma.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: The Scottish Ambassador on December 18, 2008, 11:38:21 AM
At the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself and go with the look that makes you happy.  Any 16 year-old who's got the guts to buck trends and sport a shaved head deserves a lot of credit in my opinion.

A1 comment
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: DJ_Bald on December 18, 2008, 03:34:12 PM
Go with what you want man...its your head. The people who make negative comments about your shaved head probably will make negative comments about your receeding hairline...your not going to win with them either way so you might as well do what YOU want to do ! 
Nice looking girls in your pic...Im sure they will appreciate the shaved head !
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: Razor X on December 18, 2008, 07:17:34 PM
The people who make negative comments about your shaved head probably will make negative comments about your receeding hairline...your not going to win with them either way so you might as well do what YOU want to do ! 


Excellent point.  You can't please everybody.  Look at it this way, before the hairline started moving north, did you worry about other people thought of your haircut?  Probably not.  You could grow your hair back out now, and I'll bet that plenty of people would ask you why you did it and say that you looked better with a shaved head.  In the end, you just have to please yourself.
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: nomad on December 18, 2008, 07:28:29 PM
Welcome to the neighborhood little bro'

my fellow sly brother have givni' you all the go O0od adise you need
Title: Re: Kinda timid about the whole stigma
Post by: changeling on December 28, 2008, 04:45:58 PM
Street, I had a full head of hair and just wanted a game changer, so z-i-p, I took it off.  My wife has gotten used to it(or at least so she says).  But I know in a way where you're coming from.  I had learning disabilities, wore glasses, was uncoordinated, had(and still have)Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder as well as manic-depressive illness.  School was not a pleasant experience.  Having said that, as I got older and was able to see life in a broader, deeper context, I realized that every experience, positive or negative, is a learning experience which makes you stronger and more confident, as well as philosophical, which gives you the wisdom to let things roll off your back and to realize that morons and d***kheads will forever be with us, just like the common cold, the flu and diarrhea.   Peace. O0