I guess I will chime in here...
I am the founder and president of the Midwest Beard and Moustache Club -
http://www.midwestbeard.com - an official local chapter of Beard Team USA.
Beards are neither evil nor good - although their power can be harnessed for such purposes. Trucker got it right. And beard acceptance is cyclical and cultural. Towards the mid part of the 19th century (late 1830's) through the early part of the 20th century, rarely was man seen in the USA without a beard (full, goatee or other category). Beards fell out of favor for two reasons in the early 20th century - during WWI soldiers were told they needed to shave to don gas masks and make a good seal - plus it gave the soldiers a more uniform look and the American military does not like non-conformity. It was during this time that American cinema started portraying the American soldier as a great hero on the screen - and Holywood actors embraced this by going clean shaven as well. Thus began the beginning of the end of the beard in the last century.
Fast forward to the hippie movement - Even George Carlin, who was clean shaven when he was up and coming - began to don a beard during this time - his contemporaries told him his career would be over - his Las Vegas shows were cancelled - but he refused to shave - and I don't think he did too bad at all.
Fast forward to the 80's and 90's - beards were almost non-existant here. Every man wanted a close shave - the razor industry boomed. If you had facial hair you were most likely looked upon as a "dirty hippie wannabe" or an out of work starving artist. This continues even today - but the tides have changed a little. I think the emasculation of men - the Metrosexual look - is falling by the wayside just a little - you see more men today with beards than you have since the 60's.
Yes, I have been harangued and harrassed about my beard - my family even tried to have an intervention for me - for real. Some comments I have received:
1. "You look like you just crawled out of a spider hole, Saddam"
2. "When are you going to shave that disgusting thing off your face?" This was from a female co-worker that I barely knew - my reply was unkind...it was a Monday morning. I replied, "When are you going to go on a diet and lose that gut" Oddly enough she never spoke to me again - and I did feel bad about saying that.
3. "That makes your face look fat"
4. "Do birds nest in that thing?"
5. "Hey Charlie Manson"
6. "I dig that Rasputin look"
7. "That looks like pubic hair on your face" - that was from my wife
8. "I won't kiss you until you shave it off" - also from the wife
9. "I am going to cut it off while you sleep" - you guessed it..the wife
I have also received several positive comments - and unsought but welcomed attention from quite a few ladies (but many of my friends are in the ink slinging business (tattoo artists) and since I spend a lot of time in the chair and at the shop - I tend to meet more open minded people. I've even been hit on by guys - which is flattering - but not my thing.
Just check out my website - go to the Links section and poke around on several of the beard related websites/organizations. There is a great brotherhood of bearded men - and the women who love them. Heck, maybe even Rasputin had a significant other
I love goats! (Not the same way Timmay does of course!
)
I was a shepherd on Halloween - boy people sure love to give candy to ya if they think you're a holy man.
I even met Santa Claus at the Caucus back in February - beards bring total strangers together!
At least the kids love it!
8 month old beard
How can this beard be evil???
Hairline receding - Chinline advancing!
Just like Russ - I like to get a little western myself...
For Halloween this year I am going full on Zombie - I'll show ya an evil beard then!
Regards,
Matthew
I took some pictures this weekend, Red - I was sporting a handlebar with the goatee - I will have to post those later...thanks for asking my friend!
