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To beard or not to beard?

GHT

I'll Lock Up
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9,775
Location
New Forest
Damn! And I thought it was Chuck Norris pre contacts.
Don't be silly, Norris doesn't have long ears and his tongue doesn't hang out either.
chuck-norris.jpg
 
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18,171
...the only problem that I have is I'm too vain to look like Santa.
To each his own I guess. I'm too vain to ever be caught wearing anything seersucker, a zoot suit or a fat man's Hawaiian shirt. I get the Santa comment some, this time of yr. I get the ZZ Top & Gandalf comments more. But the dirty looks usually come from a full grown male who couldn't grow a beard if his life depended on it; therefore he thinks no one else should have one either.

IMG_2950.jpg


The missus calls me a chromosexual.
LOL...that's funny!

It's also funny how the clean shaven guy with the set of big man boobs is over the shoulder & behind the bearded guy. Those marketing guys are sharp!

IMG_0398.JPG
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,775
Location
New Forest
To each his own I guess. I'm too vain to ever be caught wearing anything seersucker, a zoot suit or a fat man's Hawaiian shirt. I get the Santa comment some, this time of yr. I get the ZZ Top & Gandalf comments more. But the dirty looks usually come from a full grown male who couldn't grow a beard if his life depended on it; therefore he thinks no one else should have one either.
You are so right, it is a case of each to their own, and there are those who need to be told that once in a while. Your beard is magnificent, but it doesn't inspire me to copy it, just as my Zoot suit an seersucker summer blazer attract complimentary remarks, doesn't mean that will inspire you to wear the same. I did like the ZZ Top remark though, did you know that the drummer who is clean shaven, has the surname, Beard?
 

Desert dog

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,291
Location
California
To each his own I guess. I'm too vain to ever be caught wearing anything seersucker, a zoot suit or a fat man's Hawaiian shirt. I get the Santa comment some, this time of yr. I get the ZZ Top & Gandalf comments more. But the dirty looks usually come from a full grown male who couldn't grow a beard if his life depended on it; therefore he thinks no one else should have one either.

View attachment 150267


LOL...that's funny!

It's also funny how the clean shaven guy with the set of big man boobs is over the shoulder & behind the bearded guy. Those marketing guys are sharp!

View attachment 150268
That is funny! A man with a boobed metrosexual behind him. My wife teases me about getting a Hawaiian shirt, not happening!

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18,171
That is funny! A man with a boobed metrosexual behind him. My wife teases me about getting a Hawaiian shirt, not happening!

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The only thing worse is wearing a Hawaiian shirt AND a fanny pack. If you have ever taken a personal protection course by any LE agency, the first thing you think when you see someone wearing either one is "GUN".

In reading thru threads such as this one, here & elsewhere, I am always amazed by the number of posts made by men who wear no facial hair yet feel compelled to weigh in on the subject. I don't weigh in & post in the Hawaiian shirt thread because I don't wear any. It's just another version of the dirty look mentioned earlier.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,775
Location
New Forest
In reading thru threads such as this one, here & elsewhere, I am always amazed by the number of posts made by men who wear no facial hair yet feel compelled to weigh in on the subject. I don't weigh in & post in the Hawaiian shirt thread because I don't wear any.
That's because, you Sir, are a gentleman. You live and let live, more power to your elbow. Note that Lizzie articulates on "the boys" yet I can never recall her castigating anyone with a political bias that the boys would have approved of. Just as long as they don't attempt any sort of indoctrination. And that's the point, there are those who will say that you can do/say/act as you want but reading between the lines they are really saying: "Don't live life your way, live it as I tell you." But do tell me, if this shirt found it's way from Santa's sack to your Christmas stocking, what would your reaction have been?
gary's aloha shirt 003.JPG
 
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18,171
But do tell me, if this shirt found it's way from Santa's sack to your Christmas stocking, what would your reaction have been?
"REGIFT". I know your wife does beautiful work & that certainly is beautiful fabric you have chosen, but it would just not be me. I just have a conservative soul probably from the 1800's.

I sometimes think we males still have something primal in our DNA going back thousands of yrs, & that's what makes the issue of beards such a lightening rod. A man doesn't chose to have a beard, it grows naturally on most. Some men chose to shave it off, & some of those who do seem to resent those who don't. Reminds me of the verse from a Hank Williams Jr song:

"Hey I am a lone wolf
Out here on the prowl
And most of us have been penned up but I'm still running wild"

Which invariably reminds me of a line from another of his songs:

"What kind of a reward have you got out on me?"
 
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11,369
Location
Alabama
"REGIFT". I know your wife does beautiful work & that certainly is beautiful fabric you have chosen, but it would just not be me. I just have a conservative soul probably from the 1800's.

I sometimes think we males still have something primal in our DNA going back thousands of yrs, & that's what makes the issue of beards such a lightening rod. A man doesn't chose to have a beard, it grows naturally on most. Some men chose to shave it off, & some of those who do seem to resent those who don't. Reminds me of the verse from a Hank Williams Jr song:

"Hey I am a lone wolf
Out here on the prowl
And most of us have been penned up but I'm still running wild"

Which invariably reminds me of a line from another of his songs:

"What kind of a reward have you got out on me?"

Great response, HJ. Enjoy the lines from those songs as well but they got me to thinking of the lyrics from another of JR's songs

'Cause you see I'm a dinosaur
I should've died a long time before
Have pity on a dinosaur hand me my hat
Excuse me man, but where's the door?
 
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Desert dog

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,291
Location
California
That's because, you Sir, are a gentleman. You live and let live, more power to your elbow. Note that Lizzie articulates on "the boys" yet I can never recall her castigating anyone with a political bias that the boys would have approved of. Just as long as they don't attempt any sort of indoctrination. And that's the point, there are those who will say that you can do/say/act as you want but reading between the lines they are really saying: "Don't live life your way, live it as I tell you." But do tell me, if this shirt found it's way from Santa's sack to your Christmas stocking, what would your reaction have been?
View attachment 150296
Beautiful shirt! I enjoy seeing nice things, even those that I would not wear. I enjoy seeing hats that I personally would not wear also.

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GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,775
Location
New Forest
"REGIFT". I know your wife does beautiful work & that certainly is beautiful fabric you have chosen, but it would just not be me. I just have a conservative soul probably from the 1800's.
Beautiful shirt! I enjoy seeing nice things, even those that I would not wear. I enjoy seeing hats that I personally would not wear also.
You two have probably both missed your calling, The Diplomatic Corps would have put your skills to great use.
 

Woodtroll

One Too Many
Messages
1,263
Location
Mtns. of SW Virginia
Interesting discussion here that I have enjoyed reading through. I had a beard for about 15 years, from 9th grade (yes, honestly) until 1994 when I began my fire service career and had to shave. My wife and daughter were somewhat traumatized when I had to shave it off that first time; neither had seen me without a beard before!

After almost 25 years without my beard, I recently got to grow it back out for three months while I was off the job recovering from surgery:



It felt good, and got lots of positive comments from folks who remembered me having a beard "in the old days". My wife says she really missed it, too. :D I've always told folks the one thing about retirement that I look forward to the most is putting away the razor for good. As HJ has already said, my beard just seems to be "me", part of who I am, although it sure has turned white since I saw it last! ;) I return to work Wednesday, and just shaved my beard back off yesterday, and was surprised that my face is now FREEZING even though our weather is mild right now.

I do get tickled by the young folks who grow out beards to fuss with them, grease them, and generally primp over them. That seems to be defeating the purpose to me, sort of like someone "posing". But I do firmly believe in "to each their own", as long as you're not hurting someone else. I appreciate it very much that that attitude is common here on the board, and even though I may not prefer a hat, shirt, or jacket for myself I really do enjoy seeing things here that I would not normally be exposed to. I also appreciate the friendly jabs that sometimes are traded over some things, and that it is all taken in stride.

Y'all take care, friends, happy New Year!
Regan
 

Desert dog

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,291
Location
California
Interesting discussion here that I have enjoyed reading through. I had a beard for about 15 years, from 9th grade (yes, honestly) until 1994 when I began my fire service career and had to shave. My wife and daughter were somewhat traumatized when I had to shave it off that first time; neither had seen me without a beard before!

After almost 25 years without my beard, I recently got to grow it back out for three months while I was off the job recovering from surgery:



It felt good, and got lots of positive comments from folks who remembered me having a beard "in the old days". My wife says she really missed it, too. :D I've always told folks the one thing about retirement that I look forward to the most is putting away the razor for good. As HJ has already said, my beard just seems to be "me", part of who I am, although it sure has turned white since I saw it last! ;) I return to work Wednesday, and just shaved my beard back off yesterday, and was surprised that my face is now FREEZING even though our weather is mild right now.

I do get tickled by the young folks who grow out beards to fuss with them, grease them, and generally primp over them. That seems to be defeating the purpose to me, sort of like someone "posing". But I do firmly believe in "to each their own", as long as you're not hurting someone else. I appreciate it very much that that attitude is common here on the board, and even though I may not prefer a hat, shirt, or jacket for myself I really do enjoy seeing things here that I would not normally be exposed to. I also appreciate the friendly jabs that sometimes are traded over some things, and that it is all taken in stride.

Y'all take care, friends, happy New Year!
Regan
Well said! My beard has been there so long, when people ask how long it took to grow, I say about 40 years[emoji16]. I have been married for over 38 years and my wife has never seen me clean shaven. If I ever shave she may see what she married, and head for the hills!

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Hercule

Practically Family
Messages
953
Location
Western Reserve (Cleveland)
I let my beard grow out every once in a while, and almost always over the Christmas break, but I never really consider keeping it, except for this year. I'm seriously thinking about it. I had to start at it early because I cut my chin and couldn't shave until it healed, so it's been a bit more than four weeks at this point and it has filled out nicely. I'll probably shave it off though. Facial hair has never really appealed to me. I'm around too many college students for whom facial hair seems to be thought an expedient for maturity.

EDIT: 1.1.19 @ 16,30 : And so it all came off, using an early 30s Gillette Goodwill razor with an ABC handle, Provence Sante shaving soap, and a Frank badger brush. I feel human again.
 
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