Long-haired hippy freak. So unfair!

This is not hard for me to believe at all. Sad, but this is simply how teens in America are treated. If you're clean cut, bathed, and good-looking, you must be a good person, but if you appear dingy, have long hair, or extra piercings, you must be a felon. I'm not longer surpised by this.

I think it id daft and there is a bit of contrary way to view this.Why do people view skin headed me and hippies as thugs?

I can understand the stigma with skin heads what with the neo nazis and the nationals, but long hair to me simbolises peaceful, world loving people such as John Lennon.

This is a great story. It certainly proves that people look at looks first and then make all kinds of assumptions. I have never had hair that long, but I can understand how many would find it difficult to accept this young man. I have to constantly remind myself not to be a stereotyper. So much of this behavior was learned early in life and at times it comes back into my thinking. And I know it is not right.

Long hair is still a symbol of the drug and hippy scene of the 60's and 70's. You make an excellent point in that it is always what is on the inside that determines a person's goodness and that looks don't tell the whole story. Thanks for the reminder. That was a great thing that this kid did for a worthy cause.

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Great that he's helping a good cause. Seems to me that he lives in a very conservative, traditional, old-fashioned environment. Stereotyping based on appearance still exists today, of course, but I didn't really expect the see this stereotype where long hair signifies being a hippie, junkie, or delinquent. I thought that nowadays, with lots of rockstars having long hair and with the rising popularity of the emo subculture, long hair would be more acceptable on guys than before. Then again, I live in an area where long hair on guys isn't unusual, so I have a hard time understanding the mindset of those who aren't as accepting as what I'm used to.

It is very sad that society will judge people on their appearance. My son has long hair also. It isn't 10 inches long, but it is past his shoulders. He is a straight A student and a great athlete. People always will comment to me that he should cut his hair because he looks like a hippy. I tell them that if that is the worst thing he is going to do, I am all for it.

This is the kind of stuff that just makes me crazy. Of course, I am an old Hippie and got to listen to all the oldsters beeyatch about the long haired freaks. It annoyed me no end, since the long haired freaks in my life were often twice as intelligent as the crew cutted freaks, lol.

I was very careful to raise my kids*not* to judge by appearances and it is what is on the inside that counts. I think it's goofy this kind of judgment still goes on. How come mankind never really grows up?

I think your daughter's friend did a great thing. I hope he feels it was worth the trouble. It is too bad that some people judge others by their appearance instead of all the good qualities inside. Maybe this young man gained more than he bargained for when he started this act of generosity. Sometimes we have to endure hardships in order to grow. Good for him for not just caving in and cutting his hair. He sounds like a strong and confident person.

Wow that seems very unfair! Poor guy was just trying to do something nice and it just gave him grief:( Well kudos to him for doing that and not letting all the negativity stop him. More people should be like him, and less like the ones that judge based on looks alone

Isn't it strange how often people are judged by their looks? What happened to the saying, "You can't judge a book by it's cover."
Looks are everything. Nobody takes the time to get to know the inner person anymore.
I am proud of this boy and I don't even know him! Please tell him how impressed I am that he stuck to his guns and withstood the disapproving looks. Maybe he could write an article for the paper. One of my friends writes for an online magazine, Associated Content. He should submit it.