Long-haired hippy freak. So unfair!
By crazynurse
@crazynurse (7482)
United States
May 30, 2007 5:08pm CST
One of my daughter's male friends spent quite a while growing his hair out so that he could donate it to 'Locks of Love,' an organization that accepts hair and makes wigs for children who have lost their hair from various medical disorders. 'Locks of Love' requires a 10-inch length of hair. Needless to say, growing his hair to this length really changed this young man's appearance. Little did he know how his life would change! It was so sad to hear how he was treated differently once his hair got down to shoulder length. When in stores, he was followed by store personnel like a criminal (when he never had been before), he was watched by cops at a local teen hangout as if he was up to no good, he had a very hard time finding a job, several girls that he asked out were not allowed to go out with him because their parents did not like his long hair, and various other problems. Now that he has had the hair cut and has donated it, he is back to his 'clean-cut' look. Suddenly he is considered the 'model teen' and has no problems!!! Funny thing, he was a 'model teen' while growing the hair, but the image portrayed by the long hair outweighed his merit. What do you think of this? Can you believe that he was judged unfairly due to the length of his hair? What are your thoughts?
26 people like this
40 responses
@hachimitsu (873)
• United States
30 May 07
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.
5 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
31 May 07
I am in the Eastern Kentucky area, and yes, this area is 10 years behind the times in more ways than one! Very, very old-fashioned and very judgemental. Lots of Bible-belt Christians who are 'closet alcholics' and what not!
1 person likes this
@tonixxx (358)
•
30 May 07
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.
4 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
30 May 07
Yes, we do tend to stereotype don't we. So very sad.
2 people like this
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
30 May 07
LOL I read your discussion title and practically started jumping up and down. I've had long hair for many years, and for the same reason. When it reaches that length, i get it cut off, donate it, and start growing it out again. And i get judged frequently both by strangers, and by possibly employers. People automatically assume i'm up to no good, or that i'm a hippie, or something else. Actually, it's funny how stereotypes affect our lives so much. I used to drive a 1977 El Camino, and i got pulled over by the cops all the time. Long haired dude in a car like that? Yep. Then my wife, who thankfully loves my hair, and i bought a new mitsubishi galant and amazingly enough, we rarely got pulled over. *knock on wood* The whole long hair thing is just a complete misconception, and one that i find amusing b/c in the history of the human race, 90% of the time, long hair on a man was the norm, and short hair normally signified the ultra religious sects, or monks.
3 people like this
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
30 May 07
Unfortunately it's not that hard for me to believe, As i've said here before I've been through the same thing countless times because of my tattoos and the way that I dress...just another classic example of judging the book by the cover. It's really quite sad.
3 people like this
@RenaeT (681)
• United States
31 May 07
My son had the same experience in school in 8th grade. He was also a skateboarder and people treated him really bad. He wore the baggy clothes, had 'spiked' hair, not just spiked, but wore it all on top of his head straight up, 7 inches high like the cartoon on the Simpsons! He was a Christian young man, sang in the church youth group choir, was the photographer at his high school, (when he got older) and never one time ever ever ever got into trouble. BUT. . .people treated him like he was a hoodlum. People in the church used to ask me how I 'deal with' how he dressed and wore his hair. My answer? "I know where he is all the time, he makes his own money with a paper route and a bicycle, he doesn't smoke, drink, run around with the wrong crowd, he does his homework, he has lots of good friends, and he treats me with respect and cleans up after himself around the house. . .now, what's there to DEAL WITH??? To this day, we laugh so hard at his hair. I wish I could post it here, but I guess I don't have enough posts to add an image in the middle of a post. Maybe I need to post it on a New Discussion.
3 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
31 May 07
What a shame that adults judge kids by the wrong things. To me, this might just CAUSE a kid to rebel!! I don't think one can add images until they reach 500 posts, or at least that used to be the rules.
2 people like this
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
30 May 07
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
3 people like this
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
30 May 07
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.
3 people like this
@peaceful (3294)
• United States
31 May 07
Some people are blazingly superficial that they can't bring themselves to a place where they can't stop messing with people because of their outward appearances... dim-witted as this is, it seems that Society has forgotten about the 'Content Of Their Character's" part, and opted for the easier, "I don't like what you look like, so I'm going to treat you poorly"... this kind of stuff can come back to haunt a person one day... suppose it turns out that one of the "Judging Joes" or "Judging Janes" winds up with a sick child who need the very same hair that this man went thru all that trouble to selfishly donate?
The Omniverse can and does arrange those kinds of "lessons" quite regularly, for those who dare mis-use It's Energy.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
30 May 07
What a shame. If he was neatly dressed and his hair was clean he should not have been so misjudged.
2 people like this
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
1 Jun 07
First of all I think it is soooo admirable that he grew his hair out for locks of love. I am so sorry he had to endure criticism b/c of it. People are just too judgmental. Everyone has their reasons, and there are always 2 sides to every story. He should be proud of what he did and your daughter should be proud to have him as one of her friends.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
30 May 07
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.
3 people like this
@hotbiatch (276)
• Philippines
1 Jun 07
That was so unfair yet very heart warming at the same time. I agree that the guy has been misjudged unfairly maybe because of the misconception that guys with long hair have a bad background. But, from the story you have just told us, we can prove that such misconceptions are more often than not false. This is why, next time we should not judge a person based on his looks alone.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
31 May 07
It's so sad that his good intentions were turned against him. I can never understand why some people are so judgemental about a trivial thing like appearance.
There's no evidence that kids with long hair are criminals, or even capable of doing anything wrong.
I can't understand the bias.
But, I guess these are the same people that make fun of overweight people and discriminate against people from other cultures. They're just bullies looking for someone to pick on.
I think it's a silly stereotype. People should be able to look the way they want without being harassed or judged unfairly.
@suscan (1955)
• United States
31 May 07
This so sad to judge someone by their hair length. I remember in the 70's. I dated long haired guys,and it was a big deal then. This is such a great cause that this young man is going to help, isn't it a shame he has to be persecuted for helping someone.
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
31 May 07
This is really unfair to judge people like this just only by their length of hair or any physical apearance. But I must say that how strong that teen is in achieving his donating goal. He did not give up after all this bad jusdgment, although I am sure it was really tough on him. This is really great.
1 person likes this
@posabogdan (67)
• Romania
31 May 07
More people should be like him.and less like the ones that judge based on looks alone...:D
1 person likes this
@PunkyMcPunk (1477)
• Canada
31 May 07
Yes, people do have a pre-judged opinion of people based on our looks. For instance I have a friend who is tattooed from head to foot (literally) She also has a nose ring. No one would think that she was as Catholic Church going God believing university graduated (with BA honours) model citizen. We have been walking down the street and people have seen us coming and moved over to the other sidewalk to avoid us.
I have also heard of Tyra Banks (an American Supermodel) did an experiment for her TV show. She put on a suit that would have made her a size 17 and she also put make up and other stuff on to disguise herself. She went around like this for a week and she said people treated her WAY differently.
Whether we choose to admit it or not we do pre-judge people. I know I do. I try not too but it happens. I always just keep an open mind to everyone.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
31 May 07
I think people can be and are judged on the length of their hair. There are many assumptions made based on appearance whether it is hair length, colour or cut. It is the same with piercing, makeup and tattoos and I think it is a crying shame. I wouldn't want to live in a world where we all look the same, dress the same, and express the same opinions.
I think you have illustrated a fine point here, especially about the young man in question. Maybe it will make people think wice the next time they are on the verge of forming a snap judgement because someone is 'different'.
1 person likes this
