Ever since I started listening to silverchair and I picked up my first electric guitar I've had long hair. Cut to varying lengths, from just below my shoulders to just above my chin. Unlike most guys I kept it in nice condition and took care of it properly... to the point of compliments from the ladies. I never really gave a damn what people thought of me having long hair, their intolerance is not my problem to deal with. On more than one occasion I'd been mistaken for a member of the fairer sex, and I'll never forget the classic "What can I get you ladies to drink?" when I was out with Chantelle one night. If you'd ever seen me in person you might understand why I find this funny... if I were female I'd make it into the Guiness Book of World Records for being the homeliest damned woman on the planet. Flat as a board, with broader shoulders than (most) ladies have (I say most because there are always those of the female population that could easily be mistaken for beasts of burden), no ass whatsoever and distinctly masculine facial features. My point? Generally, people are unobservant and presumptuous. You and I included, despite my best efforts to the contrary.
Today I stopped by Da Bomb after my classes were over and made an appointment with one of their ever-sexy stylists and got my dark locks cut off... I told her I didn't really care how she cut my hair, it just needed to be much shorter than it was... but not too short... the only thing worse than all the trendy-ass-boy-band-wannabes out there, is me looking like one [Yes, that was a bash at all of you guys with the short hair with a few tufts poking up at the front]. So after an hour or so of spraying, clipping, and styling I have a somewhat similar look to the host of 21C. I can live with that. Too bad it didn't last, I'm by no means a stylist, but whatever... change is good. Even at the tune of $17.33.
Which brings me to another topic Nishan and I always end up coming back to. The double-standard that surrounds nearly all interactions between men and women... beautiful women can get away with more than their less-attractive cohorts. That was a pricey haircut, I prolly could have had it done for less elsewhere, granted I would have had to fire up my beastly car and drive there instead of walking out of my Computer Science 220 class and into the hairdresser's five minutes later. The stylist was gorgeous, and for some reason that makes a difference. Why? Perhaps because I'm more willing to leave my future appearance in the hands of someone who has invested the time to ensure they are presentable and are therefore more capable of making me look presentable. That still wouldn't account for many of the other situations... a good example is the difference between the reactions to a stupid comment or joke made by a fat or ugly girl and the reactions to the same comment made by an attractive girl. The attractive girl can get away with just about anything, people will shrug it off or just tease her, whereas the unsightly girl usually gets slammed. Thinking back, I know for a fact that I've reacted in that way on more than one occasion. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being interested in the girl and not wanting to ruin future chances either. At least it's never seemed to make a big difference from my experience, or from what I've seen. I'd imagine girls treat guys in much the same way... Do they? I've never really noticed or paid any attention for that matter.