I believe them that scrape off the fur are the ones hiding from their true bearded self.
Hope nobody takes offense, but I feel the same way. We males of the human species typically do not engage in all the preening and artificial body alterations that women do, except for shaving. Why does society seem to pressure men to be clean-shaven? It's an abomination to who we are. I refuse to be clean-shaven just like I refuse to shave my head or eyebrows or chest. Hair grows there, and I find it downright silly to spend a lifetime trying to make it look like it doesn't, just to conform to someone else's idea of how I should look. Not that I'm judging those who want to be clean-shaven. Just saying I don't understand the intent.

A lot of men complain about how beards are itchy, hot, etc. But I've never found this to be the case. It only itches when you're first growing it out. Once it reaches a certain length, it just feels natural. And even living in Texas with our brutal summers, I've never felt like my face is hot enough that I'd feel better without a beard. Rather the opposite, in fact. The beard protects my face from the sun and reduces my sunscreen usage! It's great in the winter, too. When the wind is blowing 60 miles an hour and my wife's face is all red and chapped from the cold and wind, mine is fine.

Honestly, I don't understand the aversion to beards in society. There's something to be said for grooming and trimming for style, of course, just like any other hair. But to shave it off completely and go bald-faced? No sir!

For the past 13 years I've kept my beard fairly short, but this winter I'm growing it out. Just to see what it does. It usually tends to frizz out sideways from my cheeks when it gets long, but I'm hoping I can find a way to tame it. Growing it out long helps hide any patchy/thin spots, too. Sadly, though, it also tends to accentuate the grey hairs that are coming in!

This morning a co-worker greeted me with "good morning, Viking!", so I guess that pretty much describes the way it looks, lol.