Kilts & Beards

[Blu (Ontario)]

Growing a beard is the only (socially acceptable) option open to men to alter their appearance. (Short of plastic surgery, that is.) It's also seen as a symbol of maturity (as Glen pointed out). Best of all, it's free.

[Sciuropterus]

I hate shaving, but have no interest in having a beard as my father has one, that's reason enough for me not to ever want one. Any time I have excess facial hair, it is a result of neglect, not cultivation. I was a sign & display artist for ten years and always had to be clean-shaven because I wore a paint respirator mask on a daily basis.

[Robin]

I look smart without a beard.

[Archangel]

I look smart without a beard.

I look way too smart with one, I'm usually mistaken for a philosoph prof? The reality is most days I don't want anything that sharp that close to my throat that early in the morning, ha.

My wife had an argument with a woman like Prester John met up with about my beard. The woman said it was against the Bible, dw said Jesus had one, woman said no, dw said how could it claim the guards pulled it out if He didn't have one, the woman retorted, "Not my Jesus!" Go figure.

Mine's not a religious beard, it's just Scottish procrastination and practicality, simpler to cut every two weeks when I do my ears than waste time every day arguing with God about my face. Hmmn, back to that, oh well.

[Bob C]

I've had a mustache for almost my entire adult life. I grow a beard when I feel like it and shave it off when I feel like it.

Right now, I feel like having a gray goatee, so I do. Well, maybe I wouldn't have chosen gray. It is what it is.

[jfellrath]

I just have a goatee, but I used to have a full beard. I just like the look of a goatee. I originally grew my beard when I was promoted to a management position at my old company and I realized that I wasn't being taken seriously because I have a baby face (plus I was just a few years out of college - I was 26-27, I think). The beard helped a lot, it made me look older and mature.

I actually shaved it off at one point, but it gave me food poisoning and I had to miss an MLS playoff game. I was so disturbed by the fact that I had a burgeoning double chin that was revealed by the lack of scruff that I immediately went on a diet - soups and salads for lunch. Something in one of my salads made me sicker than a dog, and the playoff game was that night.

So I am living proof that shaving off your beard can be hazardous to your health. Leave 'em on.

[Riverkilt]

I didn't grow my first beard until my early 30s. I loved it. My weird shaped face suddenly had balance to it and I "looked" like a Scotsman. My beard brought out my heritage. Loved it.

Back then, in the '70s was in corporate American and the beard caused some hassles...some thought I was trying to be a hippie....was working NYC and the east coast in the dry goods business and some of my Jewish customers started calling me the "Goy Rabbi" after a coworker taught me a few words of Yiddish.

Shaved it off to apply for a promotion years later and was nearly frightened by what lay underneath and promptly grew it back.

I shaved it again in early sobriety in 1990 for "a change." When I looked in the mirror afterwards I was horrified to find my long dead father's face staring back at me. Again, I grew the beard right back.

Holier than thou folks used to say my beard was "hiding" the real me. I'd counter that no, shaving off your Creator given whiskers is hiding the real you.

I do trim my cheeks and still shave my neck for comfort. Overall I really like wearing a beard and I do like how it looks with kilts.

And, somewhere along the line I became a graybeard....

Ron