Staring down strangers...

[uncomfortable man]

How stupid. I'd be pretty happy with that guys hair. He has a solid hairline and if he grew it out combed it back and used topic, he would have a style I would envy. Got into a confrontation today. I had just recently shaved my head and I was feeling alright about it so I went to pick up some coffee for my ex without the beanie. As I'm walking to the car these two business men guys, a little husky but had fancy *** hairstyles and suits started talking sh*t about me as they were approaching me. This one guy gives me this condecending looks and gives this little laugh as he passed me so I turned around and said, What are you smirkin at shitface? They kept walking and didn't turn around to look at me until they were at a safe distance. When they looked back, I called out to them as I was approaching them and yelling at this dude. He got embarrassed and hurried off with his partner. I swear some people are just asking for it from me. They need me to help them realize how they are shallow pricks that need to exercise a little common courtesy. I was so ready to f*** this guy up and get blood all over his nice suit.

 

[Thickandthin]

How stupid. I'd be pretty happy with that guys hair. He has a solid hairline and if he grew it out combed it back and used topic, he would have a style I would envy. Got into a confrontation today. I had just recently shaved my head and I was feeling alright about it so I went to pick up some coffee for my ex without the beanie. As I'm walking to the car these two business men guys, a little husky but had fancy *** hairstyles and suits started talking sh*t about me as they were approaching me. This one guy gives me this condecending looks and gives this little laugh as he passed me so I turned around and said, What are you smirkin at shitface? They kept walking and didn't turn around to look at me until they were at a safe distance. When they looked back, I called out to them as I was approaching them and yelling at this dude. He got embarrassed and hurried off with his partner. I swear some people are just asking for it from me. They need me to help them realize how they are shallow pricks that need to exercise a little common courtesy. I was so ready to f*ck this guy up and get blood all over his nice suit.

I know what you mean dude.

I see random people trying to pick fights with bald guys all the time.

Oh wait - I've NEVER seen that in my entire life. Are you sure those guys weren't just laughing amongst themselves and your extreme paranoia interpreted it as them laughing at you?

I'd like to see you and dudemon hang out in real life. See which one thinks the other is making fun of him first.

 

[barcafan]

yeah some peoples lives dont necessarily revolve around you

 

[uncomfortable man]

yeah some peoples lives dont necessarily revolve around you

Their lives don't have to revolve around me for them to go out of their way to make me feel uncomfortable. They weren't picking a fight with me, I was picking a fight with this guy for how he was blatantly talking sh*t about me and giving me an attitude. I saw the guy point me out to his friend from about forty feet away. I heard the word bald at twenty feet away. I heard what they were saying and I saw that they were looking at me. f*** YOU...I know what I experienced and I'm not crazy! Is it so beyond the realm of reason that there are assholes out there that will give me insulting responses to my baldness? Even if it is just a look but more often than not it goes beyond that to some sort of verbal comment. Sometimes to my face and sometimes behind my back, but I always hear it and I know they are talking about/looking at me. It was so blatant, I guess you had to be there. If you don't believe me then that is your own naivetay.

 

[ComeOnPropy]

I feel for you Uman. really i do. This my come off as a joke but im relatively new here, have you ever considered a psychologist or something like that. After dealing with them from a young age i can confidently say that they help alot. Please dont think of my post as an insult or a joke (Not my intention) but i think you need something that will just help you overcome all this sh*t.

 

[HatPrisoner91]

For those who keep doubting this stuff, I honestly pray you guys become NW7's soon too, then you will finally understand.

 

[qball01]

For those who keep doubting this stuff, I honestly pray you guys become NW7's soon too, then you will finally understand.

I'd be more inclined to believe you, except for the fact that you two are pretty much the only cases I've ever read on the internet or heard about in real life in which you are supposedly REPEATEDLY HARASSED by others for being bald.

The fact is, I shave my head all the time and don't get these type of situations happening at ALL...and don't tell me that its because people can see I have a bit stubble and know I'm not a Norwood 5 yet...if anything based on what you were saying people who chose to shave their heads with some hair left would be MORE subject to harassment because they're CHOOSING to make themselves look like the dreaded "Bald man."


I can almost guarantee you that U-man, even if it was subconsciously, brought this on himself somehow by looking at these guys akwardly, EXPECTING them so say something...so even if he really did hear the word "bald" it was probably more along the lines of "dude...that bald guy is staring at us" rather than "hahaha that guy is bald, what a f*****g a**h**!! Its not like we probably don't know and associate with many bald guys ourselves, nope! Hes bald and he looks terrible...lets go out of our way to ridicule and demean him, just like we do with EVERY bald guy we see!"

Point is...if this happened to bald guys on a regular basis, there would be more evidence of it...more people would be posting horror stories of being bald....

also U-man...in saying that you believe society regards bald men as lesser...how do you justify the many bald guys you see on TV and in the movies? Sure...bald men aren't playing romantic leads yet in feature films...but what about guys like Michael Chiklis in the Shield...Bryan Craston in Breaking Bad (he shaves his head due to cancer in the show...then winds up keeping the look even when he can grow hair back because he likes it) Howie Mandel hosting Deal or no Deal, Ami James on Miami Ink, Tom Cochlioto on Top Chef, Ross Kemp, and even Dr Phil with his Norwood 7 horseshoe flying high and proud...and many more....and then of course music with guys like Chris Daughtry being one the highest selling artists of the last decade, David Draimen being the lead singer in Disturbed, etc. none of these guys would be in the public eye if baldness was really regarded so negatively.

 

[GeminiX]

For those who keep doubting this stuff, I honestly pray you guys become NW7's soon too, then you will finally understand.

Well I keep doubting it and was NW6 going on 7 for years and have two very happy close friends who are NW7 (one of which is sitting opposite me as I type).

I'm not saying you don't have issues, but I do not believe they are soley because of your hair.

To be blunt, I'm not convinced by the stories I've read from you guys either, so many details don't really add up.

 

[metropolis]

[...] Point is...if this happened to bald guys on a regular basis, there would be more evidence of it...more people would be posting horror stories of being bald....
[...]

We don't hear them, simply because bald men are usually too embarassed to talk about it (a bit like erectile dysfunction, nobody likes to talk about that either even though it's so common).

Believe me, there's not a single bald man in the world who doesn't feel bothered by his baldness. Hair is a wonderful substance and nobody wants to lose it.

 

[uncomfortable man]

What doesn't add up? These guys were audibly teasing me amongst themselves. They never said anything directly to me but the guy was giving me an obvious smug arrogant attitude and snickered as he passed me so I fuckin stood up for myself...what's not to get? And what do you mean you never see bald guys harrased? I've seen it happen not only at bars but other social venues like concerts and stuff. Not just my perception but the reality of that one bald guy at the bar off drinking by himself because nobody wants to give him the time of day. I remember the last time I flew there was this skinny bald business man that was sitting just ahead of me on the other side of the isle and you should have seen the looks people were giving each other like this guy was so odd. They were confirming amongst themselves that they thought that this guy was weird and awkward. You are expected to just sit there and take it or better yet start in with the self depricating jokes before they get a chance to but that is being way to transparent imo. So based on that social expectation that demands humility from the bald man, there will always be those people who are malicious enough to exploit that expectation by talking sh*t. I've seen this happen in kind of a mob mentality where bald guys have been socially ostricised, why do you think that for many guys who are hit with visably damaging hairloss taper off their social lives dramatically? Fear, and in many cases that fear is justified. It IS a depressing situation and although it is not a deathsentence entirely, it does severely limit your social mobility and percieved attractiveness, which just so happens to go a long way in this superficial society where so many people are adopting this celebrity mentality on these stupid social networking sites. I hate it.

 

[GeminiX]

I remember the last time I flew there was this skinny bald business man that was sitting just ahead of me on the other side of the isle and you should have seen the looks people were giving each other like this guy was so odd.

Basically, bullshit; this is your imagination. Groups of strangers on planes just don't do that.

Mobs / gangs whatever might bully people, but not just target people with hairloss; they will target people who wander around looking like easy victims.

Bah, I don't know why I've been sucked into replying to you again; I made a promise to myself to not get involved in your wacky delusions after the bizarre tranny one.

You've clearly got a very odd warped view of the world in your head and nothing *anyone* says on here will fix it. As I've said before, I really do think you need to see a specialist to help with your depression.

 

[HatPrisoner91]

OK for those calling bullshit, then why even post? There is not way to prove it. Am I to carry a camcorder with me and record it when harrassment or the jokes occur? Oh wait, then you will say I doctored the tape and paid the people to do it.

I'm not saying people walk around all the time and harass bald people. But it DOES happen. Quite a bit. A lot of it isn't absolute strangers. People you work with making the constant bald jokes. It does get irritating. People looking at your head. You can catch that.

It also has to do with where you live so every situation is different. If you live in Bumblef**k USA, or in some town in England, it's not the same as someone living in a city like LA, NY, Chicago, Miami etc where it's all about image. And before anyone says, then move. Sure in theory, it's nice but not always possible.

So back on topic. If you don't believe UCMan's story, that's your problem. My personal opinion to be honest is that it's 50/50. Incident definitely do happen but he is also making it a bit worse in his mind too. However, when people are looking at your insecurities all the time, that's normal. Have you ever seen the guy who is walking around with a stump? People look at it, don't they? Occasionally, you get the jerk who will make a comment or laugh but most people just can't help but look at it b/c he stands out from everyone else. It's similar to that. Unless you look great bald, and some guys do.

 

[GeminiX]

Because you both continue to make posts and comments which *so* many people who actually live in these places know to be nonsense.

For example:

It also has to do with where you live so every situation is different. If you live in Bumblef**k USA, or in some town in England, it's not the same as someone living in a city like LA, NY, Chicago, Miami etc where it's all about image. And before anyone says, then move. Sure in theory, it's nice but not always possible.

Utter nonsense, in fact it's in big cities where "anything goes" is more apparent than anywhere else in the world.

Sure there are exceptions, for example people from the southern areas of the USA like to quote lines from exodus and me, and there are many little villages near where I live which are incredibly bigoted (they fear anything different); areas in London are very snobby, Knightbridge for example. That said, you go into Harrods with some gold coloured credit cards and you'll be treated like royalty and I assure you, no-one will care about your hair.

 

[Oknow]

OK for those calling bullshit, then why even post? There is not way to prove it. Am I to carry a camcorder with me and record it when harrassment or the jokes occur? Oh wait, then you will say I doctored the tape and paid the people to do it.

I'm not saying people walk around all the time and harass bald people. But it DOES happen. Quite a bit. A lot of it isn't absolute strangers. People you work with making the constant bald jokes. It does get irritating. People looking at your head. You can catch that.

It also has to do with where you live so every situation is different. If you live in Bumblef**k USA, or in some town in England, it's not the same as someone living in a city like LA, NY, Chicago, Miami etc where it's all about image. And before anyone says, then move. Sure in theory, it's nice but not always possible.

So back on topic. If you don't believe UCMan's story, that's your problem. My personal opinion to be honest is that it's 50/50. Incident definitely do happen but he is also making it a bit worse in his mind too. However, when people are looking at your insecurities all the time, that's normal. Have you ever seen the guy who is walking around with a stump? People look at it, don't they? Occasionally, you get the jerk who will make a comment or laugh but most people just can't help but look at it b/c he stands out from everyone else. It's similar to that. Unless you look great bald, and some guys do.

I really hope that I never go bald. Man no offense but baldness has made you guys miserable.

 

[DoctorHouse]

I honestly believe HP and UM get ridiculed for their "shiny" heads. They both exude negativity and its bound to get absorbed by strangers and they will react negatively towards them by making fun of their bald heads since its the most obvious. I have a feeling these strangers they both encounter are uneducated or insecure about themselves and they think they need to feel better by making UM and HP feel worse. Secondly the bullseye tattooed to their foreheads might be another reason for the attacks................................... :whistle: Look how many times this forum has attacked them both for just posting what they feel and experience. Its because even in their posts they "rub people the wrong way". I respect both of them and I have no issues with what they post because lets face it folks, they are miserable with the "hand they have been dealt". I would be miserable if I was bald. I know that for a fact. As I have problems dealing with minor hair loss and going gray. Thank goodness I can change my hair color.

 

[GeminiX]

@DocHouse, I believe you're very close to the truth. I don't think they are bullied as such in this forum, but they do often recieve negative posts in response to theirs, heck even from me.

Where here it's usually frustration from other forum members at their genreral utterly negative (and imho often "fantastic" anecdotes), out in the wilds the same attitude can make them targets and the hair loss may well be the obvious focus point as you say.

 

[metropolis]

[...] I have a feeling these strangers they both encounter are uneducated or insecure about themselves and they think they need to feel better by making UM and HP feel worse. [...]

There are plenty of heartless, egotistical pricks out there and yes, I believe that every word HP and UM say is true. Bald men and women have every right to feel angry about their situation and express their frustration. If some HairLossTalk.com posters feel upset about it, well, that's their problem.

 

[Thickandthin]

I think it's a case of a few isolated incidents coupled with their paranoia and shame over being bald.

I was the same way in high school over my acne. It wasn't bad, but it was bad enough for people to occasionally look at my face instead of my eyes. For that point on I assumed people were just looking at my pimples instead of me.

Because of that they go out extremely guarded and on edge, just waiting for someone to make a bald joke or laugh at them. It probably does happen from time to time - but they make it seem like it's a daily occurrence. And I bet they misinterpret a lot of innocent things - a prolonged glance, an overheard joke, someone pointing in their direction - as being insults directed toward them. I've been there....

 

[GeminiX]

I think it's a case of a few isolated incidents coupled with their paranoia and shame over being bald.

Indeed, and I can completely releate there too. The paranoia I felt when I first started living full time was tremendous, every time someone glanced at me I immediately thought "OMG I've been "read", they know my secret", truly terrifying. Every time I would hear someone laugh nearby, I *always* assumed they were laughing at me etc.

It just comes back to confidence, if I constantly look terrified and out of place it attracts negative attention.

 

[GeminiX]

[...] I have a feeling these strangers they both encounter are uneducated or insecure about themselves and they think they need to feel better by making UM and HP feel worse. [...]

There are plenty of heartless, egotistical pricks out there and yes, I believe that every word HP and UM say is true. Bald men and women have every right to feel angry about their situation and express their frustration. If some HairLossTalk.com posters feel upset about it, well, that's their problem.

If you take "careful" notice, the ones always disagreeing and make a big stink about HP and UM's posts are young late-teen, early 20-something NW1's and 2's who have only had a small "taste" of male pattern baldness - if any at all, so far in their young lives.

Their "opinions" will change dramatically when, and if, they reach NW3, then NW4, ...NW5/6...later on down the road. But until then, from their perspective all of us "bald' guys are nuts, and "baldness shouldn't affect our lives at all." :roll:

Because "all we need is confidence" and the whole world will be at our beckon call, because being bald makes absolutely no difference at all!! :jackit:

Well I'm 40, have been NW6+, have a huge bag of life experience etc. How do I fit into your blanket statement?