Interesting post Mahhong. I agree with you, I think people feel the need to address it and humor is the most acceptable way.

On the other hand, I think this works only for people who you know semi well. It is odd when other people comment on your hair loss as if you haven't noticed it yet. There is a strange personality trait in many of the humans i have come across, often enough, in my 21 years alive and that is the need to point out perceived flaws in others.

If I talk to someone with some 'physical flaw', whether it be something as mild as hair loss or severe as deformity or a missing limb, I don't feel the need to point it out or show the person I acknowledge their unfortunate condition. I just try and talk to them like I would any other person.

I think most people do this, but a few don't and I try and understand, whenever I am the victim of someone who feels the need to point out any one of my many flaws, that those who have their own problems.... ones far worse then my hair loss.

Hair loss has caused me a lot of grief, but at the same time I think it has made me a better person in the way I treat others. When something happens to you that you strongly dislike, and that something you have absolutely no control over, it was just the way you were born, I think you can sympathize with others a bit more. Maybe it has to do with growing up as well, but I feel it has had this effect on me.

On a side note, I was pleased with the fact that Wayne Rooney went so public with his hair transplant (granted, he pretty much had to otherwise every media outlet in England would be commenting on it). The way he did it gave a boost to the societal impressions on treating hair loss. People have come to terms with people dying hair, using make up, get plastic surgery, but treating hair loss is still seen as overly vain and comical.

People can be very cruel. I , myself experienced this when I started losing my hair. I recall people "pointing it out to me" like

- "Hey, you are losing your hair"
- "You are going bald"
- "Welcome to the club" (from someone who was bald)

My old roomate even starting calling me "Sy Sperling" the Hairclub guy.. Not good and not funny. Of course this affected me in a very negative way BUT also made me find a solution and vow to take action

People who have not experieneced hairloss cannot imagine the effects on an individual. Thus, many have no empathy towards it as they don't "relate."

This certainly doesn't isolate itself to hair: being hairy, short, skinny, etc. are ones of many areas where people are poked fun at..

If hairloss did one thing for me, it certainly taught me how to empathize with people dealing with challenging areas, many of which they can do nothing about ( or minimal)

__________________
JOBI

1417 FUT - Dr. True
1476 FUT - Dr. True
2124 FUT - Dr. True
604 FUE - Dr. True







My views are based on my personal experiences, research and objective observations. I am not a doctor.

Total - 5621 FU's uncut!

This is a topic that has always puzzled me. It's so embarassing for some of us that arent the "just shave it off" guys. I personally really hate it when people mention it as a joke with no regards to mine (or you guys) feelings. Its insanely disrespectful.

A woman (overweight I might add) did that to me here at the office just the other day and it really got my blood boiling. I came into work a little late, rushed in the morning and didnt have time to comb hair, etc.

As soon as I walk into the office in front of about 5 other employees, she goes "Oh you forgot to comb your hair... what you have left" and chuckled.

This caused another employee to start laughing. I was mortified to say the least. I wanted to cut her down so bad but I just laughed.

You should have said, "Well, it looks like you don't forget any meals, do you?" I would have paid money to see the look on her face after that!

Oh believe me.. I wanted to say much more. I think people use it as another poster put earlier as a veiled dig at us.

Some of my friends , well certain 1 or 2, always just casually "bring it up". I know what theyre doing and it's just wrong. Sometimes its veiled as humor but more often than not it's a dig I beleive.

Most people know balding is a big issue and is unfortunately looked down upon, they are not clueless, and are intentionally trying to put us down with the veil of "humor".

That's more a cultural phenomenon than anything else. In some place people make fun of homosexuals or even down syndrome sufferers.

People, in general, love to voice their opinion and point out what their "viewpoint" is. However, those same people, are the one's who many times get highly defensive when a comment is directed towards them.

__________________
JOBI

1417 FUT - Dr. True
1476 FUT - Dr. True
2124 FUT - Dr. True
604 FUE - Dr. True







My views are based on my personal experiences, research and objective observations. I am not a doctor.

Total - 5621 FU's uncut!

I can guarantee anyone who pokes fun at hairloss hasn't experienced it!

__________________
JOBI

1417 FUT - Dr. True
1476 FUT - Dr. True
2124 FUT - Dr. True
604 FUE - Dr. True







My views are based on my personal experiences, research and objective observations. I am not a doctor.

Total - 5621 FU's uncut!

What's even stranger, is that those that seem surprised and frown upon one's preoccupation of hair loss, most assuredly would lament even further had they suffered hair loss themselves!

If you put things in to perspective losing your your hair isnt really that bad compared to what some people go through, Yeah i agree losing your hair does suck but just get on with things and dont let it rule your life, Im a NW5 and have shaved my head for 2 years now and it looks ok, Of course id love the choice to grow it again but shit happens, Life is to short to let it worry you , Enjoy your life.