# Make up your mind, kid! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075 "2007-09-13T15:04:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/21 "2007-09-13T21:08:43Z")
[QUOTE=Birdmonster] You know how a man’s beard grows from about his cheeks to half-way down his neck? You know how most men with beards shave their necks? It’s kind of the beard equivalent of the pathetic peach fuzz teenage mustache, in a way. [/QUOTE] Is [this](http://www.muppetlabs.com/~eric/DSC00042.JPG) a neckbeard? Is [this](http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/02/House_051202011818170_wideweb__300x450.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/22 "2007-09-13T21:09:48Z")
[QUOTE=Swampwolf] …that sounds like a pit thought. You want **Dinsdale** to raise his/her (sorry, D, I don’t know) child to follow authority blindly? Kowtow to whatever the stuffed shirts say? How are you gonna raise your kids? “Sorry, Junior. I know what your teacher did was unfair. I’ll make sure to pack the Vaseline in your lunch tomorrow. And remember, it only hurts at first.” Kudos to you, **Dinsdale,** for supporting your son in his expressing his individuality, and defending it with a very minor bit of sarcasm. Especially for being able to joke with him about it. [/QUOTE] No, it’s not a “pit” thought. It’s a mundane, pointless thought like I stated. There’s nothing in the rules that says a mundane pointless thought has to be friendly. Please, let’s not get into the whole undergrad rants about “kowtowing”, and “stuffed shirts” and the whole “The Man” thing. There are people in this world who have authority. They have earned it, and they know how to weild it fairly. If you can’t handle that, then go smoke some grass, put on a tie-dyed t-shirt, live in a van and learn how to wave your arms vociferously while mumbling incoherently. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/23 "2007-09-13T21:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] Is [this](http://www.muppetlabs.com/~eric/DSC00042.JPG) a neckbeard? Is [this](http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/02/House_051202011818170_wideweb__300x450.jpg)? [/QUOTE] Both of those, to an extent, but often there is little facial hair besides on the neck. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/24 "2007-09-13T21:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] Is [this](http://www.muppetlabs.com/~eric/DSC00042.JPG) a neckbeard? Is [this](http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/02/House_051202011818170_wideweb__300x450.jpg)? [/QUOTE] I’m definitely not the world’s foremost neckbeard expert, but I’d say, yes and no. Hugh Laurie’s looks more like stubble. The less famous gentleman is definitely more what we’re talking about. Once the beard is a good week old and the neck hasn’t been shaved, I’d begin proclaiming it a neckbeard. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/25 "2007-09-13T21:46:07Z")
[QUOTE=Zambini57] No, it’s not a “pit” thought. It’s a mundane, pointless thought like I stated. [/quote] A mundane, pointless, thinly-veiled insult, you mean. [QUOTE=Zambini57] There are people in this world who have authority. They have earned it, and they know how to weild it fairly. [/quote] True. There are. There are also people whose authority is not earned, or they don’t know how to wield it fairly. This dean appears to be the latter. [QUOTE=Zambini57] If you can’t handle that, then go smoke some grass, put on a tie-dyed t-shirt, live in a van and learn how to wave your arms vociferously while mumbling incoherently. [/QUOTE] Okay, so let me see if I understand you. Supporting the expression of individuality + being against the abuse of authority and arbitrary rules=crazy hippie? Got it. Thank you, though. You have very quickly let me know that I can safely disregard anything else you have to say. Now, instead of paying attention to you, I have more time to get high, tie-dye all my clothing, move into my van (a 1967 VW bus, of course. Right? Is that where I live?) and mumble incoherently. Except…how does one wave their arms [vociferously?](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/vociferous) And someone who waves their arms about generally prefers to rant, not to mumble. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/26 "2007-09-13T21:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=Zambini57] (snip)…There are people in this world who have authority. They have earned it, and they know how to weild it fairly…(snip) [/QUOTE] Sure, there are those folks. But then there are all the petty, cliche-spitting bosses, power-tripping referees at children’s soccer games, and corrupt, elected public officials on the other side of the aisle. It sounds like you’re saying that those in authority should be respected by virtue of that authority, not by virtue of their qualifications, leadership ability, or intelligence, which I’d take supreme issue with. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/27 "2007-09-13T21:52:21Z")
[QUOTE=Birdmonster] I’m definitely not the world’s foremost neckbeard expert, but I’d say, yes… [/quote] Damn. > [@](#): > > …and no. Double Damn. > [@](#): > > Hugh Laurie’s looks more like stubble. The less famous gentleman… Almost 5,000 posts, you’d think I’d have some kind of rep by now. At least my shirt is cooler than his, right? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/28 "2007-09-13T21:55:33Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] At least my shirt is cooler than his, right? [/QUOTE] It’s certainly more intimidating. Hugh Laurie quivers in his boots. As do I. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/29 "2007-09-13T22:01:04Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] Damn.Double Damn.Almost 5,000 posts, you’d think I’d have some kind of rep by now. At least my shirt is cooler than his, right? [/QUOTE] Diude, I _love_ the shirt. But lose the neckbeard. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/30 "2007-09-13T22:01:31Z")
[Neckbeards.](http://images.google.com/images?q=neckbeard&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en _____ 213&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/31 "2007-09-13T22:20:26Z")
[Parking Lot Door Ding,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=427585) since it was brought up in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/32 "2007-09-13T22:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Until then, he should respect the people who have earned their authority. Or, he can learn to judge things on a case by case basis, so when an annoying prat of a dean tells him to take off his hat he can make a harmless comment at the cost of a measly detention. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/33 "2007-09-14T00:16:38Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] [Neckbeards.](http://images.google.com/images?q=neckbeard&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en _____ 213&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1) [/QUOTE] :eek: I swear that I will shave my neck each and every day from now on. And not wear a fedora without a suit. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/34 "2007-09-14T00:52:38Z")
A fez, huh? He’s got one of those too. I had considered posting about the detention thing when it happened, but thought better of it given the - uh - less than pleasant personal experience I derived from some similar parenting threads. **Zambini** , before today I had no idea of your existence. I think I was better off. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/35 "2007-09-14T02:44:54Z")
[QUOTE=Zambini57] If you can’t handle that, then go smoke some grass, put on a tie-dyed t-shirt, live in a van and learn how to wave your arms vociferously while mumbling incoherently. [/QUOTE] There’s a slight difference between damn dirty Commie hippie and telling a teacher that a fedora has not, in fact, been a symbol of any gang past the early 1920s. ---
**Author:** ![AHoosierMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@AHoosierMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHoosierMama)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/36 "2007-09-14T13:32:28Z")
Whether you are the boy in the hat, or the girl who always wears platform shoes, or the kid that always wears yellow, what you think is your trademark will actually overcome you. People will tend think of you as “Hat Guy” or “Shoe Girl” and dismiss the rest of your fabulous qualities. Relying on a gimmick to be cool actually achieves the opposite effect. Worse - when Hat Boy grows into Hat Man, the ladies will all assume he’s hiding a bald spot. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/37 "2007-09-14T13:57:16Z")
[QUOTE=AHoosierMama] Worse - when Hat Boy grows into Hat Man, the ladies will all assume he’s hiding a bald spot. [/QUOTE] And these days, it is perfectly acceptable and even cool for balding men like me to just shave our heads. There is no excuse for the “combover” anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/38 "2007-09-14T14:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=AHoosierMama] Worse - when Hat Boy grows into Hat Man, the ladies will all assume he’s hiding a bald spot. [/QUOTE] In that category, I’m glad to report that I have a full head of hair at age 47. My wife’s dad is nearing 80 and fully pelted, as was my mom’s dad when he died at age 87. So hopefully he shouldn’t need to worry about THAT! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/39 "2007-09-14T14:18:26Z")
Further developments - he just learned this a.m. that he got a middle-sized role in the upcoming musical (he wanted a lead role and was very stressed thru the auditions. But I think he will enjoy the role he has and have fun with it. A tough learning experience to compete for something he really wanted against other (more?) talented folk.) His college applications are in - another stressful hurdle, and there should be little question that he will be accepted by at least one of his top 3 choices. He made choir and madrigals. From here on in I hope he is able to enjoy his senior year. Re: the hat - personally I think it is a tad goofy. But I feel I am so demanding of the kid in so many respects, and he exceeds my expectations in just about everything, that I’m not gonna dictate every aspect of his attire/grooming. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075/40 "2007-09-14T15:05:01Z")
> [@](#): > > _You can pull off a fedora if you’re wearing a suit, or a shirt/tie/suspenders combo, or even a vintage-looking “hipster doofus” sort of shirt (bowling shirts, guayaberas, etc). But if you’re sporting everyday casual clothes, or worse yet, a Dragon Ball Z shirt and three weeks worth of neckbeard, the fedora is going to make you look even less cool than usual._ **Big Bad Voodoo Lou** is a wise, wise man. **Dinsdale** , I think it’s great that you don’t want to ride your son about his appearance, but you should try to let him know that women dig a man who can dress well, especially if his peers are wearing dirty t-shirts and ancient shorts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-up-your-mind-kid/419075.md?page=3)