# Why don't many Americans keep moustache? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950 "2003-11-13T01:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/41 "2003-11-13T20:55:51Z")
REEDER – > [@](#): > > Because Affleck has a goatee it’s in?? Noooo. He was, however, the first person whose picture I came across sporting a goatee, and therefore is the guy whose picture served as my example of what a goatee is. I never said anything about cause and effect, so relax already, sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Ink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@White\_Ink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Ink)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/42 "2003-11-13T21:16:08Z")
I think mustaches on their own generally look AWFUL. There are a few men who can pull it off and look quite debonaire doing so, but most of the population that I’m familiar with doesn’t fall into that category. I’m particularly affected by the Rockie Mtn cowboy/hick catepillar. Ew, ew, and ew. happily mr dude of the moment either goes the goatee route, or is clean shaven. I tried imagining him with mustache alone… I almost fell out of my chair I shuddered so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/43 "2003-11-13T21:23:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by antechinus \* > > The state of Indiana in the USA has a law making it illegal for a man with a moustache to “habitually kiss human beings”. Cite? I say that there is no such law. Here is a link to the complete law code for the state of Indiana: [http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/](http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/) Knock yerself out. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/44 "2003-11-13T22:09:38Z")
Seems to me that mustaches all by themselves still look kinda 70’s and bring up images of leisure suits, medallions in chest hair, and sleazy bars for many people. My dad looks nice with his mustache, and Mr. genie looks good with his seasonal beard. But mustaches are only for some people, not for the masses. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/45 "2003-11-14T00:02:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LSLGuy \* > \*\*I think the series was named “Tom Slick”, but I’m not sure. \*\* The cartoon series were [Wacky Races](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0122365/combined) (1968-1970), and its spin-off [The Perils of Penelope Pitstop](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0173587/combined) (1969-1971). ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/46 "2003-11-14T00:28:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*No such Indiana law, **antechinus**. \*\* It did sound a bit far fetched to have such a law in Indiana. It is actually in **Eureka, Nevada** : [“Any man who wears a moustache is therefore forbidden from kissing women.”](http://www.insidervlv.com/nevadabizarrelaws.html) and in **Iowa** : [“A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public.”](http://www.dumblaws.com/states/states.php?State=Iowa) ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/47 "2003-11-14T01:40:18Z")
The only thing men can do to change their appearance is to grow hair on their face. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/48 "2003-11-14T04:16:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by antechinus \* > \*\*and in **Iowa** : > [“A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public.”](http://www.dumblaws.com/states/states.php?State=Iowa) \*\* You’ll notice that the link you supplied is unable to supply you with any further link to an actual Iowa statute. That’s because there is no such law. [You can search the Iowa Code for “mustache”, “moustache”, or “kiss” yourself.](http://staffweb.legis.state.ia.us/search/iacode-2001.html) ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/49 "2003-11-14T05:30:21Z")
What about the Eureka Nevada law? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/50 "2003-11-14T05:54:00Z")
Two reasons not to grow a moustache: 1: They make you look like a cop. Policemen typically grow as much facial hair as regulations permit, which is a neatly-trimmed moustache. While I think cops are cool, looking like one is a slight liability on the singles scene. 2: If you have a strong jawline _a la_ Tom Selleck, go for the 'stache. If you don’t, the liphair will make you look [Andy Gump](http://www.starland.com/sus/2002/images/020613Gumps.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![commie\_sho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@commie\_sho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commie_sho)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950/51 "2003-11-14T06:52:28Z")
In America a mustache without a beard that is real thin is often called a “pedo-stache”… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-many-americans-keep-moustache/212950.md?page=2)