Resolution 2 (of some): Chin

[oxfordhacker]

A couple of months ago, I fell off my bike and cut my chin open. While the stitches were in I naturally refrained from shaving, and was pleased and a little surprised to see my facial hair struggle resolutely past the 'wispy bum-fluff' stage and into the manly realm of The Beard. For the last couple of months, I have therefore been sporting a goatee.

Reactions have been mixed, ranging from "Well, at least tinyjo knows you're not on the pull", to "I quite like it". It's even been described as 'Lincoln-esque'. Me, I was pleased enough with it to keep it and show it to my relatives over Christmas, but it's now in need of a trim, so I have to make up my mind whether it should stay or go... As a mathematician and slacker, I have cunningly constructed my next resolution to be impossible to fail: do something about my beard. Slacker still, I have decided to let the all-knowing internet make my choice for me, in my first poll!

The question is simple. For those unfortunates who have not have the pleasure first-hand, I present some 'Before and after' photos (lovingly produced with help of tinyjo):

Exhibit A: Beatnik
VS.

Exhibit B: Post-apocalyptic
VS.

[Poll #899305]

Each response will be weighted by the attractiveness of the respondee (so please comment with a representative user-pic), then tallied. Choose wisely: my facial hair hangs in the balance.

Comments

[snowking.livejournal.com]

If you keep it, you need to find a big dog that likes ridiculously tall sandwiches.

[autodidactic.livejournal.com]

This comment wins.

Like, zoiks!

[oxfordhacker.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. This bodes ill for the beard...

[badasstronaut.livejournal.com]

I'm usually offended by beards, but yours is amusing for some reason.

[lslaw.livejournal.com]

Your beard apparently makes your eyes widen. This is strange. Also strange is that it makes you more closely resemble the usually clean-shaven Jeremy Hardy.

But what I really want to know is how you managed to get that second 'before' picture, which is clearly of you aged about fifty.

two words

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

Burning Man

Re: two words

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I could tell by the encrustation of dust but have no memory of that pair of goggles, which concerns me slightly.

Re: two words

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

They're the fashion goggles, so it must have been in a fairly undemanding environment ...

The eyes have it

[oxfordhacker.livejournal.com]

cleanskies is right. I didn't wear them for long, because they're far too impractical to wear in an environment in which goggles are a necessity rather than a fashion accessory...

hahahaha

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

But if you decide to keep it, you have to trim it closer.

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the most representative userpic I can find :)

[iruineverything.livejournal.com]

you don't have a "maybe" option, so I'm afraid I can't vote... I dunno!! You look kinda grungey with the beard thing, but that has a certain appeal, I s'pose. I think on balance I'd say lose the beard, but I think that, say 60% of the time. Maybe 70%...

[jinty]

I quite like the beard (as registered in the main body of your post). Trim it closer, as Jrmy suggests. But whuddeva.

[yalovetz]

I third the trimming suggestion, but otherwise encourage you to flaunt your ability to grow passable facial hair.

[sparkymark.livejournal.com]

my facial hair hangs in the balance
And in your beer.

[vinaigrettegirl.livejournal.com]

Please don't say you *want* to look like Shaggy, please. Please.

Very, very few men look anything other than shifty, ageing, and/or ratbaggy in a beard; on urban men under forty it just looks pretentious.

But maybe I should just come out with how I feel, eh? ;-)

There is nothing wrong with your chin. Or your face, in general.