oxfordhacker

I find it easy to assume that everyone on my friends basically shares my views on everything. Indeed, I've seen it suggested that this is one of the bad things about internet socialisation: you never have to interact with anyone you don't want to, which can leave you with a too-homogenous world-view. Perhaps, then, it is good for me to be reminded we don't all agree. Some people's posts on the Olympics have done exactly this, leaving me with a curiousity that can only be satisfied with a poll:

[Poll #1244656]

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.