Which is less manly: shaving a beard, or this?

Just say no, Charlie. Just say no.

 

Too much?

 

Just right!

 

Way to make a bearded man look like a dandy!

 

I despise glitter greeting cards.

 

Looks like he's just testing some organic shaving method

 

'
Now that's the funniest thing I've ever seen!

 

Nuff said.

 

I once read that, at some point in the 1800s, anything less than a full beard -- goatee, any kind of beard shaping or styling -- was severely looked down upon as vain and unmanly. Wonder how the dudes of yore would react to glitter.

 

Meh. Trends come and trends go. Writers who need to fulfill their weekly quota of words per inch turn them into something they're not so that they might justify their continued employment, and/or sound like they actually have something of substance to say, when in fact they pontificate on drivel. This too shall pass, at which point, if we should even think to remember it, we'll wonder why we cared. Personally, I'll skip the rest of it and just start at the end.

 

Given what you just said, please don't take this the wrong way, but are you perhaps a writer of some sort? To a non-native speaker with an affinity and interest for language, yours stand out Plus, it's the first time ever I had to look up words from a TSD post (may be common enough to the rest of you, but new to me, to be pontificating on drivel).

On-topic: beard or not "natural" - I'd say the starting point or premise is off. There's nature and there's culture. Beard growth may be from nature, but what distinguishes us from nature and the other species is our culture. Beard or not is a cultural question, to which there are plenty of answers. Still hipsters with looong beards in my part of the world, manly enough ("retro" vs metro?), others spout a three day version, and some are cleanly shaven. "Manly" is in the eye of the beholder, and based on a totality that includes behavior, looks, voice, smell, etc. In other words, a real viking with glitter in his beard will probably still be manly.

 

Me too. It started when I had to vacuum my own place.... glitter is a mess!

 

You're looking decidedly shocked in your new avi, Martin. But, I guess the International Penguin of Mystery is off on a secret mission.

 

It's because DE shaving is so cool I'm shocked everyday... or something....

 

Hmmm... that sounds .... fishy. I'm sticking with secret mission cover up.

 

As long as you don't blow my cover, I'm cool... lol

 

I think people should do what people want to do. Beards aren't for me, glittered or not. But if it floats your boat, enjoy.

 

Penguins are always cool. In any case, my beak is sealed.

 

That's nice of you to say, but no, I'm not a writer - just an old crank who knows how to say what's on his mind.