Poll: Men of Lit, how far would you go?

[Boxlicker101]

If "none of the above" had been an option, I would have checked that. Judging from what has been said, I think most men would have also.

I do shave a couple of times a week, just my face, though. Under different circumstances, I would trim my pubic hair but just trim, using a razor. I let my wife cut my hair when she can pin me down. When I was working, I tried to dress well but otherwise I have never made much of an effort. I have never been anything special to look at anyhow, so why bother.

As for the question: "Why do women bother?" For other women, that's why. Women groom and preen and dress up to impress other women, and, of course, for work or professional reasons. I think it's safe to say that most straight men consider most women to be beautiful by virtue of being female and whatever they do to improve on that basic fact are just minor improvements, if that even.

 

[fifty5]

Dunno...

I think that most male posts here (probably including mine) seem over smug.

Are there any women who'll tell us whether that's self deception?

And (since mine is pretty genuine - and I've just changed to one that's more current) is our position justified? Will others post a genuine pic to allow the ladies to comment?

Eff

 

[SeaCat]

Now why did I see this question coming our way?

Okay, to answer the question. Like many of the guys here I have had parts of me shaved for visits to the body and fender shop. I have even shaved myself south of the border when my wife asked me to. (An experiment of hers. She decided she didn't like me shaved but she did like herself shaved, especially when I was the one shaving her.) Plastic Surgery? Not on your life. Remember I work in a hospital so I know the risks.

I've been known to dress well, I currently have three suits as well as a Tux in my closet. I even wear the suits when the occasion warrants it. Usually though it's shorts and a sport shirt, or shorts and a Tank Top, or best yet a Do-Rag on one end and sandels on the other. (My usual attire when I'm at home, and people wonder why I like the ten foot fence around our courtyard.)

I get my hair cut when it needs it, and keep my beard neatly trimmed. I do the normal morning and evening clean ups, and I even use deoderant. (I don't use Cologne or after shave on work days. Too many patients are allergic to them.)

As for why do women bother? I think partof it was hit upon already, to impress. As far as I'm concerned as long as it's clean it's fine. (Although I would head the list of people willing to ban clothes for anything other than protection from the elements. I hate clothes, the bickering over them, the false status assigned to them, and all of the bullshit that goes along with them. Oops wrong thread. Sorry.)

Cat

 

[Boxlicker101]

Dunno...

I think that most male posts here (probably including mine) seem over smug.

Are there any women who'll tell us whether that's self deception?

And (since mine is pretty genuine - and I've just changed to one that's more current) is our position justified? Will others post a genuine pic to allow the ladies to comment?

Eff

I would post a current pic if I had one and knew how to do it. If anybody is actually interested, my pic is visible in an illustrated poem I posted early this year.

It's not really up to date either but it's the best I have.

 

[Boota]

I shave my face and my head every other day. I maintain a goatee and I keep it trimmed. I will not, under ANY circumstances shave any other part of my body. I shower every day, sometimes twice a day, depending on necessity. I wear clean jeans and t-shirts. I'll wear dress clothes if someone dies. I take no extra effort, this is my routine. If that's not good enough for her, fuck her. I don't ask for anything special from her. I really just want her time and her company. If she goes the extra mile I am always sure to compliment her, but I don't need a glamour shot model.

 

[Belegon]

Well, the original question was already answered by me, but now the discussion is headed to another level.

I pay attention to how I dress and make attempts to look good. My clothes are clean, colors match as well as I can make them and hair and beard are always neat and trimmed. I pay attention to what women tell me looks good and attempt to use such knowledge to my advantage in the future.


Fashion sense? Limited to the last sentence above and my sense of fun. Aware of it and willing to listen to suggestions and even solicit them.

 

[cantdog]

Well, I feel out of place now. I kinda like dressing better than I need to. I like ties, sue me.

Getting older has made some weird changes, not just a grayer beard. I got eyebrow hairs now that sprout like a weed and get incredibly long in just a couple days. My ears have started growing fur, it's fucked up! Those eyebrows, okay, I remember seeing the effect on my grandfathers. I liked it on them. The things stuck right out there, curled UP. Now that that I have my own, I guess they must have BRUSHED the fucking things upwards, because left to themselves they just curl, randomly.

The ear fur is just weird. Egad.

So yeah. I would go out of my way to look good, and I don't see why not. But from what I hear on this thread, I'm in the minority. Clean is as far as most men seem willing to go, and they need a reason to dress well.

There it is, though. I feel the way I feel about this stuff. I do a seek-and-destroy on the ear fur, I like the effect I produce dressing well, I have a rudimentary fashion sense, and one of these days I'll probably figure out what to do about the eyebrow weirdness.

I always told myself that, while balding off from the forehead is all right, if I ever started doing the center-of-the-head, balding-off-from-the-crown thing, I was going to do a pre-emptive strike, and shave it all bald, Yul B. style. I still feel that way. You cannot comb over, people. Face facts.

cantdog

 

[Xelebes]

I have always been curious about waxing - not for aesthetics but rather to feel the pain of it. I don't really care what I look like after it though.

As for make-up.... no.

 

[Belegon]

All you guys who still are believing that clothes, etc., are not important, try an experiment. Go to a local coffee shop one morning in rumpled jeans and a t shirt, unshaven and scruffy. It must be an establishment where they do not know you! You don't have to stink, just don't make an effort.

Go back one week later in a suit, well groomed. Make a good effort. Watch the reactions, male and female.

I like the attention, and I want my wife to feel as proud of her escort as I am of her.

It makes a difference guys. It is up to all of you whether it makes enough of one to justify the extra work. You have to choose for yourself if that extra work helps. I personally have found that it does.

 

[oggbashan]

I wear make up. I trim and colour my beard. I wear tights.

But only when in costume as Henry VIII.

I wear a suit for occasions. I think, haven't counted, that I have about ten 'normal' suits.

I have a grey morning suit with a tailed jacket and an evening suit but tend to wear them only once a year. I will be wearing my morning suit when my daughter gets married next month.

Otherwise - when I'm working I wear easily washed casual clothes because second hand books can be dusty and dirty (until I have cleaned them).

Og

 

[Guest]

 

[Boxlicker101]

All you guys who still are believing that clothes, etc., are not important, try an experiment. Go to a local coffee shop one morning in rumpled jeans and a t shirt, unshaven and scruffy. It must be an establishment where they do not know you! You don't have to stink, just don't make an effort.

Go back one week later in a suit, well groomed. Make a good effort. Watch the reactions, male and female.

I like the attention, and I want my wife to feel as proud of her escort as I am of her.

It makes a difference guys. It is up to all of you whether it makes enough of one to justify the extra work. You have to choose for yourself if that extra work helps. I personally have found that it does.

There is a big difference between being properly groomed and attired, as you suggest, and going to the extremes that were described at the start of this thread. I have reached an age and a station in life where I don't care much what others think of me, but want to be comfortable. I own suits and white shirts and ties and wear them when the occasion dictates but mostly I wear a sport shirt and jeans.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

PS Svenska's nice!

Awwwwww...

 

[fifty5]

Awwwwww...

Well, you are!

I know I once offended you by abreviating Svenskaflicka to 'Sven', but that's an entirely reasonable objection. Otherwise you act like a nice person - and 'if it quacks like a duck..."

Not that I'm saying your a duck, ducky...

Eff