False Advertisement
Yesterday I was at my landlord's house (my landlords are also my bosses and my friends) and I met another one of their friends. He is in a band that plays out all of the time. He is a really nice guy, but we literally talked for about 30 seconds. After I met him, I went home.
I was in my house getting ready to go running and I heard a knock on the door. My wife and I looked each other in surprise. We live WAY out in the woods, and I don't think anyone has ever just come and knocked on our door (except Jehova's Witnesses) so we had no idea who would be at our door. I went downstairs and answered the knock. It was the Guy that I had just met!
I stepped outside and said "hey man, what's up?" He said, "I was just wondering if you wanted to smoke a Bowl with me." As he said that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pipe filled with the special herb. I laughed and said "No thanks. I don't smoke, but I'll hang out with you while you do." He looked at me in bewilderment and said "Man... that is f*#king false advertising. I had you pegged for a pot smoker for sure. You can't sport dreads like that and not smoke up." With that, he lit up and the pungent smell of Marijuana filled my driveway. We talked for about 10 minutes while he smoked, shook hands and then he left.
Lindsay and I thought that was particularly funny, but this is not the first time this has happened to me. Literally about 3-4 times per month (at least) a random stranger asks me for pot. One time some guy followed me down the street for 5 minutes trying to buy Phish tickets from me which I didn't have... but he was convinced that I did and I was holding out on him. I have literally never done drugs in my life, but nobody I meet believes me. It was funny the first few times it happened, but I get it so much, I am getting pretty fed up with it. It is like a joke that was funny the first time, and the second time, but after a couple of hundred times, when somebody tells you the same stupid joke and expects you to laugh, you just want to haul off and smack em' in the face.
Now, I know that it is entirely my choice to wear my hair in dreads. I have had them for about 3 and a half years and they are pretty darn long now (if you don't know what I look like, click on the pictures link on our homepage). I like them, but being typecasted everywhere I go is not so great. When people get to know me, they are always surprised and usually end up telling me that I am "way different" than they thought I was the first time they saw me. I only keep them because I like the way they look and they are incredibly easy. I never have to do my hair at all. I just get up and go and I always look like I want to. I don't even wash my hair. Also, some people want me to keep them and since I don't really care, I just havn't bothered to chop them off (Ian says that I am not allowed to cut them. He says that having someone with long Dreadlocks is good for the band image).
So here's the deal. I am contemplating a change from my long messy hair to short messy hair. What do you think? Let's have an online vote.
33 Comments:
collin, cut some of the chunkers off (it's kinda fun, it's a crazy feeling, i did it not to long ago) and leave some long. make kinda a dred mohawk (that's supposed to be funny.. sorry, too early) don't cut em off for no one, but don't leave dreded for any one either.... do what you want... from someone who cut their chunks off alittle awhile ago, only do it if you really want to... but if i have to vote...........
i'll vote green party(sorry, still to early)
el guapo- non-dredhead, non-democrat, non band memeber, and oh yes, non regestered blogger
Look dude, it's your choice... but just know that if you cut them you're fired. The only reason we keep you around is for our band immage.
Hey Hey Collin,
I was reading your "story" and felt compelled to leave a comment. Yes, I agree with Ian you should not cut the dreads. It is true- they do add to the band. There'll come a time for that and when it comes you can just start all over again.Haha
Have a good one.
Thanks for the imput you 3. Beth, are you the beth that is the senorita of Guapo, or are you a different beth?
tough call...
on one hand.. you'll probably enjoy having your hair short again..
on the other.. those dreads do make you look pretty cool..
id say keep them until you are tired of them.. don't worry about the other people.. besides its a cool way to meet people.. you wouldnt have had a ten-min conversation with that guy if your hair wasnt like that..
Keep them man...
You've had a Jehovah's Witness visit you where you live? Man, they are tenacious!
Oh by the way, do what you want. . . I like them now and I'm also looking forward to when you cut them because that will be cool too.
If his band plays out all of the time, can we play with them some time?
Hey Collin, This is a Beth from Towle. I'm friends with Shane and Ian. I'm also the co-founder of "The Palkovitz Fan Club" -- but thats another story. and oh yes, I just remembered- my brother came to the Ground Floor concert with me and his past came back to him. He believes you are the Collin he went to school/ towle with in middle school. Perhaps he is crazy- but God only knows. His name is Phil Taylor. Ok, hope you enjoy this amazing stormy weather.
Beth - I did indeed go to towle. As far as I know, I am the only collin in the history of that fine school, so I probably am the guy your brother knew. I only took science classes in middle school, but I was full time for all of high school.
this is el quapo's beth, i have written 2 comments... i can't seem to remeber my pasword.. oops... but dreds are cool, and very stylish, but i agree do what you want too not just by what other people think, you are who you are no matter what you look like dreds or no dreds, God loves you all the same... you have to admit dreds are cool...
Good to hear from you Guapo's Beth. I didn't know if you were a participant here on the weblog or not. I am glad to see that you are. We have consistantly been having over 100 hits on our weblog EVERY DAY! I think that there are only abour 8-10 people (besides band members) who regularly comment. I love it that people read it, but sometimes I wonder why more people don't comment. I guess everyone has their reasons. But all the same, Thank you to all of you faithful commenters. You bring me great joy.
I don't really have anything to say, just wanted to contribute to Collin's joy.
Oh, about the dreds... I say you gotta have dreds or a beard. If you can't get a good beard going, keep the dreds.
That is all.
Snake man, you have a special place in my web log heart. Thanks for commenting. You rock. I can't really do the beard thing because I have a bald spot (one that covers my entire face). So I guss your sentiment is that I should keep the dreads. Thanks. That is what I am leaning towards. Idealy I would love to have dreads and a huge bushy beard, but The beard looks pathetic when I let it go. I wouldn't really call it a beard.
Well, I know one of MY lifetime goals is to one day look like the beautiful individual seen here (http://www.howtodread.com/). I assumed everyone else had similar goals... but perhaps not. Anyway, your dreadlocks are totally cute. Honestly, I think it's sad that something as rad as dreads are symbols of Cannabisism (that's POTism, for those less ejucatid), so it's cool to know a truely dreadful individual who WILL NOT smoke pot. But if they are itchy, "so 2 years ago" or whatever for you, chopping them shouldn't make you lose more than 100 fans a day. But be sure to sell them to the diehards! T-shirts, buttons, web logs... a Look Machine Fan auction would be awesome!
That's all I have to say about that.
~Laura
Laura, you are like so totally right.... you know whats wierd laura is in the other room... and i am talking to her, thats what you call lazy! i do have to say i really enjoy this web site, and i must buy a t-shirt!!!! haha craziness..
OK this is Shane. I forgot my password. Collin if you cut your dreads Ian and I will probably have to cut your throat! I mean, your dreads are very beautiful, a pleasantly adorning crown for your beautiful little face :)
You are my roll model or role model or something. Roll or Role as in you set a "followingworthy" example--not that you have a fat stomach or that you tumble down hills.
You can do whatever the heck you want with your own dern head, but I say that we should trade hair styles.
I always knew that having dreads was a sign of smoking pot, but I never knew that it lead to canabilism!
Laura, That is an AMAZING picture (everyone shuld go to that website in Laura's comment above. It is awesome). I think that you were probably kidding about wanting to look like that, but I honestly would think that was awesome If I looked just like that in about 60 years.
Shane, I would trade haircuts with you in ten seconds flat if I could. Your hair is literally my favorite haircut in the world (on a boy that is... I wouldn't really dig Lindsay's hair that way). I would give my hair the chop without a moment's hesitation if I could have it look like yours. The shag-head is so nice.
;)
yes, shanes hair is sweet.
and so is the picture/ website Laura recommended.
Ian, i posted a comment under "Ians new song" (which I really enjoyed). theres a site in there for you to check out dealing with fair trade and sweatshops etc.
Who the crap was that?!?
~Shane
This is just a thought, feel free to disregard it...
I think your dreads give you a great opportunity to break stereotypes. Everytime someone assumes you are a pot-smoking hippie, only to learn that you, well, are not... you have succeeded in breaking a stereotype. Maybe that person will think twice when they see a demure woman in a habit. Maybe they will ask her to smoke a bowl- who knows! The point is, you should make the decision based on what you think is best... I just think it's pretty sweet that you have the chance to talk to people who would probably never waste time even looking at the stereotypical representatives of Christianity. Plus, the dreads make you look like Predator! ;)
Good point, Susan. That's kind of what I was trying to say earlier too. It's good to break stereotypes as often as possible, because they can be such a burden to those subjugated to them. Your decision could possibly make life a little easier for the next dread-headed-non-pot-smoker. But unfortunately, stereotypes are taking their toll on you, Collin, and it could make your life easier to just loose 'em now. So again, do as you wish.
OOOh, you know what would rock? How about every lookmachine fan dreads their hair and doesn't smoke pot? Together, we can change the world!
By the way, I wasn't being sarcastic. I would love it if I could look as awesome as that guy! (again, www.howtodread.com)
But honestly, it's because of stereotypes that I have not dreded my hair...
~Laura
I am proud to see that you are no longer posting anonymousely. El Guapo should learn from your example.
to answer shanes question- beth
yes, Laura and Susan, I agree with you also... everything you both said was right on key.
dreads are on my "to do" list , i just havent gotten there yet.
I agree with the guy who said it was false advertising. You are portraying an image for some specific purpose whether you realize it or not. Maybe because it is considered "cool" or that you are supposed to represent some non-conformist point of view. In fact, you are disingenuous by trying to hijack the look of a group you really don't relate to. Figure out what you represent and try to look like that. My guess is that it would be a neat, short corporate look.
Concentrate on the music and pretend people don't see what your hair style is.
you sound just like mynym or whoever, pullin out some mighty big words. I hear your point, but would slightly disagree. It's cool to rock whatever style you want to. a cowboy hat doesn't make you ride horses, dreads don't make you smoke pot, a beater doens't make you a drunk red neck. A person can just wear them because they like them. I don't think that who you are on the inside is controlled by what you are on the outside. It's not false advertising to look like a certain kind of person and not fit the steriotype. You can be a free spirit no matter what you look like.
Darn all these Anonymous commenters, I never know who anyone is!. . . I'm guessing that the anonymous who advised a short corporate haircut was joking. . .
"You sound just like mynym or whoever, pullin out some mighty big words."
I have to plead innocent on that one. I've been a good boy, really I have. ;-) Note how we seem to live by patterns no matter what and so that becomes the basis of your own speculation. It seems we just call them the stigma word "stereotype" if they are negatives in order to put the small matter of truth aside.
"I hear your point, but would slightly disagree. It's cool to rock whatever style you want to. a cowboy hat doesn't make you ride horses, dreads don't make you smoke pot, a beater doens't make you a drunk red neck."
And a swastika doesn't make you a Nazi. So he should tattoo a swastika on his forehead and then snivel about how everyone thinks he's a Nazi. Only ignorant bigots would make assumptions because the symbol actually came from the East and not from Nazism. That's the sort of thing I would say if I was really being "bad" with patterns/words. So obviously, I'm really being good. It's all perfectly logical, don't you know.
"It's not false advertising to look like a certain kind of person and not fit the steriotype. You can be a free spirit no matter what you look like."
"Typically," physical patterns match metaphysical notions and so it is false advertising. Although based on the Bible I have no problem with Christians taking on every physical trapping of paganism, tattoos, piercings, etc., if they really are maintaining the metaphysical beliefs that often contradict a mere physical symbol. But unfortunately, often taking on a physical symbol really is symbolic and so the iconoclasts are correct with respect to the symbols they seek to destroy. Food for thought, anyway...
Later.
I vote keep them, by the way.
Collin, I got my hair cut tonight. I flipped out when I looked in the miror! ~Shane
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