Every hipster/millennial I see has one.  What is the obsession?

I view this as an attack. 

View it how you want but wtf?  What’s the attraction that practically every male I see below the age of 40 has a beard.  

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

View it how you want but wtf?  What’s the attraction that practically every male I see below the age of 40 has a beard.  

Since they are basically soy boys on the inside ,  they are compensating with overt manliness

They grow them because they can, and their women don't mind for now, but that'll change.  I started growing one when I was 18, because I could and because it made me look more mature.  Also because it hid a lot of faults.  Kept it quite a long time, even got married wearing it.  My wife said it was fine.  

Shaved it off when I was 40 and left it off for a few years.  Decided to start again.  Mrs. Zunardo objected.  That was that.

shaving everyday sucks?

posted by kizer permanente

shaving everyday sucks?

This is a big part of it. Also, my wife likes it. 

posted by Fletch

Since they are basically soy boys on the inside ,  they are compensating with overt manliness

Definitely this, too. 

posted by kizer permanente

shaving everyday sucks?

This. I used to have to shave every day/ every other day and it sucked. Now I use an electric trimmer about once a week, and at least keep the neck clean. 

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

View it how you want but wtf?  What’s the attraction that practically every male I see below the age of 40 has a beard.  

Fiancee's two sons have them. Look like god damn Amish (no offense to Amish). I've grown a goatee for years but don't get the draw of a full on beard. Tried it once. Too itchy.

After shaving everyday for 21 years of military service, I'm never shaving again. 

I do not care for facial hair.  On most people, I think it is just laziness, and it looks sloppy.  If you're going to have facial hair, trim it neatly and cleanly.  The "stubble" look, and the unkempt beards look awful, IMO.

I actually think properly maintaining a beard (if you don’t want to look like a dirty hobo) is more of a hassle than remaining clean shaven. 

posted by like_that

I actually think properly maintaining a beard (if you don’t want to look like a dirty hobo) is more of a hassle than remaining clean shaven. 

A few scissor snips a couple times a week is all it really takes.

Actually, I probably look like a dirty hobo so disregard.

It took me 30 some years to finally grow a proper one, so I’m never going back.

Maintenance can be a bitch and it makes a huge mess. I just go to a barber every 3-4 weeks for a proper cut. 

posted by iclfan2

This. I used to have to shave every day/ every other day and it sucked. Now I use an electric trimmer about once a week, and at least keep the neck clean

I also do this even though ETB doesn’t find me attractive by doing so. 

Do you guys often find yourselves thinking about how other men look? 

I grew a massive beard in high school and was called Abraham Bin Laden by opposing schools fans -- then got stopped 5 straight times at the airport (once for a pretty intense strip search).

I shaved before Thanksgiving that year and haven't gone past about 5 days stubble since. Save for 1 November and 1 October (for Halloween) in college.

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Every hipster/millennial I see has one.  What is the obsession?

Great question!

posted by ernest_t_bass

I do not care for facial hair.  On most people, I think it is just laziness, and it looks sloppy.  If you're going to have facial hair, trim it neatly and cleanly.  The "stubble" look, and the unkempt beards look awful, IMO.

Amen

posted by justincredible

Do you guys often find yourselves thinking about how other men look? 

Practically never.

Air Monarch wearing MFers here need to mind their biz. 

posted by Automatik

Practically never.

Air Monarch wearing MFrs here need to mind their biz. 

posted by Automatik

Air Monarch wearing MFers here need to mind their biz. 

Lol’d. I tried them on when I worked at DSG in college after all old men bought them, pretty comfy. 

I don’t mind shaving at all and love the feeling of a fresh shave.  I’ve tried to grow a beard a few times and never make it more than 1-2 weeks.  It drives me nuts.  Maybe an OCD quality.