While living in Korea I have been told by Korean nationals that I resemble any number of famous black men. Mostly people say that I look like Jay-Z. Since I am a Jay-Z dick rider, I don't find it too offensive. Ever so often I may get Magic Johnson, R. Kelly or Eddie Murphy. I wonder if they know that R. Kelly likes to piss on minors and Eddie Murphy is an undercover tranny lover. I would rather be caught with a transexual than have documented footage of me pissing on the underaged. If you say otherwise you sir...are a pedophile. And no there will be no "no homo" phrase for the aforementioned sentence.
When I grow a full beard, Korean nationals and Westerns comment on my resemblance to the rapper Common. Although once a drunk British dude jubilantly shouted "ISAAC HAYES! IT'S FUCKING ISAAC HAYES!" On most Saturday nights in Busan the sober and the drunken (mostly drunken) hardly greet me with the socially acceptable, "Hello I'm_________." Instead the topic starter goes "I don't know if anyone has told you this buuuuuuuuuuut you look like Common." Proper greetings are always cool after which you can immediately follow it with a doppelgänger reference.
Bearded Reggie and Beardless Reggie gets various reactions. Westerners who have known me with and without a beard are indifferent. Or they are jealous because I've been able to go a beard since the 8th grade!!! Which isn't very beneficial if one is trying to ride public transportation. Imagine the transit cops going "Come on sir. You're not 14." People who have only known Bearded Reggie look at me with confusion when I show up as Beardless Reggie. As if I look vastly different. They always let out a slow laborious
REEEGGGGIIEEEE.
In Korea I've come to understand beards come with different perceptions than they do in Western culture. In Western culture a beard can signify wisdom, regality and strength. If we look at Hollywood movies a beard is sometimes worn by a villainous mutha fucka. Unless you're the sexist grandpa alive, Sean Connery. I always feel compelled to ask a bearded man for advice when I make life decisions because he looks like a dude that knows shit. Even if it is wholly untrue, beards garner different perceptions. Unlike Korea, where I'm not sure what the perception is.
My girlfriend is definitely not fucking with my beard. Like most Korean women I've dated, worked with or befriended, they all have urged me to shave the damn thing. They may be unaware that the source of my power comes from my beard. At least I tell myself that from a psychological standpoint. Still, Korean women don't really like beards. Case in point: I have been on the subway or the bus and I can hear a Korean man say in Korean "his beard looks cool". Then his significant other will say no it looks ugly. Whether through admiration or discrimination as it relates to my beard, I enjoy the fact that the couple decided against using their inside voice. Instead they opted for "fuck it, he probably can't speak Korean anyway."
Their usage of an inside voice is not the point. The point is in the questions: Are beards a matter of personal preference or a cultural norm? Did the young lady say that to prove her love and devotion to her man? Is it the equivalent of one's significant other saying. "she's so pretty!" And you reply, "she's ok" to show your lover that you can't be a swayed by another person's beauty, who may or may not be hotter than your significant other? Does she prefer clean shaven men? And if so, is it due to men having to shave because of an overtly militarily run society?
