Beard experiment

this experiment involves growing a beard to see how people react differently to the same sorts of stimuli but I didn't set it out too well there was no control so now it must become the anti-beard experiment where I shave off the beard and see how differently people treat me.

The 'new people' I share my office with are the obvious subjects of the experiment, as they have only known the bearded Tristan Miller.

Contents 1 Anti-beard experiment 2 The beard returns 3 The beard is gone again! ZOMG! 4 Public response to the lack of beard 5 The beard returns again! 6 What beard?

Anti-beard experiment

• I got rid of my beard the other day. The first and most surprising result is that I suffered from some minor crisis of identity - it didn't totally register that it was my face looking back at me from the mirror.

• Other people are in some sort of denial or are avoiding the topic.

The beard returns

• This time I decided just not to shave at all. The result isn't that disrespectful.

• Younger people are generally more standoffish, as I look like some kind of fanatic. Especially when combined with the black jacket I usually wear around.

• I was told by my grandfather that every man gets a total of three beards. This sounds about right to me, for some reason I can't quite explain.

The beard is gone again! ZOMG!

This happened near the 20th of April, 2007. I got sick of the beard. Despite acquiring the unofficial name Barbarossa, I opted for removal. Now the name Barbanulla would probably be more accurate. Unfortunately this sounds somewhat stupid. Smoothness reigns, and I appear to have lost a few years of apparent age. I have also discovered a borderline double chin, which appears when I look surprised.

Public response to the lack of beard

The cred tabulators have been striking off many man points as vast sections of the populace take to the streets out against Tristan's unilateral decision to remove his beard. Experts state, "That beard really held the whole face together". In addition, Tristan's laying aside of the immensely credworthy title of "Barbarossa" may lead to sanctions from The Ministry, The Mindcloud Organisation and unaffiliated but furious parent/teacher associations from around the world. More news as the story develops.

The beard returns again!

It occurred to me that I was out of my mind, not to have a beard of some description. So, after about 3 weeks of decreasing straggliness, the beard has now reached maturity. It can only get thicker and richer from here. Sighs of relief are being heard from all quarters, and Barbarossa is correct again. There is a rapidly decreasing bald spot where the double chin was - I wonder if any follicles were temporarily in shock.

What beard?

Many moons ago I shaved Beard 3.0 off. I may never get another one. The experiment appears to be over. Gilganixon now takes the respectable reins of the name Barbarossa, but he's probably got more important things to worry about.