Yin and Yang of The Beard

Having a Beard has some definite benefits. Not having the hassle and discomfort of shaving every day or every few days, embracing the natural order of things, automatically increasing the attractiveness factor, making winter blizzards your bitch--these are some of the obvious ones. Here are some of the completely unexpected things I've experienced:

• Random women will stop me and ask if they can touch me. Before having a Beard, the number of times this happened--ever, in my entire life--is exactly zero.
• I've been given free stuff, simply because someone liked my Beard.
• Walking down the street, passersby will say things like, "That dude is a BEAST!"
• I've met a lot (and I do mean a LOT) of very quality people via the Bearding community.

On the flip side, we've all heard some really dumb things about Beards, whether it be statements or questions. The dumbest one I've ever heard was several years ago. Yes, I actually heard these words drop from someone's face: "I don't like Beards. People have Beards because they're hiding something." What better way to deflect attention from one's own sins than to point to an attribute you lack and declare a moral statement about it! The obviously unBearded guy who says, "You can't trust anyone with a Beard!" is unwittingly identifying himself as the guy you really have to watch out for.

Tell us some of the unexpected benefits your Beard has brought, as well as the most ridiculous things someone has said to you about Beards.