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07/31/2004: "Hair"

Moments ago, I finished giving myself a haircut. I sit in front of a mirror with a pair of scissors and trim away all the odd bits of hair that have started to annoy me; I try to make the cut more or less even, especially around the ears, and then I stop. This suits me: if it's bad it's my own fault, the price is right, and, since I'm involved in the entire operation, I'm never taken by surprise. Not that my appearance will surprise me much after decades of familiarity. The funny thing is, to the extent that people will notice that my hair has been cut, they will compliment me on my appearance. Now, I will look presentable, possibly, but not fabulous; so what is the meaning of the compliment. It may be a standard phrase, devoid of truth value; or it may mean that I've let it go so far that the contrast makes it look good; or maybe these people haven't been looking all that closely at me, and still aren't; or it may mean that, objectively, the haircut is adequate and that everyone else is wasting their time, money, and emotion on paid-for haircuts that aren't any better than the home-made kind.