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Polly Hudson (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/ beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one) says
that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. Ian Arnott's manager (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to- beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic) asserts the opposite. There is
omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
34 Cumberland Road
Oxford
OX4 2DA
07762181374
On 14/07/2025 18:35, john ashby wrote:
Polly Hudson (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/
beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one) says
that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. Ian
Arnott's manager (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-
beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic) asserts the opposite. There is
omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
34 Cumberland Road
Oxford
OX4 2DA
07762181374
Given that it's the Grauniad, are we sure that Polly Hudson is not a man ?
Polly Hudson >(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager >(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted. >>
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to
disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium
height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's
who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
This is not, however, the first time I have been wrong about these
things. Sid Nuncius was a jolly, rotund fella with white hair and a
bushy white beard and it was quite a surprise when I met him for the
first and sadly only time to discover he was actually completely
different and I had been completely and utterly wrong. Despite having
seen Sid with my own eyes, the earlier image persisted and I continued
to write to the imaginary Sid ever after.
So I'm afraid, John, that even if I obtain certified proof of beard,
you'll still be the bloke on the back of the dust jacket when I write
to umra.
Nick
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted. >>
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
So I'm afraid, John, that even if I obtain certified proof of beard,
you'll still be the bloke on the back of the dust jacket when I write
to umra.
Nick
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>[snip]
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-
dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-
beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be
trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
So I'm afraid, John, that even if I obtain certified proof of beard,
you'll still be the bloke on the back of the dust jacket when I write
to umra.
Nick
It's also not quite true. There was a summer in the 90s when I decided
to experiment with shaving off the beard. On looking in the mirror I saw
a reasonable facsimile of John Major staring back at me so decided to
grow the beard back as quickly as possible.
john(thoug I do like peas)
On 14.7.25 22:16, john ashby wrote:
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>[snip]
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be- >>>> dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. >>>> Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-
beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be
trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
So I'm afraid, John, that even if I obtain certified proof of beard,
you'll still be the bloke on the back of the dust jacket when I write
to umra.
Nick
It's also not quite true. There was a summer in the 90s when I decided
to experiment with shaving off the beard. On looking in the mirror I saw
a reasonable facsimile of John Major staring back at me so decided to
grow the beard back as quickly as possible.
john(thoug I do like peas)
I had a beard twice. I was not sure I liked it so shaved it off and
then immediately regretted it but could not grow it back until I was on
a training course. Then eventually one day I decided it had to go. Why
I cannot remember.
Up until about 1981 I used to grow beards, mustaches, pony tails etc
on a whim and then on another whim just shave them off/do something different. I know it was 1981 and I know I must have had a full beard
at least since 1979 because my son had never seen me without one...
...until one morning I went into the bathroom and a clean-shaven
complete stranger walked out and frightened my toddler son out of his
wits!
I had a beard twice. I was not sure I liked it so shaved it off and
then immediately regretted it but could not grow it back until I was on
a training course. Then eventually one day I decided it had to go. Why
I cannot remember.
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted. >>
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to
disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium
height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's
who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards.
Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted. >>>
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to
disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium
height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's
who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
When I told POI about this last night she wanted to know if I'd asked
who said author was. I haven't because it would either a) be a >disappointment or b) feed my already over-inflated ego.
john (it's Jilly Cooper, isn't it?)
On Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:23:35 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. >>>> Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted. >>>>
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to
disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium
height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's
who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
When I told POI about this last night she wanted to know if I'd asked
who said author was. I haven't because it would either a) be a
disappointment or b) feed my already over-inflated ego.
john (it's Jilly Cooper, isn't it?)
...or c) console yourself by knowing I've had this picture in my mind
for as many years as you have been writing here and certainly long
before he died and we discovered what an absolute shit he was.
On 18/07/2025 11:43, Nick Odell wrote:
On Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:23:35 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com> >>>> wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. >>>>> Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to
disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium >>>> height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's
who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
When I told POI about this last night she wanted to know if I'd asked
who said author was. I haven't because it would either a) be a
disappointment or b) feed my already over-inflated ego.
john (it's Jilly Cooper, isn't it?)
...or c) console yourself by knowing I've had this picture in my mind
for as many years as you have been writing here and certainly long
before he died and we discovered what an absolute shit he was.
That can be a real problem.
E.G. I had read, and really enjoyed, Patrick O'Brian's books before I
heard about his earlier life.
I still like the books, but I am left with an uneasy feeling.
On Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:32:44 +0100, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
On 18/07/2025 11:43, Nick Odell wrote:
On Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:23:35 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
On 14/07/2025 21:37, Nick Odell wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:35:17 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com> >>>>> wrote:
Polly Hudson
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/03/beards-may-be-dirtier-than-toilets-but-all-men-should-grow-one)
says that men without beards are less trustwotrhy than Men with beards. >>>>>> Ian Arnott's manager
(https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/13/to-beard-or-not-to-beard-is-a-hot-topic)
asserts the opposite. There is omly one conclusion: men cannot be trusted.
John Ashby (bearded since 1974)
Beautiful piece of logic there but I am afraid I am going to have to >>>>> disagree with you over one point: the John Ashby I write to - am
writing to now - does not have a beard. He is clean-shaven, of medium >>>>> height and build and bears remarkable resemblance to the picture of
the author on the dust jackets of several books on my shelves. That's >>>>> who I see in my mind's eye as I type.
When I told POI about this last night she wanted to know if I'd asked
who said author was. I haven't because it would either a) be a
disappointment or b) feed my already over-inflated ego.
john (it's Jilly Cooper, isn't it?)
...or c) console yourself by knowing I've had this picture in my mind
for as many years as you have been writing here and certainly long
before he died and we discovered what an absolute shit he was.
That can be a real problem.
E.G. I had read, and really enjoyed, Patrick O'Brian's books before I
heard about his earlier life.
I still like the books, but I am left with an uneasy feeling.
I think I might have mentioned "Drawing the Line" by Erich Hatala
Matthes here when I read it a couple of years ago. It doesn't tell one
what one ought to enjoy and what one ought to reject but it opens up a broader philosophical perspective from which one might make ones own decisions.
To be honest, it didn't really change much for me. I still can't bring
myself to watch/read/listen to things from most people who I think
have gone beyond the pale but it's not a logical rejection: I
generally can no longer work up the enthusiasm to continue to follow
them, that's all. But at least I think I understand myself a little
better in that respect.
Then there are those people whose personal deeds I struggle to
understand but whose work I still can read/watch/listen to and I don't
really know why. But at least the book reassures me that my feelings
are normal FSVO.