Katie Couric and Ann Curry

Rod wrote: Dave, don't confuse "The Today Show" with NBC News. "Today" isn't news. It's entertainment with some news. Makeovers and stunt events are certainly nothing new on morning shows.

Fair enough, although their "Dateline" show seems to devote 1 to 2 hours to the minutae of a singular story (with overemphasis on the emotional).

Rod wrote: I doubt Ann wants people to watch based on her hairstyle. Repeated E-mails aren't going to convince her not to cut it. As Dave says, it is creepy.

uh huh.

Rod wrote: Dave, if LoL was "clearly" in violation of Federal charity regulations I'm sure we would have read about it. What are the "formal" complaints about LoL? Who have they been made to? Why hasn't the Federal government acted upon them? Where did you get LoL's financials and what have you discovered by studying them?

Being based in Florida, LoL is accountable to a Florida governmental agency, not to the Federal government.  This is the agency from which I received their financials several years ago.  I could guess that the agency is overwhelmed with more pressing matters (dealing with an enormous amount of 2004 & 2005 hurricane  damage issues), so complaints about LoL (and requests for recent information) would take a back seat.  I know that they have received formal complaints because I was told so by a representative of that agency.

Rod wrote: My comment about Campbell Brown and Natalie Morales isn't on par with their statements about Ann Curry. My comment is that they look a lot alike and I wish one would make a change. That isn't criticizing women who cut their hair and sending E-mails. Nothing wrong with saying you like Ann's hair longer. When you start believing your wishes should supercede hers you've crossed the line.

It's kinda hard to figure out here where to delineate the generic you from the specific you (directed to me).  I will assume that you meant to imply the generic you throughout the excerpt.

I'm with Kramer on this point: I have absolutely no trouble differentiating between and identifying Campbell Brown and Natalie Morales.  Do some people (not "accusing" you, Rod) have difficulty differentiating between people who have similar hairstyles?  And I am also left to wonder: why must every single person in the world have a different, uniquely-identifying hairstyle?  To me, that mindset places an unreasonable demand upon others.

You really think Campbell and Natalie look a lot alike? I don't think they even look like they could be related. Campbell always goes with the famous double ear tuck. Her bangs often look like they're too short or too long or too unkempt. She seems to cut her hair and then never keeps it up. Natalie usually looks like she has it together. Her hair is usually sleek and brushed looking.

"Typical" Campbell:

"Typical" Natalie:

Wow, this seems to be a topic of some amount of interest... 

Where to start?

This is the overriding reason for the stunt:

Kramer wrote: Ann and her network are conspiring to turn her haircut into a ratings bonanza. They're soliciting others to join in -- all for ratings.

A haircut done without the glare of the camera would suffice for purposes of the donation.  To create an event out of it, and even lasso others into the same action, is creating a circus environment.

To me, this is final proof that NBC News has lost it.  They are no longer a news organization.  Sure, they can cheaply collect information gathered by others and report it on air, and occasionally send token correspondants overseas for on-site reporting, but similar to CBS, ABC and Fox, they have dumped their investigation directive and now depend on stunts (such as this "event") purely in a drive for higher ratings (to enable payment of the bloated salaries of their anchors).

Over the course of the past decade, I've noticed a decline in the quality and depth of news reporting from NBC.  The other aforementioned "big media" outlets suffer the same condition, but not nearly to the extent of NBC's decline.  I have reduced the attention paid to NBC over the course of these years - to the point where I no longer watch (morning or evening, despite Ann's lovely long hair).

I think that a flood of emails (from any one person) directed to Ann pleading for her hair's preservation would probably be counterproductive.  In all likelihood, it would probably be seen as creepy.  One email per person politely stating that they like it as is probably would not be seen as creepy, but as someone (Rod?) has stated, Ann has already committed to doing it, and at this point I am certain that even if (hypothetically speaking) she had a change of heart, she will still go through with it.

Rod wrote: Did you know that a charity only has to give out 5% of what they take in each year to be within Federal charitible guidelines?

If this is true, then they are clearly in violation of those guidelines, by their own admission.  They collect 3000 donations of hair per week, but less than 2% of it ends up in recipient hairpieces.

There have been formal complaints lodged against LoL, but none have been acted upon.  Also, their financial filings have been insufficient.  I know.  I have 4 years worth of them, and have studied them.  I'm trying to get more information, but I think my request for this info has been stalled (I'm guessing the group that handles this stuff is overwhelmed with work).

Rod wrote: While they're at it, they should do something, anything, to either Campbell Brown or Natalie Morales. Not only have both had pretty much the same shoulder length brown hair forever, but they have almost the same cut. They are on the same show and I can't tell them apart! Even a small color change would be welcome.

Fair criticism was aimed at several folks here for being emotionally attached to Ann's long hair.  This comment about Campbell Brown and Natalie Morales seems about on par with their statements about Ann Curry.  What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

loveshort&blonde wrote: Hmmm, I respect more those women who fight the false conception that you must have long hair to be feminine.

I respect more those women who fight the false impression that you must have short hair to be taken seriously.

Kuroneko wrote: Glad to know I displease you so, Bob!  Wouldn't wanna think I might arouse you in any way, shape, or form! Bob S wrote:        The majority of women, IMO, look *boring* with chronically short locks.

 

Er, well, thus far I have refrained from contacting any celeb suggesting or insisting she do anything in particular with her hair, because I know that would be creepy.  I may openly show dislike for a celeb's hair choice on the boards, or talking to friends IRL, but contacting the celeb about it just seems to be crossing a line, to me.  I just wouldn't feel comfortable going there, and I'm surprised so many of the males on this board seem to think it's all right.

lhairfan31 wrote:  Kuroneko,  just as you show your support for short hair on everyone, we show our support for long hair.  Writing Ann e-mails and letting her know we would wish she would keep her hair long doesn't make us stalkers.

     This IS 2006, not 1906, and I'm always reading that women need only a few "playful wisps" or "volume" in their dreadfully short haircuts to look feminine. If today's women thought they needed length to retain femininty, 90% of those past 40 would eschew the short coifs they wear. What a lovelier world this would be if more women believed this "false conception", IMO. (LOL) Bob 

     P.S. There's a bit of tongue in cheek in my response. I actually think *most* of today's short hairstyles look decent to pretty good on women. I DO think that, if anything, the majority of women have been sold the idea that they look *more* attractive and feminine with shorter locks, esp. after age 30. I don't believe that most guys agree. Bob 

Edited by Bob S

Hmmm, I respect more those women who fight the false conception that you must have long hair to be feminine.

  We can only hope and pray that the e-mails, compliments will be enough to cause Ann to double think her idea of chopping her hair off and not go through with it. 

Bob,

Ever think that some people might tune in after Ann cuts her hair?

I would venture to say that there are people out there who think the personalities delivering the news should look serious, and long hair is not serious.  I do not think there will be a significant change in the Today Show's ratings because of the haircut.  However, time will tell.

You know, this long thread has convinced me of one thing.

Long hair lovers and short hair lovers can both be obsessive/compulsive.  I hear stories of guys who obsess over short hair and tell women they are selfish and should donate their hair to LOL (I am not accusing ANYONE of that here), and I hear stories of long hair fans who slam LOL.  It is very confusing.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Kramer, but it appears that you are basing your happiness on whether or not Ann cuts her hair.  As much as I like short hair, I don't base my happiness on how anyone, including my wife, wears her hair.  The bottom line for me is that if a woman wants to cut, or grow her hair, it is HER decision.  No one else's.

Just MHO

If I were Ann. . . or any of the other celebs who get the daily obsessive mail from the LHFers. . . I would be very creeped out O_o !  Maybe some of you should stop and think how you come off before you write those things, especially with all the recent stories of celebrity stalkers.