Originally Posted by punky

A noble sentiment but unfortunately that doesn't get very far in the today's meat market known as dating. Being myself is why I have been single for nigh on 2 years.

Compromising your principals is common sense here. 10% or less of single available women (generous estimate, I think) probably like, or even could tolerate beards. You are much better taking your medicine, shaving and chasing the 90%

Hence the new and improved me. I am losing weight, but smartening up. The shaggy beard is going, in favour of a trimmed one or no beard at all (see forth coming thread), and I am now buying shirts and smart tops, rather than just wearing newer t-shirts for more formal occaisons. The chances of finding a girl doing everything my own way is very unlikely, I am going to have to meet her some of the way too. Girls probably don't like doing half the stuff they do to get men, but they do. Fair's fair.