Neckbeards, Pedostache and other derogatory terms that are facial hair based

Schitzo

Seriously, what the fuck man? In fact, what the hell is a Neckbeard. And no, I don't want to look it up on Urban Dictionary. I want your well researched and cultured definition as you know it, and how you think it came to be.

Ugh.

Icalasari

Somebody who is so overweight that they pretty much have a fused neck/chin, leading to what appears to be a neckbeard, is what I think of when I see/hear the phrase

DonZabu

captainbrass

I was puzzled too, at first, but I think Ica's right - it's basically the idea of really fat guys with beards. Hence the stereotype user of Something Awful/TV Tropes/anywhere on the Internet. Because we all know they're all twentysomethings who never leave their parents' basements and eat crappy fast food, right?

Pedostache is a new one on me, but there's always been a lot of tache hatred. I mean, Hitler and Stalin hardly did moustaches any favours, image-wise.

MillerCross

Paedostache isn't used as an adjective/noun like neckbeard. 

InsanityAddict

It's generally an indicator that a person is either too lazy or too obtuse to properly groom him- or herself, due to not shaving the neck as well as chin and cheeks, I thought.

Evergreen

I shave about once a week, mostly because my facial hair grows slowly and because I'm kind of lazy. Near the end of a cycle, before I shave, you could probably call me a neckbeard just for the way it forms, even though I'm the opposite of fat. (I never thought the definition was exclusively about fat guys, btw) But that wouldn't be very nice! And if you saw me the next day, it wouldn't even cross your mind.

So yeah, such definitions are stupid. Although not taking much care of one's facial hair is indeed indicative of something, but what that is varies...

TheConductor

I always assumed a neck beard was someone who didn't shave regularly so there hair grew on their neck. 

Personally, I only shave if I'm going somewhere.

glennmagusharvey

^^ You lucky bastard.  I have to do it once every day or two.

Evergreen

I basically have the beginnings of a beard by the end of a cycle. I keep clean-shaven because I don't really like the feeling of facial hair and because my mom insists on it. (I know that's a lame reason for a 21-year-old living at college, but why would I argue when it's totally not worth it and I don't really want a beard anyway?} She wishes I would shave more often, but it's harder to shave less facial hair, so I give it time and always wait until I can't take it any longer.

When I'm near the end of a cycle, I occasionally get snarky comments about trying to grow a beard. I've never been called a neckbeard, though. Not sure if I've ever heard that term used off the internet, for that matter. Mostly because all my friends are nerds and generally nice people, I guess.

Icalasari

I can go without shaving for months without my facial hair getting further than a scraggly bit on the chin, a light moustache, and the start of sideburns

All Nines

My facial hair doesn't grow too fast, but I think I've noticed it coming back faster. But I usually shave after a week or so, even though nothing noticeable has happened. I want to see how it looks, if it works for me, how long it takes to get going, etc., so I'm gonna participate in No-Shave November.

As for neckbeard, I imagine it as referring to fat people who don't groom their beards, specifically, what with it looking like their necks and chins are merged.

Stormtroper

I like my facial hair.

I've been told to shave it, though, and I suppose at some point I'll have to.

LouieW

Using slurs based on facial hair seems silly to me given that people with the same kind of facial hair are far from being exactly alike. Also, I feel like complaining about "neckbeards" is just kind of weird because the term is pretty opaque. I mean at least terms like "nerds" have some decently clear connotations, even if people may argue about their definitions.

Maybe I just have not been around enough people who use those kinds of derogatory terms though.

MadassAlex

Personally, I only shave if I'm going somewhere.

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This.

Perhaps one day I'll have enough lack of a life that the sides with develop enough to link properly without being pubey, thus giving me an old Obi-Wan beard.