Wearing a toothbrush moustache: sign of personality, or political statement?

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

For three years now, I have been wearing what it's called a toothbrush moustache. First as a joke with friends, then because I legitimately liked the look.
This peculiar style, popular in Europe between the '20s and the '40s, is now commonly associated with two figures: English comedian Charlie Chaplin and German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Am I goofy like Chaplin's Charlot? A bit, yes.
Am I Nazi? Absolutely not.

In three years, I got a vast array of reactions: from the funny, to the disbelief, to the derision.
Thankfully nobody felt like screaming or beating me because of it.
Someone who didn't know me well expressed concern about my political affiliations, but I have always been quick to reassure them and address their concerns.
People who know me know I'm a vocal anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-discriminatory person.

Yet, this small patch of moustache under my nose always managed to get attention. More than one kid screamed "Look mom! That's Hitler over there!" or someone older asked to snap a pic with me.
When I posted my pic in the "How do I look?" section I got a lot of jokes that made me laugh my teeth off 😂😂.
Even the girl who is now my girlfriend first approached me because she got curious about it.

So, what are your opinions?
Is such a style indicative of a political connotation, or an eclectic personality?
Share your opinions!

[BCA6010]

You'd be surprised how popular that moustache is in the military, considering you can't go much wider than that without breaking regulations.

Which is probably why very few people grow moustaches in the military anymore.

This style was extremely popular back in that time, and neither of them actually wore it as a statement - in fact, Chaplin's parody on Hitler was convenient since he already had the same facial hair. That being said, it is almost exclusively associated with Hitler, and far more so than Chaplin, so I personally wouldn't be caught dead with it.

[Deathraider]

Just don't say Fatherland.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NMk_ySm85kU

Or have this playing in the background.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Of course! 😂
Also, never raise the voice or gesticulate too much.

[SarahsSummer]

That mustache is so synonymous with Hitler and all the attrocities he’s assiciated with, it’s akin to having a swastika on your forehead. Surely there are plenty of other ways you can grow facial hair as to highlight your personality without indirectly offending those who look at you.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

That's an excellent point, but there's no way to reclaim it?
I knew that Ron Mael of the Sparks and a British comedian managed to pull it off without offending anyone. And I too managed to go for three years and to a lot of events without offending people, although it gave place to jokes.

I had asked my girlfriend if she wanted me to shave it, but she told me to keep it.

[SarahsSummer]

Unless you think you can become bigger than Hitler, there's little chance of "reclaiming" it. But again, surely there must be other ways you can express yourself with a more universally benevolent option.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Getting bigger than him, I don't have the capabilities nor I wouldn't want to.
Something I was thinking as of lately was to style it in a handlebar moustache though.

[SarahsSummer]

absolutely, that definitely would express playful goofiness and I can't think of a single monster who had one

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

You are right.
It will take some time for them to grow the right length but I'll go for them.

[SarahsSummer]

Maybe this can be some inspiration for you
images.search.yahoo.com/.../search;_ylt=AwrEeJ6z1QpcvVwARxoPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--
or
www.baldingbeards.com/.../

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Uhm... even if it's not really an handlebar, I really like the one Brad Pitt has in one of the pics. It's similar to the one Ben Affleck had. It's slightly longer than mine, I had already grew out mine a bit because for study reasons I went to some WWII museums and did not want to stir up problems due to having it too extreme.

[SarahsSummer]

www.cnn.com/.../...tizen-by-cnn-borger-vpx-bts.cnn

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

That one really looks cool. The hair/moustache combo is quite awesome and the guy in question is really a character.

[pootytangg]

The mustache is a statement. I think it is funny and conversation starter. It also makes me think of pam (from the office) one year she was Charlie Chaplin and I was tickled by it.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

I remember that episode 😂😂!
That's the impression I went for, and most of the time it works.

[pootytangg]

😂😂😂

[Anonymous]

I think it would be a risky choice … well for anyone, but especially for someone who isn't an avowed anti-racist.

Like if there's any doubt it would be … offensive.

As is, if you're not sick of telling people you're anti Nazi entirely, well on you go then.

[Kemil_Zhoki]

Frankly if I saw someone with one I would immediately assume he was a Hitler fan.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Perfectly understandable.
And if they explained to you they are not?

[esotericstory]

It has something of an aristocratic look to it.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Reply, it was born as an alternative to the "Kaisers" and handlebar style, which were expensive and time consuming to maintain. However, towards the mid 20's, the European nobility started to keep it that way as well.

[facialhair27]

I've seen women with better looking mustaches.

- FacialHair here

[MarketData]

I admire your confidence.

[name_is_eric]

Why not both?

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Well, Hitler himself was a pretty particular person...

[name_is_eric]

What about him?

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Well, he's a negative model though..

[name_is_eric]

He did uplift Germany from economic turmoil, I think that is a feat.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Not really... the "Nazi economical miracle" is a bit of myth. It got possible because Hitler's ministers Robert Ley and Hjalmar Schacht managed to secure outside funding. German economy was on the precipice of collapse by '39 and the Nazis would have started a war anyways by 1942 to fill up the Reich's treasury.

[WhoDatGuy]

How 1 man ruined a facial hair style for ever!