I'll say this bit after reading the comments on the article:
I'm registered to at least 5 different hair boards, 3 of which I peruse daily, which includes nappturality, naturally curly, and long hair care forum. I love ALL of these boards because of the variety of info, amusement, what have you.
It's hilarious to see people attacked on nappturality, because posters just can't or won't read the rules, even when people politely tell them, they still want to run off and cry. Yes, I have seen some get snippy, but there are some that are so damned hard headed that know the rules, yet still want to talk about heat, this that and the third.
It may be a small thing to people, but for some it's not. They are really struggling and may be trying to resist heat, or chemicals and to have someone talking about it...I don't know, maybe like putting a fine brandy under a recovering alcoholic's nose? Sorry, only analogy I could think of right now.
But if you know it's a no heat, no chemical forum, why are you asking questions and then turning around fussing when you get the response that you do? There are OTHER boards that you can join if you want to talk about those things...like here! When I meet people and they tell me they want to go natural but want to use heat and need advice, I direct them here!
So true! And then they want to run and talk about how awful NP is... didn't you read the rules before you bothered to register & post?
That board has its mission. I completely understand it, and I'm grateful it's there, for one; it changed my life and it changed my mindset. If you want to talk about all that other stuff, there are plenty of other places online to go. Let NP be what it is, because it is useful and necessary for a lot of people. I'm definitely thankful I found NP as it was when I did, and I'm thankful that I found it before this place or any other place. NP is definitely a bubble, but then again... so is this place. How many folks think we are crazy & extreme here for popping 50-11 supplements, drinking raw eggs, using horse conditioner and so forth? Not everyone does it or agrees, but we know why it's done, we know why others are doing it. They have their 'unusual customs' there and we have our 'unusual customs' here. They have rules there and we have rules here. If you don't like 'em... well, you know the rest.
NP is about
changing minds, it's never been 'just hair' on NP. That's just the way it is, and is made abundantly clear in the rules, the mission statement, etc. That's why it's imperative to read before you go on a posting spree.
If it is "just hair" for you, NP may not be the place for you to go. Just like if you wanted to wear a baldie forever, LHCF probably is not the place for you to be. It really is that simple.
And you have to consider the reality for a lot of black women. I know... your family and friends all loved nappy hair and you never heard of such a thing before, and where you live it's always naturals being mean to relaxed women and so forth... yeah. But that just ain't reality for a good deal of us. At least from what I see IRL every day, relaxed or otherwise straightened is still the norm. Having very nappy hair is
far more likely to get you talked about, looked down on, and looked at strangely than having relaxed hair; and "Natural Nazis" are few and far between. Given that, I must ask: Is it really surprising that some people become passionate and/or militant? Really?
Personally, I am passionate. To me, hair is a socio-political thing, but also a personal expression thing, as well as a beauty thing, as well as a fun thing.
Whatever a person believes, they have just as much right to voice their viewpoints as do those who say "just hair".
And people have the right to complain about the militant folks, and the militant folks have the right to complain about the "just hair" folks. I find that both sides feel they are unquestionably right and can have stank attitudes about it.
Personally, I came to the conclusion that talking about it to others is useless, ESPECIALLY on the internet. Rather, I just wear my hair the way I do, and hope I can encourage someone to see a new option or be less fearful of their own natural hair.
As for mean anonymous Fotki comments, that's not even a thing of being natural, militant, or whatever.
That's just someone being ignorant. if you don't like what you see in someone's Fotki, keep it moving.
But if you are in someone else's community where they have set rules and a set agenda, and you are posting something that's not allowed, then people are right to tell you so. They don't have to be rude in doing so, but they are right.