The Rat Tail

I'm one who finds kind of "analyzing" social tendencies or norms to be thoroughly enjoyable.  Usually involving irony and other such devices that may be comical.  There is a social mystery to me though.  It often leaves me quite perplexed. What is it you say?  . . . . .

 . . . The Rat Tail.

The rat tail is commonly considered a cousin to (yet another mystery) the mullet: 

 

Perhaps the mullets popularity was helped along by 

the styling Uncle Jesse and funny Uncle Joey

   

But the rat tail is still its own breed.

Origin could possibly be from styles of the late 40's-50's. 

From the days of The Fonz the rat tail has simply progressed eventually having several different niches within its own genre:

Here we have the liberating, free flowing natural wave

The over the shoulder look

 (great addition to the overall "ensaum")

  

Matchy matchy, rat tail's NASTY

 

An expression of spirit

   

The curly Q

 

Some are in it for length I suspect

(world record is over 4 feet fyi) 

 

"The Braid"

One factor could be that the rat tails cause my have been helped by 

some influential media figures.

Such as Brad Taylor, the oldest of the Taylor boys, he sported a healthy 6 inch R-tail

 for at least a season.

If Randy on the other hand had the tail i would venture to bet that it might have 

caught on a little better. ;)

(The Taylor boys of course also were prime advocates for and a help to the mullet campaign)

Then of course there is the Jedi Padawan.

I mean who wouldn't want to look like a guy that can move giant object with the force, has ridiculous jumping ability, flies an X-wing fighter and carries a lightsaber?

They also conveniently sport the thin ear-braid as well as the well kempt thick pony.

 

So maybe it's the tiniest bit understandable why some are swayed to commit to the tail.

But . . .

Really though I've never been able to figure out why it is than some men go this route.

Tonight I came one step closer to solving the mystery though.

We were at the friendly neighborhood Denny's, and this gentlemen was seated in the booth just across the way.  He sports a pretty legit rat tail, interesting combo of the pony pullback with a couple inches of braid and then the free flow.  

Only slightly amused at this point though,

A few minutes later we stumble on this phenomenon:

   

That's right folks.  She's stroking it.

Saw it in person I swear.

Clearly, she likes it.

Chalk that up as one more reason a man may have a rat tail.

Who knows maybe this guy doesn't even like the rat tail, he just has it because 

he loves her so much.

If you're willing to do that - well in my book that's love I tell you what.

Now don't get me wrong, nothin wrong with the mullet or the rat tail.  

Just another social habit that intrigues.

Kind of like this last picture,

Not quite a rat tail not quite a mullet,

I call it:

Self Confidence: