Male baldness is no
joking matter

A USA TODAY article depicts a girl with alopecia areata -- also known as gradual baldness --  and discusses the dreadful disease and the large number of national afflictions (Girl's pain ends with lots of love and donated locks," Life, Tuesday).
I am sure it is sad and embarrassing for females with the rare disease to live and deal with baldness. The somber tone of the article left me wondering why male baldness isn't taken as seriously. 
Articles I've seen on male baldness seem to take a slapstick approach. I am partially bald and would love to have a full head of hair.  But I have the genes for baldness and must deal with it. 
I believe, in a very broad sense, that male baldness is a physical handicap. As a result, I do not understand  our social pain.  Perhaps if baldness were considered a handicap, the jokes would subside. I hope science soon will eliminate the baldness gene, along with many of the more serious afflictions facing mankind.
Donald Robison
Chambersburg, PA

Win by a Hairline
A head game that gives you the edge

There are certain times when a man needs a psychological advantage over his fellow man. Let's say you're meeting your ex's new flame for the first time.  Or maybe you want to throw your chess opponent off his game.  Or maybe you're negotiating a major deal.  You can't be openly rude. But there is something subtle you can do to rattle your adversary: stare at his hairline. After the "measuring up" issue, perhaps the most universal cause of male insecurity is impending baldness.  By scrutinizing your opponent's hairline, whether it's receding or not, you'll tap into this deep-seated dread, and slyly indict his manhood.  Occasional lingering glances will work better than an obvious, flat-out stare, according to Manhattan-based pshchologist Robert Guglielmo. "Persistent staring at an adversary's hairline is too contextually bizarre to be effective," he warns.