this is gonna sound pretty stupid but i have long hair that bothers the hell out of me. it bothers me so much now that i wear it in a ponytail at all times, even in the shower, and i don't brush it. it just makes me feel so uncomfortable. i look in the mirror and i see it and it just brings me down.. i see myself with short hair. i've always been annoyed with it. i dont know what to do with it because i'm very sensitive to other peoples opinions.. i don't want to be that way but i guess thats just how i am. i'm just stuck, trapped, uncomfortable and unhappy and i've felt that way for the longest time

Tell the people whose opinions you are sensitive to that you want a shorter haircut and want their opinion on what style would suit you.  Don't ask if you should cut it short, just say that you're going to and want advice.

Do you have the option of cutting it?  If your parents will freak with an uber-short cut, maybe you can gradually have it trimmed so it's not *as* girly.  Eventually you might have a longish-guy's cut if you keep at it.  And when you are older, tell the barber to go clipper-crazy on ya'    I'd still try to take care of it, though...not for the sake of 'beauty', but of hygiene.  You probably don't want to make *more* maintenance of your hair than a daily wash-n-brush. 

I'd just cut it. If you have to make something up to keep peace, say "I saw how Anne Hathaway cut her hair short and it looks really stylish." Or "I want something stylish but low maintenance." People might make "lesbian" jokes at the VERY worst (and that's unlikely), but enough girls have short haircuts that most people will just think it's a new style you want to try out.

i too would cut it just get a pixie cut first or something and then harden it up slowly so you odnt send people into a frenzy

Just cut it, if your parents freak out say it will grow back eventually.

find some excuse. when somebody asks why you cut your hair present it as if you had no other option. i had long hair until i was 14, and i wanted to cut it down so badly. i went through almost everything you mentioned. my hair is sort of bushy, so i told mom i wanted to cut it down as it is VERY hard to maintain such a bushy hair when it's long. i exagerrated the inconveniences of long hair, that it got dirty so easily and it wouldnt stay in place, and that it was hard to brush it, that it gets so itchy etc. finally got my family agreed. going to school first time after the haircut, i was very anxious but i got past all the comments with my excuse. the excitement lasted only a few weeks and everyone got used to it. some still ask why i don't grow my hair and whether i'm gonna keep it this short forever. everytime my little excuse saves me. so, find an excuse convincing enough and get it cut down as soon as possible if you are that uninterested in maintaining it.

I think you should cut it if it would make you more happy.

dont think too much on what other would say its not there hair.
if you are very paranoid on cutting it all just do a step by step shorter.
go from long to middle long, and next time you cut it you do it even shorter.