I hope the rest of you like this article as much as I did?

An answer to the Explainer's 2011 Question of the Year.
By Daniel Engber|Posted Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at 6:52 PM ET

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/01/are_smart_people_ugly_the_explainer_s_2011_questio n_of_the_year_.single.html

haha, nice! Isn't general "beauty" about symmetry when it comes to the human face? I heard that symmetry is an indication of "good" genes and so thats why we tend to find it beautiful. If this is the case, then good genes could be an overall attribute that contributes to both physical symmetry and intelligence.

Ugly people face greater challenges: they either rise up to them and become smarter; or they give up and become even uglier and even dumber.

Why Are Smart People Usually Ugly?

I think the question should be:

Why is it that some ugly people turn out to be the smart ones?And the answer, not surprisingly, is that, being ugly, they aren't allowed to waltz through life unencumbered (as the bimbos and hunks are allowed to do), so some of them develop brains to survive.

We must be careful what we've been fooled into surmising about the upper intellect, because they may get frustrated with us, and leave us behind to drool alone, with the monkeys.

What we consider "ugly" has been told to us by the media and other entertaining types of businesses. People never really considered what a person looked like that much back in the 1700's or 1800's because there wasn't much entertainment businesses that were being publicized. Look at Abraham Lincoln just as one example and how today many refer to him as "ugly" but when he was elected no one considered his looks as much they did his intelligence.

So today we are all exposed to the media and its glorification of the beauty they want us to be aware of and not what really matters when it comes to real brain power. I try to understand a person for what they say and do more than what they look like. This internet is a good way to do just that because you really don't know what people look like but are interested in what they are saying. :)

An interesting article, KJ, and an interesting twist in your naming of the thread as it appears that the data correlates to smart people more often than not being attractive also.

We are too easily influenced by the stereotypes portrayed in the media and by our own limited exposure, as most of us tend to socialize and interact within our own peer group. Persons who do extensive travel or whose work brings them into contact with a wider variety of people would have a better sense of what this article is speaking to and how accurate it may be.

The Yukon may have a fairly small population by number, yet it is an incredibly diverse population because of it's mix of established and transient persons. The RCMP and federal government use Yukon as a stepping stone for upwardly mobile staff as a means to get their regional experience in before they are ready for an Ottawa posting.

Approximately 20% of our population is First Nations and they are representative of 13 separate traditional regions within the territory.

Mining and tourism attract workers and business operators from many regions to work in these fields.

The point I am making is that the Yukon affords me opportunity to observe such correlations in spite of my schedule and general avoidance of large congregations.

We have a lot of very clever people in these parts, offset by an equally high percentage of people with FAE and FAS. Symmetry of facial features and presentation are frequently good indicators of intelligence, but certainly not the only ones and the occasional brilliant person does seem to find tending to one's own person to be an interruption of their thought processes, lol...

I was raised with the teaching of being presentable for all appearances. I tend to wear conservative clothing in coordinating and complementary colors and in my personal presentation I enhance the symmetry of my features and posture. My hobby of horses also assists because in riding the horse one must remain centered and balanced in their movements as they follow the motion of the horse.

As one person was fond of saying, "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, you can surely baffle them with B.S."

So whether I am smart or not, I am clever enough to assume the presentation of the demographic that is presently under consideration, having learned same from my teachers.

Which really begs the question of just how smart any of us may be or if we are all just faking it, LOL....:D

We smart people go for cosmetic surgery to make ourselves ugly so you dumb asses don't feel quite as bad.

. . . THAT (thread title) must explain why I'm so ugly then!!!

Well I'm the most intelligent person that ever lived!!! :D





oh...... :mad:

I have also heard that an attractive person is more likely to get a job than an ugly one, the same could be said of electing politicians. Does this mean that the world is run by beautiful idiots?

haha, nice! Isn't general "beauty" about symmetry when it comes to the human face? I heard that symmetry is an indication of "good" genes and so that's why we tend to find it beautiful. If this is the case, then good genes could be an overall attribute that contributes to both physical symmetry and intelligence.

Maybe, but I like what this paragraph said.


In addition, Kanazawa points out that a closer look at the data reveals an interesting fact: The very ugliest people in his dataset are dumber on average, but they also tend to be the most diverse when it comes to intelligence. That means that if you're at the low end of the spectrum for looks, you're more likely than anyone else to be at one extreme end for IQ (either very dumb or very smart). If that's the case, then it might provide another reason why Sartre and Socrates types stick out in our minds. We know (consciously or not) that ugly people tend to be a little dim; but at the same time, there are more brilliant brutes running around than we might expect.

I have also heard that an attractive person is more likely to get a job than an ugly one, the same could be said of electing politicians. Does this mean that the world is run by beautiful idiots?

Desperate republicans voting for Romney? You might have something there.:D

1.Having big brains makes scientist's heads look deformed.
2. Thinking gives them wrinkles.
3. Lack of care about appearance means smart people have pudding bowl haircuts, 28 year old suits with accumulated dinner stains,
dog-dirt on their shoes. Etc. Etc.

Exception is Brian Cox.

http://www.stitchldn.com/DrBrianCox_knitting.jpg
Annoyingly unugly scientist.

and then there is the Blessed Sir Patrick Moore.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/files/2007/Sir_Patrick_Moore.jpg
Normal Scientist.

Which really begs the question of just how smart any of us may be or if we are all just faking it, LOL....:D

If you can fake it good enough, what's the difference? I've never seen a stupid person that could fake anything successfully.:D

What we consider "ugly" has been told to us by the media and other entertaining types of businesses. People never really considered what a person looked like that much back in the 1700's or 1800's because there wasn't much entertainment businesses that were being publicized. Look at Abraham Lincoln just as one example and how today many refer to him as "ugly" but when he was elected no one considered his looks as much they did his intelligence.

If you look at what novels from the 1800's and before say of women characters, there is often a reference to their looks.


A sentence from Henry James' "Portrait of a lady," off the top of my head, to the effect of -
"She was fortunate to have gotten married at all, given her looks."
It is very incisive in the original.


Looks mattered, very much.

1.Having big brains makes scientist's heads look deformed.
2. Thinking gives them wrinkles.
3. Lack of care about appearance means smart people have pudding bowl haircuts.

Exception is Brian Cox.

http://www.stitchldn.com/DrBrianCox_knitting.jpg
Annoyingle unugly scientist.

and then there is the Blessed Sir Patrick Moore.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/files/2007/Sir_Patrick_Moore.jpg
Normal Scientist.

Brian Cox? .........Smart <> Parrot. Parrots are pretty. :D

1.Having big brains makes scientist's heads look deformed.
2. Thinking gives them wrinkles.
3. Lack of care about appearance means smart people have pudding bowl haircuts.

Exception is Brian Cox.

http://www.stitchldn.com/DrBrianCox_knitting.jpg
Annoyingly unugly scientist.

and then there is the Blessed Sir Patrick Moore.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/files/2007/Sir_Patrick_Moore.jpg
Normal Scientist.

Speaking of Brian Cox the following video is making the email circuit.

Wonders of the Stoner System (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ruBtLIvJM)

As I said.
An annoying C***

This is him with his OBE

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01830/cox_1830878c.jpg

I don't consider myself a Hollywood model or anything, but with the weight I've lost in the past couple of years I feel I'm at least as good looking as the average Joe my age, if not better. I get a reasonable amount of exercise, my DNA is decent, there are quite a few womanizers in the family, and I've had many occasions where friends would tell me about really hot chicks that intimidated me actually feeling the same about me, or commenting that a change of clothing style would be all I need to do so (i.e. tighter jean pants and stuff). I can definitely see how "ugly" people might be pushed to pursue academic pursuits, because society is chock full of judgmental bullies and twits like that.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01830/cox_1830878c.jpg

Is that grey hair?!

What about the following theory.

Bonus Explainer: Why might intelligence and looks go hand-in-hand? There are a few different theories. First, it might be that some common genetic factor produces both smarts and beauty. Or maybe there's a combination of genes that make people both dumb and ugly. Kanazawa thinks it's the former, arguing that intelligent men have tended to rise to the top of the social hierarchy and select beautiful women as their mates. Their offspring, contra George Bernard Shaw's supposed quip, would have had both traits together.

It sort of makes sense to me.

What about the following theory.

Bonus Explainer: Why might intelligence and looks go hand-in-hand? There are a few different theories. First, it might be that some common genetic factor produces both smarts and beauty. Or maybe there's a combination of genes that make people both dumb and ugly. Kanazawa thinks it's the former, arguing that intelligent men have tended to rise to the top of the social hierarchy and select beautiful women as their mates. Their offspring, contra George Bernard Shaw's supposed quip, would have had both traits together.

It sort of makes sense to me.

I'm not that good looking. If I was good looking I wouldn't spend so much time working on science.... sorry Pinchoism.

I'm not that good looking. If I was good looking I wouldn't spend so much time working on science.... sorry Pinchoism.

Then the question is did you breed and have kids with a real hot woman? The theory being your kids would get your brains and her looks.:D

The whole concept of 'good-looking' is exceeding subjective and in my observations the world is populated by largely average looking folks, although the media would have you convinced that beauty prevails.

In the shadow of this 'image' that our society parades, many people underestimate their own appearance as seen by others.

The health and energy of youth is a gift that most of us will outgrow, yet we can all be attractive in our own ways to others who share our interests at any age.

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder and when we see people for who they truly are we tend to be considerably less noticing of their outwardly physical appearance and more observant of their message.

Friendly eyes that sparkle with intelligence and humor, a smile that speaks to being approachable, these are things that I tend to notice first in people that I meet.

Intelligence, in my opinion, is never ugly. :)

Then the question is did you breed and have kids with a real hot woman? The theory being your kids would get your brains and her looks.:D

Not according to Mendel's Laws of Heredity.

The odds are equally good that the offspring will throwback to a previous generation or that all of the recessive traits may come together. :D

(No offense intended to you Pincho, I'm just giving KJ a run for his money.)

Not according to Mendel's Laws of Heredity.

The odds are equally good that the offspring will throwback to a previous generation or that all of the recessive traits may come together. :D

(No offense intended to you Pincho, I'm just giving KJ a run for his money.)

I think the theory was speaking many generations of that type of activity, and if both parents are considered good looking and above average IQ. The kids will have better than a 50-50 chance of being both good looking and intelligent
.

Maybe you like the ugly two extreme view.


In addition, Kanazawa points out that a closer look at the data reveals an interesting fact: The very ugliest people in his dataset are dumber on average, but they also tend to be the most diverse when it comes to intelligence. That means that if you're at the low end of the spectrum for looks, you're more likely than anyone else to be at one extreme end for IQ (either very dumb or very smart). If that's the case, then it might provide another reason why Sartre and Socrates types stick out in our minds. We know (consciously or not) that ugly people tend to be a little dim; but at the same time, there are more brilliant brutes running around than we might expect.

. . . .an ugly person is more likely to "be" laid . . . . . an attractive person is more likely to "get" laid . . . (<--- humor here)

They aren't smarter, that's just what ugly people tell themselves to make themselves feel better :D

Then the question is did you breed and have kids with a real hot woman? The theory being your kids would get your brains and her looks.:D

My girlfriends have all been good looking, because you can't trust the good looking guys around here. :D

To prove or disprove the title proposition, look at the jacket pix of science, sociology, anthropology and high end literary books. Some of the authors are old (It takes a while to accomplish something noteworthy in many areas of scholarship.), so you'll either have to ignore them or look for youthful pictures of them - which might be a surprise. Also surprising is the number of clever people who are of above average physical attractiveness, at least according to one competent photographer. (Perhaps they don't look like that all the time, because they're too busy doing interesting work to fuss with their hair or attend botox parties. Hence the stereotype of the bookish girl undergoing a metamorphosis.) And if you want to be really envious, they also have more extracurricular talents and successes.

Some politicians are not physically blessed.
This is our secretary for Education, Michael Gove. One of the smartest people in our Government.

http://www.thedrum.co.uk/uploads/drum_basic_article/84569/main_images/michael-gove.jpg
With a mug like this you'd better make damn sure you're competent.


http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00673/margaret-beckett-40_673751c.jpg
Margaret Beckett. Another mirror-cracker.

What? He's a perfectly nice-looking young man, caught in a goofy shot. Who hasn't been?

I wouldn't really say that smart people are always "ugly". You take Albert Einstein for instance, I wouldn't really say he was an ugly fucker or anything along those lines. It is usually the geeks who look ugly as fuck, because they simply don't care less about appearance the most they care about is their intelligence.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/dynamic/00650/UK_News_8-1_jpg_650012t.jpg

@ Jeeves. No, he's clever, and probably very nice too.
But looks are not his Forte.
They might actually help him if people underestimate his abilities.


@Ha Ha Ha
Watch your language, or you will probably get banned.

I like the way everyone on the INTERNET is calling smart people "ugly", knowing fine well that you, yourself are not the best thing since sliced bread. Everyone has their lovers, everyone has their people who like to critise them. Tit for tat, man.

"Ew, I'm not dating him. He's an ugly bastard."

"Fine, go and fuck your right-hand, Lindsay! I think he's a babe! Mwah, come to Mommy!"

That was an example...............Some people find you arractive, some find you less attractive. Dunno why you'd give a flying fuck anyway, you're beautiful in you're own way and nobody, not a single fuckin' person on this planet has the right to say, "You're not nice looking," if they do say that, or something along the lines..................Just stay true to yourself, and they can go and get fucked.

Ugliness is not the opposite of beautiful, or vice versa—they each carry their own orbits, their own criteria, their own ideals.

Geeze, I've noticed plenty "beautiful" people who were a complete turn off—I knew they were suppose to be attractive but somehow their beauty was marred by some other inner quality, rendering them practically repulsive.

And I've noticed many an "ugly" person radiating with a sort of after-glow, impressive in their stature and determination, attractive by features that were respectfully shameless and candid.

Ugliness is not the opposite of beautiful, or vice versa—they each carry their own orbits, their own criteria, their own ideals.

Geeze, I've noticed plenty "beautiful" people who were a complete turn off—I knew they were suppose to be attractive but somehow their beauty was marred by some other inner quality, rendering them practically repulsive.

And I've noticed many an "ugly" person radiating with a sort of after-glow, impressive in their stature and determination, attractive by features that were respectfully shameless and candid.

Yes that's all very true, but for this topic we are being visual only. After all advertising uses the people they do for their physical appearance and not who they are inside. That means that physical appearance does affect us and the choices we make. When you were growing up how many popular kids were considered ugly? I would guess zero.

They aren't, it's just that being abnormally attractive actively makes people stupid from a combination of other people's prejudices and natural human laziness.

You may as well ask why blind people are better at listening.

I actually suspect that if socially constructed expectations and stereotypes were somehow removed from the issue, you'd find a correlation between facial attractiveness and intellectual potential. Although there are heritable components of each, they are also expressions of how successful pre-natal development has been and general post natal health. For example how well nourished the mother is, how much environmental stress she is under, what potentially harmful substances she is exposed to and so on.

Geeze, I've noticed plenty "beautiful" people who were a complete turn off—I knew they were suppose to be attractive but somehow their beauty was marred by some other inner quality, rendering them practically repulsive.

Personally I call this the "Paris Hilton" effect.

Aww, Killjoy. You liked the stoner video. Doesn’t he look like Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9vKGSILZArBVLfvzLNqXnYNrQnapjT bvTGV7Exs3HaNwmh5Dq

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Brian_Cox.jpg/200px-Brian_Cox.jpg

Speaking of Willy's, I always think "nice car"......little willie. :eek:

Study: High-end cars makes men appear more attractive
(http://youtu.be/qFp4jDIZsAs)

They aren't, it's just that being abnormally attractive actively makes people stupid from a combination of other people's prejudices and natural human laziness.

You may as well ask why blind people are better at listening.

I actually suspect that if socially constructed expectations and stereotypes were somehow removed from the issue, you'd find a correlation between facial attractiveness and intellectual potential. Although there are heritable components of each, they are also expressions of how successful pre-natal development has been and general post natal health. For example how well nourished the mother is, how much environmental stress she is under, what potentially harmful substances she is exposed to and so on.

Yes I agree with you, but what's your point as it relates to the OP?

Aww, Killjoy. You liked the stoner video. Doesn’t he look like Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9vKGSILZArBVLfvzLNqXnYNrQnapjT bvTGV7Exs3HaNwmh5Dq

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Brian_Cox.jpg/200px-Brian_Cox.jpg

I see what you mean, but I know his voice when I hear it. I'm not sure very many people could emulate Brian Cox's voice. But that video did seem to be pasted together kind of funny.

I like Brian Cox as a presenter.. it's just that his science makes me want to smash the TV... well most science does. And that white haired Japanese guy.. dr-michio-kaku...


http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/087839-2011-04-15-dr-michio-kaku-theoretical-physicist-fukishima-daiichi-nuclear-facility-is.htm

I like Brian Cox as a presenter.. it's just that his science makes me want to smash the TV... well most science does.

I know, it's got to be that big phony smile of his. But I do like his travel budget while doing his series.

I like Brian Cox as a presenter.. it's just that his science makes me want to smash the TV... well most science does. And that white haired Japanese guy.. dr-michio-kaku...



That's weird. I think Cox is a terrible presenter, but passable a scientist. I get the impression they only picked him because he makes nerdy girls squee. As a presenter I think Jim Al-Khalili or Judith Hann best him quite comprehensively. Not to mention the likes of Carl Sagan or Jacob Bronowski.

Michio Kaku, largely an attention whore.

Aww, Killjoy. You liked the stoner video. Doesn’t he look like Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9vKGSILZArBVLfvzLNqXnYNrQnapjT bvTGV7Exs3HaNwmh5Dq

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Brian_Cox.jpg/200px-Brian_Cox.jpg



Now that's just wrong!:mad:

I will never be able to sit through another one of his documentaries after this.



That's weird. I think Cox is a terrible presenter, but passable a scientist. I get the impression they only picked him because he makes nerdy girls squee.
No.

Sorry, but the greying 'I want to look like Bieber' hairstyle just does not do it for me.

From the OP (Slate):"...attractive... have an additional 12.4 points of IQ, on average.

From (Newscore (http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/news/offbeat/scientists:-attractive-people-have-higher-iqs-dpgonc-km-20110116_11456953)): "...Researchers from the London School of Economics (LSE) said that physically-attractive people have above-average IQs, with good-looking men around 13.6 points above the norm and attractive women 11.4 points above average..."

"On average" and "above average" seemed to convey different results to me, so I went for the (LSE Paper) (http://personal.lse.ac.uk/Kanazawa/pdfs/I2011.pdf) for further clarity:

"... Attractive NCDS respondents have the
mean IQ of 104.2 while others have the mean IQ of 91.8. .."

This seems to be an observable result of "average intellect level" ranges,
and doesn't necessarily imply an equal condition for "significantly higher intellect levels" (than an average range).

Now that's just wrong!:mad:
I will never be able to sit through another one of his documentaries after this.


It does look like him, huh? :D

Hey Bells,

Since gendanken mentioned several time that you had cancer, and we’re discussing looks, can I ask you something? I just saw this campaign today. What is your opinion? Would you support it?

A touching campaign to make a bald Barbie (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/12/support-for-bald-barbie-swells-on-facebook/)

It does look like him, huh? :D

Hey Bells,

Since gendanken mentioned several time that you had cancer, and we’re discussing looks, can I ask you something? I just saw this campaign today. What is your opinion? Would you support it?

A touching campaign to make a bald Barbie (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/12/support-for-bald-barbie-swells-on-facebook/)

I think it would help children cope with it, yes. It would help them understand and accept that this is the new normal for the time being.

As an adult, the first time my hair started to fall out, it was devastating mentally and psychologically. I can't even begin to imagine the fear and terror of that happening to a child and what that child would be going through. And then the stares and the whispers and like my "spouse", who would demand I wear a wig because he was not comfortable with it. I guess the question is 'why wouldn't anyone support it?'.

Personally I call this the "Paris Hilton" effect.

Yeah, her personality is utterly hideous indeed. But physically I don't see why people like her so much either, she looks like an ape who underwent years of plastic surgery and then blanketed it all with a layer of makeup.

I think it would help children cope with it, yes. It would help them understand and accept that this is the new normal for the time being.

As an adult, the first time my hair started to fall out, it was devastating mentally and psychologically. I can't even begin to imagine the fear and terror of that happening to a child and what that child would be going through. And then the stares and the whispers and like my "spouse", who would demand I wear a wig because he was not comfortable with it. I guess the question is 'why wouldn't anyone support it?'.

Warning: Pre-coffee…http://www.pic4ever.com/images/mornincoffee.gif

I don’t know. With all the Barbie bashing, Barbie syndromes, and Barbie controversies, I thought that maybe it was time for us to stop using toys as role models. We have had the teen pregnancy Barbie, the Oreo Barbie, the tattooed Barbie, and the growing tits Barbie, etc. They also came out with the Share a Smile Becky, a Barbie in a wheelchair, but a girl with cerebral palsy pointed out that the wheelchair didn’t fit into the elevator in the dream house.

My youngest son is still in high school. I asked his girlfriend, who happens to be excellent in math. She told me about the Barbie that used to say, “Math is hard.” Most of my son’s friends thought it was a terrible idea and that it was just mocking the kids with cancer.

I guess the question we should be asking is, “why is a bald female taboo?”

We can’t even see past our biased thinking. Why do we naturally assume that ugly women are smart and beautiful women are stupid (http://youtu.be/QdYzhMM0YqA)?

Apropos of nothing, I was given a few Barbies as a small child. I usually stripped them naked and repetitively pulled their arms and legs off, then put them back in.
.....
I don't guess that's a normal 6-year-old's response to a Barbie...
As far as I know there's no correlation with ugly and smart, or gorgeous and dumb.
Which may mean those gorgeous women who appear dumb are...actually smart enough to manipulate the stereotype for their benefit when it suits them.

Warning: Pre-coffee…http://www.pic4ever.com/images/mornincoffee.gif

I don’t know. With all the Barbie bashing, Barbie syndromes, and Barbie controversies, I thought that maybe it was time for us to stop using toys as role models. We have had the teen pregnancy Barbie, the Oreo Barbie, the tattooed Barbie, and the growing tits Barbie, etc. They also came out with the Share a Smile Becky, a Barbie in a wheelchair, but a girl with cerebral palsy pointed out that the wheelchair didn’t fit into the elevator in the dream house.

My youngest son is still in high school. I asked his girlfriend, who happens to be excellent in math. She told me about the Barbie that used to say, “Math is hard.” Most of my son’s friends thought it was a terrible idea and that it was just mocking the kids with cancer.

I guess the question we should be asking is, “why is a bald female taboo?”

We can’t even see past our biased thinking. Why do we naturally assume that ugly women are smart and beautiful women are stupid (http://youtu.be/QdYzhMM0YqA)?

I think if kids find it easier to connect to, then great. If they do not, then great also.

My first initial thought when I saw it was 'why?'.. And at first I thought your son was right. That it seems to mock children with cancer. But it should be aimed more at their peers. Those who do not understand. Or those who might mock a child with cancer because they looked different. Or exclude them because they look different. Especially for girls, who can be particularly cruel to other girls because of how they may look.

But you ask an important question.. Why are bald women taboo?

There is no real answer. Well there is, but the answer itself is ugly. Stereotyping and expectations of society goes a long way. My husband can't stand it. Even now, while we are separated, he still cannot stand it and finds it almost offensive. My son's on the other hand love it because I let them stick googly eyes on the back of my head. They aren't making fun of it, they are learning to accept it.

And finally, why do we assume pretty people are stupid and ugly people are smart? I blame the media and idiotic stereotyping.

Apropos of nothing, I was given a few Barbies as a small child. I usually stripped them naked and repetitively pulled their arms and legs off, then put them back in.
.....
I don't guess that's a normal 6-year-old's response to a Barbie...

I was given one barbie doll when I was 9. First I coloured its hair with bright paint, then gave her a hair cut, then she went punk with what litle hair she had left. I also removed her limbs and performed 'surgery' on her in my 'I think I want to be a doctor' phase of my 9th year of life. The surgery may have involved giving her an anus, ripping off her head and filling her body with various liquid to try to make her poop like a normal person. My parents never gave me another one after that. I was never into the whole pink and purple girly toys to be honest.

Lets just say I am just glad I have two sons. It would have killed me to have a girly girl who is into the whole barbie doll scene. Or worse.. 'My lil ponies'.. Instead I have two charming little boys.. one of whom threatened to pee on my foot if I dared to wash his face with soap while he was in the shower. Don't even ask me where he got that from. *Sigh*.. children are feral.. They are either girly feral or feral feral like my two are.

And finally, why do we assume pretty people are stupid and ugly people are smart? I blame the media and idiotic stereotyping.

Susan Jacoby wrote “A Nation of Dunces”, and someone responded by saying, “Well, at least I’m not ugly."

http://cdn.fora.tv/thumbnails/3121_200_150.jpg

I'd feel lucky to be caught with these bald women. And I'm betting they aren't dummies either.

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/lancewen/mollie-bald.jpg

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/lancewen/amber-rose-bald-and-beautiful.jpg

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/lancewen/2rn7mkj.jpg

Beauty is in the beholder. Go look in the mirror and tell me you dont see a super model!

Beauty is in the beholder. Go look in the mirror and tell me you dont see a super model!

I hate to say it, but no I don't.

What we consider "ugly" has been told to us by the media and other entertaining types of businesses.

I would agree ... and not only told, but shown. These images are perfection to the max. A neighbor of mine who drools over stuff like the SI swimsuit edition was shocked to learn that it takes a team of pros with lots of stuff hours to make a model look like that. My response was, gee, you thought they roll out of bed looking like that? A business associate knew a few models, and he said most models are really nothing remarkable without the tons of preparation.

But images are powerful, we see them repeatedly (if not forever), and they wear a rut in our brains.

I suppose years ago, without mass media, when they spoke of the beauty of (say) Helen of Troy, every man could imagine the love of his life as that woman. ... Helen must look like my Ariadne ... Helen must look like my Chloe ... etc.

it's all illusory except for one general theme: health as well as features that look balanced in relation to eachother, more or less. this is why clear skin, a toned body (not obese) etc is considered more attractive than the opposite. this is just a general base to define beauty, not necessarily that stringent though.

that being said, there are so many types of beauty and that is what people tend to forget. beauty is not just one type as their is cute, pretty, sultry, sexy, masculine, feminine, androgynous, sophisticated, ethereal, dainty, rugged, lean, meaty, curvaceous etc. this is about real attractiveness.

as for cultural memes, that is more artificially defined or arbitrary and has to do with perspective. there was a time in the very distant past where obesity was considered beautiful because it meant that one was very well off and well-fed among a population where most weren't. today, those same people would not be considered attractive though there are some isolated cultures where this idea still is prevalent. back then, scrawny people or 'skinny' people would be considered totally negligible or unnoticed as being defined as an attractive attribute. they probably just associated that with being poor. today, being thin or even hyperthin can be considered attractive because it represents youth or active health etc.

one of the worst travesties against the natural expression of beauty is these artificially defined memes of beauty where it ignores or devalues everything else except a particularly literal and rigid criteria such as certain height, weight, facial features, hairstyle etc where a mock image of a 'barbie' doll or 'gq' male is viewed as what everyone is 'supposed' to look like or else they are inferior. this is actually very ignorant and toxic to society. so what happens is people try to 'alter' themselves to fit this particular ideal ignoring or destroying their own type of beauty. beauty is expressed through health in all it's myriad diversity and that is what people should be most mindful of.

anyone can witness this type of extreme ignorance in society all the time. for instance, where 'thin' people are touted as the epitome of beauty; that trend can veer to 'curvaceous' people or 'meat on their bones' as being touted as the most beautiful etc, so one type downing the other as less attractive. this is the result of society not recognizing that there are different types of beauty and only considering one type as the definition of attractiveness or not understanding (blind) to the fact beauty is also contextual. uh, stupid? for instance, bronze skin can be beautiful in it's warmness just as very pale porcelain skin has it's own delicate beauty. round eyes can be beautiful for their fullness or even appearing innocent just as almond shaped eyes can be beautifully mysterious etc. blonde hair can look like a ray of sunhine, auburn fiery and brunettes have a mysterious or lush appeal etc. petite can look dainty and precious while tall or robust can appear virile or strong etc.

people who truly recognize beauty understand context. one prime example is the color tones: winter, spring, summer and autumn as well as neutral. everyone is one of the seasons in color tone and a winter wearing an autumn's tone etc will detract from their own type of beauty but each one if enhanced with their own particular tone will bring out their own beauty. the neutral tone can apply to anyone.

is a sunset viewed at the beach on a balmy day any less or more beautiful than a majestic snow-capped mountain peak in brisk weather? no.

I would agree ... and not only told, but shown. These images are perfection to the max. A neighbor of mine who drools over stuff like the SI swimsuit edition was shocked to learn that it takes a team of pros with lots of stuff hours to make a model look like that. My response was, gee, you thought they roll out of bed looking like that? A business associate knew a few models, and he said most models are really nothing remarkable without the tons of preparation.

But images are powerful, we see them repeatedly (if not forever), and they wear a rut in our brains.

Watching an episode of America's/UK's/Australia's Next Top Model is very revealing in this regard.

being attractive has to be one of the biggest advantages. It's like playing an RPG and putting your points towards 'luck'. It helps everything. Travel to many parts of Asia and white people are instantly a few points more beautiful. I always find that awesome.

Travel to many parts of Asia and white people are instantly a few points more beautiful. I always find that awesome.

they absolutely are not, not even close. sorry but this stereotype doesn't apply anymore. seriously, this is utterly laughable if you have traveled not only asia but the world. for instance, i bet you are not even half as attractive as asians of the current generation. you are projecting old stereotypes. most whites are average looking to unattractive being obese to having bad skin or having considered average or unattractive facial features. whites who think just because they are white makes them attractive are the dumbest. this has been because of the traditional stereotype that any caucasian feature trumps all others (which is a form of dishonest political correctness) where even questionable or unattractive qualities from pasty skin, sparse hair, overly hairy or large in size equals attractive as well as round eyes considered more attractive. it's not that there is anything wrong with these features but if we're going to go strictly off of racial features as definitions of beauty or attractive, then it could be argued both ways. maybe the nose is too big or unattractive or the eyes unattractive even if large or add nothing to make them attractive. large or small doesn't equate to beauty in itself. only those who don't understand how beauty works think this way.

the problem here is just because one has round eyes or a higher nose bridge does not necessarily equal beauty or attractiveness. i've seen repulsively ugly people who have round eyes and/or higher nose bridge in other races as well as very attractive asians who have slanted or smaller eyes and smaller noses. they are everywhere. beauty is how all the features add up in relation to eachother (symmetry), not because one has a particular feature. are there asians who are considered unattractive exist? of course they do but so do many others are unattractive in every race.

it also depends on what generation you are referring to and it doesn't consider different types of ethnic beauty. most whites are not more attractive than asians. the current generation of asians have better bodies and skin than most whites. this is because they are taller as well as more curvaceous than their predecessors and obesity is more rare because of their diet. you have to remember things change. from what i've seen asian males/females who are in their thirties and younger are usually just as if not more attractive than the whites i've seen (one major reason is obesity in the west), objectively comparing them side by side. they are no longer all supershort or without any curves like their parents or grandparents.

also, middle-eastern women are very beautiful besides the fact, it's one of the most crazy stereotypes that white equals beautiful when many are not.

i mean, seriously, are these people less attractive because of slanted eyes or nonwhite features? sure, if you are good at lying to yourself or very prejudiced/biased toward only caucasian features but in reality, no way and no how are they less attractive. also, it's not even rare as one can witness this in any college district or where young professionals are. again, beauty is about the whole package, not what race you are or racial features.

*cough*. search and destroy, please post your pic and we'll compare to see just how instantly you are more attractive just by virtue of your race (based on sense of entitlement), so i can have a hearty laugh.

http://img2.lln.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/12292007/e/2/7/d/e27d4bf7c69ea0_full.jpg
http://www.cutehotguys.com/29626-1/Handsome+Korean+actor+Kim+Bum+pictures+_85_.jpg
http://www.asianpopcorn.com/battle_images/Choi_Si_Won_02082009184201.jpg

http://uccfs.paran.com/PUD/go/dhj81/IMG/20101029/1288295520_201010290454585803782801_0.jpg
http://uccfs.paran.com/PUD/go/dhj81/IMG/20101029/1288295520_201010290455035803782801_0.jpg
http://uccfs.paran.com/PUD/go/dhj81/IMG/20101029/1288295520_201010290454475803782801_0.jpg

i picked pics of those who mostly have epicanthic fold in the above post as well even though there are many asians born with double eyelids (some having eyes as large as caucasians/blacks/hispanics etc) or some with even larger noses, especially southeast asians and chinese but that doesn't necessarily make them more attractive.

my favorite is the last three pics of the same person. as anyone can see, this person is very attractive because of the symmetry just as there are attractive and unattractive people in other races. it has nothing to do with race, they are just attractive.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UDFnxU9lU3w/TLlvPtG74zI/AAAAAAAACBQ/omube6_uOdQ/s1600/Yoo+Seung+ho+(4).jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vff7iehuLYo/TZXq8xvYuBI/AAAAAAAAAAo/uxheedfBE8I/s1600/yoo-seung-ho+%25281%2529.jpg

see? handsome even with slanted eyes or in his case may even be part of why his face is so attractive. again, it's all how it comes together.