Beauty or Brains

[DimensionX]

For me to be happy in a long term relationship I would have to be with a person who is around my intelligence I don't mind if the looks are lacking a little.

Short term, I can put up with a beautiful idiot for a while

 

[DoveAlexa]

I dunno about you guys but it seems like at least early on a person of average intelligence but good looks seems to do really well in life. I was watching something on tv a while back, a documentary and it mentioned a study where more attractive children actually get more attention from their parents. As appalling as this might seem to some, I do seem to notice favouritism among teachers for cuter kids. This does seem to carry through into the workplace somewhat too I've noticed, and a peppy personality helps it along even more.

 

[Skathac]

Sounds entirely plausible.

 

[Reon]

I have 3 questions for the boards:

1. Would you rather be butt ugly and a genius, or beautiful but spectacularly stupid? [poll]

That's actually a hard decision, but I'd go with being butt ugly and a genius. Living ignorantly, with the knowledge I have now, is just not possible.

2. Would you rather be average in looks but a genius, or average in brains but beautiful?[poll]

I'd rather be a genius.

3. If you were both very good looking and a genius, which would be harder to suddenly have to live without, to lose: your genius and all the gifts of insight and ability this gets you, or your looks which grants you social benefits and positive attention. [no poll]

What value does society place for both beauty and brains? Is one considered better than the other to have, more valued?

My genius would be harder to lose. You lose your concept and understand of society and your place in it when you lose your intelligence. Losing your beauty is a hard thing, yes, but everyone goes through in their life when they get older. Also, I don't know, I know life would be easier if you were beautiful but I also think that brings on a added set of difficulties. I'm naturally not very interested in looks (Perhaps I'm just picky) so that does adjust my paradigm a bit.

 

[DoveAlexa]

Though I find it rather annoying that my seriously incompetent boss manages to hold onto her job though the magic of ass kissing alone. Shes also married to a manager at another store.
Ass kissing is also a great way of turning a normal boss over your boss into a ego maniac o_o.

But yeah, attractive children tend to get special social benefits from their elders if not peers, if only in attention and affection. Additional affection in life can lead to a more positive well being, leading to confidence, another measure of attractiveness. I wonder if attractiveness at birth tends to "grow" exponentially as they are nurtured slightly more each year along the way, or if a child's personality (like being Introverted) negates all that extra attention once it's well set it.

But I digress...

 

[Reon]

Though I find it rather annoying that my seriously incompetent boss manages to hold onto her job though the magic of ass kissing alone. Shes also married to a manager at another store.
Ass kissing is also a great way of turning a normal boss over your boss into a ego maniac o_o.

But yeah, attractive children tend to get special social benefits from their elders if not peers, if only in attention and affection. Additional affection in life can lead to a more positive well being, leading to confidence, another measure of attractiveness. I wonder if attractiveness at birth tends to "grow" exponentially as they are nurtured slightly more each year along the way, or if a child's personality (like being Introverted) negates all that extra attention once it's well set it.

But I digress...

I think that if you are abnormally attractive, you tend to grow up with abnormal social skills. If you somehow manage to be very attractive, very intelligent, and you have social skills, well, you're god's gift to humanity. I think that people have a baseline attractiveness (Attractiveness in itself is subjective) and that attractiveness can be amplified. I used to think I was quite ugly and my confidence suffered from that, and that was notable in the way I carried myself, which is a triple whammy (Typical high school throw in with some extra issues). With people telling me that I was attractive, I gained confidence, I started improving upon myself and my social skills, and as such, I am wholly a more attractive person than I was. Perhaps I misinterpreted what you meant by attractiveness going exponentially.

My friend Dragon made a topic about this, if you're interested.

http://forums.infjs.com/showthread.php?t=7881

 

[DoveAlexa]

I think that if you are abnormally attractive, you tend to grow up with abnormal social skills. If you somehow manage to be very attractive, very intelligent, and you have social skills, well, you're god's gift to humanity. I think that people have a baseline attractiveness (Attractiveness in itself is subjective) and that attractiveness can be amplified. I used to think I was quite ugly and my confidence suffered from that, and that was notable in the way I carried myself, which is a triple whammy (Typical high school throw in with some extra issues). With people telling me that I was attractive, I gained confidence, I started improving upon myself and my social skills, and as such, I am wholly a more attractive person than I was. Perhaps I misinterpreted what you meant by attractiveness going exponentially.

My friend Dragon made a topic about this, if you're interested.

http://forums.infjs.com/showthread.php?t=7881

Nope, this is exactly what I was talking about!
Cool, I already have another personal example to back the theory up! //high five
Getting better peer treatment made your attractiveness go up through gaining confidence (something many people find attractive) and social skills (related in a way to charisma).

 

[NeverAmI]

I dunno about you guys but it seems like at least early on a person of average intelligence but good looks seems to do really well in life. I was watching something on tv a while back, a documentary and it mentioned a study where more attractive children actually get more attention from their parents. As appalling as this might seem to some, I do seem to notice favouritism among teachers for cuter kids. This does seem to carry through into the workplace somewhat too I've noticed, and a peppy personality helps it along even more.

I have noticed it in myself as well. Attractiveness in a child does play a big role. There is definitely something in me that creates that bias.

 

[Roger]

I voted for average in looks but a genius.

Reason: I believe if your mind, insight is beautiful. From this point anyone can be considered as beautiful and we all are having it.

Love this thread.

 

[DoveAlexa]

Is the main reason no one would want to be super beautiful aand very dumb because you feel disgusted at the notion? Both the fact that that person would play right into society's evil wants and that being stupid is abhorrent and "ugly"? If you "are" that person, life may be blissfully nice or you might end up as a hooker through people's manipulations of you.

 

[Skathac]

The people I have met that are super beautiful and blissfully ignorant were all very happy with their lives, thats why I thought it might be interesting to spend a week in their shoes just to see what it would be like.

 

[DoveAlexa]

The people I have met that are super beautiful and blissfully ignorant were all very happy with their lives, thats why I thought it might be interesting to spend a week in their shoes just to see what it would be like.

Heh, and isn't happiness what we all strive for? Though I know being suddenly turned dumb would break my soul, just being born that way might be a lot easier.

 

[Skathac]

I can't say for sure. I get the feeling that if I was female and beautiful it'd be nothing but a big pain in the ass. Sometimes intelligence in and of itself causes more problems than it is worth. Don't get me wrong I value my mind, just the grass is always greener till you experience it I guess.

 

[Peppermint]

Appearance tends to be secondary to me. Besides, once I've become enamored by someone's personality/brain, their appearance and other qualities start getting more appealing, even if others might not agree.

 

[NeverAmI]

Appearance tends to be secondary to me. Besides, once I've become enamored by someone's personality/brain, their appearance and other qualities start getting more appealing, even if others might not agree.

Same.

 

[NeverAmI]

Heh, and isn't happiness what we all strive for? Though I know being suddenly turned dumb would break my soul, just being born that way might be a lot easier.

I don't think happiness is what I strive for.

 

[Betteralone]

I dunno about you guys but it seems like at least early on a person of average intelligence but good looks seems to do really well in life. I was watching something on tv a while back, a documentary and it mentioned a study where more attractive children actually get more attention from their parents. As appalling as this might seem to some, I do seem to notice favouritism among teachers for cuter kids. This does seem to carry through into the workplace somewhat too I've noticed, and a peppy personality helps it along even more.

Yes yes yes. I've seen the same about statistics in the work place. Unfortunately the better looking you are the more likely you are to get a job, a date, friends, and even get paid more!

I can't believe it about the parents and their children though!!! I thought every parent thinks theirs are the best.

But keep in mind, beauty can also be a curse! People can be jealous or intimidated, and they tend to stereotype you.

Also, beauty is only skin deep. Self confidence, personality and brains usually outweigh the beauty!

*It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness. ~Leo Tolstoy

*Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran

 

[NeverAmI]

I have definitely noticed it in the workplace.

When I first started I wasn't anywhere close to as attractive as I am now. I had a chipped front tooth from a motorcycle accident, I was gaining weight, I didn't keep my hair in a distinct style, and my wardrobe wasn't very good.

All of that has changed and I have noticed that I can get by with WAY more and I just generally get much better respect at the onset. It is actually quite amazing how big the difference is. This is in everyday life as well. I am treated much differently if I go into the grocery store in work clothes vs shorts and a tshirt on the weekend.

I don't think it is necessarily sexual attraction either, because it is equal from both men and women. Although it is obvious from some women it is sexual, most of the time I think it is more like they acknowledge your ability to put forth the effort to be presentable and well-groomed.

 

[cherriblizz]

1. Would you rather be butt ugly and a genius, or beautiful but spectacularly stupid? [poll]

Butt ugly and a genius. I would then would have enough money to buy my looks.

2. Would you rather be average in looks but a genius, or average in brains but beautiful?[poll]

Average in looks but a genius.

3. If you were both very good looking and a genius, which would be harder to suddenly have to live without, to lose: your genius and all the gifts of insight and ability this gets you, or your looks which grants you social benefits and positive attention. [no poll]

I think it would be more "traumatic" to all of a sudden lose your looks.

What value does society place for both beauty and brains? Is one considered better than the other to have, more valued?

Well definitely looks are what is most "valued" you see it in public schools, the media, the way people "pose" for personal photos, men with their shirts off, women wearing revealing clothing, it's just how the world works right now and I think it's sad.

 

[DoveAlexa]

Butt ugly and a genius. I would then would have enough money to buy my looks.

Thats an interesting point. I've seen a few studies claiming that genius intellegence makes no difference in overall income relative to an average person, and more just guile and aggressiveness is what gets people ahead. However, being stupid its certainly harder to be making enough of an income to sculpt your face from ugly to beautiful. Though there are plenty of dumb sexybombs making tons of money like [insert any porn star here].