Truth and beauty and truth again
I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, I really did think that if I wished long and hard enough, I might fulfil my young life's ambition to be a supermodel. It seems a bit ridiculous now, considering that I've never had the sort of physique that would lend itself well to that career (i.e. thighs that don't meet in the middle) but when you're a teenager, not only are you ten foot tall and bulletproof...but you have a killer runway walk too, apparently. I also believed that Johnny Depp and I were fated to be together so that's gives you some indication of how deluded the mind of the average teenage girl can be (sparkly vampires, anyone?).
Now that I'm a little older and have a significantly closer relationship with "reality", I'm better able to assess my own attractiveness and I find it to be somewhere between "pretty good" and "could use more sleep" on most days of the week (depending on lighting). Simply put, I've reconciled myself with the fact that I'm not one of "the beautiful people" but then, I think that might not be all it's cracked up to be anyway.
Psychological studies have shown that pretty people will be given preferential treatment based solely on their looks. Basically if you are pleasing to the eye, something in the makeup of the average human mind equates that physical beauty with other positive attributes. Oh, and also this "bubble" effect was very ably documented in an episode of 30 Rock, so it must be true.
But surely one of the downsides of being so beautiful that people treat you differently is that you start to rely on it, and what kind of person does that make for? During the weekend one of my friends recounted the story of an acquaintance who was so stunning that she never had to learn to parallel-park properly as she could simply step out of her car and ask the nearest man to park it for her. Apparently being outrageously beautiful means that life is like the 1950s. As someone who takes great pride in doing things for herself this story had me totally gobsmacked (seriously, I looked like my gob had indeed been smacked). I almost didn't believe this story could be true but I'm assured that it is.
So I'm of the opinion that if you've been whacked by the ugly stick a few times, that might not be such a bad thing. Perhaps being less than beautiful forces people to develop other strengths and abilities, like a sense of humour, intelligence...or parking skills. It might be that being a minger builds character (though this theory would seem not to hold up with regard to the nation's politicians).
I'm certainly not saying that all pretty people are shallow, or that if you've got a face like a torn scone this makes you Mother Teresa but I think that having too easy a life, whether it be through good looks or great wealth, can actually be a disadvantage in some respects. Maybe there's a "must try harder" muscle that doesn't get exercised as much in people who attain things easily.
Mind you this is all just a theory backed up by nothing more than a hunch and a general observation of human nature so I welcome your thoughts on the topic. So what do you think, do the beautful people get an easy ride, and have you seen any examples of this? And are you able to objectively assess your own attractiveness? If you had to rate yourself out of 10 how would you score? (To get the ball rolling, I'd give myself a solid 6.5.)
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I'm not sure if beautiful people get it easier but I definitely think less attractive people often have a more engaging personality. Probably because they need to attract people in ways other than simply being, therefore they develop a fun personality to attract the punters. Of the two I think I'd rather have the personality. Case in point, my flatmate is gorgeous but she is very cold wiht people she doesn't know. Whereas I am less amazing looking but I am a lot more outgoing, talkative, and generally up for a laugh. I think I'm happy with this. It can be hard when my male friends go on about how gorgeous she is but at the end of the day who would they rather but stuck in a lfit with? Someone they can stare at and admire her beauty or someone who would come up with a fun game to pass the time?
I have never rated myself before. I think I'd say around a 7ish, depending on how much time I have taken to get ready and what conidtion my hair is in that day.
Thats a hard one...I would give myself 6 or 7 if I am being honest.....maybe 7 or 8 when i was younger! But, thats all down to each individual I guess....some of you might look at me and think "no thanks", while others might think "mmmm....I want a piece of that!". Haha. or maybe i am just delusional, and it is more the former than the latter? Now, if I was to rate different parts of me separately, then the scores might vary wildly from 3 up to 10! haha. And Moata....I think you are being a bit hard on yourself....I would have you a 7.5 - 8!
How silly is the non parallel parker if she thinks that constantly getting others to do what is a very basic driving skill for her is something to be proud of? If she asked me my first question would be 'you seem able, why can't you do it yourself?'.
yes BPs do get an easier ride - at least at school but I reckon by mid 30's early 40's it all evens out. I find those girls i was jealous of at 16 (rich beautiful, overseas trips kind of girls) have married badly, divorced badly and are still living in Hawkes Bay (no theres nothing wrong with that but sometimes you just have to move more than 10k from you parents you know.......). whereas those of us on the 6 - 8 scale (depending on makeup) are actually happier with our lot in life. However I have found hair colour to be alot more 'helpful' in my experience. Even now in my late 30's I get a blonde discount that I didn't get 10 years ago when brunette. or maybe thats my dodgy and desperate flirting........
yip, totally experienced this. I am a reasonable looking girl (would normally give myself a 7) but over the course of the year I turned into a porker (my own fault - I love food!) and have def noticed the difference in attitudes towards me when slightly beefier!! While I would be lying to say it didn't affect me I am still the cool, funny, awesome chick I've always been, and if people can't see that too bad!
Now before you all get on your fat is bad horse I am doing something about it (lost 10kgs already) but I'm doing it for me, my health and my future, not so I can fit into societies ideals!
I like to think I am a 7, although I'm sure it can be disputed. I might even be an 8 if I was thinner. Guys definitely don't offer to parallel park for me, or change tyres for that matter... I think its because I'm err tall and solid.. it makes you look more capable.
I guess I wouldn't choose to be taller just four or five inches shorter with finer bone structure (curses her dutch genetics) then I would be able to bend the opposite sex to my will.
"a face like a torn scone"!!!!! The visuals associated with that comment are out of this world.
Hmmm yea I have a friend who was ) an only child and b) a darn pretty one and she has been told her whole life how beautiful she is, resulting in her attempting to use her looks to get her own way in many situations.
As for me, I think I'd be about a 7, and if I dress up for an event or something I think I can hit about an 8-8.5 depending on how well I dress etc.
However, judging from the comments above and general opinion, most girls would probably give themselves a 7 regardless because it's a nice safe number that isn't overestimating but still doesn't sound like you hate your own face!
@LR #1 I dont think 'thin' and 'beautiful' are necessarily the same thing. I don't count myself as pretty at all (probably a 6), or confident (which I really need to work on), yet I'm a size 8.
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I agree with your hunch. I have a friend who was at Cambridge University and she said there were no fat people there. Like, at all. We hypothesised about this - if you're thin you get more positive feedback in life and therefore have the confidence and self-esteem to apply to Cambridge; if you're thin you might have great (or excessive)self-control and discipline, which is required to study really hard, get great grades and get in to Cambridge. Also makes for a few shallow and screwed up people!