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DPChallenge Forums >> Rant >> Which would you rather be--smart? or beautiful?
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Showing posts 26 - 49 of 49, (reverse)
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07/20/2009 01:05:40 AM · #26
It's a peeve, so it isn't a rational thing.

When you are appropriately dressed, you don't have to wonder or worry much how anyone will react. But when you are inappropriately dressed, you can't always predict how others will react & since they usually react without telling you, you never know, & if you make a habit of not caring how you look you might not even be aware of being inappropriately dressed.

If you were going to spend tomorrow shooting a formal wedding, what would you wear? Would you try to look beautiful or smart? Or would you say to yourself "I don't care what I look like" & then wear what you always wear?
07/20/2009 01:17:45 AM · #27
Everything you said just now, leaves me with the same answer. I don't care what other people think of me, I only care what I think of me. Social graces are one thing. Not turning up to someone's wedding wearing a white dress etc.. Thats fine. Sure go out of your way. But complaining about someone's bushy eyebrows! You're right that's not rational. I hope the same people are judging you! Maybe they can call you pretentious and judgemental?
07/20/2009 01:44:04 AM · #28
come to think of it, i would be beautiful rathen than smart.

Its easy to get laid if you are beautiful, further ignorance is bliss.

i bleed many times because i could think. And i often wonder if i were dumb, wouldn't i be more happy.
07/20/2009 01:58:44 AM · #29
Originally posted by zxaar:

come to think of it, i would be beautiful rathen than smart.
Its easy to get laid if you are beautiful, further ignorance is bliss.
i bleed many times because i could think. And i often wonder if i were dumb, wouldn't i be more happy.

it might have been sarcasm on your part, but either way, i think you've touched a valid point there.
being too smart can make life miserable, and less enjoyable.
remember when you were only 6 year old? you touch everything, you taste things that fancy you, you climb trees, you play with tadpoles and frogs, and your pet is a mouse. you do all those because you didnt know about things like viruses, bacteria. i think we dont need to be too smart, just enough to survive would do just fine. and the rest of the stat points, lets use them to fill up our beautiful gauge - and like zxaar said, get laid and be happy :P
07/20/2009 02:08:11 AM · #30
Originally posted by overclover:

Everything you said just now, leaves me with the same answer. I don't care what other people think of me, I only care what I think of me. Social graces are one thing. Not turning up to someone's wedding wearing a white dress etc.. Thats fine. Sure go out of your way. But complaining about someone's bushy eyebrows! You're right that's not rational. I hope the same people are judging you! Maybe they can call you pretentious and judgemental?


I worked 20 years as a costume designer in theatre, so I think about appearances more than others do. Once my friend made that remark about not caring what she looks like it made me really look at her, & once I noticed the split ends in her hair & the bushy eyebrows, I couldn't not notice them. Curiously, though I did not share my opinion of her appearance (I don't really have an opinion, I only just noticed), she did give me her opinion of my appearance. You and she are both welcome to make of me what you will, & welcome. I don't think anything of you, I don't even know you (but I admire your photography).
07/20/2009 02:09:12 AM · #31
Originally posted by zxaar:

come to think of it, i would be beautiful rathen than smart.

Its easy to get laid if you are beautiful, further ignorance is bliss.

i bleed many times because i could think. And i often wonder if i were dumb, wouldn't i be more happy.


I'll drink to that!
07/20/2009 02:37:59 AM · #32
Originally posted by zxaar:

come to think of it, i would be beautiful rathen than smart.

Its easy to get laid if you are beautiful, further ignorance is bliss.

i bleed many times because i could think. And i often wonder if i were dumb, wouldn't i be more happy.


LOL :)) Does that mean being smart and beautiful means you're miserable but at least you're getting laid?

LOL made me laugh
07/20/2009 06:46:23 AM · #33
Originally posted by pixelpig:

It's a peeve, so it isn't a rational thing.

When you are appropriately dressed, you don't have to wonder or worry much how anyone will react. But when you are inappropriately dressed, you can't always predict how others will react & since they usually react without telling you, you never know, & if you make a habit of not caring how you look you might not even be aware of being inappropriately dressed.

I'm glad that you clarified the peeve thing......8>)

Part of the problem I have with the whole idea is the phrase "Appropriately Dressed".

I have quite a few friends that have self-esteem issues from trying to attain "the look" that all too many women strive for to fit their concept of style, fashion, or that appropriately dressed look for whatever the look is......today.

The sad part is that these are bright, attractive women who because of the assault on the image of style and beauty in this country are just insecure enough that they succumb to the idea that they aren't beautiful unless they make every effort to enhance what they have.

That just bothers me to see a friend who has everything in the world going for her, yet doubt of her own natural beauty is instilled on a daily basis by the onslaught of both the cosmetics and fashion industries.
07/20/2009 08:32:26 AM · #34
Yes, Jeb, I agree. The group of women I had lunch w/that day (including me) all react to the camera with varying degrees of aversion. Not beautiful enough. Never beautiful enough. But, if you know who you are & walk on your own feet without apology you can look into the camera lens with fearless honesty & you will always be photogenic. When I say that, my friends not their heads in agreement ... but they still don't want their picture taken. In reality, it's not as simple as saying you don't care what you look like, or what people think of you. That's just a peeve of mine.

I think most of us would opt for smart & beautiful if we could. And yet, I have known people who are not exactly beautiful, or smart, but who are fascinating to me because they make me feel like I am smart & beautiful. I want to be with them, so I can feel smart & beautiful some more.
07/20/2009 12:46:41 PM · #35
Originally posted by pixelpig:

Yes, Jeb, I agree. The group of women I had lunch w/that day (including me) all react to the camera with varying degrees of aversion. Not beautiful enough. Never beautiful enough.

One friend of mine in particular is particularly averse to having me shoot her. I've been working on her gently, and over time. She is not only visually beautiful, but she is such a genuinely good and decent person, someone who cares so much for the people in her life, that to me, I can almost tangibly see her persona. If she eventually acquiesces, I will post pics......if I do her justice. I just adore how giving a soul she is.

I know that the main problem is that she was in a physically & emotionally abusive relationship. She tried to stick it out for her kids, but she just coukldn't. This man did terrible things to her self image.
08/21/2009 10:17:31 PM · #36
This is a tough one...which would I rather give up? :)
08/21/2009 11:05:37 PM · #37
I'm guessing it's a case of goldilocks syndrome. The people who care less about their appearance than the OP are too lazy to care, but the people who care more about their apperance are vain.

People think like this all the time. Those driving slower than you are annoying hindrances and those driving faster are dangerous lunatics.
08/22/2009 03:23:32 AM · #38
This thread is moot for me. because I am both!!!!!!!!
08/22/2009 09:35:39 AM · #39
Originally posted by Bugzeye:

This thread is moot for me. because I am both!!!!!!!!

It's your lie......you tell it *any* way you want!.....8>)
08/23/2009 05:57:53 PM · #40
People driving faster than me are idiots, people driving slower than me are morons.
08/23/2009 11:11:19 PM · #41
Originally posted by pixelpig:

People driving faster than me are idiots, people driving slower than me are morons.


Well, of course. :) I think the same thing. The key, however, in my view, is to realize that you also likely qualify as both an idiot and a moron in a typical day. It gives you a bit more perspective when dealing with all the other idiots and morors. :)
08/23/2009 11:16:23 PM · #42
Originally posted by pixelpig:

People driving faster than me are idiots, people driving slower than me are morons.


... except of course that nice police officer I just passed. :O)

Ray
08/23/2009 11:36:09 PM · #43
in the words of Ron White
08/24/2009 09:15:27 AM · #44
Originally posted by pixelpig:

People who don't care what they look like & who brag about it like it proves how above it all they are.

You said you were discussing a related topic; maybe this was her way of acknowledging she knew she didn't look good. Not so much bragging as deflecting criticism, you know? I also wonder if you sensed implied criticism in her statement, as if she was saying there was something wrong in how much importance you put on your own appearance? Or maybe she was just asserting a fact about herself without passing judgment or expecting to be judged in return?
I find it an interesting topic, especially on a site devoted to a visual medium.
08/24/2009 09:41:50 AM · #45
Caring what I looked like was, and continues to be for me a situational thing.

When I wore the uniform, you bet I cared what I looked like, as I did when working the VIP security escort detail. I do care what I look like when in the presence of my spouse, family members and friends when engaged in social activities.

Having said this, there are other situations where fashion and appearance are for all intents and purposes relegated to the dustbin. Whenever I crawl under my car, cut my grass, go fishing or engage in other similar type of activities, trust me when I say that I truly do not give a rat's behind about my appearances and who might see me.

I have reached an age where I truly don't need to impress anyone, particularly anyone who I don't know and who has no impact whatsoever on my life. As for my friends and acquaintainces, they know me well enough to know that however slovenly my appearance in any given situation, I clean up rather nicely given the right incentive.

Ray
08/24/2009 07:48:59 PM · #46
If you have never had an opportunity to be an idiot or a moron, driving in Alabama will change that in a hurry. I'm pretty sure every driver on the road in Alabama thinks every other driver is both an idiot & a moron--that's the way they drive, anyway.

Why do we wear clothes & spend precious time grooming? Are we expressing our individuality by the clothes we wear & the way we wear them? or do we only have as much personality as the advertising industry lets us have? If you rage against the machine & refuse to consider your own appearance, is not the machine still controlling you? How important is it to know what effect individual personal appearance has on others? Even a dog will notice a hat or a Halloween mask & bark at it. Do we not sit in judgement on one another continually, based on appearance alone? If I come to work wearing an orthopedic boot on one foot, will coworkers not notice & make a judgement on me, causing a mild re-direction of their attention from their work?

To impress other people is not the only reason to pay attention to your personal appearance.

Message edited by author 2009-08-24 20:10:11.
08/24/2009 08:44:24 PM · #47
Originally posted by citymars:

Originally posted by pixelpig:

People who don't care what they look like & who brag about it like it proves how above it all they are.

You said you were discussing a related topic; maybe this was her way of acknowledging she knew she didn't look good. Not so much bragging as deflecting criticism, you know? I also wonder if you sensed implied criticism in her statement, as if she was saying there was something wrong in how much importance you put on your own appearance? Or maybe she was just asserting a fact about herself without passing judgment or expecting to be judged in return?
I find it an interesting topic, especially on a site devoted to a visual medium.


We were discussing the question "Is it better to be smart, or pretty?" And almost every woman alive thinks she doesn't look good enough, so her remark may've been made defensively. She didn't say what she thought of my personal appearance.

The thing of it is, to convince anyone that if they look into the lens w/fearless honesty they will almost certaily take a good picture. Most people rarely look at anything with fearless honesty (especially their own portrait), & are too hung up on what they look like to pose well for the camera anyhow.
08/25/2009 12:59:05 AM · #48
Beauty is fleeting.
Intelligence endures.
But I would take WISDOM any day, it's a rare commodity.
08/25/2009 06:54:50 AM · #49
Originally posted by pixelpig:

The thing of it is, to convince anyone that if they look into the lens w/fearless honesty they will almost certaily take a good picture. Most people rarely look at anything with fearless honesty (especially their own portrait), & are too hung up on what they look like to pose well for the camera anyhow.

I dunno if I agree with that....

I have lately met some people who are completely comfortable wityh having their picture taken, and even met some who love it.

They aren't even necessarily achingly beautiful/handsome, they're just perfectly comfortable with having their picture taken.

Me.....I *hate* having my picture taken because I am self-conscious about how I look.

I'd still rather be smart......Ron White is right.....Stupid is Forever! LOL!!!
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