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Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

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Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#21

Post by scarmig »

bherms wrote: post #14
rthomas6 wrote: post #8

Until this perception of attractive people being more trustworthy, smarter, etc. changes (it's probably not going to change), how do we incorporate this information into our lives and careers? My opinion: lose weight. Or rather, reduce your body fat percentage. It's not as hard as people make it out to be. Look at the hot or not composite index. Notice the correlation? The numbers are inversely correlated with their…

I agree wholeheartedly. Unfortunately we're in a country (assuming US) where everyone wants handouts and an even playing field, regardless of their lifestyle choices. People demand their offices install ramps for mobility scooters when they're morbidly obese and it's discriminatory not to oblige, but try arguing your work should open later because you drink too much every night. Overeating and copious alcohol consump…

"everyone wants handouts"

"an even playing field"

The argument there would appear to be that the people arguing for a level playing field want no one to get handouts (or, alternatively, for them to get compensatory handouts). Which, in a world with perfect knowledge and perfect implementation, I could probably get behind a government policy enforcing that. After all, a rich kid getting access to a million dollar trust fund is getting a handout just as much as the single mom picking up some food stamps. Or a person with a pretty face making more money than someone with a pock-marked face does simply by that fact.

Requiring perfect knowledge and perfect implementation are, of course, insurmountable caveats.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#22

Post by jiggy2011 »

jameshsi wrote: post #6

What I find interesting as well is that being attractive is not all roses, and sometimes it can work against you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Lamarr Hedy Lamarr, credited with the US Patent for frequency hopping, was met with disbelief simply because people thought she was too beautiful to create such a profound intellectual contribution. Many actors/actresses find themselves unable to break out of certain role…

Weirdly enough I did once have a woman find it difficult to believe I worked in IT because I was "too handsome for that". I've also seen comments on technical youtube videos that say stuff like "Dude has pale skin and a neckbeard, you know he's legit!"

I wonder if this is one of the reasons we don't have more women in IT, if there is a public perception of IT people = Ugly. The last thing many women want is to be associated with ugly.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#23

Post by seanalltogether »

incision wrote: post #20

I'm surprised there's no mention downsides to being an attractive man. I think they certainly exist, but perhaps the net is positive?

As far as I'm aware being an attractive male doesn't hinder your chances in the STEM fields as it maybe would a female.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#24

Post by moistgorilla »

clicks wrote: post #18
ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #16

Evolution wise, this is because people like in others, what they wish they had for themselves. Likewise, people hate in others what they dislike about themselves. We celebrate the beautiful because we wish we too could be beautiful. We mock the ugly/short/gay/fat/skinny/weak because those are qualities that we ourselves do not wish to have. If all of society punishes those with these traits, people with these traits…

What... Okay, having just followed the link in your profile and looking at your picture, dude, trust me you're not ugly. I actually honestly think you're a handsome guy, judging purely by appearances. But anyway. You know, I've noticed that people who fixate on appearances tend to be irrationally harsh. You'd be surprised how big a part confidence and charisma plays in the overall attraction people feel for one anoth…

The article covers this topic of confidence. It says that only 15 to 20% of the wage increase attractive people gain is because of confidence. The rest is due to bias from the person in charge of hiring.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#25

Post by warfangle »

ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #16

Evolution wise, this is because people like in others, what they wish they had for themselves. Likewise, people hate in others what they dislike about themselves. We celebrate the beautiful because we wish we too could be beautiful. We mock the ugly/short/gay/fat/skinny/weak because those are qualities that we ourselves do not wish to have. If all of society punishes those with these traits, people with these traits…

/r/malefashionadvice might help you out some. I've been lurking there for a while, and for so many people it's not that they're ugly -- they're just used to wearing ill-fitting clothes that do not suit their body and face type.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#26

Post by scarmig »

bherms wrote: post #15
scarmig wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if you're short? Maybe devote your political activities to pushing for a height tax... http://www.nber.org/papers/w14976 But yeah, from an economically utilitarian perspective, you could solve this by differentially taxing the attractive.

Harrison Bergeron, anyone?

Great story, everyone should read it:

http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#28

Post by gwern »

bherms wrote: post #15
scarmig wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if you're short? Maybe devote your political activities to pushing for a height tax... http://www.nber.org/papers/w14976 But yeah, from an economically utilitarian perspective, you could solve this by differentially taxing the attractive.

Harrison Bergeron, anyone?

Er, no. An economist would be horrified by Harrison Bergeron, as demonstrating the most damaging possible form of egalitarianism and nothing like the grandparent proposal; the point of a height tax is not to make tall people shorter - whatever good or purpose is being fulfilled by tall people is still fulfilled after the tax, and the tax serves the useful function of raising revenue while also not distorting any investments or consumptions or plans.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#29

Post by rthomas6 »

warfangle wrote: post #25
ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #16

Evolution wise, this is because people like in others, what they wish they had for themselves. Likewise, people hate in others what they dislike about themselves. We celebrate the beautiful because we wish we too could be beautiful. We mock the ugly/short/gay/fat/skinny/weak because those are qualities that we ourselves do not wish to have. If all of society punishes those with these traits, people with these traits…

/r/malefashionadvice might help you out some. I've been lurking there for a while , and for so many people it's not that they're ugly -- they're just used to wearing ill-fitting clothes that do not suit their body and face type.

I also lurk there. I will say they're a little too picky sometimes on what is and is not acceptable fashion, but they're great for teaching what good-fitting clothing looks like, as well as matching up clothes to create a style. Especially for someone who is not overweight, clothes with a proper fit can make a dramatic, huge difference in appearance.

Every time I look at that subreddit, I feel like a slob for what I wear.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#30

Post by bherms »

scarmig wrote: post #26
bherms wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Harrison Bergeron, anyone?

Great story, everyone should read it: http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html

Also, film adaptation that was phenomenally well done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvqsv1pPSbg
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