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Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

blog.priceonomics.com

111–120 of 148 posts

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#111
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> Out of shape people give me hell all the time for being in excellent physical condition, but they don't know about the 10 miles of running every day My major exertion this week was going to the doctor. I rode in a car, walked 20 ft, sat on a chair, talked, rode home, and had to go lie down and take medicine. As my doctor remarked, "You look grey." Because I have a chronic illness and nobody is sure what exactly it…

I can relate.. I also have a chronic illness, with the gloriously vague name of fibromyalgia. I have had doctors tell me there was nothing wrong with me, accuse me of being a drug addict, lazy, etc etc. What fun. Have spent since 2008 doing my own research (with generous amounts of help from my wife and friends). I have discovered that I am in a club that I don't want to be in, the chronic pain and fatigue club.

I have to plan what days I exert myself on, because I know that the next few days will be spent in bed, unable to move. Gives me plenty of time to think, haha. "you should exercise more" is the least helpful advice, which I get all the time. People mean well, but they don't understand. It gives me an opportunity to reflect on when I do the same to others, when I mean well but don't understand.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#112
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure it's such a bad idea. It's a non-distorting tax and the unearned benefits of height seem clearly established. Why not?

Better idea: Lets tax everyone who gives tall people advantages. The tall person didn't choose to be tall. Their parents didn't have a say in the matter either. Shall we tax them for making a tall heir? You know who had a say in tall people having "advantages"? Everyone who gives them said advantage. Tax them.

>You know who had a say in tall people having "advantages"? Everyone who gives them said advantage. Tax them.

Ok... so the next step is how do you measure in a consistent and non-gamifiable way who is giving these advantages?

If you can't answer that, it won't be a good tax.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#113
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1st rule of being ugly: Every ugly person has at least 1 really good picture that hides all of their flaws or is easily photoshoppable to hide flaws. Use any combination of lighting, shadows, cropping, facial hair to get this effect. 2nd rule: Find that picture and use it for everything. 3rd rule: People will be confused when they see you in real life and realize you look different from your picture. They will be dis…

Fortunately you're a guy and can elicit the same positive reaction by being confident, funny and charming.

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything"

Old quote I got from a girl waaay back. I'd say it's pretty true and reflects the sentiment in your post.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Confident, funny, charming women don't elicit positive reactions from sane, well-adjusted males?

I'm a woman who would hardly be considered "traditionally attractive" and it's always worked for me. People's opinions of your looks change based on how they view your personality.

Couldn't agree more. Actual personality and personability go much further than looks. It's just important to have that confidence and ease about you. Which, granted, may be hard if one's grown up thinking they are ugly. But once you get the tricks of smiling, reading others, and conveying a positive personality, the world opens up. Big time.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't know why you were downvoted. I've noticed this too. Someone who works out a lot (noticeably muscular) is stereotyped in academia or STEM professions.

I can understand there being an issue for being overly muscular, but I also don't think that being overly muscular equals being good looking. This is probably a very common mistake that men make when pursuing better looks.

> I also don't think that being overly muscular equals being good looking

I know. I didn't imply that.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#116

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…

All of that may be true in various degress but damn... your biggest problems are/were clearly psychological. Keep practicing the art of not-giving-a-fuck and you'll keep getting better.

(From OP's About Page:) >The self hatred I had for myself, brought on by body dysmorphia, worsened so much that I refused to interact with anyone other than my roomate, never went anywhere without a hat, and only went grocery shopping at 4 AM (when there was the least amount of people at Walmart) because I was horrified that people would see my face and be disgusted by me.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#117

"America has no law preventing companies from using attractiveness as a hiring criteria, regardless of whether the job is exotic dancer, salesman, or software engineer. It’s pretty much okay from a legal standpoint to discriminate based on looks in America." This law wouldn't make much sense. We could as well make a law preventing companies from using intelligence as hiring criteria. Imagine a boring job in a factory…

A guy I knew did too well on his aptitude test to become a tram driver here in Melbourne. The problem as seen by the recruiters is that in being too bright, he's likely to get bored sooner and leave. Sure, he himself might absolutely love the job and stay for decades, but the recruiters are playing the numbers game here - tram drivers are not a keystone position - and they find that there's more churn with really bright people.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#118
post #57

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…

Look, so long as you have a full head of hair, the world and in particular women will consider you to be at least decent looking. My hair started to fall out when I was 22 and by 26 I was seriously balding. To make matters worse, I started to go grey and by 28 or so I was fully "distinguished" (aka old) looking. So yeah, actually looking young goes a long way. Do not take your good fortune for granted. Like you said,…

I was very thin at 20 and completely bald by 22 (29 now and nothing has changed). I'd prefer to have hair, but it has never been an issue in my personal or business life. I was never turned down by a girl I seriously pursued. My wife thinks I look fine bald and she knew me before. She actually was interested in me originally because she said I had "cool" hair when she first saw me.

As my hair got thinner I began cutting it shorter and now buzz it as low as possible a couple times a week. I also grew a curly mustache a couple years ago so I had a little something to work with. I get compliments nearly everyday on it now.

Being bald young might have actually worked in my favor professionally as it made me look older than I was. I was young (early 20's) meeting with manufacturers in Europe to get contracts to import their products to the US. I think they would have been a bit worried if they knew they were dealing with a 21 year old. I looked like I was young 30's and I seemed like I knew what I was talking about so they didn't question it.

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#119
post #18

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…

Well I don't think he would just lie so maybe he's really short and flabby?

Re: Being Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking

#120
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Well I don't think he would just lie so maybe he's really short and flabby?

http://imgur.com/rX2MVzP
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