Why is being born smart seen as morally superior to being born beautiful?

[Anonymous]

A beautiful person who does a little bit good is almost always going to be perceived as "better" and more worthy than a smart (average looking) person who does a little good.

Beauty has privilege. It does.

[Anonymous]

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the Washington Post did an article on this very thing a few years ago- the incredible double standard where it's cruel to make fun of someone for an ugly face or massive nose, but perfectly fine to make fun of someone for being "dumb".


Apparently (quelle surprise) there are many DCUM posters too "dumb" to be able to conceptualize the unfairness of this.

NP here. I think, though, that the big problem with this entire discussion is that it's very difficult to know with intelligence whether it is entirely "natural." I've just seen so many instances where people think they're naturally intelligent, but they really just grew up with the benefit of being middle or upper middle class with two educated parents.

It bothers me when people like that (people who grew up with every educational advantage) make fun of someone for being "dumb" because that person grew up in a different environment and maybe has some shibboleths that reveal that upbringing (such as mispronouncing a word or having a style of speech). It's very difficult to parse out in many cases whether a person's supposed intelligence is a product of a natural gift, hard work, or just the dumb luck of being born into a situation that affords a lot of exposure.

The only ignorance I chide is willful ignorance, but even naturally intelligent people are capable of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am with you, OP. Women are almost made to downplay or feel ashamed of their beauty. Personally I appreciate physical beauty and consider it a gift to humanity - who doesn't like a gorgeous face!?

This is total BS. Women use their beauty if they have it to get ahead/get what they want.

Gift to humanity? It won't cure cancer.

What you say is BS. I am beautiful and it has never been something I've "used" to get ahead.

Not the PP, but the thing is that it's possible (and highly likely) that even if you didn't use it intentionally to get ahead, it has most certainly benefited you.

There have been studies done on this. Two people of equal skill and capability go in for an interview, the more attractive one will usually get the job. (Now, in some environments, dressing too "sexy" if you are a woman will hurt you getting a job or getting ahead, but I don't think that has anything to do with beauty. I think that is kind of a different topic of expected norms, weird views on/fears of women's sexuality, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just ask your prom queen and see how she's doing.

I was prom queen. Then I went to Yale, got a PhD, and became a cancer researcher. I was adorable in high school and am still a relatively nice looking middle-aged mom (who could use more sleep and more frequent hair cuts.)

My physical appearance and intelligence are both heavily a product of lucky genetics. But, I took my luck and worked hard to make the most of my intelligence. No kids will survive cancer because I looked good in a cheerleading uniform. But, some are still alive because of my research. I try not to worry about other people's choices, but I'm happy with the ones I've made with my life.

[Anonymous]

Beauty fades. Smart is forever

[Anonymous]

Your doctor can be beautiful, but it won't be her beauty that saves your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the Washington Post did an article on this very thing a few years ago- the incredible double standard where it's cruel to make fun of someone for an ugly face or massive nose, but perfectly fine to make fun of someone for being "dumb".


Apparently (quelle surprise) there are many DCUM posters too "dumb" to be able to conceptualize the unfairness of this.

NP here. I think, though, that the big problem with this entire discussion is that it's very difficult to know with intelligence whether it is entirely "natural." I've just seen so many instances where people think they're naturally intelligent, but they really just grew up with the benefit of being middle or upper middle class with two educated parents.

It bothers me when people like that (people who grew up with every educational advantage) make fun of someone for being "dumb" because that person grew up in a different environment and maybe has some shibboleths that reveal that upbringing (such as mispronouncing a word or having a style of speech). It's very difficult to parse out in many cases whether a person's supposed intelligence is a product of a natural gift, hard work, or just the dumb luck of being born into a situation that affords a lot of exposure.

The only ignorance I chide is willful ignorance, but even naturally intelligent people are capable of that.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Also worth noting that "intelligence" seems to have always been heavily skewed towards male interests. See today, in that romance readers consume BY FAR more books than any other group, and are basically the most prolific readers on the planet, consuming a number of books per week that actually forced companies like Scribd to change their policies- and yet they are considered kind of unintelligent and silly. Notice that that same dismissal of a group of readers doesn't seem to extent to other pulpy or formulaic genres of books like mysteries or sci-fi. In fact, sci-fi readers are often assumed to be highly intelligent, and grouped in the "nerd" or "geek" class.

Apparently it's totally dumb to watch romantic comedies, but a superhero film like "The Dark Knight Rises" is high art.

Additionally, beauty has traditionally been associated with femaleness, with the feminine gender.

As such, I think the cultural disdain for all things "beautiful" can basically be traced back to misogyny. The fervor and appreciation for things "intelligent" can be traced back to a misplaced idea that "intelligence" is predicated on interest in and ability to master traditionally male domains, and a converse rejection of traditionally female domains

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also worth noting that "intelligence" seems to have always been heavily skewed towards male interests. See today, in that romance readers consume BY FAR more books than any other group, and are basically the most prolific readers on the planet, consuming a number of books per week that actually forced companies like Scribd to change their policies- and yet they are considered kind of unintelligent and silly. Notice that that same dismissal of a group of readers doesn't seem to extent to other pulpy or formulaic genres of books like mysteries or sci-fi. In fact, sci-fi readers are often assumed to be highly intelligent, and grouped in the "nerd" or "geek" class.

Apparently it's totally dumb to watch romantic comedies, but a superhero film like "The Dark Knight Rises" is high art.

Additionally, beauty has traditionally been associated with femaleness, with the feminine gender.

As such, I think the cultural disdain for all things "beautiful" can basically be traced back to misogyny. The fervor and appreciation for things "intelligent" can be traced back to a misplaced idea that "intelligence" is predicated on interest in and ability to master traditionally male domains, and a converse rejection of traditionally female domains

I love this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also worth noting that "intelligence" seems to have always been heavily skewed towards male interests. See today, in that romance readers consume BY FAR more books than any other group, and are basically the most prolific readers on the planet, consuming a number of books per week that actually forced companies like Scribd to change their policies- and yet they are considered kind of unintelligent and silly. Notice that that same dismissal of a group of readers doesn't seem to extent to other pulpy or formulaic genres of books like mysteries or sci-fi. In fact, sci-fi readers are often assumed to be highly intelligent, and grouped in the "nerd" or "geek" class.

Apparently it's totally dumb to watch romantic comedies, but a superhero film like "The Dark Knight Rises" is high art.

Additionally, beauty has traditionally been associated with femaleness, with the feminine gender.

As such, I think the cultural disdain for all things "beautiful" can basically be traced back to misogyny. The fervor and appreciation for things "intelligent" can be traced back to a misplaced idea that "intelligence" is predicated on interest in and ability to master traditionally male domains, and a converse rejection of traditionally female domains

I love this

This is a load of crappola.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am with you, OP. Women are almost made to downplay or feel ashamed of their beauty. Personally I appreciate physical beauty and consider it a gift to humanity - who doesn't like a gorgeous face!?

This is total BS. Women use their beauty if they have it to get ahead/get what they want.

Gift to humanity? It won't cure cancer.

What you say is BS. I am beautiful and it has never been something I've "used" to get ahead.

Not the PP, but the thing is that it's possible (and highly likely) that even if you didn't use it intentionally to get ahead, it has most certainly benefited you.

There have been studies done on this. Two people of equal skill and capability go in for an interview, the more attractive one will usually get the job. (Now, in some environments, dressing too "sexy" if you are a woman will hurt you getting a job or getting ahead, but I don't think that has anything to do with beauty. I think that is kind of a different topic of expected norms, weird views on/fears of women's sexuality, etc.).

Studies like that need to control for the gender of the interviewer. If you as a woman go to an interview and you are distinctly more attractive than the woman interviewing you, forget it. It is definitely better odds if the interviewer is opposite gender.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also worth noting that "intelligence" seems to have always been heavily skewed towards male interests. See today, in that romance readers consume BY FAR more books than any other group, and are basically the most prolific readers on the planet, consuming a number of books per week that actually forced companies like Scribd to change their policies- and yet they are considered kind of unintelligent and silly. Notice that that same dismissal of a group of readers doesn't seem to extent to other pulpy or formulaic genres of books like mysteries or sci-fi. In fact, sci-fi readers are often assumed to be highly intelligent, and grouped in the "nerd" or "geek" class.

Apparently it's totally dumb to watch romantic comedies, but a superhero film like "The Dark Knight Rises" is high art.

Additionally, beauty has traditionally been associated with femaleness, with the feminine gender.

As such, I think the cultural disdain for all things "beautiful" can basically be traced back to misogyny. The fervor and appreciation for things "intelligent" can be traced back to a misplaced idea that "intelligence" is predicated on interest in and ability to master traditionally male domains, and a converse rejection of traditionally female domains

I love this

This is a load of crappola.

Agree. Big pile o turds.

[Anonymous]

Beauty is superficial and it only gets you so far. Intelligence is more useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread about whether beauty contributes to lifetime success led me to wonder why some women with above-average intelligence believe they are superior to a naturally beautiful woman.

Just as beauty is a gift of nature, so it intelligence. So why do some women claim moral virtue if they've been particularly blessed in the brains department? And why do they seem to gleefully disparage beauty?

You can't be serious lol: . Brain power is an unpolished rock that becomes a sparkling diamond only if you study. Your whole life.
Intelligence is there to stay and only gets better with age - with an effort of study, indeed.
Beaty fades away by 40 ( best case scenario).

I believe the best what can happen to a women is been fairly attractive (turn heads) and fairly intelligent (college degree, good job) - the best of both worlds.
I would not choose beaty over intelligence and vs.