Outer and Inner Beauty

[Guest May]

What is your opininion about outer and inner beauty? I think both are important.

[Ya)\/(I-YuGI]

well nows days.. hmmm well.... les just say that everyone cares mostly about outer beauty.... but i care about both and sometimes even inner mostly

[Heaven's Cloud]

[color=indigo]Duh, outer beauty is, like, so much more important. I mean,like, wow, wouldn't it suck to be, like, ugly? I mean, like, then you couldn't participate in, like, all the cool things that us beautiful people, like, ponder...like should I drink tab or diet pepsi, I mean, like, tab is soooo much better but diet pepsi is, like, pepsi and Brittany Spears drinks it...like how cool is that?[/color]

[Manic Webb]

Famous Quote of the Day:
"Beauty is only skin deep... but ugly is to the bone!"

I think inner beauty is more important, but that's something an ugly person would say, isn't it?
Who wants to be around a person who is fugly on the inside? No one, unless they're too shallow or naive to see it. When someone is ugly on the inside, that means their personality is intolerable. This means that no matter how physically beautiful or ugly they are, their insides make your stomach churn. I'd drop all of my fantasies about Jennifer Lopez if I knew that she was dense and self-absorbed.

[Kent]

I know heavens cloud had to be joking. (please, please, be a joke)

any way,

I would have to say both just like any "descent" person should.

But I do wanna mention that there are probally people who really care for the outer kind most. (although the people of the boards really arent that kind). But outside the boards there are way too many that only care about looks and not the whole package.

Oh well, one day those people will look the way they try to make others feel, then we'll see who is beautiful.

[Mitch]

[color=red] Inner beauty, in the end, is much more of an importance. Well, at least if you consider you may want to marry someone, and that you would spend almost all of the rest of the hours of your life with you.

Most people which I have found attractive are usually, in most cases, very stuck up and arrogant.

So I don't think you can get both in the exchange, I mean, there can be an intermixing of sorts, but you can't have someone that is attractive and is a very good person inside. That would be called perfection, and perfection is far from unflawed itself, even though what you might hear.

But my point is that not all people are what they first appear to be. I mean, to base what you belive on someone just from a single first impression is to be very narrow-minded and unable to see something what it truly is.

So I believe inner beauty is of more importance when you get down to the core of what is truly to be seen.[/color]

[Mnemolth]

[b]Disclaimer:[/b] The following post may contain views which may be [b]highly[/b] to you. Yes, that means [b]you[/b]! If you are sensitive about your looks and your place in the world, then its probably best not to continue reading this post. You have been warned!

Topics such as this one crop up now and then. Invariably they end up with people saying all sorts of things but mainly that both are important, though many will profess that 'inner' beauty is what really counts. Its an interesting idea, but in my opinion, its a rather simple way of looking at things.

Believe it or not, for the majority of us, our appearance reflects who we are. If we are strong and fit, and we have a good body image, it is fair to say we were not born with these attributes. We learn them. They form part of our character. If our bodies are weak, frail, abused by drugs, softened out of shape by a lack of exercise, if we don't take care of how we look, if we don't make ourselves presentable (whatever this means to us), then its a clear sign of our lack of 'inner' beauty. Our failing ambition, our low self-esteem, our falling body image, all those things that make us weak and undesirable.

The choice is not simply between 'inner' and 'outer' beauty. This is because they are both related to one another, and they have an intimate relationship with one another. If you are ambitious and hard working and successful, you are likely to look good. If you're a layabout, you're lazy, and an all-in-all loser, then chances are you probably won't look too hot.

Of course, I speak here of generalities. But that is all we can do when discussing issues like these broad concepts. We have all seen the dumb bimbo, and we all know an adorable geek or two. But pointing out exceptions to my generalisations do not invalidate them. How you look is related to how you take care of yourself, and how you take care of yourself is clearly a function of how you feel, your level of confidence, your 'character', and your self-respect.

If you don't think you look all that good, then maybe you should try a little harder to look better. Don't just give up altogether. Becoming good looking will not automatically make you stupid, it is not a sell out. Everything has balance. Remember, how you look is also a part of your identity, along with your intellect, your compassion, your sense of humour, etc.

Here's something to think about...

I read an article in New Scientist a few years back. A study was done on beauty. One of the things it dispelled was this notion that beauty was purely arbitrary. It isn't. Objective criteria like symmetry is very important. Of course some things are determined by culture, and that is in a constant state of flux. But it would be a mistake to think [b]everything[/b] is determined by culture, just as its a mistake to think all reactions are biological.

The study found some unsettling things for the less attractive people of this world. On the whole (and again we are working in generalities, this is unavoidable) beautiful people are generally more fit and healthy, richer, more intelligent, have a more varied sex life, and even live longer than their more homely counterparts.

So all of you out there clinging to your ugliness as some unholy cross, let it go, drop it and come out into the sunshine.

Cheers! :D

[amibasuki]

[color=009966][b]First of all, I would like to say right now that this is Deedlit using Amibasuki's account. The cookies on this computer won't clear or something, thus she can't log out of her account, and I can't log in! :grumble:

Inner beauty should be of most importance when it comes right down to it. Outer beauty is just a mask you hide behind, whereas your inner beauty such as you personality and your emotions is what makes you who you are. Enough said. :)[/color][/b]

[Anna]

I agree with a lot of what Mnemolth says. Everyone's body is their responsibilty to a large degree with exeptions to those who are handicapped or have genetic characteristics which cannot be helped. Other than that, everyone can definately make the most of themselves physically. I'm not into playing sports, but that doesn't automatically mean that I dub myself 'inactive'. I'm in weightlifting and dance to keep in shape, and playing the drums helps in that area as well. Heck, even if I hated weights and hated dancing or whatnot, I would still jog or at least walk, and I certainly wouldn't [i]have[/i] to watch tv or just sit around eating junk. Granted I could be be in much better shape that what I'm in now, >_> but I still make sure that I'm not a pile of human wasting away. Physically I have my flaws, but I'm alright.
Personality is the MOST important thing though, and it always should be. You first notice and recognize a person by the way they look. After that initial bridge of interest, personality should be very high up on the priority list..... but then again I guess it also depends on what it is you're looking for in a person (but let's not go there for now). But anyway, a persons spirit determines how much they shine out of their body's shell, attractive or not. I've found some 'mediocre'(sp?) looking people to be gorgeous because of the kind of person they were. I wouldn't notice anyone else when they were around, simply because I was so absorbed in them as an amazing person to talk to, to just be with. This type of connection should be the ultimate goal for anyone looking for true relationships.

[Sveven Dvorking]

I voted for "who cares," because, whether a person is ugly or good-looking, he/she still bothers me. :rolleyes:

Anyway, back to the point. If an ugly person and a good-looking person had the same personality, I would probably like the ugly person less. Using extreme examples, the difference between a constantly rude person and a somewhat nice person would be more significant than their looks. I would have to know the degree of personality/looks in a given situation in order to make a true judgment, though.

[Phantom]

they both matter... honestly enough, inner beauty can mask the outer appearance of anyone if love is applied...

Yeh they both matter though...im lucky..my wife is damned juicy hot lol..

*smiles*

Both are important.

[Hinata]

[COLOR=blue]I think that we all need to be beautiful inside to attact people to our true beings as humans...With this you don't need to be gorgeous on the outside b/c you'll always attact someone..
But if you're beautiful outside and not inside..then your outer beauty will only last for a short period of time!! So in a way I actually think they kinda coexist together!!


Did I make sense?[/COLOR]

[Dan L]

Inner beauty is far more important- and practically everyone understands that..

The thing is, it's one thing understanding that it's more important, but it's another thing entirely to live your life actually looking for inner beauty- very few people do that.

[amiboshi]

Of course inner beauty is important, I mean, even if someone if gorgeous on the outside, but you hate their character on the inside, then you wouldn't be able to stand them.

I also think the element of physical attraction is important, because I think that's partially what love is. Often when you get to know a person, and they have inner beauty, or you like their character, that person doesn't look so bad on the outside anymore, so... :p

[Solo Tremaine]

No matter how many people say it's inner beauty that matters, first impressions are always on outer beauty. It happens to everyone, and I'm not excuding myself. Like amiboshi said- physical attraction is important. After all, how can you love someone who you can't stand to look at? It sounds really superficial and disgusting, but it's basic human nature.

If you say which is more important, then it's inner beauty full stop. It's good to get a balance, but you can't have everything. In my case, at least [I]something[/I] would be nice... :P

[Mnemolth]

Careful what you wish for...you just might get it! And then where would you be? :D

[Solo Tremaine]

Ha! Good point! :bluesweat: I guess I should be more specific. Um... I'm going to just wait and see then, methinks. I'm not actually looking for anyone, but it's that feeling of having someone you love loving you back that I want (what anyone wants really), not necessarily the someone that's absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous.

Actually, I think being with someone more attractive than yourself could be frightening- always having to live in their prospective shadow and always worrying whether you're going to be good enough. Then that's when their perception of beauty kicks in. Self-perception is almost as important as the perception of other people, so if you're self confident, that isn't a problem, and you'll be able to love almost anyone.

[KittyLynn]

Most people like Outer beauty but Inner I think is more important...But then again, It doesn't kill to be beautiful..

[Semjaza]

No matter how amazing a person was inside, I can't say I'd be that interested if they repulsed me physically. The same with a great looking person who was just horrible mentally or emotionally.

I'd perfer a nice balance if I could find it.

I tend to be more interested in people that have great personalities and are genuine about things than I am someone who looks hot lol. But that's something you won't know until you get to know the person.

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]Well, as it has been said before, first impressions are always made by how someone looks. If one is immature and shallow, then they will not even give a less than attractive person a chance.

Inner beauty, or lack there of, over-rides all. It can make someone you thought was not so attractive seem beautiful, or, if the person is not-so-nice on the inside, make the beauty a beast.

Personally, I find the unconventionally beautiful people the most attractive. Both inside and out. Flaws, I find, are the greatest things about people. I enjoy seeing them. It just makes the person appear so much greater in my eyes to know that they do not try to hide anything.[/color]

[wrist cutter]

This topic pops up about every month and the same exact points are brought up everytime, yeesh...

I voted for outer beauty though, because I'm SO SHALLOW AND STUCK-UP. I even take pleasure in that fact.

[Mnemolth]

Same points? I thought mine was a little different. At least the way I put it should have been. Alas. I have to go shopping now. Its so hard to find the right sized hat these days. :D

[Imp]

Since my personality (sort of) matches my physical appearance, I guess I would vote for both. Personally, I think my face is very ugly. But... hmmm... Anyway, I agree with everybody that said first impressions are important, because they are!!! I heard of this guy in school who tripped and fell in a pile of mud or some other kind of yucky stuff on the first day of school, and nobody even dared to talk to him... Except me. But he's not my boyfriend or anything.

[amibasuki]

[FONT=arial]well that was stupid of them. makes we wanna go around and push [i]their[/i] faces in mud.

overall, inner beauty is most important, but outer beauty is also important to a small extent. it can sometimes hint at what they think about themselves. for example, if a person never took a shower/bath and brushed his/her hair, etc. and (s)he easily could if (s)he wanted to, I'd think they didn't have a whole lot of self-respect or self esteem. if they did, why would (s)he allow himself to walk around like that? but maybe that's just me or something. [/FONT]

[Coronet]

While I'd like to say that inner beauty is more important, both are equally important. Of course it's a good thing to have inner beauty and to care for other people and be a kind, interesting, worthwhile person, but outer beauty does matter a whole lot too. Even to those who say that outer beauty has nothing to do with it. Honestly, though. If you think about it, would you want to marry someone who was horribly obese? No, you wouldn't. I could be that person's best friend, but I don't think I could marry them. Call me shallow, but I bet you that's how it is in most of your minds as well. It's kind of really sad for those people who are physically not as pretty as the next person who really have the caring hearts though.