In my constrained opinion, the male world is made-up of 99% very ordinary looking men, 0.5% ugly men, and 0.5% good looking men. The 'ordinaries' rule; being either really ugly, or really handsome, is extremely rare.
Being one of the 99% (I don't consider myself really ugly), I have always wondered what it must be like to be 'staggeringly handsome'. Somehow I imagine it must be a burden, and I'm quite happy not to be a part of that 0.5%.
Back in the mid 60's I had an Italian girlfriend who was possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever encountered. Walking down the street with her was quite an experience. Heads turned almost constantly, and she was stared at openly by all who saw her. She enjoyed the fact that people found her beautiful, but the unwanted attention it caused troubled her hugely. It eventually paid a major role in her tragic life.
Having said that, I would quite like to be 'handsome' for just ONE day, to see what a difference it makes to daily life. I'm sure that people treat good looking people differently; one only has to witness the lives of celeb 'actors', or 'top models' to see that in action.
I'm very happy the way I am, and I very rarely look in a mirror. I couldn't give a monkey's how others see me. I have reluctantly accepted the genes that I randomly received, and just get on with it!
p.s. Trying to find an illustration for this wasn't easy. I'm no expert.
Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, I suppose everybody has a different idea of what constitutes extremely attractive or ugly?
ReplyDeleteI suspect there are certain 'norms'. As I said; I'm no expert.
DeleteDepends on vivacity and stylishness as well. I know a few people who are rather ordinary but their dress style and outlook sends them to another level
ReplyDeleteI guess those in the top .5% have it all.
Lucky or unlucky??
I would probably go for 'unlucky'. It may sound nice to be an Adonis, but in reality I imagine it's a curse.
DeleteIt may be trite, but I'd still rather be in the company of a man who is kind, skilled in conversation, and has a good sense of humor than one who is staggeringly handsome.
ReplyDeleteThat applies to both men and women; in fact I imagine that most extremely attractive people are probably a pain in the neck.
DeleteI think you can appreciate if someone is stereotypically handsome or beautiful, whether you find that person attractive or not is another matter. X
ReplyDeleteJust something to look at.
Delete3hen I was in my twenties there was a not so good looking young man in our group of friends, but he had lots of girls courting him because he was brilliant, kind and humorous. I have recently seen him and lovely wife. He looks very good in mature age; white hair and a white goatee beard which suits him, he even looks younger than his age.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
When. X
DeleteNon-handsome men can look 'distinguished', which is probably preferable to being overtly good looking. Character is always more desirable than looks; and that counts for both sexes.
DeleteOh Cro ...... I can't begin to explain what a burden it is !!!!!!! Haha !!!! Joke !!!
ReplyDeleteIn the whole of my 66 years and working in London like you, I think I have seen about three people who were stunning. The rest of us are just pretty ordinary ..... but ordinary is good. I think it must be s bit of a burden ... like being famous. XXXX
I'm sure that's right. It may seem like an attractive prospect, but the reality is anything but attractive.
DeleteBut you must admit Cro that to some extent at least 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' but thinking about it I suppose the percentage you are talking of is above that. In any case - we are all stuck with what we are given and have to make the best of it. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI'm really talking about the real 'head turners'. It must affect their whole outlook on life.
DeleteI worked with a young woman who was probably the most physically attractive person I have ever met in my fairly long life. She was fawned over and lusted after. All her life she was treated as special, just because of the way she looked. But she was a right bitch and a bully and ugly on the inside. Give me 'ordinary' any day.
ReplyDeleteAs I said above, I think it's more of a burden than a blessing. I think it changes a person's character (for the worse).
DeleteThis post is lost on me. I don't understand why there should be a problem.
ReplyDeleteBeing a permanent focus of attention must affect people; and not in a good way.
DeleteI agree with cro. Just one day for a whole 24 hours id love to be beautiful ! Oh and have a massive cock too
ReplyDeleteHa ha. That's a whole different question!
DeleteBelieve me, both are a massive burden.
DeleteUnfortunately I've experienced neither.
DeleteMmmm, it's all a question of taste isn't it? I used to like Oliver Reed before he bloated and Micky Roarke was another but I wouldn't call them handsome.
ReplyDeleteLarge rugged men with beards also appeal.
I'll stop there, lol
Briony
x
Being attractive isn't really the same as being 'beautiful'. I once bumped into Oliver Reed at Heathrow; I think he was drunk.
DeleteHaving had BDD rearing it's ugly head at certain stages of my life, mostly teenage years, I have now realized things aint going to get any better.
ReplyDeleteI remember feeling very jealous of a pretty blonde girl in my class at school. She was very popular, I can picture her now. Oh how I wished I was like her.
A few years ago I had contact with another old school friend, we chatted about other class members, do you remember so and so, etc. Pretty girls name came up. I was saddened to hear that she had died of cancer in her thirties. That gave me a good shake up.
However, I would like to experience just one day of being beautiful, just to see what it's like.
I think it would be very revealing; but nice to return to normal the following day.
DeleteI work with someone who is a dear friend and is young, stunningly beautiful and a very kind, gorgeous person to boot. She has found it really difficult to meet someone. Being hit upon so much it is hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. x
ReplyDeleteProbably because of the song that warns 'Never make a pretty woman your wife'.
DeleteI believe it has something to do with facial symmetry (I saw a documentary on it once). I have been known to turn heads but only because of a dress faux pas like my skirt caught in my knickers or bird poo in my hair.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling.
DeleteLooks fade with age and it must be so much more difficult for the beautiful people to lose than for us 99%.
ReplyDeleteYes, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe they look after themselves better than the rest of us.
DeleteO vanity of vanities.
ReplyDeleteJean Claude Juncker refusing to speak English as "English is now of less importance in Europe" - now prefers to speak French. He's trying to impress the handsome Macron and the French annoy the handsome May and the Brits at the same time.
Handsome is as handsome does.
English is not only the world's second most spoken language (after Mandarin), it's also the world's primary second language. Juncker is talking rubbish as usual.
DeleteIf he didn't want to speak English at least he should have tried speaking Italian. Maybe he'd forgotten which country he was in. The man's a nincompoop.
DeleteI don't have much to add to what's already been written here.
ReplyDeleteI did want to let you know that I found the Marevna post very interesting. The 1960s and 70s in NYC were also a time and place when it seemed very possible to meet many intriguing folks. Of course, I was young and more attractive then.
Frances, I was lucky to live and work in parts of London where 'celebs' were thick on the ground. Famous faces were just part of every day life.
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