| Apr 7 @ 10:47 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
DiamondRain
Posts: 4,907
|
I have long been fascinated by the question as to exactly how "subjective" opinions of looks really are.
It's often said that what one finds physically attractive is subjective opinion.
But if it is so subjective, how come there are people that others nearly universally agree are either physically attractive, or physically unattractive.
If you were to do a study that involved showing pictures of people to individuals and having them rate them from 1-10 based purely on appearance, obviously, some people would consistently get higher ratings than others.
I am sure such studies have already been done. As a matter of fact I know they have been done at least unscientifically because there are Web sites that allow users to rate other’s pics based purely on physical appearance.
If opinions of looks were purely "subjective“ than the expected outcome, provided you used a large enough sample of opinions, would be that everyone would rate exactly a 5.5. But obviously this doesn’t happen.
I remember that there have been studies on certain specific physical traits that men and women find attractive in the opposite sex, but that’s something different.
There is clearly wide consensus that some people are more physically attractive that others.
On the other hand there is not total consensus. Not EVERYONE agrees that the same person is either attractive or unattractive.
There are certainly some people that 99% or more of other people rate as attractive. With results so close to universal, could you call this subjective opinion?
And what about “sex symbols?” If there wasn’t at least prevailing consensus about looks, how could this concept exist?
So are opinions about looks objective or subjective? I think it’s a fascinating question.
I suppose the answer is that they are both. Or perhaps it depends on how you define the words “objective” and “subjective.” If you define objective to mean that the majority of people (and not necessarily all people) tend to rate other’s looks in a roughly similar way, then I think that opinions about looks are objective.
.
|
|
  |
|
| Apr 7 @ 10:50 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
|
Why are you so focused on it?
What's so sad is that it all doesn't matter, it all fades anyway. You lose your looks and all you're left with is your personality. Now, who would be interested in that? 
BTW- looks are totally subjective. cos people in Europe think I'm much more attractive than people in America do. that's just been my discovery in the past few weeks.
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 10:51 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
DiamondRain
Posts: 4,907
|
You stalkin‘ me LGQ? 
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 10:52 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
|
no, it's just these subjects hit a nerve.
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 10:55 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
DiamondRain
Posts: 4,907
|
That’s the point isn’t it? Provocative, thought provoking subjects...it’s what interesting forum topics are made of. 
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 11:53 AM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
CPUfan
Posts: 3,513
|
Yep LGQ you would be considered very attractive in Europe, also your personality and 'savoir faire' - now that's not a revelation as you suggest already.
I'm quite mystified and curious why you might not be considered attractive in America... maybe you got too many trolls stalking you or something?
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 12:11 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
sciurusniger
Posts: 2,959
|
What is familiar is attractive. That old saying about "home is where the heart is" holds true whether for the beloved hovel in which one lives, or the faces to which one is most accustomed to seeing.
Considering the media pushes very specific "types" at us continually and deems them "attractive", it is little wonder there is a general consensus as to what is considered "beautiful" in terms of looks in this society.
Other cultures, far different than ours, consider beauty something from which our unaccustomed eyes will often first recoil. But again, that is because the concepts of beauty are taught.
All that said, however, studies find that symmetry in facial features (for one thing) are a key element of what humans consider "attractive", regardless the race of the person. The more a face veers from symmetrical, the less attractive any culture considers it. In my opinion, this simply harks back to the primal "meet, mate, and procreate", where physical symmetry is a sign of good health, therefore having genes worth passing on to offspring.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 12:47 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
Bluebonnet72
Posts: 2,761
|
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” Both of course......
Everything can be subjective especially when we talk of people ......but the really beauty of someone or something is usually objective 
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 1:55 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
Brass_Wolf
Posts: 681
|
Perhaps one could run a cross comparison study with a sample group of blind persons in order to establish a possible link between personality and looks? Good luck with interpreting the results. There are too many co-mingling factors to establish cause/effect absolutes.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 2:05 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
grumblebear
Posts: 10,494
|
Attraction is a funny thing... we have more "natural" blonde women, with blue or green eyes here, than any other part of the country... Yet my attraction is to dark hair, brown eyes, tall and "exotic", (in comparison to the members of The Swedish Bikini team, lol...),
yet... if she has no intelligence... if she has no sense of humor... if she has values that are too different to adapt... she could be the most beautiful creature on the planet... I wouldn't waste my time on her.....
there is a balance
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 2:12 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
marylou
Posts: 10,644
|
Well...if you want to know my opinion....(and you probably dont...but saying anyway..lol).......I was married to a very good looking man for 18 yrs. I didnt marry him for his looks....in fact I didnt even notice them...LOL We were on a committee together for 6 yrs.....and just friends all of that time. I was engaged to someone else. It broke up....he made his move.....I didnt want to hurt him....he was 6 yrs younger than I. Dont ask me what happened....think cupid must have donged me on the head......next thing I was engaged and married. Now I would not have got that far.....except for an old lady....(friend of the family)....I asked her....*how do you know if someone is right for you*...she replied...*well if they are like an old pair of slippers to be around and you feel uncomfortable when your not around them.....and when your not with them....all you can do is think about them.....then you know its love......and when it happens....nothing can stop it." And thats how I felt about him the more time we spent together on a one on one.
All my friends thought I was lucky....because he was so so good looking..........but looks really didnt come into it with me. I always swore the 2nd time around I would look for an ugly man with a huge heart.....who was loyal and faithful......and truthful and gave me no sh*t...LOL LOL LOL.
Mind you in saying that....the person has to appeal.....without that you have nothng.....but right now an ugly man with a lovely nature...would be OK for me.
I have always envied one of my friends.......she is very attractive.....but her husband never appealed to me when I first met him....he was a hugely large man.....with a big nose....LOL....didnt seem to have anything going for him in the looks department.....BUTTTTT......he was absolutely gorgeous in nature....and so very loving and affectionate. He was the most beautiful man person I had ever met.......so loving an attentive and caring....great qualities. I would give the world for someone like that right now..........so all you ladies out there......dont judge a man by his looks......sometimes looks can be very deceiving.....you can only know them after spending x amount of time with them......and even then there are no guarantees. My message is the same for the men on here.
Now thats my opinion...and am sticking to it....LOL  
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 3:18 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,360
|
And of course there's always the song..."If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife" so I guess Marylou's post goes both ways.
I was reading somewhere that you decide if you consider someone attractive within the first few milliseconds you see them - symmetry is one thing, skin seems to be another...not as in color but as in looking healthy. Not too thin a face, but not too round either. Kind of a healthy look seems to be appealing to all of us.
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 4:13 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
|
I'm quite mystified and curious why you might not be considered attractive in America
I look as if I've eaten somewhere in the period of the last sixth months and don't fit the type that is defined as a "hot chick" in America. I'm more round in the hips and butt, I am not tan (in fact I am very pale) and I refuse to be tan because I love my skin and would hate to tarnish it that way, etc.With the exception of my boyfriend (who as most of you know is VERY European influenced), American men almost never hit on me.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 4:25 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
CPUfan
Posts: 3,513
|
Well you just go on being you LGQ and compliments to yer bf for his good taste...
Good for you for not shaping down like yer 'spoze to'... as for pale whoah there were English women in India for 300 years and they managed to avoid getting ANY sun. I guess that was a fashion in another kind of way though LOL.
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 5:21 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
leprichaun_magic
Posts: 580
|
healthy,and a HAPPY smile .. dont you think ,,btw."heaven"? 
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 5:26 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?” |
|
leprichaun_magic
Posts: 580
|
.In most peoples Opinion .I think . the Media has a lot to answer for?
making some Vulnerable People miserable
-and making money out of sensationalism . when they hit rock bottom[like Britney spears..and other high profile figures .Politicians[tho some would say they are "fair game?? 
|
| |
|
| Apr 7 @ 6:36 PM |
Looks: “Objective” or “Subjective?”
|
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,360
|
healthy,and a HAPPY smile .. dont you think ,,btw."heaven"?
Leprichaun - I'll drink to that! Brooding heroes never appealed to me much...I enjoy laughing much too much (even if I tend to get serious here...  )
|
|
| |
|
|