Musings on Beauty – Part 1

2 responses to “Musings on Beauty – Part 1”

1. ralevinsohn | July 19, 2012 at 4:08 am | Reply

   Comment emailed to me:

   I almost did it. I almost read a blog post. But my streak is still firmly intact, and my universal self-imposed rule to not read blogs continues to offend universally. I did, however, read the headlines on beauty, and the straggling headlines of the how-pretty-is-pretty-enough type. So here’s my controversial response to a controversial article (is the article too old to still be considered controversial? or am I just going to be ignored, since people have probably found another topic to delightfully offend them?) Men are naturally superficial. That’s how they’re made, and it doesn’t make them pigs; it makes them men. Women, if you want to marry one, deal with it. Men, however, can curb their lustful desires, and look at more than beauty. Since very few men are capable of suppressing their desires, and many men want to marry many women (wait, that doesn’t sound right), there is something else we can do. It’s called self-respect. Dress modestly, but with dignity. Learn manners. Be polite. Be classy. Get a personality. For both sexes. It’s amazing how much a little self-respect can translate into self-confidence and attractiveness. Beauty is not something to ignore, but neither should it corrupt or be corrupted. There are very few genuinely ugly people out there. I’ve seen many men and women who are borderline attractive. Most people’s attractiveness is, by definition, average. But the right haircut, shedding ten to twenty extra pounds, a few strategically placed wardrobe accessories, some acne medication, and bam! you’re all of a sudden feeling a little better about yourself. Your friends and family will notice, and potential mates will start showing interest. (Oh yeah, another solution to the crisis is to allow boys and girls to talk to each other, and no more freakin’ checklists, either.) This is not a cure-all, but anyone touting a panacea might be getting kickbacks from plastic surgeons (there, I said it). I know these seem like minor things. How can we be God’s representatives on earth badly dressed, with poor manners, and in lousy physical condition? Come on, we can do this. It’s really not so difficult, it’s just work. We do it all the time. A little extra work for some self-confidence and the potential love of a lifetime. This should be an easy one.

2. ralevinsohn | July 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm | Reply

   Comment Facebooked to me:

   Ah, Yitta Halberstam. The woman that launched a thousand articles.

   OK, you know that I have an Hungarian background, meaning we are a superficial people. However, there is also the understanding that some have great personalities that can heighten or even eclipse their looks entirely. But in order to do that one has to have self-esteem and -confidence.

   Meaning, if one has no faith in their own face, that will make them less appealing. Yitta went and cast upon her readership a self-fulfilling prophecy: Girls, you ain’t pretty enough. Ergo, they’ll stop behaving as if they are.

   One thing she failed to grasp is that superficiality is not a specifically male-dominated sphere. Practically every girl I know analyzes the dudes’ looks as well, not remotely taking personality into the equation at all.

   Conclusion? The Jewish community of the USA (or at least the one of NYC) has decided to micro-manage the dating world, which in essence is supposed to be messy and uncontrollable.

   Additionally, everyone is freaking out screaming “How dare men be so shallow!,” except a man didn’t say this; a woman did. She’s not speaking for men; she’s speaking strictly for her boychick. And all she’s doing is trying to convince herself (like any helicopter mommie) is that she can get for her son “the best.” That article did not come from a place of security or honesty; it came from doubt and self-delusion.

   Poor woman.