Beauty vs Brains: Which is More Important?

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The discussion centers around the societal perceptions of valuing physical appearance versus intelligence in romantic relationships. It highlights a growing sentiment that prioritizing physical looks is frowned upon, while valuing intelligence is more socially acceptable. Participants debate whether it's fair to judge someone based on their looks, especially since both appearance and intelligence are largely beyond an individual's control. The conversation explores the idea that both traits can be superficial and questions the societal double standards that allow for negative judgments on physical appearance but not on intelligence. Humor emerges as a key quality for attraction, with many contributors emphasizing its importance alongside intelligence. The dialogue also touches on evolutionary perspectives, suggesting that physical attractiveness has historically been linked to genetic superiority, while modern relationships increasingly value intelligence and compatibility. Ultimately, the discussion reflects on personal preferences and the complexity of attraction, asserting that individuals should feel free to prioritize whatever qualities they find appealing without societal judgment.
  • #51
But most of scientists don't have this ability.You know most of them prefer studying a book to have social interaction.They may start talking to them about a very funny subject but at last you'll see they're discussing about a seriousscientific subject!
 
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  • #52
Clausius2 said:
I don't care. And before it, I will assure myself she is not going to leave me, but in an emergency case I would leave her :biggrin:. Anyway I will expose myself to that kind of risk without any problem :!) .
wow you're dangerous! :rolleyes:
 
  • #53
Lisa! said:
But most of scientists don't have this ability.You know most of them prefer studying a book to have social interaction.They may start talking to them about a very funny subject but at last you'll see they're discussing about a seriousscientific subject!

I know. But we must balance ourselves to do the best in all fields, and being able to switch your brain and change to non serious topics of conversation. The best sciencist I have known (my undergraduate project advisor) is a brilliant guy, but I assure you will not give up laughing when you are with him. A great sciencist or any people who have to develop efficiently some task, must be a balanced person.

Lisa! said:
wow you're dangerous!

Not quite. Don't believe any word. I am like a dog who barks a lot but bits much less. :biggrin:
 
  • #54
Clausius2 said:
I know. But we must balance ourselves to do the best in all fields, and being able to switch your brain and change to non serious topics of conversation. The best sciencist I have known (my undergraduate project advisor) is a brilliant guy, but I assure you will not give up laughing when you are with him. A great sciencist or any people who have to develop efficiently some task, must be a balanced person.
You're right.


You know it's really funny when some of scientists fall in love! :smile: Imagine them when they're trying to impress their woman with explaining about difficult theories! :smile: 1 of my professors always told us scientific jokes which were difficult to understand for us and we laughed because we couldn't understand what he meant! :smile: He continued his jokes because he thought we would like his class more!



Not quite. Don't believe any word. I am like a dog who barks a lot but bits much less. :biggrin:
So you have a lot in common with other men! :wink:
 
  • #55
Lisa! said:
So you have a lot in common with other men! :wink:

My main failures with women have been precisely that I have nothing in common with other men. But I mean I have nothing (including positive and negative characteristics) with other men. I am a bit strange, and as you can see in my profile I have been brought up in a suburb, where every guy does not worry about studying something or learning how to play the coffee machine (as arildno does :smile: ). They belong to an specie I am far away. But for local girls, they have great advantages: more money, a car, muscles, action and so on. I remain unknown for these girls, who in two cases have seen me as an strange positive case, and maybe it has discouraged them thinking they weren't what I was looking for. On the other hand, I have my positive points too, which I prefer not comment :wink: .
 
  • #56
I think ppl don't frown on picking partners based on intelligence is because ppl assume that one can work hard to increase intelligence (such as reading and other intellectual activities) while you are born with your physical appearances .
 
  • #57
Bladibla said:
So, what if it was a intelligent, clever, funny, wise, frugal, funny pig?

Ha, that's me ! :bugeye:
 
  • #58
Clausius2 said:
My main failures with women have been precisely that I have nothing in common with other men.

Some advice of an "old wolf" like me :smile:

- thinking you're an exception is a mistake. You have maybe nothing in common with other guys *you know* but I'm sure there are other people like you. Maybe not on this planet, but somewhere, in this (or another) universe. Don't give up hope. We are all with you :smile:

- try to go for a rich, stupid, goodlooking chick ;-)

- in the mean time, go with anything :-)
 
  • #59
kaos said:
I think ppl don't frown on picking partners based on intelligence is because ppl assume that one can work hard to increase intelligence (such as reading and other intellectual activities) while you are born with your physical appearances .

I think the opposite. You can study for ages, but you're either intelligent or not, and it's marked more by your ability to learn than by anything you have learned. On the other hand, you can do plenty to make yourself look better, from dressing better to better grooming to wearing makeup, all the way to getting surgery.
 
  • #60
intelligence is key role to success in the business. like the jocks they do have talent until they have to retire from there sport. models have until the beauty is worn out by age. now the brain can make a little success from the start and make a bang at the end.

if you choose brains you get to hurt ppl mentally
beauty is hurting emotionally
brawn is hurting ppl physically
 
  • #61
Supposedly a woman asked G.B. Shaw to marry her with the proposition 'Think of the children we would have with your brains and my beauty', to which Shaw answered, 'but what if they have your brains and my beauty.'

Anyway, I note that almost everyone marries, the plain, the dull, the poor, etc. What do their spouses see in them? The reason I took out a license to fight was for the whole woman, not anyone part of her.
 
  • #62
Making my life better.

As I recall, there is a magic formula somewhere, that works out to this: long term relationships tend to work out when both people in the relationship believe the benefits of the relationship outweigh the drawbacks of the relationship by a factor of about five to one.

So, really, what you should be looking for is people who can make your life better, and whose lives you can make better. I find myself much more attracted to sanity (minimizing the bad stuff) and the capacity to enjoy life (maximizing the goods stuff), than to looks or brains.

Naturally, I should point out that beauty or brains is a false dichotomy.

P.S. (A very geeky thought.) I'm now wondering if it's possible to calculate a theoretical relationship good/bad variance based on the 5 to 1 ratio and the assumption that periodic break-even is necessary to maintain the relationship.
 
  • #63
Basically my view on beauty vs. brains is this:

I have dated girls dumb as a box of rocks and hot as far as looks go, even for a young person.

I have also dated girls that were quite ugly, yet quite intelligent. Hmmmm...a bit better.

The current girl, of 10 yrs., I am with has only average looks, but is a classical musician and has an IQ beyond measurable limits. She is quite a handful and most people eventually find her quite irritating, but I wouldn't trade her for anything on this planet.

You have to find what works for you.

Jim
 
  • #64
jimmysnyder said:
Supposedly a woman asked G.B. Shaw to marry her with the proposition 'Think of the children we would have with your brains and my beauty', to which Shaw answered, 'but what if they have your brains and my beauty.'

Anyway, I note that almost everyone marries, the plain, the dull, the poor, etc. What do their spouses see in them? The reason I took out a license to fight was for the whole woman, not anyone part of her.
The woman in the exchange with GBShaw, may have been Sarah Bernhardt, an actress, who was 12 years his senior. She also had numerous affairs during her career, so the exchange is perhaps possible.
 
  • #65
I believe that, in most cases, the environment has a direct effect on what someone values. If one is around people who constantly make a fuss over looks, then that person, more than likely, will value looks over intelligence and vice versa.
 

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