Girls and Beauty

[Mr Trick]

I just hope the same attitudes are practiced away from the mirrors. Girls and boys alike. And that the message isn't forgotten when the paper comes down. That's what counts; changing mentality and showing daily in your attitude that looks aren't everything.

Personally, from my own cynical point of view, if this happened at my high school, what, 13 years ago, it would be lit on fire, ripped up and generally destroyed. Teenagers rebel and this would be no different. I highly doubt every girl in my old school would have got together to do this kind of project, not everyone cares at that age about these issues nor would they appreciate the message. It wouldn't be "cool".

No, not every girl but then that is always going to be true no matter the age, but I actually do think that more and more that teenagers are becoming more interested in changing the world for the better, for the simple reason that they see a more messed up world and want to improve it. I think this idea of teenagers not careing is a little bit of stereotype. Taken on face value I see this as a good thing, but I do have my doubts too.

 

[Taake]

I'm a bit impressed by it actually. In my high school this would never have happened. Never ever... Ever... Lol.
Before it was put up even there would have been a riot or something. And I'm not joking. (Or discounting myself from the rioters by the way)

 

[EVIL UU]

This is idiotic. Yeah, let's blame our insecurities and lack of willpower on mirrors! You know what I did when I didn't like what I saw in the mirror? No, I didn't cover it with worthless pretentious bullshit nobody actually believes in, I changed myself. Now I love looking in the mirror 'cause damn it, I am a hottie! Yeah, sure, I'd love to have a bit lower body fat percentage and whatnot, it's a work in progress but still. I'm beautiful.

I don't understand this mindset. I mean, being hot is not that difficult. Don't overeat, work out. Yeah, that's it. Get a nice, simple haircut, but it's not something you do yourself anyway so what's the problem? Wear...I doesn't matter what you wear, you're hot, you look good in everything, just make it clean, fitting and not ridiculous. It's easy, really, not as easy as running away from reality, I suppose.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I love looking in the mirror 'cause damn it, I am a hottie!

And that's exactly why they covered over the mirror in the first place.

 

[Mr Trick]

This is idiotic. Yeah, let's blame our insecurities and lack of willpower on mirrors! You know what I did when I didn't like what I saw in the mirror? No, I didn't cover it with worthless pretentious bullshit nobody actually believes in, I changed myself. Now I love looking in the mirror 'cause damn it, I am a hottie! Yeah, sure, I'd love to have a bit lower body fat percentage and whatnot, it's a work in progress but still. I'm beautiful.

I don't understand this mindset. I mean, being hot is not that difficult. Don't overeat, work out. Yeah, that's it. Get a nice, simple haircut, but it's not something you do yourself anyway so what's the problem? Wear...I doesn't matter what you wear, you're hot, you look good in everything, just make it clean, fitting and not ridiculous. It's easy, really, not as easy as running away from reality, I suppose.

Well there is something in that because its true that you shouldn't let them get you down. But I think the point their trying to get across here is that it doesn't matter what you look like, or that it shouldn't etc... I'm sure your plenty pretty😛

 

[Fuffy Baith]

This is idiotic. Yeah, let's blame our insecurities and lack of willpower on mirrors! You know what I did when I didn't like what I saw in the mirror? No, I didn't cover it with worthless pretentious bullshit nobody actually believes in, I changed myself. Now I love looking in the mirror 'cause damn it, I am a hottie! Yeah, sure, I'd love to have a bit lower body fat percentage and whatnot, it's a work in progress but still. I'm beautiful.

Well when I look in the mirror, I think "damn, I'm a cutie!" But I'm sure that not everyone that sees me thinks that. I think the message isn't just about "looking hot" and thinking your beautiful, but more importantly ignoring those that don't and not letting their opinions of you affect your own. You don't have to be skinny or wear make up or dress sexy. Like you said that's all stuff you can fix. But as long as you're happy with the way you look, then don't let other people tell you differently. That's why I don't really think covering the mirror really sends the right message.

 

[Taake]

This is idiotic. Yeah, let's blame our insecurities and lack of willpower on mirrors! You know what I did when I didn't like what I saw in the mirror? No, I didn't cover it with worthless pretentious bullshit nobody actually believes in, I changed myself. Now I love looking in the mirror 'cause damn it, I am a hottie! Yeah, sure, I'd love to have a bit lower body fat percentage and whatnot, it's a work in progress but still. I'm beautiful.

I don't understand this mindset. I mean, being hot is not that difficult. Don't overeat, work out. Yeah, that's it. Get a nice, simple haircut, but it's not something you do yourself anyway so what's the problem? Wear...I doesn't matter what you wear, you're hot, you look good in everything, just make it clean, fitting and not ridiculous. It's easy, really, not as easy as running away from reality, I suppose.

While it's great that life is so easy for you as losing weight makes everything sunshine and puppies, perhaps this is not an experience that's universal, huh?

For some, there's no amount of changing yourself that turns on that "oh I'm hot" switch in their brain and scrutinizing yourself in a mirror can become a negative obsession. Especially if you are trying to value yourself after some kind of "I'm hot" standard.

Also, it's really, really easy not to assume that everyone comes at things from the same point of view that you yourself do, that not everyone is of your mindset. I promise.

 

[GwenRaiden]

I was definitely at my absolute saddest in life when I was underweight.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

it's really, really easy not to assume that everyone comes at things from the same point of view that you yourself do, that not everyone is of your mindset. I promise.

But the point of it had nothing to do with weight.. it was about vanity. It wasn't about insecurities. It was about loving to look at yourself in the mirror. That's why it said (paraphrasing) "it used to be an object of vanity" and not "because people don't like looking in the mirror." With selfie sticks and more people dying taking selfies maybe it's a point more people should be trying to make.

 

[gite63]

Yeah, sure, I'd love to have a bit lower body fat percentage and whatnot, it's a work in progress but still.

While it's great that life is so easy for you as losing weight makes everything sunshine and puppies, perhaps this is not an experience that's universal, huh?

I was definitely at my absolute saddest in life when I was underweight.

But the point of it had nothing to do with weight.. it was about vanity.

I think it's curious that so many of you think that the only problem a person can have is to be fat; there are ugly people, too...

 

[GwenRaiden]

I guess because weight is so concentrated on in modern media, and so must weigh heavy, not only on the girl's minds who came up with the idea, but most teenage girls (and boys). But I agree that vanity as a whole should be targeted, especially nowadays. I think the self-obsessed culture of today thanks to modern technology is really strange. I didn't grow up as a teen taking selfies or videos or anything like that, so who knows just how much of the competitiveness, self-scrutiny and low self-esteem in teens are to blame, in this day and age, due to that.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I didn't grow up as a teen taking selfies or videos of anything like that, so who knows how much competition, self-scrutiny and low self-esteem are to blame in this day and age due to that.

I think it was last month, maybe June.. a teen driver taking a selfie swerved into the next lane and hit a motorcyclist.. thankfully no one was killed, but... there are many deaths from people taking selfies; not just from driving either. It's narcissism.

 

[Taake]

I think it's curious that so many of you think that the only problem a person can have is to be fat; there are ugly people, too...

Did not say that I thought that was the only problem a person could have. It most certainly isn't.

However, on another note, it is an easier problem do discuss, because it's less subjective than is "ugliness"

 

[GwenRaiden]

Well I think many of us can admit to taking a "selfie" but it seems almost obsessive in the young of society. Like, keeping up with the latest trend no matter how daft or dangerous. The craving to be noticed and admired via technology, that's like technonarcissism.

 

[EVIL UU]

perhaps this is not an experience that's universal, huh?

But it is. Every overweight person who achieves proper weight becomes hotter.

For some, there's no amount of changing yourself that turns on that "oh I'm hot" switch in their brain and scrutinizing yourself in a mirror can become a negative obsession. Especially if you are trying to value yourself after some kind of "I'm hot" standard.

So people shouldn't try to better themselves because self-esteem issues exist?

Also, it's really, really easy not to assume that everyone comes at things from the same point of view that you yourself do, that not everyone is of your mindset.

Well, they should be. World would've been a better place.

there are ugly people, too...

Nonsense. Get fit, get a nice haircut, dress well - that's it, you're hot. Obviously, there are some rare inborn/genetic/conditions/diseases that cannot be fixed but oh well, life's not fair, I guess. Everybody else? No excuses.

 

[Taake]

Well, they should be. World would've been a better place.

Thanks for the laugh! Needed that tonight.

 

[gite63]

However, on another note, it is an easier problem do discuss, because it's less subjective than is "ugliness"

People – or teens, because teens can be very mean (all over the world) - who humiliated and despised ugly girls (and boys) in my youth didn't think that ugliness was something that subjective, at all. I saw pretty mean things done to girls that didn't fit the beauty pattern (no, any rare inborn/genetic/conditions/diseases); I myself was too shy to be mean (and wasn't that hot), otherwise I could have followed the crowd... And things haven't changed that much, it seems.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

While it's great that life is so easy for you as losing weight makes everything sunshine and puppies, perhaps this is not an experience that's universal, huh?

For some, there's no amount of changing yourself that turns on that "oh I'm hot" switch in their brain and scrutinizing yourself in a mirror can become a negative obsession. Especially if you are trying to value yourself after some kind of "I'm hot" standard.

Also, it's really, really easy not to assume that everyone comes at things from the same point of view that you yourself do, that not everyone is of your mindset. I promise.

Somehow, Taake, I still imagine you as one of the Swedish girls living with Johnathan in "Superstar 4x17".

I seem to recall a picture of you on this forum somewhere at a con or something and it didn't change that impression.

 

[Taake]

People – or teens, because teens can be very mean (all over the world) - who humiliated and despised ugly girls (and boys) in my youth didn't think that ugliness was something that subjective, at all. I saw pretty mean things done to girls that didn't fit the beauty pattern (no, any rare inborn/genetic/conditions/diseases); I myself was too shy to be mean (and wasn't that hot), otherwise I could have followed the crowd... And things haven't changed that much, it seems.

Well, I think we have all - or most of us - seen this.
Doesn't change the fact that weight can be empirically measured, but beauty or ugliness is held up by vague standards of "patterns" as you mentioned, that may vary greatly depending on where you are. Not saying it's not a problem, just saying it's more vague in terms of definitions.

Anyway, in concern with the topic of the thread I think the covering of the mirrors was a good initiative of the girls because we could probably all do with a little less vanity and self-obsession.

 

[nightshade]

Surely girls would just use their camera phone, instead of using the mirror, so I can't see this making that much difference, to how people actually view themselves.