Is it ok to use your looks to get ahead?

[Big Casino]

Some people are naturally born pretty..... or with assets. Whether it be big boobs, long legs or a pretty face ( yes thats mostly referring to woman)
So is it alright to use these natural advantages to further yourself? Whether it be at work or anything else?
Surely if your born with a natural advantage it would be stupid not to use it right? We all dress up for job interviews, so is this any different?

Any thoughts?

 

[Black Butler]

of course they would use it as an advantage, pretty grils would dress up to show who they are if they have nice legs for example, they would do it at school and at work to probably distract the guys u know wat i mean?

 

[JesusVsThePolice]

of course they would use it as an advantage, pretty grils would dress up to show who they are if they have nice legs for example, they would do it at school and at work to probably distract the guys u know wat i mean?

Way to not even answer the question.

Sure, do whatever it takes to get the job if you ask me. If I were a woman and I had huge knockers, I'd be eating and drinking for free every night at the bar. And if they could get me a good job paying good money? All the better! But I could see where this causes a problem, where a woman doesn't know how to do the job and gets it over someone more qualified for job just because of her looks. But it's a dog eat dog world out there and you got to do whatever it takes to survive. So don't think someone won't do whatever it takes the get the job over you.

 

[The Witch]

No it's not okay. But, people do do it.

[Mod Edit: Please put more effort into your posts in post count sections please. Thanks. =)]

 

[VinnieJones]

There's no problem, but there's a difference between 'blinding others with beauty' and 'whoring off'; eg. many single men would agree to a sex/pay rise exchange if the woman is a stunner, but that would be just be ridiculously wrong.

But if it's simply just to get futher in life then no problem. We already have many cases where being more physically attractive than others is essential; modelling, boybands etc. The problem is once people get used to the good looks and start looking deeper, then you'll be screwed if you've been relying too much on your appearance.

 

[Big Casino]

No it's not okay. But, people do do it.

WHy is not okay though?
Its just using something you have to your advantage.
Say wer talking about getting a job here. People always dress up for interviews, but no one ever dresses down to try and get a job do they?
My personal oppinion is pretty much exactly what jvp said. Its a tough world out there and you gotta do what you can to get by.

 

[The Witch]

WHy is not okay though?
Its just using something you have to your advantage.
Say wer talking about getting a job here. People always dress up for interviews, but no one ever dresses down to try and get a job do they?
My personal oppinion is pretty much exactly what jvp said. Its a tpough world out there and you gotta do what you can to get by.

Yea, I can see that

Well, I just don't think it's as good if a person wants to be taken seriously.

 

[Oblivion_XIII]

So, you're implying that people who aren't so good looking can't get a job as easily? That pisses me off. I mean, the most beautiful man or women gets a job, and doesn't know what the fuck she's doing, and fucks everything up. Where maybe the ugliest man or woman brings the company to new heights.

 

[Big Casino]

So, you're implying that people who aren't so good looking can't get a job as easily? That pisses me off. I mean, the most beautiful man or women gets a job, and doesn't know what the fuck she's doing, and fucks everything up. Where maybe the ugliest man or woman brings the company to new heights.

WHen did i once imply that? If your gunna try and act smart. Read the posts lad eh? Im asking if its ok to use beauty as an ADVANTAGE, im not saying that ugly cunts cant get work.
Also apparently (and dont ask for a source) that pretty people earn more than ugly people due to the fact that their co workers are more likely to help them out and try harder to get close to them.

 

[Harlequin]

WHy is not okay though?

Exactly. Nobody knows, we only believe. That is how morality functions. Do it if you like. No one can prove you're wrong to do so and attempting to would be an exercise in futility.

 

[Ewan]

I think it's OK because at the end of the day, life is unfair sometimes. Some people have the advantages and so all the power to them for using it. I would do the exact same if I was a good looking person. I could complain all I want if I missed out on something because I wasn't as good looking but that's the way things are in society. It's shit, but it happens.

I think most people are jealous TBH. Being beautiful has always been a desirable characteristic and so when you've got it, you're in demand. Obviously, it's one of those things you can't change. If your mate got a lot of attention for playing guitar or being good at cooking etc., you can make an effort to achieve that. Maybe apart from breast augmentations, you can't really "become beautiful". Plastic surgery pretty much looks rubbish most of the time IMO. It's one of those advantages that's random and if you don't have it, you can't get it.

 

[Valvalis]

Say wer talking about getting a job here. People always dress up for interviews, but no one ever dresses down to try and get a job do they?

But that changes over time due to the whims of the fashion industry, whereas the abilities required for a particular job often stay the same for many years, technology dependent of course. If someone went in for a job interview wearing what would be considered "business attire" from the 1950s, they would probably be laughed out the door. The bottom line for most places of business when hiring (except maybe places like Hooters ) is to find someone capable and reliable enough to hold a long-term position without a manager or supervisor having to babysit them. And even if some piggish boss hires a good-looking person without paying attention to their poor skills, if it's a place with a really heavy workload they are eventually going to realize that it was a bad decision; for example, when the company expense account shows up with massive amounts of charges for Red Bulls from the other employees having to pick up the slack from the dumb person.

And I do think, in a lot of cases, that it's wrong and disgusting for people to try to use their looks to get an advantage when people can't help the way they look when they're born, and plastic surgery is ridiculously expensive. There are plenty of good-looking, rich, or both people who are callous lowlifes and don't deserve to be catered to by people with weak wills. I can't tell you how many slutty-looking girls came into my old work trying to get out of late fees and other charges that they were obviously responsible for, and they would always try to talk to the male employees on purpose because they knew that as a fellow girl I would most likely make them own up to their responsibilites Not to mention, to put it into perspective, think about what African-Americans and other minorities in the U.S. went through before the Civil Rights era, based largely on the color of their skin alone.

 

[Channizard]

Ahh the double standard... Pretty women are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

I say, if you got it, flaunt it. If I was a size 2 with huge boobs, I'd take advantage of it. But when you're trying to get a job and go in for an interview, you have to do it tastefully. Wear a nice black business suit and pair it with a pencil skirt that highlights your legs, or you know, unbutton one or two buttons to show off a bit of cleavage, but don't go overboard for heaven's sake. ( . Y . )

As far as ugly people don't get the same respects... sadly, this is true. In some senses anyway. I remember reading an article in Cosmo about overweight women in jobs vs skinny women. The overweight women were paid less and had more hours cut, for the reason (that most offices stated) being "If you can't take care of yourself, how will you look after the company?" Really? Overweight women are gonna make the company fat?

Now this was overweight people rather than ugly.. but I can only assume the same thing stands. If you don't dress professionally and smart and hold yourself together, how are you expected to treat your work differently?

 

[Dee]

I say if you want to and you're comfortable with it, then more power to you. However, one must be prepared to faces the consequences. When one relies on their looks, the possibility of getting negative attention is increased. It opens doorways to become very uncomfortable, very sexual and sometimes not in a good way.

 

[SaShman]

If a good looking person who is under-qualified for a job and gets hired just because of their looks. Whose fault is that? Maybe the retard who hired them in the first place? Besides if the person is really so incompetant, they probably won't last long.

I see people use their looks to get free shit all the time. Sometimes some of my friends use their looks to get blokes to buy drinks for everyone.

I don't really see a problem with using your looks to get ahead. Really the blame lies with those stupid enough to fall for this kind of shit.

 

[Donald Trump]

Not to mention, to put it into perspective, think about what African-Americans and other minorities in the U.S. went through before the Civil Rights era, based largely on the color of their skin alone.

I think that's quite a bad comparison to draw. Racism is about race, not colour, the KKK don't hate white people with tans. And I think some people would find it quite offensive. Good looking people being favoured being compared to lynching and rape and slavery.

To answer Lewis' question. I have no problem with it whatsoever. People aren't equal, some are smarter than others, some are better looking. If you were beautiful but stupid (everyone knows someone like this) you'd be thick as shit to not use it to your advantage.
I also think that people are inherentlt selfish, some more than others. So people will do whatever they deem necessary to get what they want.

 

[Valvalis]

As far as ugly people don't get the same respects... sadly, this is true. In some senses anyway. I remember reading an article in Cosmo about overweight women in jobs vs skinny women. The overweight women were paid less and had more hours cut, for the reason (that most offices stated) being "If you can't take care of yourself, how will you look after the company?" Really? Overweight women are gonna make the company fat?

Honestly, this type of thinking just drives me crazy What about people who do intensive scientific research, for example--they might hole themselves up in a lab for a week without bathing or shaving, but because of their dedicated concentration find a cure for a serious disease. Being high-maintenance about your appearance doesn't say anything about your job skills unless your job particularly deals in physical appearances, such as something in the fashion industry. Really, if you spent 20 extra minutes a day studying something in your field, or even just going into work early rather than spending that time dressing yourself up, putting on makeup etc., it would add up very quickly.

I think that's quite a bad comparison to draw. Racism is about race, not colour, the KKK don't hate white people with tans. And I think some people would find it quite offensive. Good looking people being favoured being compared to lynching and rape and slavery.

I actually was referring to the overall social aversion to minorities, not just the more extreme cases such as lynching, rape, or slavery. Things like segregation, job discrimination and the like. And I think the initial qualms white people had against interacting equally with other races (during the slave trade era and such) were most likely based on their physical appearances and mannerisms; I seriously doubt the white slave traders, for example, took the time to sit down with the African people they encountered and discuss intellectual concepts before passing judgements about them, especially considering the language barriers at that time and how narrow-minded many people were about such things; you could be called a "barbarian" for pretty much everything back then, even something as simple as not tucking in your shirt. And as far as that being an offensive or inaccurate comparison, isn't it also cruel when people with sick children are turned down for jobs based on their appearances and can't afford to pay their children's hospital bills as a result? Or when kids are beaten up in school for dressing differently, such as jocks ganging up on nerds? There are plenty of cases where discrimination based on appearances is harmful. Even if it's just mentally; people commit suicide as a result of depression all the time, and depression could certainly result from this sort of thing. I probably should have made all that more clear though in my other post, thanks for pointing it out.

To answer Lewis' question. I have no problem with it whatsoever. People aren't equal, some are smarter than others, some are better looking. If you were beautiful but stupid (everyone knows someone like this) you'd be thick as shit to not use it to your advantage.

But often, "stupid" in these cases really only means that people haven't bothered to apply themselves, even though they might have the mental capabilities. For example, people in school who try flirting with their teachers just because they don't want to be bothered to do their homework, even though they might understand it perfectly well. I certainly knew plenty of people like this, there was even a teacher at one of my schools who got in trouble for succumbing to it a little too much. You can't really call such ambitious flirts "stupid" anyway, they obviously know what they're doing when they try to shmooze people over, some even to the point where they could probably go for sociology degrees and do quite well at it.

Also, something I neglected to mention before is that there are some people who have both good looks and brains, and the ones who have only the looks and use them to get ahead make the smart attractive ones look bad as well. People might judge an attractive person to be a floozy at first glance, and not give them a chance to participate in something that is intelligence-based as a result, even though they might be perfectly qualified.

I also think that people are inherentlt selfish, some more than others. So people will do whatever they deem necessary to get what they want.

I'll agree with you on this one, for the most part. It doesn't make it right though.

 

[Bambi]

If you can use your looks to an advantage, then go for it. I don't see nowt wrong with it, sure it might be abit unfair, but if you're job hunting/looking for a promotion...or anything really, do what you can to get ahead. You don't get shit handed to you on a plate

 

[Marquis of Granby]

And as far as that being an offensive or inaccurate comparison, isn't it also cruel when people with sick children are turned down for jobs based on their appearances and can't afford to pay their children's hospital bills as a result? Or when kids are beaten up in school for dressing differently, such as jocks ganging up on nerds?

firstly i think you're reading too much into this. there are certain parts of the school experience that happen, they always have and they always will. not just because kids are cruel bastards but because humans are cruel bastards. i find it ridiculous when things like this are always turned into discussions about political correctness. whatever name you want to give it, it happens, it has always happened and it always will.

as for people with sick kids being turned down for a job based on their appearance...this is the thing where people assume that everyone is obligated to give a shit about everyone else. we're not. as hal pointed out we're selfish. i certainly wouldnt give up my right to a job because i knew another applicant had a sick child. to give them the job based on that...no to give them the job even taking that into consideration would be discrimination against people without sick kids.

my thoughts on the original question. yes it's ok. any advantage is a good advantage. if an intelligent person gets a job over someone with downs syndrome, is that immediately discrimination? if someone qualified for the job gets it over someone who isnt qualified is that discrimination against unqualified people? of course it isnt. its life and sometimes life can be unfair, you just have to deal with it.

 

[CassinoChips]

Racism is about race, not colour, the KKK don't hate white people with tans.

They do, actually. Spaniards, Italians, etc. Unless you're a WASP, you aren't a friend of the KKK.

To answer the question, no, I don't really have a problem with it. It's a gift, like intelligence or a sense of humor. If it's what you have, then go with it. In some cases, it's the only thing a person has to work with.

But as far as the concept as a whole, it'll only take you so far. Eventually you're going to come to a point where your merit will determine your worth. If your merit can be determine by your looks, then hey, you've won. But if it has to be determined by other factors, then you're up a creek without a paddle.