This thread is meant simply as a bit of light relief.
George Clooney is in Australia and a woman's magazine
is , running a competitiion, "Win a date with George
Clooney." This gave me the idea for this thread.

How important is a person's appearance in the way
we respond to them? Or does a person's appearance
not matter in the slightest?

For Example,

"Some men are handsome, some are not
A female looks at what they've got
She may marry Mickey Rooney
But in her dreams it'll be - George Clooney!"

Agree - Why? Why not?

Lexi in the light hearted spirit you talk of, but truth too.
I think it matters like it or not at some stage in our life, if not always we know this and do our best to fit an image.
Like actors on stage, middle of a shopping center voices are raised, to attract attention or such.
However beauty is skin deep the real person is often so very much more than attractive , inside.
I am puzzled by the increasing need to look good while behaving badly.

I know I am only a sample of one, Lexi.

But I have certainly found over the years that being impossibly handsome has helped me in every facet of my life, from my career progression which has been unhindered, right through to my ability to select the perfect mate from the legions that pursued me.

Mind you, it does occasionally have its drawbacks, as it did when George called me to ask if I could stay out of the same city as him, during his visit. But heck, a small price to pay.

Dear Belly,

I remember ages ago being told what to wear to a
particular job interview at a very prestigious
conservative institution. I followed the advice
given to the letter and ended up getting the job
which I later came to regret. It was the most
hierarchical institution I'd ever worked for -
and everything was done "according to the rules."
I ended up leaving after a decent period of time.
The name looked good on my CV - but despite the
awesome atmosphere of the place (architecturally) -
it was the most boring place on earth.

As for people behaving badly? I've seen people being
sick as a result of drinking too much. Not a good
look.

Dear Pericles,

Why am I not suprised that you'd give George Clooney
a run for his money? Silver foxes rule!

I think appearances, as distinct from beauty are very important.

To me, someone who takes some time in their presentation, is paying me a compliment. They are saying I'm worth them putting in the effort to present themselves well.

I am turned off by the fad of young blokes presenting with a day or two of bumfluff on their chin & cheeks. It always seems to be the most SNAG types who do this, probably to try to look a little more masculine. There is nothing masculine in being unshaven.

I am also turned off by those natty little beards, affected by some politicians, & many academics. In my experience the neater the beard the less value is the wearer. Having been forced to "grow" a couple of times, when I ran out of razor blades out in the islands, I know how much time it takes to keep them neat. Most wearers are not worth that much time.

I am turned off by having to look away as a lady sits down, to avoid discovering what colour her knickers are today.

Yes presentation says it all.

On the other hand George Clooney or supermodel looks is an equal turnoff. I believe this is some sort of stereotyping of mine, & a weakness, but it is still there. In my experience the beautiful "honey pot" girl, with all the blokes buzzing around her was rarely worth the effort. I have never been interested in honey pot blokes.

I am also turned off by fat people, which I equate with a slack personality, quite probably wrongly. But the association is there from my sport playing youth, & I have seen nothing to change it since. Perhaps if I followed Sumo wrestling, I may change that one.

oh lovely lively lexie...lets let it be lite
[by all means]..but hey let me be frank

there is eye candy...and there is dependable randy andy
see that animals pick their best mate..and pretty faces bring back the beast in us all..

so the beast mate with the best genes
then settle down to raise the offspring..
via a good solid fathering..working man..in jeans

the pretty face reminds me of the song ''when your in love with a beautiful woman'..[when you wed abouve your atation]..ie an ugly scores a pretty...[of either sex]

the lovers love
while the father parents
right back to eve..who envisions god...while settling down with cro-magnumb [ape like adam]..so eve the ape..took the better genes..and were allk the better for it

we should be selling his sperm
then the world will become more ex-sitable...

just as flirting
or imagining..the fanta/see,..
boosts the loving in the head and the bed

god bless you georgie
let me have ya baby

we gladly accept your discards
keep aiming for the sky guy

do go the teaze

pleaze

What great posts I've been given thus far.
Thank You.

I admit that I am influenced by appearances to
a certain degree. I guess consciously or subconsciously
we all are. Although probably more now than I used to be.
I can't really criticise what people wear though. All I
have to do is think back to some of the gear that I used
to wear (cringe) ... (bra-less and an Afro come to mind).

Dear Hasbeen,

I agree with you about differentiating between appearances
and beauty.

I also dislike "fuzz" on a man's face. It does
seem to be a bit of a trend now though. My younger brother
(a school principal) and I have constant arguments about
his facial hair. I suspect he's trying for the "academic"
image - but he'd look so much better without it (in my opinion).

As for George Clooney. I think he actually goes against the
"stereotype" of "male model" or "Hollywood Hunk." That's
possibly his drawcard.

Dear Johan (OUG),

Very clever post. Loved it!

i didnt want to be probing too deep..or turn on any lite
but the rain has made me wet...allready..so how much more wet can i get?

anyhow...couples play role play
[or so sitcoms has taught me]

so i will ignore the docter..for[play]way
and the tv repair dude...and some other fantasims
[that so readilly come to mind...and pass info as to why i think it is so]

yesterday i cauight two incidences..that shed lite
one on that 70's show...and the other on lesbe friends

they both involved other 'attraction''
[plus..mention of the pay off..by staying mute]

mood is everything..[i guess]

its not the one..in the dark
as much as the one..in the mind

or whats on the mind..of the one besides us
[in the marital bedhead]...but heck...we know our own mind

gentle men dont talk
genetal men do...[for that time that words arnt enough]

OHHH..heck

im taking the red pill
the blue one makes my mind wander

Dear Johan (OUG),

I'm going to get a bit personal here
(probably a mistake) but you've inspired
me with your writing so I'm going to share
what I found in one of my diaries writen
back in 2000. Here goes:

2000

"I am grateful for the hug I got to give
my father just before sailing for America.
(He died of a massive coronary a few years
later).

I am grateful and proud of my family now -
and proud of the way we look out for each other.
I think of the love and pride I feel for my brothers,
the peace I'm starting to find in my mother's
presence.

We can be open now I hope about needing each other.
She needs a daughter and I need a Mum - and I can take
pleasure in telling her of my affection, I know this
time she won't be counting.

My mother has been my biggest booster, I hers.
I marvel at her capability with which she has organised
her life. Will you look at my mother, I think.
What a beautiful woman. What a knockout!

I am grateful for the miracle of my marriage: that we
managed to find each other, that we get to begin our
days together, share our lives together, respect each
other, support each other, and let the other be.
Sometimes coming home at the end of the day, I worry that
as in a dream it will all have disappeared. We should
take nothing for granted.

You know the Aztecs were terrified each night when the
sun set that it would not rise again the next morning.
They were grateful for each dawn.

It takes a long time to become a person.
Longer than they tell you. Longer than I thought.
I am grateful for my past, it has given me the present.
I want to do well by the future."

Lexi, A little story for your brother.

I have twice sailed into Mooloolaba, in the old days, when it was still a fishing village. On both occasions I had taken a bit of a battering, during a longish passage at sea, & had for some time before that been with out razor blades. This is in the days when battery shavers were not of much use after a few months in the damp salty environment of a boat.

I had many friends in the place in those days. After a couple of days, on both occasions I got round to buying some razor blades, & headed for the yacht club showers.

When I emerged I ran into the club Commodore who exclaimed almost in shock, "Phil, you look 10 years younger without the beard".

The next time some years later it was his wife who was the first one I met after shaving. She reached out & ran the back of her hand down my cheek & said, "MMM, much nicer without all that hair".

I have not worn a beard since.

Dear Hasbeen,

Thank You for sharing your experiences
and while I appreciate your sharing -
I don't think my brother's about to change.
Also it doesn't help that his wife claims she likes his
facial hair. Clever lady, she always backs him
in everything (or at least in what she considers
the "small stuff"). But I'll try and see how we go.
He's got a good face - and he spoils it with all
that unsightly fuzz. He's convinced it gives him an
air of "authority." I can't complain about him too much
I suppose. I used to be paranoid about hair lengths on women.
Long was good, short was bad.

Isn't it funny how we do tend to judge people by
appearances. We tend to go with what is acceptable
social behaviour controlled by social norms -
shared rules and guidelines that prescribe the
appropriate behaviour in a given situation.
Norms define how people "ought" to behave under
particular circumstances in a particular society.

For example if we were asked why do we eat with
knives and forks, or why do men wear pants instead
of skirts, or why do we marry only one person at a
time - we'd probably say, "Because it's right."
"Because that's the way it's done." "Because it's
the custom." Or even, "I don't know."

We expect people to keep their lawns mowed, to
refrain from picking their noses in public, to show
up on time for appointments and to wear a matching
pair of shoes. Those who do not conform would
probably be considered peculiar or eccentric.

A man who walks down a street wearing nothing on the
upper half of his body would probably today not get
too much attention. However a man who walks down the
street wearing nothing on the lower part of his body
would probably get arrested. That's because the
requirement in our society is that people cover their
genitals and buttocks in public. The same as the
desecration of the national flag and contemptuous
use of religious symbols all bring a strong social
reaction.

Remember when long hair for men was frowned upon? When
Mohawks were considered weird? Today - there's a much
wider choice available - long hair, short hair,
dyed hair, helmets, wigs, even bald heads.

Still I wonder how many of us would react if our children
shaved their heads, or wore green hair or sported wigs?

Remember when blue jeans jeans were the traditional clothes of the
working class. Today they are desirable "designer" items
for members of the middle and upper classes as well.

cuss toms are a funny thing...
is it still acceptable to powder your wig?

or take a sniffter of the snuff box
the pants issue im just not getting into it

[hippy chicksas for egsample get hot when guys wear the dress
[it reveals they can be pushed arround..given the right tempt-rational]...a skirt just makes one too accesable

bonobo's for egsample would all wear skirts
but i will zip on the issue as 365/24/7[oh]..keven would say

ps my ex liked the beard..because it was constantly soft
disliked my favourite member because he was allways hard

hated fresh shaven stubble cause it was sharp
refused to trim the hedge when it got too large

so i sat back and let the weeds and seeds grow
and thats all i care to let others know

we rap as we did sow
wether we shrink or grow

one day i expect i will grow up
its only a feeling..but feeling's pass

If only I had known this yesterday, Lexi.

>>However a man who walks down the
street wearing nothing on the lower part of his body
would probably get arrested. That's because the
requirement in our society is that people cover their
genitals and buttocks in public.<<

I suppose now I'll have to plead guilty.

Drat.

Dear Pericles,

Don't ever plead guilty.

Plead "religious beliefs!" ;-)

Dear Johan (OUG),

To each their own, I guess.

Some like beards, I never did.
Although I do like body hair on a man,

I guess what many of us look for in a
partner is someone who satisfies our
emotional appetite. People either connect
or they don't.

It looks like this thread has had its run
so Thanks to all who contributed and I want
to wish everybody on this Forum - all the
Joys of this Festive Season, and a Healthy,
Safe, and Happy New Year 2012!

Live, Love, and Be Happy!

its the time of the year..for people to slow down i guess
that geriateric time of life as the world awaits the new year

im trying to think laterally on appearances
[where most of govt now is in hyatus]
teachers resting...kids partying

people getting ready to tell kids
it appears...santa done it

even my mind has switched into low gear
[dragging words out of it isnt normally this hard]

i guess i need a spark..a topic..
im missing the inputs of so many posters

oh well this too will pass
have a great time lexie
and the rest of you..
too tired to post?

we cant have said it all
but then the topic speaks for itself

cheers
who took the ho out of xmass

Pericles...

it won't matter what you plead if the evidence doesn't stand up in court.

Dear Lexi, your advice to plead 'religious beliefs' is a bold tactic and prompted me to do some further research overnight.

A better course of action is available when the law tries to deal with members of the public…

Were his evidence felt by a magistrate to be of sufficient weight, the most satisfactory outcome for Pericles would be to ask for it to be discharged it out of hand.

Oooooh, you are awful, Wm Trevor!

>>Were his evidence felt by a magistrate to be of sufficient weight, the most satisfactory outcome for Pericles would be to ask for it to be discharged it out of hand.<<

And the worst would be the magistrate's pronouncement, de minimis non curat lex.

Thank You Gentlemen - this is getting interesting.
And you're both wicked!

"de minimus non curat lex," may well apply in
the case of Pericles but I think that the Judge
may ask for prima facie evidence as well as
perhaps noting the practical advantages in this case
of 'De Minimis," before making his judgement.

"And you're both wicked!"

"Ut est scaphium dico kettle niger", Lexi… You're the one who introduced the 'Emperor's no clothes' concept into your thread discussion.

From your reply I can only assume that a successful outcome for Pericles is dependent upon the Judge requiring him to "sit on my prima facie and tell me that you love me"?

There is precedent in the judgements of The Hon Mr Justice Benjamin Hill.

Why do you assume the judge is male? Was it the wig or gown?

Dear Wm.Trevor,

Ah yes, Pot - kettle - black.

I introduced the "Emperor's no clothes," concept -
but you guys certainly embellished it. I merely
responded. Chill.

As Sacha Baron would say - "Can you
take your finger out of my a..?"

I was chilled, Lexi, and the intention was convivial, not in the slightest was I meaning to be slighting. Merely attempting to continue the 'punny' approach to posts, as I enjoy the intellectual gymnastics this can involve when the exchange is light-hearted and well meant – I humbly accept not all my attempts at jokey sarcasm work.

As remediation I'll gift you a *non-convivial* line I had been saving up…

…I think it's unfortunate the OLO layout places a photo of the author of this drivel above text which reads Article Tools!…

That might indeed present a challenge when presenting the evidence, Wm Trevor.

>>Why do you assume the judge is male?<<

Although a good lawyer could always argue lex posterior.

ok some olo members dribble
http://emotevortex.blogspot.com/?v=0

for want of a better place to put it

it moralises a summation of a guys blog page
weaves arround a few issues...that prove..appearances arnt every thing

and best its a cut and paste
so hasdnt got my thick fingers all over it

this court case thingy
was that related to a dress
or the bonbo ob-session

anyhow we thought it was over
so the edit is my alternate amusment

That explains it Pericles, I've always got the concept of injunctive relief arse backwards.

Setting aside for the moment your novel concept of "…a good lawyer…", I accept your postulate in this case – as did the judge.

[Sidebar: Are you as impressed as I am that Lexi is on such intimate terms with Sacha Baron Cohen?]

Dear WmTrevor,

I am surprised that you have taken things so
seriously, and as Pericles once said,
"Imagine if you'd thought that I was being
facetious." ;-)

cont'd ...

BTW ; Why are you surprised about Sacha?
We're both fans of professional wrestling, and we're
both left-handed.

Dearest Lexi, thanks – an excellent demonstration of contrasting the important difference between appearance and substance.

Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the recipient who doesn't get it. In the above case me.

I should have noticed your use of the appellation 'Dear 'rather than mentally tripping over 'Chill'. In a season of (how does it go) "Peaceing on the goodwill of all men on earth" I really was mortified that I'd been misapprehended.

Plus, I was slightly annoyed that between Pericles and yourself, I've had to add a Latin to English translator link to my browser toolbar.

also… isn't it sad to think that 98% of lawyers give the rest of them a bad name?

Dear WmTrevor,

You Sir, are a Class Act!"

Merry Mistress and a Happy All Year!

cont'd ...

One final joke ...

All About Appearance -

The Yuppie and Yuppette, ever alert to "appearance"
were both very concerned over the girl their son
was dating.

"Son..."

the Father began, "I should think you'd be a little more
particular over the company you keep."

"Dad," the boy replied. "If you're talking about Mitzi,
I'm sorry but she's the best girl I can get with the
car I have."

Oh dear.

ok my search for appearance jokes
http://www.google.com/search?q=appearance+jokes

A woman says to her husband,..‘Our neighbour says I’ve got the skin of an eighteen-year-old girl.’

‘Yeah?’ says the husband. ‘Well give it back.
You’re getting it all wrinkled.’

Boy,..to friend,..‘What do you first notice in a girl?’ Friend,
‘It depends which way she’s facing.’

Don’t you love nature, despite what it did to you?

Girl,..to boyfriend,..‘Do you think I’m vain?’
Boyfriend, ‘No. Why do you ask?’
Girl, ‘Because girls..as good-looking as me usually are.’

I have the body of a god – Buddha.

The invisible man
married an invisible woman.
Their kids were nothing to look at.

Time is a great healer,
but a lousy beautician.

Whatever kind of look you were going for,
you missed.

Why do more women pay attention to their appearance..than to improving their minds?

Most men are stupid but few are blind.

You’re dark and handsome.
When it’s dark, you’re handsome.

readers digest

Change in Appearance--Tammy L. Vitulano

While doing renovations in our house,
one of the workmen paused to look at a flattering photo of me wearing makeup and a fancy gown.

I heard him let out a low whistle
and ask my son, Joshua, "Who’s that?"

"That’s my mom," Joshua answered.
"Wow," the man said,.."my mother doesn’t look like that."

"Yeah," my son said,
"well, neither does mine."

MY wife asked me to look at the neighbours car
and fix it...a job that took two days.

Then I discovered the battery was dead
and the starter was shot, so I fixed those too.

Days later I proudly handed the woman her keys saying,
"Now your car is good..for many more miles."

"Thanks," she said.
"All I care is that it runs..long enough
to make it to the dealer.

I’m trading it in tomorrow.

Dear Johan (OUG),

Thanks for the jokes.
Enjoyed them very much.
Will add them to my collection.