Would you rather be born good looking or born smart?

Read this entire post before answering the poll.

I know the vast majority here is male, but this poll is about female attractiveness and intelligence. To answer it, imagine that you're female and then decide which is better. Look at things from a woman's perspective, and try to imagine the likely life ramifications of these attributes.

The poll question is very specfic, asking you to choose which natural-born advantage you'd rather have in life. And for the sake of completeness, say that the other attribute is just average. So if you choose superior attractiveness, your intelligence is average, and vice versa.

I'll lay down my own opinion on this later, after the poll has had a fair number of responses. I wouldn't want to bias it after all.

(See page 4 for my opinion)

And here are some good definitions of these qualities suggested by another poster:

Hm, I think these things should be added to each... (rather some people assumed this or not.) If you're smart it's more then just book smarts. Things are just easily understood with you. You can look at any situation, know exactly whats going on, and know exactly what to do. (like MacGyver. No studying could get you up to MacGyver level.) Not only do you know this stuff, but you know how to express your thoughts really well in either words or drawings or whatever. (no point in having an idea if you don't know how to get it out of your head.)

If your appealing you're more than just another pretty face. There's a unique air to your face/figure that makes any guy turn his head in awe. Things that if someone tried to copy with plastic surgery they'd end up looking like something made by Picasso. It's this uniqueness that makes you stand out above other "hot" girls. You keep this air with you even though aging and child birth So you're still beautiful at 40 with 3 kids.VacantPsalm

I tend to think being born smart would be a richer more intense life , even with sadness

this quote seems to show how I feel about it

"Better a Socrates unsatisfied than a fool satisfied; and better a fool unsatisfied than a pig satisfied."
John Stuart Mill

Looks get everything. Matt-4542

everything being women?

you are wrong ... there really is more to life than looks

[QUOTE="Matt-4542"]Looks get everything. soren008

everything being women?

what else is there?

Super Smarts!!

Because....
1.who needs looks when you are making hundreds of thousands in cash?!
2. many women are attracted to power...I'm not trying to suggest anything hear but it's true!!
3. With the cash your making from your amazing job because of your intelligence, you can get surgery to make you look great!!

Super brains OWNE'S super looks!!

[QUOTE="Matt-4542"]Looks get everything. soren008

everything being women?

you are wrong ... there really is more to life than looks

Well, you can learn and become smarter, but you can't really make yourself more good-looking, unless you get plastic surgery.... I'll go with good looks.Azurr

Born smart.

I kind of feel sorry for a lot of good-looking girls. Some of them only see value in themselves because guys want to shag them. It's a really shallow form of self-respect.

If you value looks in others more than their characters then that means you devalue your own character, its self-hate almost.

But it is sometimes hard to see beyond superficialities when we're living in a material world and I am a material girl.

"Better a Socrates unsatisfied than a fool satisfied; and better a fool unsatisfied than a pig satisfied."
John Stuart Millsoren008

Very nice quote!

[QUOTE="soren008"]

[QUOTE="Matt-4542"]Looks get everything. Matt-4542

everything being women?

you are wrong ... there really is more to life than looks

yes but you wouldnt have much of a mind

"everything easier" you talking about a job, friends, & girlfriends etc then you are right

If thats what you mean, and your desires really are just materialistic?

then in my eyes you would seem like a dull person who is markedly more concerned with material things than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values

Being intelligent doesn't make you a good person, just like being good-looking doesn't make you a bad person.

I strive not to judge people on looks or even intelligence but on their character, their emotional and spiritual maturity.

Remember there is the body, mind AND soul.

Born good looking, u can't be born intelligent (duh) and u can learn no matter who u are. By being born smart, I guessing you mean: things just come easier too you in the 1st place, but everyone can work hard and even work hard at learning how to cope without naturally being sharp (work hard at working smart). In fact many many people are not as talented but by will they can do better then those who are, just by the amount of effort they put in.

Attitude is the most important and anyone's can change.

btw I hate the term smart!! people use it in so many ways but for me it means being talented at learning

Edit: After looking at the poll itself, I am confused. Intelligent or smart? Because they are not the same thing and there are no intelligent babies

I chose good looks for 2 reasons.1 is that you get a hot partner. 2 is you can always become smart especially if you are average already and this is alot harer to do with looks.torontomapleafs

U just said u wanna a hot guy!!!

Don't worry I know what u mean, I just had to say it.

Super Smarts!!

Because....
1.who needs looks when you are making hundreds of thousands in cash?!
2. many women are attracted to power...I'm not trying to suggest anything hear but it's true!!
3. With the cash your making from your amazing job because of your intelligence, you can get surgery to make you look great!!

Super brains OWNE'S super looks!!

Agent_305

It seems like there's more pressure on a woman to be pretty than there is on a man.SolidSnake35

Mainly because nobody knows what makes a guy hot. Some say muscle, but George Clooney's considered hot, but I've never seen him as muscley as the Terminator. Some say hair, but we all know girls want to get in bed with the Blue Man Group. What makes a guy hot?

[QUOTE="Agent_305"]

Super Smarts!!

Because....
1.who needs looks when you are making hundreds of thousands in cash?!
2. many women are attracted to power...I'm not trying to suggest anything hear but it's true!!
3. With the cash your making from your amazing job because of your intelligence, you can get surgery to make you look great!!

Super brains OWNE'S super looks!!

nickelarcade

U guys would have been lesbians. How would u know?

Atrativenes is what matters nowadays unfortunatlypspdseagle

Its like i said, if you are good looking you can get whatever you want. Its really unfair.

Smart. I wouldn't appreciate life much if I were stupid.pianist

Have you ever been stupid, or were you always smart? If I may, "ignorance is bliss".

Well I don't really know what diference being male or female makes. ....mattyftm

There is definitely a difference in how society values a female's attractiveness and intelligence, and a male's. This will go off-topic if we discuss it, but in general physical attrativeness is more important in females, and intelligence is more important in males.

I think some of you may have missed the point when answering the poll. You're answering as yourselves (as a guy). I'm asking which you'd prefer if you were born as a girl.

There is definitely a difference in how society values a female's attractiveness and intelligence, and a male's. This will go off-topic if we discuss it, but in general physical attrativeness is more important in females, and intelligence is more important in males.

I think some of you may have missed the point when answering the poll. You're answering as yourselves (as a guy). I'm asking which you'd prefer if you were born as a girl.

Reality_Chek

I know I keep pointing that out but they don't care.

Btw: the poll says "intelligence" when u answer that doesn't really make since:?

Smart. I wouldn't appreciate life much if I were stupid.pianist

Actually being 'stupid' might make it easier to apreciate life in some ways

[QUOTE="pianist"]Smart. I wouldn't appreciate life much if I were stupid.Video_Game_King

Have you ever been stupid, or were you always smart? If I may, "ignorance is bliss".

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Martin Luther King, Jr. - "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

Molly Ivins- "I believe that ignorance is the root of all evil. And that no one knows the truth.|

Intelligence if I still get to be average looking.