Brains or Beauty?

[neo-dragon]

*Read carefully. This is NOT about what you prefer in others*

My coworkers started this discussion today:

Based on your current attributes, would you rather make yourself smarter or better looking?

[LilBee91]

Oo. Good topic.

Honestly, I would make myself better looking. Yes, there are times I wish I didn't make such stupid comments or understood things better, but I am lot more confident in my brains than my looks. And given the present sources of my self-consciousness, I think enhancing my beauty would do a lot less harm than increasing my intelligence.

Now I am going to contemplate what this choice means about me. I am either really shallow or way too conceited. Or, in a more positive light, I just attribute more of who I am to my intelligence and thus don't want to change that.

[starlooker]

Looks. Totally looks.

I know my IQ, and, frankly, we're at the point of diminishing returns if I upped it.

But looks? Oh, those could use help. Even in my non-pregnant, fairly self-satisfied state, I'd probably pick that.

However, if you gave me the freedom to change ANYTHING about myself, I'd pick neither of those. I'd pick my procrastination problems.

[Bean_wannabe]

Intelligence. I'm probably (in all modesty) significantly above the average in that respect anyway, but I care so little about what I look like that it's not really an option. And more intelligence can't really hurt...

[Caspian]

Looks easily. Like most of you folks, I'm already smart.

[Eaquae Legit]

Looks. Totally looks.

I know my IQ, and, frankly, we're at the point of diminishing returns if I upped it.

But looks? Oh, those could use help. Even in my non-pregnant, fairly self-satisfied state, I'd probably pick that.

However, if you gave me the freedom to change ANYTHING about myself, I'd pick neither of those. I'd pick my procrastination problems.

Absolutely all of this.

[Luet]

Yup, I said looks as well. While I am fairly satisfied with my looks, I've always wished I could be truly pretty rather than just average or, at best, cute. And like most of you, I'm fine with my level of intelligence. At least, when we don't factor in the topamax brain fog. And if I could change anything about myself? I think it would be my fixing my migraines.

[VelvetElvis]

Brains.

[Jayelle]

I like this question because the answer surprised me. I totally chose looks. I feel pretty smart (most of the time), but, while I don't hate the way I look, I'd like to look better. Brains seems easy to gain. I could just read more, study more. Looks, however, take work.

[GS]

However, if you gave me the freedom to change ANYTHING about myself, I'd pick neither of those. I'd pick my procrastination problems.

This. One thousand times this.

Otherwise, I would go with looks. I am pretty okay with both my looks and intelligence, but you can always look better right?

[neo-dragon]

You guys are surprising me. Among my colleagues, intelligence had the majority. I thought it would be the same here.

I hate sounding immodest, but in the interest of explaining my answer I have to say that I think I'm rather fortunate in both categories, but as bean_wannabe said, more intelligence can't really hurt. Being better looking might boost my confidence, but it doesn't have much practical value. On the other hand, being able to learn, deduce, and understand things quicker and better, even just a little bit, would be useful.

[Luet]

Sadly in our society, there does seem to be some practical value in being attractive. While there can actually be drawbacks to letting it be known that you are more intelligent (especially as a female). So, maybe since the female pweb population is already rather intelligent, we don't feel the need to enhance that to get further in life? I know for myself, when I see more attractive girlfriends get free stuff, get out of tickets, get self-confidence boosts from getting asked out often...well, that'd be nice once in awhile.

[starlooker]

Actually, scientifically, there's some evidence that once you reach a certain IQ level, there really is no practical gain from going higher. In terms of job types, money earned, etc. Outcomes are the same.

Improving my looks, though, I imagine would have some practical value. As well as multiple benefits in the self-confidence and shopping departments.

I'm not saying I'd want to be some kind of supermodel or be extra thin or whatever. I'd want to look like me, just, you know, better. And with no acne. Ever.

[LilBee91]

What Nomi said.

I wouldn't object to more intelligence, but I think I would rather more knowledge. And knowledge is something I know I can get more of, as Jayelle said. There is only so much you can do for your looks.

Maybe it's just a girl thing, but looks certainly seem to have practical value. Though, like intelligence, having too much can make people dislike you a bit.

On the other hand, I would rather lose looks than intelligence, so I only value them so much.

[Jayelle]

I would rather lose looks than intelligence, so I only value them so much.

This.

[neo-dragon]

Sadly in our society, there does seem to be some practical value in being attractive. While there can actually be drawbacks to letting it be known that you are more intelligent (especially as a female). So, maybe since the female pweb population is already rather intelligent, we don't feel the need to enhance that to get further in life? I know for myself, when I see more attractive girlfriends get free stuff, get out of tickets, get self-confidence boosts from getting asked out often...well, that'd be nice once in awhile.

Actually, scientifically, there's some evidence that once you reach a certain IQ level, there really is no practical gain from going higher. In terms of job types, money earned, etc. Outcomes are the same.

Improving my looks, though, I imagine would have some practical value. As well as multiple benefits in the self-confidence and shopping departments.

When I say "practical benefits" I don't really mean having a better job or more money. I guess what I meant was more along the lines of personal benefits. I (personally) would find it enjoyable and in some ways advantageous to have greater intelligence, even though I don't really need it for any practical reason. I don't think I'd get much out of being better looking though. It'd be nice, but... so what?

[starlooker]

I would rather lose looks than intelligence, so I only value them so much.

This.

Ditto.

[Claire]

I would totally choose brains! I feel like I could significantly improve my looks with a little more effort in the morning every day, but I can't improve my intelligence so easily. Which seems to be the OPPOSITE of what some others have said in this thread so...hmm, interesting!

[LilBee91]

The alt-text makes me think of this thread. "I'm so glad I have brains, but please don't give me any more. Or any less either."

[Gravity Defier]

Ugh, only one? I want both. :)


I'd be pulled, quite strongly, to picking better looks for the same reason people tend to want plastic surgery; I'd think I'd be happier because I looked better. The reality is, that's unlikely to be what would happen. And while I would like to be considered beautiful in the same way supermodels are, I don't know, attention from men weirds me out as is, and I don't think I get all that much attention. I can't imagine getting more.

I hope I'd choose more intelligence. I am not so high up on the scale that I couldn't use more. If I had to place myself, I'd say I was pretty much squarely in the average, with plenty of room for improvement. I could read more to help in this area but there's a natural limit to what I can understand, I really believe there is. With increased intelligence, this would be less of a problem.

[buckshot]

Thank God Julie my wife picks brains!

[powerfulcheese04]

Well, I would pick beauty.

Overall, I feel pretty blessed in both brains and beauty.

And as conceited as this sounds, I have lots and lots and lots of brains. There are very few people I have met that I think are genuinely smarter than I am. There are people who know more about specific topics than I do, but that could easily be remedied by study/more experience on my part.

I'm definitely not bad looking, but it could be better or easier.

[zeroguy]

Depends on details, really, but "brains". Of the two, I think that's the attribute I already excel more in, but beauty just doesn't seem useful.

Edit: after reading some of the responses, to clarify... brains would seem more useful in that I could think more quickly, make fewer mistakes, etc, and so I could get more stuff done. This talk of, like, jobs, money, general life happiness and whatever wasn't really anywhere near what I was thinking when I read the first post.

[megxers]

I had a lot of time to think about this in traffic this evening and came to the conclusion that I would specifically like a higher emotional and social intelligence level. My mother has been trying to get me to work on it for a few years now, but I haven't really progressed past the let's not when it comes especially to things like physical contact. There are certainly things about my appearance I would like to change, but they are all rather specific ones that would be very difficult to do anything about (I have not entirely gotten over the fact I once gained at least 40 pounds in an incredibly short amount of time and well, the effect that had on my skin. Also I am too wide across in the shoulders.).

[Eaquae Legit]

I would rather lose looks than intelligence, so I only value them so much.

This.

Ditto.

Likewise. I don't feel like I really need more brains, but I'd be really upset with less.

[Zombie]

BRAINS! BRAINS! BRAINS!

[Wind Swept]

I chose looks because I'm fat, and being less fat is my current number one priority.

However, gut aside, I consider myself attractive enough. The desire to be less fat is really more out of a desire to be healthier than to look better, so perhaps I shouldn't have taken it into consideration...

Oh, well. Once I'm down 75-100 lbs., I'll line up for a brain booster.

[CezeN]

Definitely brains, as I'm not as self-assured in my intelligence as most of you guys seem to be. Maybe that's because my life has barely started and I've yet to have done any significant accomplishments that would justify intellectual confidence? When I manage to graduate college, get into law school, and graduate that - maybe then I'll use those successes as benchmarks to warrant intellectual satiety.

And, though I did do moderately above average on the SAT and get into a top 20 school; I still remember those geniuses in High School who everyone respected and went to for help. Those people obviously gifted beyond gifted level. That is the level that qualifies as intelligent-beyond-improving in my eyes. If the average SAT is roughly around 1500-1600, and the average for the genius type of person I'm talking about is 2200-2400, then they are almost above my 2030 to the same degree I'm above average. It reminds me of how the difference between Bean's score and Ender's score was essentially the same gap between Ender and everyonelse.

On the other hand, I feel like beauty - looks - is more easily pliable than brains. I remember working out in High School unsuccessfully, and complaining about all of it in the work out thread here. I hated how skinny I was. Now, with the right amount of freedom to eat as much as I want and proper equipment, I'm actually getting complimented on my body by girls(and boys...). More importantly, I like what I see in the mirror, fit my clothes, and thus my self-esteem has shot up.

And while, likewise, you can try to sharpen your intellect like you would cultivate your own body - there's less wiggle room. Sure, you can increase your factual knowledge, but concrete intelligence isn't what most people think of when they think of intelligence. Natural, fluid intelligence - not facts but your ability to understand things and reason - is more set in stone.

[Petra]

As a very smart person who recently gained 30 pounds and then lost 20, trust me when I say looks matter. My bosses are taking me more seriously, more people are willing to ask me to dance at swing dances, and my friends don't feel so self-conscious around me.

I'm sure most of it is the change in my confidence. But that's just it: I'm never self-conscious about how smart I am. I know how smart I am. I am self-conscious about my weight/skin/etc.

[Platypi007]

Well, I voted for the wrong one... I meant to put "looks" but I had considered, and clicked "intelligence" and I didn't change it before I hit vote...

I'm pretty intelligent, and I would love to have more intelligence, but I am not sure it would do as much good to me as improving my looks some. I don't think I'm bad looking, but I'm overweight and probably don't have the best fashion sense... Better looking could improve my chances of finding a good job.

Of course, if I were more intelligent maybe I could gain more knowledge of how to make myself look better, and would maybe try to be more healthy/lose weight and my looks would improve because of that, so maybe I will stick with intelligence since it was what I really want anyway.

I really want more money so I can do whatever the frell I feel like and not care about my frelling looks. :D

[Dr. Mobius]

I'm pretty happy with both my looks and intellect. There's room for improvement in both, but I'm fine with how I am.

[Rei]

I'm not sure which I'd go for. I can hold my own with intellect, but I lack most of the discipline to actually make use of it. Some part of me feels that if I were actually smarter, I'd make myself be self-disciplined anyway, even though it takes work. At the same time, I'm already well ahead of most people I have to deal with, nevermind the people who are above me, and I kind of feel that an increase in intelligence would only make things even more frustrating and that looks would be the better option.

Along with that, there is a discrepancy in my mind between how I feel I should look and how I actually look. It would be really, really lovely to look how I feel I should.

At the end of the day, if intelligence comes with self-discipline, that's what I'd go for, though. And if not, well, I don't know.

[Carly.]

And while, likewise, you can try to sharpen your intellect like you would cultivate your own body - there's less wiggle room. Sure, you can increase your factual knowledge, but concrete intelligence isn't what most people think of when they think of intelligence. Natural, fluid intelligence - not facts but your ability to understand things and reason - is more set in stone.

I definitely agree with this, so, brains for me.

[TerresaWiggin]

I would definitely pick intellect. I don't care as much about my social life as I do about accomplishing something important.
While I intent to do this with the intelligence that I could accomplish more if I had additional intelligence.
Not to sound conceded I feel similarly to others in that I am pretty intelligent already but while you may get paid the same at a couple IQ points higher I feel the contribution you can offer to society increases greatly and it is therefore a better choice to be more intelligent.

[Boothby]

My looks are good enough for any imaginable purpose.

Plus, *I* don't have to deal with them on a personal level (only indirectly--basically, what OTHERs think about my looks)

But intellect....that's my bread and butter! And my pleasure, and my pass-times! It's how I make my money, AND it's how I have my fun. And I think--unless I'm deluding myself--that women like me well enough for my looks, but it's my personality, sense of humor, and intellect that are my biggest selling points (if we're to talk about "that" sort of "fun").

I'd also fix my gamey leg and back, but you didn't ask about those....