# How happy are you with your appearance? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125 "2011-09-04T01:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/21 "2011-09-04T13:16:06Z")
Somewhat happy. I’m homely as a mud fence, but I have a \*killer \*sense of style and am always flatteringly dressed and turned-out. I still have ten or fifteen pounds to lose, so am not thrilled with my weight, but my graying hair and wrinkles don’t bother me a bit. Things could have gone a \*lot \*worse with me, looks-wise, and I consider myself pretty damn lucky. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/22 "2011-09-04T13:39:59Z")
I’m 55 and weigh less now than when I was 28 and I was thin even then. So with clothing, I like how I look. I hate what gravity has done to the girls, but I have much fewer skin problems than when I was a teenager, so that’s a plus. I’m doing the best I can with what I got, so I voted 4. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/23 "2011-09-04T13:51:45Z")
Meh, I’m 54, but I have a full head of hair, it’s still brown, have decent teeth, not fat, and the ladies think I’m handsome. So yeah, I’m good to go. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/24 "2011-09-04T13:52:33Z")
I lost a lot of weight (~160 lbs), so while I should be happy with my appearance, it doesn’t seem to have made me feel any better about myself in that way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud that I was able to do it, but a) there’s all this loose skin that is extremely unappealing and 2) no one else seems to give a crap about it. Add to that the fact that I’m bald and gray, and it’s an overall losing proposition. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/25 "2011-09-04T13:58:28Z")
I voted the lamest answer. Neither unhappy or happy. Because I really don’t put that much attention on my looks. I never have. When someone says I’m good-looking, I feel a little something. I guess relief? Because it’s just by accident and good luck…I certainly don’t do anything to make myself look good. I will say I feel better about my looks than I did when I was younger. I looked okay as a kid, but once I hit puberty…well, I guess no one likes how they did they were in middle school. High school pictures show a very dorky, nerdy looking girl–glasses and bird’s nest hair and physical awkwardness galore. I don’t have too many pictures of me in college, but I wince at the ones I do have. But I’m not thinking I’ll look back on my pictures today and feel quite the same way. So maybe that means I’m happy with my looks. Or at least happier. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/26 "2011-09-04T14:01:43Z")
I voted “somewhat happy.” I realize that I’ll never have movie-star good looks, but I’ve been working out a lot after my operation, and I’m starting to get an actual, you know, rockin’ bod. Photos in the gallery. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/27 "2011-09-04T15:30:16Z")
not happy for I am too fat ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/28 "2011-09-04T16:06:55Z")
I’m neither happy or unhappy. I’m 71 now and things are what they are; not much I can do about it. One thing’s for sure; with me, what you see is what you get: An old guy and that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/29 "2011-09-04T16:28:00Z")
Somewhat unhappy. I’ve always been very self-conscious, and I think I look hideous, really, but I recognise that I am nuts and that feeling hideously unattractive is part of my nuttiness. And no, you can’t see a photo. I think I’m pretty ugly, but I also think plenty of people are uglier than me and have no aesthetic taste either. I, at least, have some style and panache. So I’m only _somewhat_ unhappy with my appearance when I’m in mentally stable mode, but I’m capable of being _extremely_ unhappy about it at times. This is part of why I chose to be a musician and perform onstage in front of audiences. A lot of people in the performing arts are overcompensating for shyness and feelings of unattractiveness. It’s _really_ common. And everyone thinks we’re all egomaniacs. Some performers are, but many are the exact opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/30 "2011-09-04T16:29:41Z")
I voted happy - since today I am happy. Some days less so, but everyone has days like that. I am exercising, and have lost most of the weight that I wanted to, although I have more to go. I used to feel terribly about how I looked, until I realized that if I was unhappy, I should do something about it. I have done what I could, and need to accept the rest. It also helps when you have a kid constantly telling you that you are beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/31 "2011-09-04T16:36:22Z")
1, if not lower. I’ve been overweight since childhood and I don’t like the way I look. I’ve been called ugly more than once in my life so obviously it’s not just me. ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/32 "2011-09-04T17:22:25Z")
I voted “somewhat unhappy”. I’ve lost 40 lbs and I’m a normal weight now but I feel like I can lose another 5-10. But I know that even if I do there’s still something I won’t be happy with. I used to focus on characters’ physical appearances when reading books growing up and I think I still have a misconception that I’d be happier if I were better-looking. Pretty immature but I can’t seem to let it go. I should just be happy that I’m healthy and not freakish-looking or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/33 "2011-09-04T17:37:32Z")
I voted myself a 5. I’m young and healthy and stylish, so I’m taking full advantage of it (because I know I’m going to lose these looks someday). I could stand to exercise more, though. ---
**Author:** ![uuaschbaer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@uuaschbaer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uuaschbaer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/34 "2011-09-04T17:45:59Z")
Ok hands up who here thinks they have no sense of style. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/35 "2011-09-04T18:03:27Z")
Somewhat happy right now. At other times I might be somewhat unhappy. I’m not too old-looking for my age or too heavy or too skinny, and I do dress well - strangers quite often compliment me on my clothes or ask where I got them. There are quite a few things I’d like to improve, but it could be a lot worse. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/36 "2011-09-04T18:12:32Z")
I could lose a few years. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/37 "2011-09-04T18:40:17Z")
I have no sense of style! I’m OK with that though. But I’m somewhat happy with my appearance; at 53 probably happier overall than I was 20 years ago because gray hair, emerging wrinkles, the occasional chin-hair and saggy bits no longer bother me. Much. I was never a raving beauty and have never placed a whole lot of importance on my looks, overall. I’m thin, strong, relatively fit & healthy and am often told I look much younger than my actual age. I’m sad for the respondents who feel ugly. I suspect none of you really are. **Rushgeekgirl** certainly isn’t ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/38 "2011-09-04T18:46:10Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > I remember seeing your pic in the Doper portrait gallery. You looked like a completely normal person to me. Did something happen that gave you the idea that you were especially ugly? ☹ > > I think a lot of us tend to be our own harshest critics. Thanks y’all but there’s a reason all my pics are from the same angle and limited to head shots. But then in that photo you can’t see my real hair either! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/39 "2011-09-04T19:20:44Z")
My partner and I have been through this many times. There is literally no part of me that I like. This has nothing to do with self-worth or self-esteem or anything else like that, just esthetic. I am simply not the physical type that I respond to positively . . . not in any way whatsoever. And photographers shy away from me too. I’ve seen lots of photos where I’m just outside the frame. But I find other ways to create beauty in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125/40 "2011-09-04T19:40:00Z")
I’m almost entirely happy with the way I look except that when someone takes a picture of me I look like I have a double chin and extremely unkempt hair, and am either stoned or walleyed. So if I could look good in photographs as well as when I glance at myself in the mirror, then I’d be satisfied. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-happy-are-you-with-your-appearance/595125.md?page=3)