# Pretty & Dumb or Smart & Ugly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345 "2008-06-18T15:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/1 "2008-06-18T15:25:22Z")
I just remembered a poll that my 11th grade English teacher posed to our class: “If you could choose, would you prefer to be brilliant and ugly, or beautiful w/ a mental deficiency?” (Paraphrased, but that was the main point of the question) The poll results in the class stunned me. 80% of the class said they would rather be beautiful w/ a mental handicap. I was in the with the 20% group. I was making the argument that’d I’d rather be a Stephen Hawkins, who despite his physical limitations, has obviously made quite a large impact on human scientific progress. I forget what point the other 80% were arguing, because I was dumbstruck people would willingly give up intelligence just to be pretty. :eek: Obviously the Dope isn’t a good representation of the general public for this kind of question, but what would you all prefer? Pretty but a little dumb, or ugly but brilliant? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/2 "2008-06-18T15:32:04Z")
While I appreciate pretty women, a lot of the women I find attractive have been described by others as ‘plain’. So ‘ugly’ for most guys I know would probably be ‘plain’ (i.e. not ugly, but not especially pretty) to me. And I’m much more attracted to women with brains than not. So I’d go for the brains. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/3 "2008-06-18T15:46:38Z")
If it was only for a short amount of time, I’d like to give “pretty but dumb” a try. I’ve always been the “ugly but intelligent” type, never really tried ‘pretty’ before, it might be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/4 "2008-06-18T15:47:39Z")
I’ve done pretty well in life considering the side of this equation I was born on, so I see no need to change. _(hint: I’m not pretty)_ ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/5 "2008-06-18T15:47:53Z")
I’m smart and fat, which equals “ugly” in most men’s minds. Still wouldn’t change it though. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/6 "2008-06-18T15:52:15Z")
I’d be pretty but dumb in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/7 "2008-06-18T15:55:14Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Buttons] “If you could choose, would you prefer to be brilliant and ugly, or beautiful w/ a mental deficiency?” (Paraphrased, but that was the main point of the question) [/QUOTE] I remember those questions as a kid (and I remember the subtle prodding from the teacher to pick “Smart & Ugly”), but the question itself is pretty pointless. How dumb or how ugly are we talking? Because without that knowledge you might as well just flip a coin. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/8 "2008-06-18T15:55:26Z")
It’s a silly question. Beautiful to whom? Which culture’s standard of beauty? What sort of mental deficiency? And simply book smart or coupled with wit? (I’m much more disgusted by those polls that show women would rather lose a body part than be overweight). ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/9 "2008-06-18T15:59:40Z")
Pretty and dumb, hands down. Beautiful people are at an advantage wherever human interaction occurs (excluding the Internet and phone sex), even before they open their mouth, be it a shapely, pretty woman or a tall, muscular, square-jawed man. Ugly people will have to excel to make up for their lack of comeliness, and even then many will shun them. I don’t think I’d suffer much about my dumbness if I was drop-dead gorgeous. I think I’d suffer every day if I was highly intelligent _and_ ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/10 "2008-06-18T15:59:40Z")
I misread the question. :smack: I should either concentrate on the Dope, or on my work. Probably the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/11 "2008-06-18T16:05:41Z")
I would need more details. Mental deficiencies have an extreme range. In general, I would slide my personal scale towards ‘smart and dumb,’ but I wouldn’t go very far. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/12 "2008-06-18T16:07:50Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] I would need more details. Mental deficiencies have an extreme range. In general, I would slide my personal scale towards **‘smart and dumb,’** but I wouldn’t go very far. [/QUOTE] :dubious: This statement confuses me. Perhaps I’m prettier than I thought. Speaking of which, it’s a common thing with my group of friends, whenever someone utters something nonsensical, to pat them on the head and say, in as condescending a voice as possible, “Soooooooo _pretty_!” ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/13 "2008-06-18T16:10:14Z")
> [@](#): > > “All right… I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool–that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” > > - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Ch. 1 This thread immediately brought the above quote to mind. I don’t think I would choose to be pretty and dumb, but I might be happier if I was… ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/14 "2008-06-18T16:18:14Z")
[QUOTE=Skara\_Brae] This thread immediately brought the above quote to mind. I don’t think I would choose to be pretty and dumb, but I might be happier if I was… [/QUOTE] I’ve often thought about that. The whole “Ignorance is bliss” thing, it sure does seem appealling sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/15 "2008-06-18T16:18:26Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] :dubious: This statement confuses me. Perhaps I’m prettier than I thought. Speaking of which, it’s a common thing with my group of friends, whenever someone utters something nonsensical, to pat them on the head and say, in as condescending a voice as possible, “Soooooooo _pretty_!” [/QUOTE] I’m betting it’s a typo. I don’t think you’re unattractive. But what do I know? I go for ugly and smart - Stupid people annoy me. Looks can be, um, overlooked. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/16 "2008-06-18T16:19:44Z")
I’m just shallow enough to go for the pretty and dumb option. Besides I can satisfy my intellectual curiosity from message boards like this one. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/17 "2008-06-18T16:19:57Z")
I’d rather be smart and ugly. Smart can get you money. Money can buy happiness. (it’s true! ;)) ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/18 "2008-06-18T16:27:32Z")
Hey, “pretty and dumb” is _dangerous._ Besides, looks fade over time, and then you’re just dumb and old. James Lileks once said that smart is better than pretty, and good is better than smart. I think that’s a pretty good assessment. ---
**Author:** ![trustno\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@trustno\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trustno_1)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/19 "2008-06-18T16:27:36Z")
Can I be of average intelligence and average looking? no?! Ok I’ll go with smart and ugly. If Im smart enough I’ll have a good job which means I can afford plastic surgery! lol! ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345/20 "2008-06-18T16:36:00Z")
I’d go smart and ugly. Pretty is temporary and subjective. Now if it were pretty and dumb and _rich,_ I’d have to re-think it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-dumb-or-smart-ugly/453345.md?page=2)