Hmm, I’m a bit wary of doing this for the reasons I just mentioned, but I’ve linked to pics of myself before, so what the hell…
Me then, aged 23 (hot or what?).
Me now, aged 43 (with girlfriend and double chin).
Oh my! That ol’ Doper crush just reignited, dude! 
Erm…yeah. Young you is hot hot hot. Current you is quite handsome, I believe, although that head tilt isn’t really doing you any favors in that shot. But heck yeah, I’d let you buy me a pint!
(Well, you know, except for the extremely attractive young lady tucked under your chin.)
I thought of myself as in the “ok” category all my life. Not fat (though a bit chunky), good hair, well groomed, well dressed, good makeup. I once asked a boyfriend if he thought I was pretty. He looked at me hard and said, “not really” … (:eek::()…“but it doesn’t matter, as I’ve grown to know you I grew to love you anyway!” (
oh, that’s OK, you are overlooking the superficial for the hidden treasure that I am inside!)
Thanks, but the second paragraph kind of answers the first. I haven’t the faintest idea how attractive I am to the opposite sex. Based on my track record, 4 was generous.
Dude, your gf is all kinds of wow.
Thank you - she is amazing. She’s a PhD too, among many other attainments. Clearly high achievement is no guarantee of smart life choices. 
Um, wow. And I say that as a hetero guy. 
These pictures are showing that we truly have no idea how we look to other people. jjimm, your younger self was model good-looking, with no exaggeration. Since I think older people look just as good as their younger selves (if not better - wrinkles and grey hair are just seasoning), you’re still a very attractive man.
Quartz, there’s nothing wrong with the way you look, either.
I can acknowledge that now, but can you believe that back then I was convinced I was butt-ugly? Seriously, I had women lining up to throw themselves at me, but I was always convinced they’d made a mistake - or even, if I caught a girl staring at me I’d think she was looking at me because I had food down my face or looked like the Elephant Man or something. (I’m wondering if I have some form of body dysmorphic disorder that has become a self-fulfilling prophecy as I’ve got older and fatter.)
ETA: I realise my participation in this thread so far looks like stealth bragging. It’s not meant to be.
ETA2: Sunspace, how you doin’?
Well, I can believe it, because we’re all so terrible at really seeing ourselves. 
Not having been asked out for years, I will venture a 0. Once, long ago, I dated a very handsome man, my (few) partners have been about average.
It’s hard for me to use this number scale for anything but looks. For instance a lot of my BF’s qualities that I enjoy and admire are things women tend to dislike and look down upon in a man.
I think I’m a solid 7 or 8 in looks for many guys… but much less if they are tit men. I voted 8 because I can look really hot if I make an effort (don’t usually).
Superficially, I have a ‘good’ personality and am very pleasant and easy to get along with, but I don’t think the real me is someone most men would choose in a life partner.
If age is taken into consideration (he is 17 years older than me but looks amazing compared to 90% of men his age including George Clooney), BF is about the same level of pure physical attractiveness as me. Every single one of his ex-gfs are drop-dead gorgeous and women tend to throw themselves at him, so I think I’m correct that both of our dating market values are fairly high. I think he was hotter than me when he was young man.
I am not too sure about myself. I based my score on my experience of the extent to which guys seem to be attracted to me, i.e ‘kinda-sorta’. I gave myself a five because I don’t get approached at all and never get ogled, but I have had boyfriends who were physically attracted to me so there must be something basically acceptable about my looks, right? I bumped it up to a six because I can hold up my end of a reasonably intellectual conversation; am funny and good-natured (I think!); and am possessed of some personal preferences which seem to appeal to many guys, like enjoying sci-fi, sports and playing video games. Not sure about that either, because there are also guys who don’t want a girl to enjoy those things with and would rather she be more feminine in her interests/pursuits. In short, I’m totally unsure about my vote. 
Good on ya for beating them off, but I suspect they didn’t really appreciate the stick.
I have the sort of looks that attract attention.
Usually to help those around me screaming “I’m blind…I’m BLIND!!! DAMN YOU…!”
I’m very average looking. But luckily for me I looked damn good in my uniform, so I was able to impress the future Mrs. Mcnally.
And secondly, despite my militaryness, I have boyish looks and a type of charm that is very disarming so she was already smitten with me before she had a chance to notice anything else.
Eh.
Put myself at ‘4.’ Subtract 80 pounds, and I’d put myself at an ‘8.’ I decline to specifically rate my wife - A gentleman doesn’t discuss such.
I went with 7 and even.
I’m fairly good looking and in good shape, but I am also short for an American male, and do not have the “gym body” that society tells us is the standard. I have a beard, and am heavily tattooed. I never had much trouble getting girls in college and before I was married, and am a good coversationalist with a cutting sense of humor. My Wife is beautiful and tall, but significantly overweight, (though I wouldn’t say fat) that hampers her down from a higher rating. If she manages to get into shape as she would like, she’d easily outrank me.
my pics HERE
I note that 62% of respondents rate themselves above average.
More significantly, dopers appear to be quite discriminating in their choice of partners. Over half married/partnered up while only 16% married /partnered down.
This bodes well for the next generation of dopers.