# Reincarnation survey: Smart Rich or Beautiful? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800 "2000-11-19T02:15:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/21 "2000-11-19T23:19:44Z")
Sorry if I wasn’t specific enough. I suppose hamsters and carp could be rich in carp or hamster food, but generally rich can only be applied to human beings. Let’s assume for argument’s sake that in the two qualities that aren’t chosen, one would be mediocre or average. In other words, if you chose rich, you wouldn’t look like the elephant man or have an IQ of 16. BTW do animals have standards of attractiveness? (Mentally picturing the Miss Warhog Contest…) ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/22 "2000-11-19T23:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludo \* > **You do mean reincarnated as a _human_, don’t you? I’d hate to answer this, and find myself reincarnated as an exceptionally attractive carp.** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted (earlier) by screech-owl_ > **(What’s the point of having exceptional intelligence if I’m going to come back as an gecko?)** Great minds think somewhat alike. IMHO, animals likely do have some sort of standard. Example - there is one odd-looking pigeon outside our office (there’s a birdfeeder outside, so they tend to congregate there). Odd-looking in that he was brown and white, not your standard blue/grey iridescent. For the past two years, he has tried to attract the ladies and most likely failed (no similarly-marked offspring visible to this point). All the other ‘normal’ pigeons were, shall I say, ‘getting it on’ quite often except this one. The book is at work, but I remember reading about African lions and peacocks - the females will tend to choose the male that is well-groomed (mane full, not raggy, display feathers full, not excessively missing). Have to find that book again for more info. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/23 "2000-11-20T00:16:30Z")
This is interesting. I have been asking this question of acquantances for a number of years, and the overwhelming majority have picked intelligent. Yet in this forum, most folks seem to be choosing wealthy. I wonder why??? I myself would choose wealth as well because intelligence doesn’t necessarily translate into the ability to acquire wealth (I’ve known many exceptionally intelligent people working in the same cruddy McJobs I’ve had). And with wealth you can probably purchase a pretty fair approximation of love, which is, sadly, the reward of being exceptionally attractive. But then don’t listen to me. I’m quite cynical. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/24 "2000-11-20T02:46:09Z")
I’ll third what Uke said. I’m smart enough. I’m pretty enough. Now I want the money to buy stuff with. Actually, I think I would trade in the wealth for a sense of style that makes all my friends green with envy. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/25 "2000-11-20T03:08:59Z")
I wanna be rich, baby! The way I figure it is, if I’m exceptionally wealthy I can afford to go to any school I want and educate myself (nothing in the OP said if we weren’t “exceptionally intelligent” that we were un_able_ to learn, right?) And beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so that’d be a pretty dumb one to pick (IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/26 "2000-11-20T03:33:56Z")
The money. With enough, you can buy the other two qualities. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/27 "2000-11-20T12:35:07Z")
What several others have said…$$$$$$RICH$$$$$$ Because then you can buy the other two, to an extent, anyhow. And, I’m already exceptionally beautiful, and…well, quite intelligent. Neither have got me really rich. ---
**Author:** ![Ludo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ludo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/28 "2000-11-20T13:25:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ladybug \* > \*\*Something else I thought of: if we pick one, does that mean that we’re average or below-average on the other two? For example, if you choose to be exceptionally rich, does that mean you’ll have average looks and intelligence or will you be incredibly ugly and have the IQ of a rock? \*\* I was thinking the same thing, but I couldn’t find a way to put it into words. The way I see it, being rich is something I’ll probably never experience in this life just by being who I am. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > \*\*And beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so that’d be a pretty dumb one to pick (IMHO). \*\* Perfect way to put this point, although being attractive is a close second on my list. Being intelligent is something that I’m already ::sound of ego exploding:: used to, and I’m convinced it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. In my experiences w/ being relatively smart, I’ve discovered that smart folks always worry more, have waaayyy more responsibilities, and always end up being shafted by someone who has less credentials or just looks better or has more money. ::gasping from lack of oxygen:: I’m spent. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Doll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Broken\_Doll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Doll)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/29 "2000-11-20T13:44:39Z")
I’d probably want to be beautiful, just to see what it’s like to be wanted by someone and to not have to worry about my looks. I don’t feel too beautiful in this life, but I’m smart enough and I money isn’t an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/30 "2000-11-20T13:51:47Z")
Beautiful, definately. Wealth and intellegence are fine, but the beautiful seem to have all the fun. So I want to beautiful. I want to be Antonio Banderas, dammit!!! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/31 "2000-11-20T15:47:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*Life is pain. \*\* Anyone who says otherwise is selling something. I’d come back smart, because then I can make lots of money to pay for the plastic surgery I’d need. Plus, smart I’d have lots of sdmb fans. What more do I need? ---
**Author:** ![Ludo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ludo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/32 "2000-11-20T20:25:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > **I’d come back smart, because then I can make lots of money…** Eek! Smart = easy to make money? Ha! ---
**Author:** ![Lucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/33 "2000-11-20T20:31:15Z")
**hypergirl** , Rich people tend to be shallow??? You don’t know very many rich people, do you? ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/34 "2000-11-20T21:26:18Z")
I’d go with more intelligence, assuming that my income and beauty levels stay the same. Why? I make a decent salary, though I’m by no means wealthy. I can be satisfied with that. I think I’m fairly cute, with some good features and some bad features, like most normal looking people. Again, I think that suits. _However_, while I’m reasonably intelligent, I’m lucky (or unlucky) enough to have a bunch of friends who are geniuses, so my biggest insecurities lie in that area. It’d be nice to be able to compete. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/35 "2000-11-20T23:29:59Z")
> [@](#): > > You do mean reincarnated as a human, don’t you? I’d hate to answer this, and find myself reincarnated as an exceptionally attractive carp. Ahem!!! :rolleyes: The major problem with this question, IMHO, is that answering it would imply that you **chose** to come back as what you are **now**. Now, in my case, that makes sense, but for the rest of you… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/36 "2000-11-21T19:32:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broken Doll \* > \*\*I’d probably want to be beautiful, just to see what it’s like to be wanted by someone and to not have to worry about my looks. I don’t feel too beautiful in this life, but I’m smart enough and I money isn’t an issue. \*\* How many time do I need to post explaining that you are beautiful??? I even nominated you for Miss SDMB in my last post. I think that you may want to rethink your re-incarnation plans. You might as well come back as something you aren’t currently. Which leads me to my answer. My boyish good looks and genius (insert sarcasm here)leave me with exceptionally wealthy. I know it’s shallow but I am sick of working. Both because I hate my job and because it takes away from the time when I could be doing things that I want to do. I would love to spend all day playing music or traveling. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/37 "2000-11-21T19:45:09Z")
I’m already extremely intelligent, and it hasn’t gotten me anyplace. Extremely good lookin would only get me laid more. I’d prefer Hideously Wealthy. That buys power, and power is the ultimate aphrodisac. 😃 [sub]But you’ll have to drag me back… cause I don’t wanna do the whole potty training/teen angst crap again…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![MissBHaven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missbhaven/32/7170_2.png) [@MissBHaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissBHaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800/38 "2000-11-21T22:18:20Z")
I’m torn… Wealth; Obviously, I could do anything I ever dreamed of but would it be worth it if I were alone? As in too ugly for anyone to find the beauty within. Brains; Wealth could be earned but I’d have to work for it and once again what if I were so smart that I spent my life alone. A brilliant tragedy. Beauty; I like this one… Wealth would be a breeze since everyone loves beautiful people unless of course I had no brain at all and then what if I ended up alone… I’m starting to appreciate my life a little more as it is but wait, I’m still alone… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-survey-smart-rich-or-beautiful/41800.md?page=1)