Assumptions about people from looks

[Plaything48]

I think I already know the answer, whether or not people like to admit it, but it'll be interesting to see what people say.

[Paavo]

Of course, it's only natural IMO.
You can't stop and talk with everyone on the street in order to get to know where they're coming from. If I see a punk rocker, I can make an assumption on what their values might be on certain things.

If you're just talking about the looks of their faces/bodies without taking into concideration their clothing etc, then my answer's still;
Of course.

It's the first thing we see.
Our facial expressions play a huge role in our ways of communicating.

But entirely judging a person only by their looks is just stupid, as I'm sure we can all agree.

[uschi]

I do... I try not to make anything of it, though. Whenever I notice I'm judging someone or thinking something about them because of what they wear, I make an effort to push that aside and realize what a moron I'm being. On the other hand, my sister has commented in surprise at the guys I go out with... I guess some aren't the most dashing of gentlemen. Or something. I dunno, I don't really notice that, it's always more important if they're interesting people, you know?

Well, anyway, yeah. I don't think it would be possible to not make at least SOME assumptions based upon looks. I mean, if you see someone in a really expensive suit, you'd naturally assume they have some sort of good money in the bank. And if you see someone slathered in tattoos, you assume they like tattoos, maybe they're a kind of hardcore. If you see someone with an N*Sync t-shirt on, you assume they like the group. People create much of their appearance in order to communicate different aspects of themselves to others. It works to possibly attract other people with similar interests.

[Pooeypants]

I wouldn't be human if I didn't...

[Packratt]

I do my best not to judge by outward dress or appearance, if anything the facial expressions are what I judge people on at first, but with the understanding that emotions are things the change and sometimes people have bad days or even weeks. Race doesn't really affect me as far as judging by looks, I've been around a diverse number of people and I've learned that there are decent people and assholes in every group.

In the end, it doesn't take much effort at all to get past the looks and just sit down and BS with people, after a while of making that effort you learn that looks mean nothing much at all in most cases.

[castille]

Public speaking: your voice only accounts for around 10% of your overall rating. (varies according to research, but 10% is approximate)

Look at the US elections. Nixon (I think?) was a good guy, but he was unkempt, didnt know how to do his tie, sweaty, and slouched. Kennedy was fresh-faced, bright, eager, but his policies weren't really that much better.

People who listened on radio said Nixon was a much better speaker. People who watched TV voted for Kennedy.

[Sodfather]

The people who voted no have some personal issues regarding denial to deal with, and that's okay. Hell, it took me a year of computer-using to realize that I was a nerd. :(

[Plaything48]

I just wanna say that this post was never about whether or not people make assumptions from looks, it was about how many said no.

[John]

As the old saying goes, first impressions last forever, and obviously the first time you look at someone is your first impression.

[Sandy]

When I was young and certainly not bad looking, I would enter a party or even a political discussion and people would greet me with a smile and ask me to sit with them unless my husband was there. He didn't like this kind of attention paid to me. As long as my looks stayed fresh I was always welcomed into any group. This fell on me when I hit 60! I could enter a room and not a single person would give me more than a passing glance.

Believe it or not, this was a terrible shock to me. I was still me, with my opinions and my knowledge of a few cultural things but I was passed over as if I was dead.

I closed up my book store around the age of 60 and applied at several jobs around the county and couldn't even get an interview.

My advise to all of you is to make the most of your youth because it turns sour very soon after 60. Now that I'm 70 I find myself not even wanting to leave the house and I do my socializing on the internet.

I was part of group of writers 5 years ago and had to have my picture taken and I fought it like a pitbull. The book came out and I can barely stand to look at it. I don't think I look that bad but the rest of the world seems to think so.

Here I am at 65:

http://www.rightpov.com/author.htm

[castille]

Sandy, being old has its advantages. You can cheat someone out of their money and they still won't beat you senseless.

[AnonT]

I actually did put no, but I didn't realize we were counting facial expressions as a part of looks.
And don't tell me I'm in denial. I have more friends outside my age group (including a lot older) than in my age group, and a lot of the people I'm friends with (old and young) don't look like much.
However, this may be partly due to my bad eyesight (and therefore less concern for looks), and partly due to the fact that I'm not much to look at myself.