Comments on: Campaign for real beauty http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/ "Hitch your wagon to a star." —Ralph Waldo Emerson Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:28:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-8471 Ben Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:16:54 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-8471 YMMV. :P YMMV. :P

]]> By: sixline http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-8028 sixline Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:28:19 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-8028 the starfish parable is apocryphal. every man (or woman in this case) for himself. the starfish parable is apocryphal. every man (or woman in this case) for himself.

]]> By: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-7757 Ben Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:57:36 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-7757 Aye, there's the rub. We know that the world's going to get worse; so why, then, do we even bother with trying to save it? I don't doubt that you're right, that the world's conception of beauty is not going away -- if anything, it's going to become more superficial, with more widespread penetration in every aspect of society. However (and this is a big however -- I was going to say "But" there but that wouldn't work so well with this parenthetical bit ;)), we can still change a few individuals, and that <i>does</i> matter! Remember the parable of the starfish? Even if society doesn't change, at least we've made a few lives that much better. Having said that, it's hard to really believe -- at least it was for me at first -- but more and more I'm coming to see how true it is. It motivates me to do something even when I realize how ominously unlikely it is that I'll be able to effect widespread change. We can make a difference! One life at a time, day by day, but the difference is real. Don't be afraid to fight the flow. Aye, there’s the rub. We know that the world’s going to get worse; so why, then, do we even bother with trying to save it? I don’t doubt that you’re right, that the world’s conception of beauty is not going away — if anything, it’s going to become more superficial, with more widespread penetration in every aspect of society.

However (and this is a big however — I was going to say “But” there but that wouldn’t work so well with this parenthetical bit ;)), we can still change a few individuals, and that does matter! Remember the parable of the starfish? Even if society doesn’t change, at least we’ve made a few lives that much better.

Having said that, it’s hard to really believe — at least it was for me at first — but more and more I’m coming to see how true it is. It motivates me to do something even when I realize how ominously unlikely it is that I’ll be able to effect widespread change. We can make a difference! One life at a time, day by day, but the difference is real. Don’t be afraid to fight the flow.

]]> By: sixline http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-7172 sixline Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:23:57 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/10/17/campaign-for-real-beauty/#comment-7172 Forgive my cynicism, Ben, but I doubt it ever will. At least not much. Besides, let's say that being what today's beautiful is radically changes. Then those who don't have the new set of criteria will be the ugly ones. There's always going to be a contingency of ugly people... and as one with a big schnoz, I feel at present that I fit the description rather well. :) There's also always going to be a fixation on the physical side. It's the counterfeit, it's the natural man. The natural man isn't very capable of seeing past the outside, and since beauty tends to be confused with physical attraction, I remain dubious that the situation will get better, regardless of whether not what 'beauty' is changes. Forgive my cynicism, Ben, but I doubt it ever will. At least not much. Besides, let’s say that being what today’s beautiful is radically changes. Then those who don’t have the new set of criteria will be the ugly ones. There’s always going to be a contingency of ugly people… and as one with a big schnoz, I feel at present that I fit the description rather well. :)

There’s also always going to be a fixation on the physical side. It’s the counterfeit, it’s the natural man. The natural man isn’t very capable of seeing past the outside, and since beauty tends to be confused with physical attraction, I remain dubious that the situation will get better, regardless of whether not what ‘beauty’ is changes.

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