Poll: Would you trade intelligence for attractiveness?

[Dfskelleton]

I already consider myself to be pretty attractive, and pretty smart as well. So my answer is no.
Oh, and what the hell? Every time I read one of these threads to do with beauty, I end up reading some people's posts in Vega from Street Fighter IV's voice. It's REALLY WEIRD.
ESPECIALLY THE GUY ABOVE ME!!! SERIOUSLY!!!b]
Just great. Now I have his theme song stuck in my head.
Da, Da, Da Da-Da-Da dadada, DUh DUh Duh Duh Du Duh, DA, Da-Da-Da-Da Dada...

 

[VegetaPrinceofSaiyans]

I am already rather intelligent so my plan would be to reverse the trade off. Trade the low-moderate amount of attractiveness that I have to kick my IQ up to genius level. Then as a wrinkled, hunchback, mad scientist I would devise a solution to develop physical attractiveness...problem solved.

Barring the ability to reverse this transaction...hell no. Even though I am not the best looking guy in the world, I have friends and a beautiful girl who love me for who I am (cliche, I know) and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

+ most "attractive" people I know tend to be douches, but I think that is just due to high school/college and the way that some people in that age bracket act.

 

[Trolldor]

Lets say for the sake of the topic that one day technology reached a point where it can make anyone more attractive than they are with no monetary cost involved. There's no contract involved, no adverse physical effects and is completely instant and painless. But there is still a price, in order for it to work, you will lose some degree of intelligence in the process. This intelligence will be unrecoverable and you can not change your mind afterward. Also, your personality won't be majorly affected, you will just get dumber.
If you already feel you are fairly attractive, you will become more so after the exchange.
Would you take up this offer? Would you be willing to sacrifice knowledge for appearance? Or would you rather be unattractive and intelligent? (I am in no way implying my fellow Escapists are unattractive, I'm merely curious)

Oh hell no. My intelligence has helped me a hell of a lot more than my rugged good looks.

 

[Chefodeath]

Hmm, I remember reading an article by Voltaire comparing two people in India.

The first was a man. A philosopher, sagely, extremely intelligent, and a pillar to the community. The second was a woman, poor, common, unenlightened, petty.

The first man, it turns out, was miserable, so consigned to the sharp realities brought by his intelligence and the plights of those he helped. The woman was happy in her ignorance.

And yet when asked, the wise man would never wish to trade places with the poor but happy woman. The truly interesting question is why we feel so driven to choose intelligence, when a stupid and pretty face would seem to leave us happier.

 

[Astoria]

No way. Looks aren't that important really so I think I'll stick with my intellegence thank you.

 

[Revenge Revisited]

No, because it's easier to become attractive than it is to become smart. (Not that becoming attractive isn't difficult, it's just easier than upping brain power.)

 

[Odbarc]

I've got both. I'd prefer intelligence.

 

[Nimcha]

Hell no. I've achieved the perfect balance. Stunning looks combined with endless intelligence.

 

[ydkwidrmw]

Unlike others here I would gladly trade intelligence for beautification.

 

[SanguineSymphony]

You'd have to give a ton of specific info before I made a decision... On the basic premise I would decline. That could change depending on how much intelligence I would have to give up and how beautiful I would become.

As an aside I can't see how giving up your intelligence wouldn't affect your personality depending on your interests.

 

[Fern Williams]

I think I'm ok looking so I would have to say no I would not. However, if I could trade looks for smarts, I would become uglier to become smarter because lets face it looks aren't forever.

 

[Lybs]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say plus beauty and vain always (for some reason) come hand in hand, I myself think that it's not beauty that makes you attractive but your personality that does it, so if I would trade my intelligence for something as shallow as beauty you might aswell beat me silly with the stupid-stick already. ;D

 

[bushwhacker2k]

I kind of understand why someone would trade intelligence for attractiveness, especially if they were self-conscious.

But at the same time, I think there's more to life than being pretty, not that I'd mind being pretty, oh so pretty.

 

[AwesomeExpress]

If I say "no", does that mean I'll become more intelligent?

 

[snowman6251]

It depends on whether I could do it partially. Drop my knowledge of calculus for some more sexiness? Sure, I'm not really going to use it much anymore.

If it was be a sexy retard or be myself however, I'd stick with myself.

 

[The Hero Killer]

On first glance I almost said "yes in a heartbeat!", but it wouldn't matter how attractive I am if my self confidence is still at 0%.

I'd gladly trade my intelligence for self confidence though. And I'd trade almost anything to skip the middle man and just have a permanent girlfriend/wife.

 

[meticadpa]

No way in hell.

I pride myself on my intelligence, especially my powers of logic and reason; and since I want to be a physician, I'm going to need all the brainpower I can muster.

Natural intelligence is the greatest gift of all. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Plus, I'm totally fine with how I look. I'm reasonably attractive, tall, and I have absolutely no problems with self-confidence.

If you believe you are intelligent, yet you are unable to fit in society with basic hygiene, fashion sense, and social grace, then you aren't as intelligent as you might think.

Ah, this is a good point, but I respectfully disagree.

If you were to take someone with a super high IQ, say 180 or something, obviously they're very, very intelligent, but the reason for their lack of social grace may be down to something other than a failing on their part: would you really want to socialise with "normal" people if you were as far away from them in terms of intelligence as normal people are away from your average person with Down's Syndrome?

No, of course you wouldn't. You'd feel that you were far beyond their level and that you shouldn't concern yourself with them.

Of course, that's an extreme example, and if you're that intelligent, it doesn't matter what you look like.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I don't need that, because I'm smart AND sexy.

Seriously though, I have no intelligence to give. I have sometimes thought to myself that famous models and actors earn twice as much as teachers and doctors, so it could pay off to be attractive. You don't exactly need a high IQ to put some clothes on and stand over there for the camera. But with fame comes with pressure and all sorts of horrible things and I would hate to be stupider than I am now.
I'll uhh, stick with how I am for now. >_>

 

[PanicxBoss]

I'm highly intelligent and moderately attractive, so I feel like I have the best of both worlds here.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

Seeing some other guys in my class who have decent looks but have trouble reading the most simple sentences in English. I would rather keep my intelligence.

And besides my looks arent that bad.