looking dodgy...

[joko]

there is a question by AOG (i think) about the disfigured girl who was attacked in a pub.

the article shows a pic of the girl who did it.

she looks like utter scum....and even if i hadnt seen her pic in relaton to this incident it is entirely likely id have thought similar things just seeing her pic. (i may not of course)

so, does she simply look like a horrorshow of a person to us, because of what she has done?

or does the nature of a person sometimes 'show' on their faces, and in their demeanor?

would this same girl, alongside an article of her doing some kind and heroic act, make us look into the exact same pics and think, she looks nice and good?

i know we shouldnt judge a book by its cover...but how often are these assumptions that we all make, correct?

thanks

[China Doll]

Not looked at the question but I think we all make rash judgements on how someone looks at certain times, for example, a group of chavy looking lads at night is going to make me more wary than a group of male and females I think. While I don't judge a whole person on what they look like if I meet them, I probably would judge based on circumstances (like I'm walking home late at night). Equally this can backfire, my father was walking home one night very late in a bad area and saw a fella built like a brick Sugar house (his words), blinged up and scowling, my dad isn't exactly a push over but he really didn't like the look of this fella and in turn the chap was eyeballing him back. At the exact same moment they both crossed the road to avoid each other, my father isn't exactly friendly looking himself! They exchanged chuckles as they both knew what the other was thinking. My middle sisters ex boyfriend would make many people do a double take as he's tattooed up both arms with a shaved head, my sister also has half her arm tattooed, some people would be wary of that but it wouldn't be justified, they're both very friendly and sociable.

I personally try to make myself as anti-social and bad tempered looking as possible when out and about but apparently my good nature shines through, people are always asking me for bloody directions and I might look a safe bet but I'm really not that friendly lol!

[China Doll]

I also think that if someone is inherrently nasty or good, it often shines through or is reflected in their manner in a lot of cases, I work for a consultant who just oozes niceness and she is absolutely lovely.

If looks weren't important at all then good grooming wouldn't mean as much as it does.

[boxtops]

I find IMO that people in the newspapers try to find photos which look as bad or as miserable as possible, to fit the storyline. In our local paper there is a family with a bad-luck story, you can almost hear the photographer saying "go on then, look really miserable".
There was a dreadful recent story of a lad who died from swine flu, he had a Mohican dyed haircut and peircings, when he collapsed nothing much was done because the health people didn't take him seriously, the story says that because of his appearance it looked as if he was stoned. His family are suing - but that was a case of appearances not telling the right story.

[LoftyLottie]

Well, I have to say, but I perhaps shouldn't that she looks a certain 'type' facially, dress wise, figure wise and hair wise, and, whilst it is not fair to judge people on appearances, I would say she is the sort of person that makes me into the snob that I am!!

[andy-hughes]

I spend virtually my entire life making instant judgements on first sight of people, with my instinct, and then the rest of it being rational, and denying my judgement which is possibly entirely false.

I should do - because a lot of people judge my appearence, which is utterly unlike who i actually am.On first meeting, i can appear quite geeky and a little odd, perhaps a trainspotter. In reality I an absolutely nothing like that - so i of all people should not judge of apearences.

But it is human nature, and we all do it. the problem iis, making the instant judgement, which is normal, and then sticking to it and refusing to be disuaded, which is not.

In the case of an image of someone who has behaved in a despicable way - it is easy to link the two, which is why the media print pictures with stories like this.

It does make it human nature, but it does not make it right.

[smurfchops]

Can we see the article joko ?

[B00]

Here's the link to AOG's post Smurf

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question999249.html

And yes joko, have to agree, on reading the story when i got to her picture, i wasn't at all surprised the girl looked like she did.

And I'll admit that if i saw her just walking down the street, the snob in me would immediately think "Urgh, Chav, I bet you're fiddling benefits!!" There's no way id think that a person looking like that was a stirling member of society.

Is this wrong of me? Of course it is, but that's how id feel and react.

[askyourgran]

Of course the fat woman was judged by her demeanour, I note she has had previous convictions for criminal damage, common assault etc. I sincerely hope someone on the inside rearranges her face for her. I think almost everyone knows someone who is dubious looking but has 'a heart of gold'. Maybe with they are when with you, but do you know what she/he is really like if drunk or merely takes a dislike to someone.