Don;t get me wrong- I am as vain as the next guy, but I have crooked nose, ugly grey eyes, plain brown hair and wrinkles around my eyes. but I am not running to the surgeon for Botox, hair dye and colored contacts.
Dont forget FAT, like a huge tub of lard, a whale’s worth of grease.
Seriousle, Tom you’re a good lookin’ man. For a fat guy. But 18y/o girls do NOT need to be gettiing this shit. I wish people could be a little more accepting about the way people look.
The thing is this: I guess I’m not at all surprised, only surprised that it took this long.
This country, as wonderful and successful as it is, really worships a couple of things: Success and image. It doesn’t really matter how such success is achieved, and frankly, the intervening years will allow for a lot of massaging of fundamentally immoral or simply bad behavior. But the fact of the matter is that those who conduct themselves admirably but are unsuccessful are rarely role models, and their opposites are worshipped as gods, no matter how many indiscretions they commit. Witness the Rockefellers, Kennedys, etc (a couple of other obvious names I won’t mention to avoid another OT rant). We make a show about Trump, who in reality is a pretty crappy manager, with a public company on the ropes, and a history of losing a crapload of money for banks stupid enough to lend to him and his “image”.
We all want the good life, and we tend to idolize those who achieve it, regardless of their personal failings. We are a results-oriented culture, and somewhere along the line the notion of process fell away. It disheartens me greatly and frankly makes me fear for the future of the democracy when I see statistics like 50% of college students have cheated, and somewhat more condone it because they simply must achieve, whatever “achieve” means. I never considered it an option, and the notion that it is common and acceptable behavior makes me nauseous.
What does this have to do with breast implants? Well, in a society that values results, what do breast implants have to do with results? Well, one could easily argue that breast implants bring more attention from men, and more attention from men with money and prospects, and are economically a good trade. That they have a primary or secondary impact of self-esteem boost is not insignificant either. And if the desired result is to bring more attention to oneself or land the right guy, then implants are the easy way there. The fact that they may create an adverse selection problem (attracting the wrong kind of guy, for instance, or attracting the kind of guy who cares about implants and will probably trade the woman in for a different model at some point) is of some consideration, but we’re not a culture known for our farsightedness, at least not now.
We worship the winners, and if its that easy to be a winner, why wouldn’t you do it? Well, if you cared about content, for one thing, you might consider it to be a strange self-distortion to subject yourself to. I know a lot of people with rhinoplasties here and other cosmetic procedures, and I’ve always tried to articulate why I personally have an antipathy towards the whole idea. I don’t like it, and I’ve been trying to find the words to justify it. I guess for me it seems unreal, which is a step in the wrong direction. If our lives are about contributing to the world, and being evaluated on our merits, and achieving something, does enough of an obsession with our bodies to pay somebody to cut it up count as a meaningless and stupid distraction? I suspect so. It’s so patently frivolous and teaches the wrong values about how to treat and judge people that I don’t what to do with it.
I’m sure a lot of people will say, “well, if it makes you happy.” I’m inclined to agree, but then I think, will it really make you happy? Or will it just allow you to treat other people as inadequate, quite in the way that you may felt yourself prior to this?
What’s equally interesting to me is that as a country, we are deeply hypocritical in terms of our consideration of values. In conjunction with the above, we can on one hand decry this self-mutilation in the service of our egos, while on the other hand we may consider absolute laissez-faire attitude in business to be ideal, despite the fact that same lack of “values” will result in disastrous results.
A bit scattered, I know, but just something I’m thinking about.
"Thats really sad! "
It’s more than sad. It’s pathetic. My 20 yr old daughter is studying languages and journalism at university. She’s happy with her body and realizes her mind is what counts. Thank God she’s got her priorities strait.
Don;t get me wrong- I am as vain as the next guy, but I have crooked nose, ugly grey eyes, plain brown hair and wrinkles around my eyes.
You left out that hideous spare tire…
Tom,
Good points.
The thing that I can’t understand( and perhaps this is because I am a man) is that no man that I have ever talked to about this is in favour of it or has encouraged their wives/girlfriends to do it. Women claim, they are doing it for themselves. To compete/compare with other women? To make themselves feel better? If it’s to appeal to men, then in my anectdotal reaserch this does not work. Maybe it’s a Mars and Venus thing!
I will ask again the question of why, to the general audience of women here?
Fleck
My sister-in-law who is 30 has been talking about getting implants for years. She was given a choice by her father - down payment on a house or implants. Guess which one she chose? They sure do look nice, but they should have implanted more brain matter instead.
“When I lived in Dallas, this was a favorite graduation or sweet 16 gift. That or a nose job. But, plastic surgery was very big there”
Was? Still is. You can’t go anywhere in Dallas without seeing several examples of Dallas plastic surgeons’ finest work.
I always tell people that Dallas is like Hollywood without the movies. Lots of fake bakes, silicone and peroxide, and it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
I can’t wait to move to Denver.
P.S. Before I get flamed by any Dallasites… I grew up in Dallas, and it will always be home. I’m just sick of the “Dallas attitdue.”
"down payment on a house or implants. Guess which one she chose? "
I can understand it for medical reasons but women who opt for plastic breast enhancement for cosmetic reasons alone should also get “bimbo” tatooed across their foreheads at the same time.
trio, another awsome post my man. Sadly, my observations are all too similar to yours.
Brett
Pretty much speaks for itself. Our society tells women they have to look like this. Don’t get me wrong- I am every bit the hypocrit- I think she is very pretty.
However, I would never want a girl I am dating to go under the knife to alter her appearance and I have serious questions about anyone (male or female) shoe does so to alter their appearance. To me, it means appearances are way to important.
Hey, I am a very visual person. But I like visual reality. I think Kate Winslett (100% natural I think) is very, very beautiful.
Kate Winslet!!! Now you’re talking!
Oh Come on now C-Guy. That is harsh. I agree that 18 years old is a bit young for plastic surgery. However, I turned 40 yesterday and for my 40th birthday I got breast enhancement - I have wanted to do it for 15 years and finally did it about 45 days ago. I am not a Bimbo but rather a successful woman who is an athlete, homeowner, great daughter, great friend, military reserve officer blah, blah, blah. I did not do this for anyone but me. I like clothes and I feel I look better in most everything now. So thats it. And no it hasn’t affected my swimming, running or biking. I am still slow 
You guys were the first ones to drool, if I remember correctly, when Becca had those pictures up a few months back. Isn’t that right? 
Have you read about “affluenza”? It’s a quasi-psychological ailment that many Yuppie-types have because they realize, after getting the high-faluting job, buying the big house on the cul-de-sac, the big SUV, and having a couple of status children to send to private school, that they still aren’t happy.
I recall some time ago that we had a heated debate over reports that despite all our wealth, Americans are less happy today than we were back when we were mostly poor. That makes perfect sense to me, given that all many of us care about is things.
Regarding your point on the bad behavior of the rich and famous, it seems perfectly reasonable to expect that they would have problems. You take a regular person who is struggling to get by, then tell them that they don’t have to work anymore(thereby freeing up way too much time), then give them a crapload of money. You can almost hear the self-destruct sequence starting.
At the end of the day, it’s what you do, and/or who you love, that makes you happy. Your stuff is just a place to live, a car to drive, etc.
You made some excellent points.
yeah, you only complain because you waste your money on things like bikes and training and coaches and some Ironman entry fee thing.
most assuredly.
“Oh Come on now C-Guy. That is harsh.”
Sorry, nothing personal, but I’ve always equated plastic tits with a plastic insecure personality based upon the few women i know that have done this. Fake breasts just aren’t a turn on for me.
The real question is if you are so successful then why did you feel that you had to do this? I guess only you can answer this and if you’re happy that’s all that matters so it’s not my right to criticize. I apologize if sounding overly critical.
The only thing that must be considered is the possible of later surgery to correct any problems that might arise but that’s a risk women who do this seem willing to take.
I never saw those photos.
Maybe it is just me but I don’t find this nearly as disturbing as that tv show “The Swan”…
this is the saddest thing. Here’s a good rundown:
http://echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.com/2004_06_01_echidneofthesnakes_archive.html#108717409550575830