The genetic lottery happens very early in life, but its prizes (or the lack of) are evident during most of our days on Earth. The consequences of this natural process we have no control of, unfortunately, often leads to double standards, favoring the pretty and hurting the ugly people.
Reddit user OrbitalDickHead (I know, I know) has posted a question on the platform, asking "What is socially accepted when you are beautiful but not accepted when you are ugly?" and it went viral, accumulating over 38K upvotes.
Bored Panda has collected some of the most popular answers about social acceptance to highlight that not everyone can get away with staring at a stranger or going on about how inner beauty is more important than its outer counterpart. For example, if your read-headed, pot-bellied and slightly balding colleague that you usually don't talk to would stop to chat with you, would you feel delighted or later tweet about meeting creepy people? Now the opposite - if the guy were tall, dark, and handsome, your feelings would probably change too.
Scroll down to read the stories about ugly ducklings below. Hopefully, while reading it, you won't find the signs you are unattractive yourself.
#41
Doing things that are a little gross (like burping in public)... If you're good looking people think it's cute and funny, if your not than its gross and unmannered.
Report
16points
#42
Actually, I think this depends on your level of attractiveness. If you are "too attractive" people will be intimidated (esp the same sex) and will say you are snobby, stuck up, or rude.
Report
16points
#43
This may get eye rolls but as a pretty attractive guy there are also downsides. Not to sound arrogant but since I know it and also happen to be a pretty sensitive person, a lot of social interactions with people are always on the awkward side. Both men and women are constantly avoiding eye contact or try to pretend like you aren't there since they don't want to come across as either interested or too "close". It's incredibly frustrating and I'm not self important at all but my personality also doesn't seem to matter to people at all. I'm just the "attractive guy". Men, being the testosterone filled competitive people they are are constantly trying to one up you or be comparitive with you. Women tend to act only shy or flirty and if you strike up a conversation with them they either immediately slip in "my boyfriend" somewhere in the conversation because you're automatically "hitting on them". People are often very scared of you and it often times drive you crazy.
I don't mean to sound narcissistic at all, but I know I'm attractive and I often feel depressed since if I act confident or happy I feel the judging eyes of being "the self important douche" and if I'm quite or reserved I become "the asshole".
I don't mean to sound narcissistic at all, but I know I'm attractive and I often feel depressed since if I act confident or happy I feel the judging eyes of being "the self important douche" and if I'm quite or reserved I become "the asshole".
Report
16points
#45
So... I was losing weight (coming down from 200 lbs). and i wore shorts to work. they reached my finger tips just like our dress code said.. but you know, i jiggled more than someone that was more fit. needless to say within 5 minutes of being a work i was told i have to change. next day i see another (more fit) girl wear similar shorts.. no one said a thing.
Report
15points
#46
Being outgoing and having confidence.
I'm considered an ugly woman and I find that I get through life better when I'm invisible. If I just keep my head down and keep to myself, no one will notice me. I get the most negative reactions when I do try to "better" myself.
I'm considered an ugly woman and I find that I get through life better when I'm invisible. If I just keep my head down and keep to myself, no one will notice me. I get the most negative reactions when I do try to "better" myself.
Report
14points
#47
You know I saw this male model he had gone public with his like tinder matches... Dude would literally just tell the girls he wants to have sex with them and they would go 'Omg your so hot, okay, here's my number'.
So yeah if your really attractive you can just flat out ask people for sex and they will probably say okay.
So yeah if your really attractive you can just flat out ask people for sex and they will probably say okay.
Report
14points
#48
Being a bookworm, and also being short.
If a pretty girl loves Harry Potter and has her nose in a book 24/7, she's "so cute" and "marches to the beat of her own drum."
Now, if a more unattractive person loves something like Lord of The Rings and will make the occasional remark related to it, she's "a geek," "has no life," and "weird."
And being short? This is coming from my own experience, mind you....
A pretty girl who's short is "quaint" and "petite" and "pretty little thing."
Someone like me who's short and not so attractive is laughed at when she can't reach things, yelled things at like "HAHAHA YOU'RE A HOBBIT! HAHAHAA!" and "Havin' trouble, shorty?"
If a pretty girl loves Harry Potter and has her nose in a book 24/7, she's "so cute" and "marches to the beat of her own drum."
Now, if a more unattractive person loves something like Lord of The Rings and will make the occasional remark related to it, she's "a geek," "has no life," and "weird."
And being short? This is coming from my own experience, mind you....
A pretty girl who's short is "quaint" and "petite" and "pretty little thing."
Someone like me who's short and not so attractive is laughed at when she can't reach things, yelled things at like "HAHAHA YOU'RE A HOBBIT! HAHAHAA!" and "Havin' trouble, shorty?"
14points
#49
I haven’t seen it here yet but here goes Mental Illnesses. (Actual incident I’ve been a part of)
So as far as looks go you could say I’ve not been super lucky. My sister on the other hand is gorgeous and well endowed for her age.
Not too long ago her and I were enjoying coffee at the local coffee shop and we struck up a conversation about mental illness. We share many of the same diagnoses (depression, anxiety, bipolar etc.) and some jock overheard her end and were all like ‘omg you poor thing. I wish I could take all your pain away’ when we continued our convo ignoring him, I started explaining what my most recent issue was and I kid you not he looked over and said ‘since the hot one has issues all of a sudden the pig does too’ my sister being the feisty young woman she is turned around and called him every name in the book. So yeah. If you’re good looking, of course people will feel sympathy over your mental illness. If you’re ugly good f***ing luck.
So as far as looks go you could say I’ve not been super lucky. My sister on the other hand is gorgeous and well endowed for her age.
Not too long ago her and I were enjoying coffee at the local coffee shop and we struck up a conversation about mental illness. We share many of the same diagnoses (depression, anxiety, bipolar etc.) and some jock overheard her end and were all like ‘omg you poor thing. I wish I could take all your pain away’ when we continued our convo ignoring him, I started explaining what my most recent issue was and I kid you not he looked over and said ‘since the hot one has issues all of a sudden the pig does too’ my sister being the feisty young woman she is turned around and called him every name in the book. So yeah. If you’re good looking, of course people will feel sympathy over your mental illness. If you’re ugly good f***ing luck.
13points
#50
Posted this before but apparently cheating. Know a girl that's very very attractive. She was cheating on her boyfriend...
Her one friend wholly supported it. Said "Sometimes someone better comes along."
My friends seemed to think it was no big deal either.. one said "At the end of the day the most anyone can say about cheating is that it's wrong."
My wife seemed to want to give the girl the benefit of the doubt... said "We can't consider her the bad guy here. We don't know her whole story. Maybe her current boyfriend is abusive."
Her one friend wholly supported it. Said "Sometimes someone better comes along."
My friends seemed to think it was no big deal either.. one said "At the end of the day the most anyone can say about cheating is that it's wrong."
My wife seemed to want to give the girl the benefit of the doubt... said "We can't consider her the bad guy here. We don't know her whole story. Maybe her current boyfriend is abusive."
Report
12points
#53
Winking seductively, I would say. I do agree with others though - just about everything is socially unacceptable if you're ugly.
Report
11points
#54
Dressing down for an occasion. For example, hot guy can wear jeans to a semi-formal event and pull it off, looks fine, no worries. Ugly guy wears jeans to a semi-formal event, and he looks lazy and underdressed.
Report
11points
#55
Crying.
When a beautiful person is crying everyone is concerned and consoling.
Ugly people cry no one gives a shit and acts like they aren't there.
When a beautiful person is crying everyone is concerned and consoling.
Ugly people cry no one gives a shit and acts like they aren't there.
Report
11points
#56
To be a complete failure. If you are ugly you have to work hard, if you are a 9/10 someone will work hard for you.
Report
11points
#57
As a pretty girl with resting bitch face I sometimes wish I could be less appealing sometimes, and to note not all of my problems are with my face, people think it's okay to interrupt me when I'm thinking and telling me how pretty I am and to smile more. NO! I'm reading, thinking or otherwise occupied I don't want to be decoration for you. Also I'm really introverted so makes it harder because I'm blond with blue eyes, and a large bust I must be a stupid cheerleader type right. And heavens forbid I date a man who's not "on my level" because I'm better than that right? No I find him perfect and just because you cannot see him for all of his attractiveness ie . his mind, heart, the way he loves, HIM AS A WHOLE PERSON, does not mean that I need to break up with him.
Although to be fair when asked what I'll do when I can't rely on my looks, I joking respond that I'll actually have to grow a personality.
11points
#58
Admitting you like someone...
I had the biggest crush on my bros best friend when I was younger.
Problem was, I looked like a ugly chicken that got hit by a soccerball.
Problem was, I looked like a ugly chicken that got hit by a soccerball.
So one day I told him that I liked him, Didint go over too well. He called me a "ugly bitch" and that was that.
Meanwhile my sister (who is quite beautiful) has guys throwing themselves at her, and if she tells someone she likes them they allways respond with "I feel the same" or something along that line...
11points
#60
If you are ugly and try to be pretty, you will be judged for trying to be pretty.
10points