Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site hou4b.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!hou4b!mat From: mat@hou4b.UUCP Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: makeup Message-ID: <1105@hou4b.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-Aug-84 17:57:31 EDT Article-I.D.: hou4b.1105 Posted: Fri Aug 17 17:57:31 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Aug-84 01:48:00 EDT References: <3988@brl-tgr.ARPA> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ Lines: 79 > I have never thought about the pros and cons of wearing makeup, > ... mostly out of necessity. I do not have flawless, perfect skin like > these women who complain about other women wearing makeup . . . May I present a totally different perspective? I'm a man, and I have felt more thatn the usual American-male discomfort about self-decoration. In fact, it has bordered on mingled curiosity and horror, so take these comments with a grain of salt. Why is it necessary to appear as though one has flawless skin or ``perfect'' features? And who defines ``perfect'' anyhow? I've seen a number of women ruin what I thought were magnificently proportioned faces because they thought that their noses were too big. It angers me that people allow fashionmakers to change their wardrobes yearly -- and the fashionmakers get rich off it. What benefit do you get for your money? If someone tells you this year that one thing is attractive, and that it is the thing to wear, and then next year tells you that you should look like something else, then you should draw one of two conclusions: either he is not a source of reliable information or else there is no reliable information. My experience is that things which are visually or audibly attractive in a few moments are ugly in a feww weeks. Things that are attractive in a few weeks are ugly in months, and thing that are become attractive after only a few months become ugly over a lifespan. If we continually struggle for things that are atractive in a matter of moments, we will never learn what constitutes real beauty. And this is a decision that each must make for himself -- Jordache be damned. (in fact we might be better off if such leeches were removed from the economy, but it's a free society, after all). And please note that I am not talking about dressing for special reasons ... When everyone wears a tux, the atmosphere of a special purpose is enhanced. > It angers me when these "perfect skinned" women get up in arms > about other women wearing makeup. What's it to you who wears > makeup and what their reasons may be? Like who are you to judge > WHY people wear makeup? I personally *feel* ugly as sin without > it because my skin has been plagued with acne and has resulted > in scarring and I feel a definite necessity to help my image of > myself by trying to look the best I possibly can. Im afraid that this sounds like insecurity criticizing insecurity here. But I'm insecure too, so maybe this doesn't count. I have sideburns. Big ones. And I think they look good, ar at least they remind me of someone who looked good. And I am pleased if someone walks up to me and compliments me. But if someone says they look silly or ugly, I don't get too upset, usually. The experiences and nature that shaped his esthetic are not those that shaped mine. On the other hand, if I am insecure about clothing ... if one day I wear a suit (I usually don't) or if I don't when I feel I should, I get insecure, and I'm liable to feel bad about my image if I'm criticized. But rarely do I feel angry at someone else. And I also feel that my insecurity and ill ease are problems ... that I really shouldn't care. Neither should anyone else, but I don't really expect that to change. > Looking the best I can means wearing makeup to hide > marks and I have never thought anything more about it than that. > If I had perfect skin, I would not feel a *need* to wear makeup. I > have very pretty features, just not very good skin. And since, in my > opinion, your skin is your whole face, having good features does my > self image no good. Enough said... But is it good to have that need? Is it good to expect, no, to want, people to value you or to view you on this basis? I just don't think it is. We are superficial enough, with all of our defenses and postures -- ``To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet.'' (T.S.Eliott - The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). Should we invest more of our self-worth in posturing and presenting, rather than in BEING the most that we can? I hear you saying ``This makes me FEEL better -- and when I feel good I am better than I am when I feel bad.'' Alright, it is a crutch. But what is the job of a crutch? Shouldn't it help us to outgrow it? And if it doesn't, is it a crutch or a trap? -- from Mole End Mark Terribile (scrape .. dig ) hou5d!mat ,.. .,, ,,, ..,***_*. (soon hou4b!mat)