How big is the gap between vanity & intelligence ?

Penny Young   Consultant
Interesting discussion, Eric. I don't necessarily think it is vanity. I think it is more like brainwashing from the big cosmetic companies, from the media and consequently from peer groups. With enough pressure, even the healthiest person will start to feel inadequate, and instinctively want to change themselves "for the better". Of course, the cosmetic companies are waiting in the wings. The persistant, insistant message is that it might be dangerous, but it is worth it. It isn't easy for the individual to rebel against this kind of corporate manipulation.
Nov 6th 2007 16:53   

Rae Steinbrink   
My mom when she passed, had absolutely no wrinkles (well, maybe a few laugh lines); she never used a lot of make-up, never did peels, never smoked, drank sparingly, never used any of those fancy moisturizers....unfortunately, she worked cleaning hospitals, AND THOSE CLEANING CHEMICALS DUE promote cancer as well. It's not just the cosmetic industry or the drug industry, it's any corporation that puts the bottom dollar above the consumer!
Nov 6th 2007 17:21   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Whenever I even come close to thinking about surgery or other alterations I pull out two pictures of Michael Jackson. A before picture from the days of the Jackson 5 and a current picture of him looking like a wax dummy. if that doesn't cure me I pull out my video of him performing in Bucharest and look at the side by side video of him and his Madame Toussaud creation. I'm reminded of everyone thinking the dummy was him until he moved. But then again I guess that proves he is a dummy. Just an animated one.
Nov 7th 2007 06:13   

Penny Young   Consultant
Cheryl, you have one hell of a sense of humour!! I'm going to bed now, and my husband will wonder why I'm giggling! You are so right - MJ would be enough to put anyone off surgery. Having said that though, I think there are cases where surgery can really make a difference, like the removal of unhealthy excess skin after massive weight loss, or procedures which can give a badly disfigured child a reasonably normal functioning face.
Nov 7th 2007 06:20   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Vanity and intelligence. I'm beginning to wonder if they can co-exist. I was just in the store and saw this lady who has obviously had one too many face lifts. Her eyebrows were almost meeting her hairline! She looked like blinking would be a major undertaking and I guess in her mind she looked younger and more attractive when the truth is she looked like someone had jumped out an said "Boo!" and her face got stuck.

There is something to be said for growing older gracefully by taking care of the bodies God gave us instead of going under the surgeon's knife for a quick fix.
Nov 9th 2007 13:00   

Nancy Bertoni   
This is an interesting topic. Living in France, you'd think that plastic surgury would be popular. I've noticed though that most French woman are just careful in their daily diet and have a sensible wardrobe choice, even for woman who may be a little overweight.

Things have changed somewhat the past five years or so though and this is mostly influenced from Fastfoods (yeah, the american hamburger meals are getting real popular among the youth, it is affordable and a fun place to go to with friends) causing obesity among kids and teenagers. TV programs and commercials have also changed. There weren't as many commercials for candies, chocolats and snack foods as there are now. The government has started a campaign by running commercials giving healthy food tips as an alternative to sweets. It is really weird to watch sometimes, you see these sweet cereal, and candy bar commercials followed buy a health tip and then another Fast food ad!

Another thing they have imported from the US and England are the Reality shows. Total makeovers or programs like Miss Swan are popping up on several stations. It gives people the false idea that all their physical problems can be solved with surgery. The concept isn't totally implanted yet, as the structure isn't accessible to everyone, plus the fact that surgery is still something scary for most people. But the changes are taking place slowly and surely and I find that sad.

Cheryl, I enjoyed reading your comments :)
They did show a documentary of Michael Jackson's career and his "transformation". It was in two parts, from 8:30 to 9:30pm and then 9:30 to 10:30pm. There was a warning that children shouldn't watch the second part due to the fact that certain images might prove to be too shocking for them. (I watched both and can't hellp but agree).
Nancy
Nov 9th 2007 13:37   

Eric Smith   Online Professional
Hey Juenelle, whats the weather like up there ;o)

When my son comes up to me and says... "I done a good job at this didn't I" Before I answer him i always say... "Are you pulling your own chain again ?"

I try to tell him, that compliments are something we give other people and if he keeps telling himself he done a good job he's going to get a "big head". Of course I ALWAYS compliment him on a job well done - and i correct him if he made a mistake (Theres no sense telling our kids its correct when its not... how will they learn!!).

I think one of the most important things we can teach our kids is to "Lose" and Lose gracefully. It seems these days that every kid has the god given right to Win which ultimately leads to people growing up expecting to win whether they do or not.
Nov 9th 2007 16:09   

Jenny Stewart   
Hmm Eric,

I don t know if it is about the gap between Vanity and Intelligence. sometimes it's a gap between intelligence and information. If you have all the information about the risks of all this cosmetic surgery and tweaking we can do nowadays and go ahead in spite of it - then it's not so much a gap but more like an abyss!

The problem is that although the risks about subeds are more widely known and some of the various procedures - there is a lot more that most people dont know and have a hard time finding out about from the so called beauty professionals. Let's face it - I knew there was a risk of your boobs blowing up on a plane, if you had silicone implants - but I didn't know it could be cancerous!

Does this mean I have to throw out my anti wrinkle cream?! OMG!! Do I have to choose between a short and wrinkle free life or a long and wrinkly one?

Jokes aside - I think for most people just don't know the risks - they usually sell you the "new" products long before it is discovered that they are dangerous. (and I exclude the lady Cheryl saw with the seriously raised eyebrows from being "most people")
Nov 9th 2007 17:56   

Jenny Stewart   
p.s. Eric and Jeunelle - what have winning, losing and blogs got to do with vanity and the dangers of cosmetic productsand intelligence???!! And don't talk to me about Vitamin D girl - coz where I life we have lots of sun and my perception is cloudless! hehe
Nov 9th 2007 18:00   

Lee Poulson   Health Coach
Have you ever noticed some of the women on TV that their lips hardly move when they talk?

A lot of people are obsessed with weight loss and will go to extremes to get rid of it.
Cancer is a good way to lose weight quickly.
I’ve heard that tapeworms are a good way to lose weight also.
People really did that!
That’s not much different than people having part of the stomach removed.
Several of our friends did that.
Personally I would rather have the worm.
If you lose weight the healthy way, you don’t have left over skin.
My wife is a good example.

Nov 9th 2007 18:07   

Lee Poulson   Health Coach
Gosh, I guess I will have to be more careful who I sit next to on a plane!
That’s news to me.

Nov 9th 2007 18:15   

Eric Smith   Online Professional
Hi lee,

thanks for your comments. yes i have to agree with that one, good thing i don't fly too often :o)
Nov 9th 2007 18:17   

Theresa   
OH my goodness Lee!! ROFLOL!!!!

no doubt!
Forget Snakes on a Plane. LOL
I can just see Lee, "excuse me ma'am, are those real? If not, I am afraid I will need to change seats" ROFLOL!!
Nov 9th 2007 18:17   

Jenny Stewart   
Jeunelle honey - remember what I said about getting LOTS of Vitamin D and cloudless percecption! heheh BEHAVE YOURSELF GIRL - and if you go over to your Birthday blog there are some chocolates waiting for you

Lee I promise i read it somewhere - I really honestly did and now Eric has got me rushing all over the internet to find out what damage I could do to myself if I keep my New Year's resolution and keep up with a proper "body maintenance" programme! Looks like its back to the boring old healthy eating and healthy exercise plan.

It's ok to teach your kids to be good losers Eric - but when it comes to the battle with the wrinkles I do not want to lose!! I want it all sorted out by a little bottle of magic potion that wont cause skin cancer!!!! And I want it NOW! LOL
Nov 9th 2007 18:27   

James   
Seems simple to me
"How big is the gap between vanity and intelligence ?

Vanity is wanting your blog/post read by everyone. (Please click on my photo and post in my group)


And Intelligence is to write a smart idea like that line above.


The gap between the two is called double spacing.


JamesP
Nov 9th 2007 18:46   

Eric Smith   Online Professional
Hey James,

That was so well written that i can't tell if you were serious, sarcastic or joking.

Great Reply!
Nov 9th 2007 19:06   

Eric Smith   Online Professional
Hi Jenny,

I could point you in the right direction but the purpose of this blog was not commercial. There are products out there and you shouldn't have to look far to find them.

Best of luck in your search...
Nov 9th 2007 19:09   

Theresa   
Jenny ~ yes they are definitely 'out there' ;-)

James ~ I clicked and posted - ROFLOL - good one ! heheehehe
I think I belong in the double space - Pffff hahaha
Nov 9th 2007 19:19   

Coach Steve Toth   
Well Eric,

I wonder why you left out penial enlargements... lol, or you just feel like picking on ladies today.

Anyway, this post is a little to significant and smart for me.

To Your Success,
Nov 9th 2007 19:54   

Jenny Stewart   
Steve - is this vanity or intelligence that provoked your question?

For some reason best known to the senders - I receive on average at least 10 spam emails on that subject and I know that most of the people who have email accounts get the same - so maybe Eric left it out as it is a subject already very well covered, not out of sexism!

Yes Eric , I had realised that the blog was not commercial - I was joking - except for the comment that your choice of example - beauty products and such - is an area where it is not always a case of intelligence versus vanity, but lack of information that is the key.

There will always be people who are so vain that they don't care about the long terms consequences to themselves of their action - but there are idiots in all walks of life - in the beauty industry, the internet and in the rest of the world. So what is new?

Jenny

Nov 9th 2007 20:06