What does being "superficial" mean??

Answer 1

To me it means phony, plastic, like a Barbie doll. Shallow. As long as things look good, or make you look good, that's all that matters. People's feelings don't matter, because if they cause a reaction, it's too much for you to deal with, and how dare they upset you and expect you to be serious. Transparent also comes to mind. You pretend to care and say things like "Oh my God, those poor people that...but if you are asked to help, somebody calls you on it, you can't be bothered. A big fake is another term. I really care about....as long as it doesn't personally affect me!, or I don't have to get personally involved, because truthfully, I'm too important to be bothered by all that mundane garbage. I'm what's important! So why don't you feel sorry for me because I can't sleep because I feel so sorry for all those poor unfortunates in this world? Don't you see how much I care? How can I possibly lift a finger to help them when I'm so upset? Sorry, as much as I feel bad for those starving children, how could I possibly donate $50? I won't be able to afford going out Friday. I need a new outfit, my nails need to be done. And I really need a perm. But oh, I wish I could help. I guess it means acting like someone you think you should be because you think it's gonna get you somewhere, or pretending to feel something your conscience says you ought to feel, but you really don't. Or if you do, it's because it's convenient for you to do so, but it's so obvious to everyone, but you, that it's bogus, and you're a fraud.

Answer 2

Superficial is a general term meaning "regarding the surface", often metaphorically. Both in the literal as in the metaphorical sense the term has often a negative connotation based on the idea that deeper parts are also important to consider.

In human anatomy, superficial describes objects near the body's surface as compared to other objects that may be deep. For example skin is a superficial structure of the body and muscles are deep to skin.

Thus the term is used to describe an observation or analysis that deals only with the most apparent and obvious features of some object, or phenomenon.

A superficial, or alternatively, an "over-simplified" argument is prone to many logical fallacies: including hasty generalization, division, composition and many others.

A person who exhibits a "superficial" comprehension of some or many subjects may be negatively attributed as being shallow or even pseudointellectual.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superficial"

Answer 3

Technically, superfices are the surfaces of things. So, being superficial means only ever looking on the surface. For instance, in personal relationships you would care only about people being good looking or well dressed, not about their character.

If it is not used about a person, superficial means just on the surface - eg, 'the patient had only superficial burns'.

Answer 4

It means being interested in surface appearance and shallow topics only. Superficial means trivial, so a superficial person is interested in small things that are ultimately meaningless.

Answer 5

Those who are "superficial" give more importance to the appeareance of things or people (including themselves) than to their true essence (what's inside). And so, most of the time they think about whether something is cool, trendy, "so last season" or whatever more than they question themselves about fairness, freedom, truth and other topics one should take into account once in a while :P

Answer 6

superficial means that the person is just a ok person on the outside but probably not a very genuine person on the inside... basically a fake person and they don't want you to see what is on the inside. fake fake fake

Answer 7

If someone is superficial, they care only about outward appearance and about how they look or how other people look.

Answer 8

Means only caring about the outside appearance of things. Like when refering to people especially meaning you only look at how someone is dressed or what they drive how much money they have things like that.

Answer 9

lightly
not profound
not to serious
artificial
something like that

Answer 10

shallow - un-profound - characterless - obvious - quasi