Mirror, mirror on the wall..?

Question

Can you imagine, before the mirror, how scruffy everyone must have looked..? Rivers are not ideal for checking eyeliner! My question is, has society today become way too vain? Would you agree, that there is some form of heirarchical social ranking based on looks? Look at Tony Blair and Jack Straw- they're pretty boys now compared to before! Also, is anyone here guilty of secretly feeling superior to someone based on looks? Opinions please..?

pops- i'm talking way, way back..when vanity wasn't even an issue..or has it always been an issue...well anyway a long time ago before shiny things were around!

Answer 1

You're right -- I blame technology; we are trying to look more and more perfect and our ideal looks are becoming less and less organic and more mechanical. For example the classic face for women over a certain age and from a certain social status in the west now presupposes plastic surgery to prevent signs of ageing. We are slavishly imitating an android look because the perfect person is someone who can do everything 24/7 and never feel emotions, never break out in a sweat -- like a machine. Classic examples:

http://www.worth1000.com/web/media/283572/kate-Moss.jpg
http://www.madonnashots.com/pop02.jpg
http://www.uae-supermodel.org/models/FernandoAlves07.jpg

Answer 2

More vain? I wouldn't say so. Mirrors may have slightly changed culture but being vain goes all the way back to Egyptian times (maybe further?). Adornments, make-up, wigs, they dyed hair, shaved, and even waxed!
Looks have always improved ranking or even distinguished from the higher society and the lower. Like look at kings and queens and then look at servients.
The only difference is what today's society considers beauty. Which constantly changes. Just look from the early 1900's to now at how drastic the style and social definition of beauty is.

Answer 3

I was daft enough to be sitting in front of the Tv when my partner was watching America's Next Top model. If honest, many of those people look normal and without the aid of a mirror and placed next to a river, I think some of the Beauty sect may not be there.
Society is way too vain, if it were'nt I think there would be a slightly (for the want of a better word) different set of models.

Answer 4

I was just talking about this the other day. Could you imagine if we all were the same, could you imagine what those 'fakes' would look like without first thing in the morning!? lol
I would LOVE a world were no one bothered with make up, fashion and beauty salons and hairdressers no longer existed. How easy would life be!!!
All these things force us into vainess and competition with others.
Ban them all, then we'll see who the real beauties are! lol

Answer 5

Society is very vain today, media hype has a lot to answer for, I don't think I'm superior to anyone in looks or otherwise, whats pretty to one person is plain to another, personally I don't care what people look like, I'm more interested in them as the person they are and not how they look.

Answer 6

vanity has always been around to increase social standing, artists who painted queen elizabeth had to in a more flattering way otherwise they had an appointment with an axe.

society is way too vain i started to lose my hair not so long ago and it got me down for a bit but i got over it but you can bet your life if someone invented overnight afro in a tin id be first in line.

Answer 7

Naw, before mirrors (when was that) women took time to fix each other's hair and such so women looked great, even back when. Before glass mirrors, there were shiney things they could look at their reflections. It all worked out just great!! Good luck. Pops

Answer 8

yes its true im guilty of it all the time

Answer 9

sorry no time to answer- im redoing my makeup

Answer 10

what i can say princess i love u