Beautiful People.com-No Ugly’s Need Apply

I’m a little behind the eight-ball on this one. Grazia, a weekly fashion magazine that I adore and comes out every Monday, had me spitting out my Weeties yesterday morning in reaction to an article. The title of the article was “We met on Beautiful People website (and made a perfect son!)”. The photo accompanying the article is of two good looking people, walking either side of a cute little boy blowing a raspberry.


The article is written in the first person by Deanne Pennington, a former flight attendant and dancer, now proud mother of an equally attractive son. Pennington explains how she needed to find a man with “good genes” so she could pass on her “beauty lineage.” Pennington reminisces about how in primary school, her looks were already abundant and two boys had a duel over who would hold her hand. Pennington also claims that although it is a harsh reality, good looks are very important and will get you ahead in life.

It is here she mentions Beautiful People.com, an “elite dating site that bans ugly people” that has now branched out into the fertility business, allowing beautiful people’s sperm and eggs to be donated to the aesthetically pleasing, challenged.

The site’s founder Robert Hintze explains, “Initially we hesitated to widen the offering to non-beautiful people. But everyone-including ugly people-would like to bring good-looking children into the world. We can’t be selfish with our attractive gene-pool.” It’s right about here that Weeties ended up all over the “model family”.

My blood was boiling, but I was confused as to why. Was it taking offence to these people referring to people as ugly? Or was it because what they were saying was true? Who doesn’t want an attractive child? As wrong as it is, does being good looking help you in life? I kept reading as the sick feeling in my stomach got worse.

Beautiful People.com, surprise, surprise is not easy to become a member of. I could view the site as a guest and click on people and view their profiles. There is one tab labelled, Applicants. I clicked on it and was met with four categories: Women Getting In, Women Not Getting In, Men Getting In, Men Not Getting In. Those who are already members vote if someone is deemed beautiful enough to join the site. Those who are not successful are publicly humiliated and fall under the not getting in category. I was surprised at some of the people who weren’t successful and then vice versa with the ones who were. These people have obviously never heard the old saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Pennington and her now husband Charlie were both deemed beautiful enough to join the site and have now have a healthy and of course attractive baby, Jack. But Pennington hadn’t finished me disappointing me: “As a mother, I’m sure I would have loved my child the same if he was ugly, but I admit I would have been disappointed not to have a model-like family I’d dreamed of. You never know, there might be some rogue “ugly” gene inherited from a great-grandfather twice removed, which gives your baby a big nose.” She’s sure she would have loved her baby? She keeps these wise words coming:

“When Jack was born he looked like he’d been in a boxing match: his eyes were puffy, his nose squished. Holding him for the first time, even as his mother I thought “Urgh”.” (Hope she brings this one out at his 21st!)

Pennington signs off the article with looks get you ahead in life. It’s a just a reality. Is it? I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt, but if you were on trial for a murder, would you want the easy-on-the-eye-lawyer-whose-not-as-qualified or the slightly-less-attractive-but-is-going-to-keep-your-bum-out -of-jail lawyer?

In the August edition of Madison Michelle Obama’s wise words seem very appropriate to this article: “With men, don’t be swayed by cute. Cute only lasts for so long. Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul.”

So what do you think, my fellow soapboxers? Do you think looks will make life easier for you? Would you go to beautiful people.com for an attractive partner or baby? Is it selective breeding or are you merely helping the world by bringing one less ugly person into the world? No judgement here, just your honest opinions!

Quote Of The Day

"Friends are like bras, close to your heart and there for support."

-Anon

An Election Warm Up

Many thanks to Emma who sent me this link on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qub4lWT6GNk

Who said politics is boring?

While we're on the subject of politics, the first Girl On A Soapbox debate will be happening in a few weeks so watch this space!

Quote Of The Day

"You don't have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body."

-C.S Lewis

Julia Gillard: Inspirational or Diabolical?

When news hit my ears that Kevin Rudd had stepped down and handed over the reins to Gillard, I couldn’t stop smiling. Why? A few reasons, but the most obvious being that I was proud to see the day a woman holds power in Australia.

I have long thought that in a country as wonderful and laid back as Australia, it sad that we are still a very backwards in the way we define women’s and men’s roles. This is slowly changing, but in a country that still thinks you’re soft if you’re a man and cry (Grand Final loses are an exception) I was proud of Julia getting there; even if it was under slightly dubious terms.

So you can imagine my surprise when other women, who clearly weren’t wearing the same rose-coloured glasses as me, ones who weren’t high-fiving and going on about girl power, started attacking Gillard’s lifestyle: Julia Gillard is apparently a bad role model for women. Aside from the fact that she was sworn in as our 27th Prime Minster. Aside from the fact that she is our first female Prime Minister. Gasp at the fact that she doesn’t have (or even worse, doesn’t want) children. But none of that is really bad. According to Sydney Morning Herald columnist Bettina Arndt,( http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/shacking-up-is-hard-to-do-why-gillard-may-be-leery-of-the-lodge-20100628-zexr.html) Gillard will lead young women astray and make bad decisions. The bad decision Gillard has made? Not being married.

Arndt’s article appeared on the SMH website on the 29th June. Arndt’s article opens with her questioning the real reason Gillard and partner Tim Mathieson haven’t moved into The Lodge yet. Arndt’s theory is that Gillard wants to test the waters of the Australian people and see how they react to Gillard and her “first man” moving in.
But Arndt’s stinging remarks are left for the core of her argument, which is that Gillard is in a position to ruin many young women’s lives. How you ask? Well despite Arndt admitting herself that between 1986 and 2006 the amount of de facto relationships has doubled, Arndt believes that women who follow Gillard’s lead will have miserable lives. Arndt declares that women in de facto relationships, and I quote: “(are) wasting precious breeding time in such uncertain relationships.”

Arndt goes on to say that these women will either end up with children who were used as a way to “fix” the relationship and no man, or end up bitter and childless because they were with Mr Wrong. But Bettina, who says you won’t end up bitter and childless with Mr Right? Why is Gillard a bad example for women because she has chosen a career over children and wishes to keep herself legally unattached? Who’s to say that either option has a guaranteed happy or sad ending?

Every relationship is different and the only people that know what really goes on in a relationship are the two people in that relationship. Not everyone is cut out to conform and I’m not opposed to either one. I am opposed to saying she’s a bad role model.

People acknowledge the fact that yes she is childless but it was her choice. We are in 2010 are we not? We are lucky to be able to choose who we date, marry, not marry, have kids, not have kids.

Let’s take a vote: is Julia Gillard a bad role model for women and is she attacking traditional values?

Does it bother you that she and Tim Mathieson aren’t married?

This girl is stepping off her soapbox and letting you jump on. So let’s hear it.

Quote Of The Day

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slighty cracked."

-Bernard Meltzer

Obituary Of The Late Mr Common Sense

A few months ago, an email that struck a chord with me, landed in my inbox. It wasn’t one of cute puppies or fluffy ducks or even an angel reminding me that I’m loved (all nice, please don’t stop sending them) but this one had me nodding my head in agreement with every word I read.

Originally written by Lori Borgman in 1998, (http://loriborgman.com) the piece still rings true today. At my ripe old age of 26 I am often found saying that no one has common sense anymore. No wonder; apparently he died in 1998. The following piece first appeared in the Indianapolis Star but has since been circulated around the internet and has been chopped and changed depending on those who read it.

The following landed in my inbox:

“Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.”

If you, like me shook your head at the loss of common sense, leave a comment with the latest ridiculous loss of common sense you witnessed and we will mourn with you.

Quote Of The Day

"There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same."

Chinese proverb