AnneLine Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Interesting discussion on here! AND it reminded me of an interesting discussion I was in counseling school. It started with what was supposed to be a rhetorical question thrown out by the instructor at the start of the abnormal psych class that would deal with 'body image disorders' -- which includes too fat/too thin perceptions and also the kinds of things that make people want to have a billion plastic surgeries..... The Teacher threw out, "How many in this room like their bodies and feel comfortable in them?" I'm sure we were all supposed to nod or stick up our hands. I do like my body, even though I'm older, chubbier and certainly less possessed of a 'beautiful body' than anyone else in that room, and I realize what a blessed it thing it is, so I stuck up my hand... as did one other guy who was pretty average looking. The rest of the room -- about 30 attractive youngish people -- and some drop-dead gorgeous ones, male and female... just stared at us. And we at them. And the teacher at all of us. And then we all talked about it. It was astonishing to find out how many of those perfectly normal looking students were CONVINCED they were too fat, thin, eyes wrong, butt wrong, hair wrong... you name it, they wanted different. It was so clear to me that so many of them had bought into the images that were being shoved down their throats... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountrySteve21 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Lets just stop watching tv and looking at ads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 It was astonishing to find out how many of those perfectly normal looking students were CONVINCED they were too fat, thin, eyes wrong, butt wrong, hair wrong... you name it, they wanted different. It was so clear to me that so many of them had bought into the images that were being shoved down their throats... It would not have surprised me. Advertising is all about convincing people there is something wrong with them and they need to buy something to fix it. People who feel good about themselves are very rare. I like how I look, but I didn't when I was young. It usually takes time to learn to reject ideas of attractiveness that were made to exploit us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysostom Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I find it odd that the male body-image issue in general has nothing to do with being white aside from the fact that (a) white models are featured and (a) a white person posted the article. Will it take (a) nonwhite models to be in the same article and (b) a nonwhite person to post the same article to deserve a thoughtful response? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 It would not have surprised me. Advertising is all about convincing people there is something wrong with them and they need to buy something to fix it. People who feel good about themselves are very rare. I like how I look, but I didn't when I was young. It usually takes time to learn to reject ideas of attractiveness that were made to exploit us. I've gotten to the point where I don't really care if I fit the societal standard for good-looking or not, but it took a lot to reach that. Really, I just grew out of it as I grew into my spirituality. You could say I switched obsessions, really. I still struggle somewhat with trying to be unreasonably skinny, but things like hair are no longer obsessions of mine. I remember last year when I thought I was beginning to lose my hair, and I had an existential crisis that lasted months. However, I grew so much in my spiritual life and in character that when I learned for a fact my hairline is receding half a year ago, I honestly didn't care. But what's amazed me is not that I'm okay with it, but that it's other people who aren't. My spiritual director himself implored me to look into getting hair plugs in order to save my hairline. It's amazing how the moment you become okay with yourself, others try to drag you back in to insecurity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 A very interesting thing. We focus a lot on what "real women" look like in these times, but it's interesting how we very rarely think of the fact that men are unrealistically portrayed in the media as well. "Brands like Dove and Aerie have already begun showing un-retouched, non-model female bodies in their advertisements, a small step in the direction of body positivity. But what would ads featuring "normal men" look like? A photo shoot from an English newspaper sought to imagine just that." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/real-mens-bodies-underwear-ads_n_5543693.html the second guy is hawt. no joke. and the fourth guy kind of looks like Edward Snowden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I am not saying that men do not have eating disorders. But men can compensate for not having perfect looks by being good at sports or making money. Nothing makes up for a woman not being attractive. Is this a real comment or...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Catholic Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 the second guy is hawt. no joke. and the fourth guy kind of looks like Edward Snowden. Lol about Miles getting bent out of shape after looking at those ppics. All of the models are in curls for the girls shape. The first "average" guy probably is the only dude who actually works out. Becks is a good looking dude, but him and most other male models could seriously use a bench and barbells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Is this a real comment or...? I am not saying that men do not have eating disorders. But men can compensate for not having perfect looks by being good at sports or making money. Nothing makes up for a woman not being attractive. is not what I believe personally but what I think we are encouraged to think by society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Lol about Miles getting bent out of shape after looking at those ppics. All of the models are in curls for the girls shape. The first "average" guy probably is the only dude who actually works out. Becks is a good looking dude, but him and most other male models could seriously use a bench and barbells. http://youtu.be/jYa1eI1hpDE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Lol about Miles getting bent out of shape after looking at those ppics. All of the models are in curls for the girls shape. The first "average" guy probably is the only dude who actually works out. Becks is a good looking dude, but him and most other male models could seriously use a bench and barbells. oh, I was talking about the "real men", not the professional models. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Lol about Miles getting bent out of shape after looking at those ppics. All of the models are in curls for the girls shape. The first "average" guy probably is the only dude who actually works out. Becks is a good looking dude, but him and most other male models could seriously use a bench and barbells. When was I getting bent out of shape? And what for? Your post is sort of confusing in that it makes no obvious logical sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 He secretly wants to be an underwear model. Shh. Or perhaps a lumberjack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthfinder Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I swear, every time I see this topic title, I see: "If real men wear underwear" :paperbag: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 I swear, every time I see this topic title, I see: "If real men wear underwear" :paperbag: I don't wear underwear when doing karate, but that's because boxers tear if you stretch too far or kick too high. Just thought you might want to know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now