This is a bit of a fallow up of my last thread "Hard work is meaningless", if you want to check it out you can see it over here:
Hard work is meaningless: You are just slave to circumstances
In this thread, I want to discuss the halo effect and how it completely destroys most conventional wisdom in regards to what makes a person successful in life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect
Basically, the halo effect is a form of bias which causes peoples reactions to others behaviors to be massively influenced by what they look like. This works in the favor of good looking people (people are automatically more likely to view a good looking person's actions is positive light), and against uglier ones (are more likely to view their actions in a negative light). This of course is horrible, because
it means that almost everything we have been told about meritocracy is a lie (well there are also other reasons actually. See my "hard work is meaningless" thread above).
The characteristics of the halo effect:
-People will rationalize why bad behavior from good looking people isn't so bad ("Oh well I'm sure that handsome young man must have had some reason to shoot and rob that guy. He was probably just trying to feed his starving family!")
-People will notice the good work/deeds of good looking people more because they are paying more attention to them in the first place, and also reward them more as well because they are possibly attracted to them and want their favor.
-People will agree more with good looking people because they crave their acceptance.
-People won't notice or care that much about hard work or good deeds from ugly people because they pay less attention to them in the first place. Any reward given will be modest at best.
-People will be much harsher on ugly people who commit bad deeds because the fact they are ugly makes them even more unlikable.
-People will disagree more with an ugly person because they instinctively dislike ugly people.
Some examples of double standards:
-A good looking aspie nerd will be seen as awkward but cute. An ugly nerd will be viewed by most as disgusting, and possibly a serial killer with a weird sexual fetish.
-An aggressive guy that is hot will be seen as commanding and confident. An ugly guy will be seen as a raging douche.
-A stoic good looking guy will be viewed as mysterious and interesting. An ugly one will just be seen as boring.
Etc.
Simply put, what you personality is like or what you do doesn't matter. It's impossible to lose if you look good, and it's impossible to win if you are ugly.
In other words,
be good looking or you will never make it to the top. How many ugly CEO's and presidents are there? Exactly.
In the end we are all just monkeys.
In spite of all our technological advances we are still ultimately just apes who want to spread our genes around or have a baby from the alpha male. And as a result, society isn't a meritocracy. The person with the best ideas or the hardest work won't win.
The person with the BEST GENES will win, because that is what nature hardwired us to like the most. You can be a talentless hack with no real skills, but if you look good enough the halo effect will kick in and people will find some way to rationalize why your ideas are totally the greatest thing ever.
I mean I even admit that even I myself am not the exception. I have also look discriminated in the past against short guys for example. Being 6.1 I for some reason instinctively don't respect short guys. I know it makes no sense rationally but it's just instinct. When I hear very short guys talk I just think to myself
"I don't care you weak little phaggot!". It isn't rational and I know this and yet this is how the halo effect works.
EVERYONE does this.
Yes, even you.
The fact of the matter is, that getting people to buy into whatever it is you are selling is all about making them
FEEL comfortable with it. People want to
FEEL like they are supporting somebody good.
People are driven by INSTINCT, not logic. And our instincts tell us that good genetics=good.
Even in cases where somebody "charismatic" isn't really that attractive, they have some lucky genes going for them. A great example would be fat ugly guys who have a deep and a manly voice. Even if they don't really look that good, they may still appear charismatic because people are hypnotized by their voice. How many people with annoying voices are able to appear charismatic? Not many.
Ugly people will never be successful regardless of merit in 99% of cases. Yes I am sure you can find individual examples but they aren't representative. And as for good looking people,
why do you think the likes of Paris Hilton got famous and rich? Do I need to say more?
Good looks=the only thing likely to make you successful.
Other traits may be needed as well depending on the situation, but they will always be secondary to good looks. Good looks are the trump cards that nobody can beat (well actually, you can beat them by being filthy rich. But being good looking may be needed to get rich in the first place unless you are born into wealth).
I dare you to prove me wrong. Good luck.
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