Were people more ugly in the past? - Page 2 - Historum

Asgeir · October 27th, 2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrocamino

Being unwashed, without dental care, having filthy work -- a number of factors contributed to ugliness in past times more than today. But, then as now, there's no accounting for taste!

Well, I didnt ment about Hygiene actually, but more Ugly as being Natural born.

corrocamino · October 27th, 2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asgeir

Well, I didnt ment about Hygiene actually, but more Ugly as being Natural born.

There is no shortage of natural-born ugliness today, IMO.

**Brisieis** · October 27th, 2011, 01:16 PM

Not at all, 2000 years is not very long when considering how long humans may have been on this planet.

I don't think people look any different than mosaics, statues and paintings from the past.

EpicHistory360 · October 27th, 2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeroenrottgering

Have people grown more handsome then their ancestors in the past. From every portret in history I've seen I haven't really seen someone handsome among them. So what do you think have people's appearances changed since 2000 years ago?

Beautiful/Handsome was judged differently back then from what I have heard, but overall, no. There were handsome people if you look handsome people, it's just different clothing made things different. Plus, if you paint people or make busts of them I doubt they would look as attractive as they did in real life.

Plus of course bad hygiene, but that only applies in certain cases.

**Afrasiyab** · October 27th, 2011, 01:40 PM

People care about their appearance more than they used to. Back then, personal care was generally confined to the rich or royal but the regular people were more 'natural -not necessarily good-. Today, the majority of people I know go to gym, use hair and body products, dress better to make themselves look better. Even 20 years ago, guys did not care about a muscular fit body than they do now. Honestly, it's a social pressure. I feel I have to care about my figure, work out, not eat after a certain hour, use hair products to have more shiny hair. It's become hell of a life.

**Earl_of_Rochester** · October 27th, 2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Stanbery

The old folks probably had a more healthy and robust constitution, better tans, and were generally more comely.

I always thought the country girls were prettier in this way. And the Appalachian girls have that sort of squinty eyed look from being out in the sun a lot. I always thought that was kinda fetching too.

City girls what stays inside in the air conditioning get sort of a pale palor to them. They need to go out and waller around in the dirt wrestling with the critters, spend some time at the fishing hole, and generally get out of the house more and spend some time in the woods and the wild places.

They would get stronger and healthier looking.

Then they would be prettier, I think.

I agree, I'm convinced a lot of people would look and feel far better with a more natural life. Humans were never meant to sit in an office for hours staring at spreadsheets where the most exciting time of the day is the conversation in the tea room. All that time under artificial light and sitting on a wheeled chair has got to be dehumanising and bad for your health. This is partly why I utterly detest office jobs and can't fathom why anyone would willingly want to work in one.

**Brisieis** · October 27th, 2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl_of_Rochester

I agree, I'm convinced a lot of people would look and feel far better with a more natural life. Humans were never meant to sit in an office for hours staring at spreadsheets where the most exciting time of the day is the conversation in the tea room. All that time under artificial light and sitting on a wheeled chair has got to be dehumanising and bad for your health. This is partly why I utterly detest office jobs and can't fathom why anyone would willingly want to work in one.

Funny that, I was saying the same thing to someone today. I couldn't stand sitting in an office all day, I would feel like my life was fading away into a repetitive boring abyss!

**tjadams** · October 27th, 2011, 02:16 PM

The artist was a master craftsman in hiding, or creating, a splendid image
of the sitting subject. Just like today there is 'hi-def' tv that really brings
home how human the focused image is, people sitting for a portrait had
to not look 100% accurate.

d'artanian · October 27th, 2011, 02:46 PM

Along with all the beauty aides we have today, we also have a better variety of foods - assuming we decide to partake of them - and nutrition definitely plays into looks.

No matter, rich or poor, in the past people probably had way too much exposure to smoke. The fireplace was always lit, either for cooking or for body warmth, and smoke dries your skin.

A medieval woman after giving birth to 12 children was never going to be a raving beauty again. Today western women have something like 1.5/2 childen on average and the difference in looks between them and their great grandmothers, who had maybe 6-8 children, is remarkable.

**Richard Stanbery** · October 27th, 2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brisieis

Funny that, I was saying the same thing to someone today. I couldn't stand sitting in an office all day, I would feel like my life was fading away into a repetitive boring abyss!

Too much civilizing will kill ye! Best to only partake of it responsibly and in measured doses. Just like strong drink.

Good manners and respect for others, absolutely. But the other parts of civilization, like offices and wheeled chairs and spread sheets, should probably be considered highly suspect.

And only as a last resort!

What is truly attractive is folks who seem to be enjoying life. An ugly person who is delighted with life, has an attractive quality all on their own. People want to be with that person, and people like that. I know I do, as they make us all feel good about things in general.

When I was young, I had a different way of thinking, after I got some wisdom in my head. As for me, I would rather hang out with a happy gal who was as ugly as a mud fencepost, than some pretty girl who has the attitude of a snake. Shew!

So, pretty but snotty gals had best marry young, afore the men her own age figures it out. Once they do, then nobody would have them. But a happy and sweet person can always find a mate.