December 30, 2008

  • Does the Internet Deserve Beauty?

    This is the third in a series loosely titled "Internet Lessons of '08"

    For this lesson, I'll more pose a question than I will type a lot of text. This was a tough year for me in some ways, as I felt like I discovered the dark side of Web 2.0 on the Internet. For example, someone would post a lovely Youtube video of herself singing, or of himself talking excitedly about a hobby, and it would be very talented...and no one would notice. Or, a few jerks would ruin it by posting obscene comments underneath the video. Either that, or some bored teen guy would try to find someone to talk to on video chat...and get made fun of for being fat or not funny enough. I also realized to what extent some of my prettier female friends got harassed on the Internet, to the point that the law itself even had to get involved once. So it just seems like when people do beautiful things on the Internet, or try to be beautiful, they just get laughed at, or harassed, or ignored. Or, those people who do have beauty or can create beauty wield it as a weapon to make more money or manipulate people.

    I also realized the price people pay for beauty by reading more blogs on here. Many of us desperately exercise, we control our food intake, and we risk surgery just to look a little better. And if you don't look good enough, it seems like nothing else matters in society. Even here on Xanga, there's definitely a benefit to being more attractive. Is there no way to satisfy our desire for beauty, or to heal the pain for not being beautiful?

    And finally, I realized how much beauty is used to sell things and enslave people online. It seems like nearly every ad tries to use a beautiful, happy woman to sell whatever product they are trying to manipulate us into buying. So if you're a woman, you feel inadequate in comparison to the model with the perfect smile; if you're a man, you're saddened that you don't have a woman like that for your girlfriend/wife/whatever.

    I still love beautiful things. I still love beautiful people. But this was definitely the year that I started to be less enthusiastic about how many beautiful stories, songs, pictures, and videos the Web can provide. It just seems so corrupt somehow, so flawed, so...human. I realize this post is very disjointed and abrupt. Sheesh, I haven't even defined beauty itself! But my thoughts are also still in that state on this topic. So what do you think? Have you found beauty online that truly blessed your soul? Or have you too been distressed at how the Web seems to ruin the beautiful things that it has?

    EDIT Ah, I forgot one of my original thoughts on this. The problem is, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So a person cannot really convey "beauty" on themselves, but must wait for others to announce they are beautiful. A person seeking to be called beautiful or to have their work admired thus is at the mercy of every beholder's judgment. Thus it is easy for one or two evil-minded or misguided beholders to have a disproportionally evil effect on a community or a person.

Comments (28)

  • I mostly spend my "online time" on Xanga, and the most beauty I find is in the words of some.

  • Don't love me just because I'm beautiful, Greek! LOVE ME FOR THE MANLY MAN I AM.

  • Hm, maybe that one came out wrong.

  • Yeah beauty is very distorted now due to all these modelings and the sex industry and photoshop lol. I try not to think about it and just do what I can do. I try to appreciate my looks.

  • Well its all about your perception...i have seen some painfully beautiful things...I've seen some mess to! I've created some mess as well...and i would like to think that i have contributed to some beautiful thing as well! 

  • I think people under estimate the power of words. There are times that I read something at the right time in my life that have helped and then there is garbage online, too. (2girls1cup, DONT WATCH IT. there are things you just cant UNsee)

  • Beauty is not beauty without the ugly.

    It is human nature to want to take someone down, especially when it's as easy as leaving an anonymous comment.  It is human nature to be blindsided by desire, so much so that more ugliness is gained than beauty won.  The horror!  The horror!

    It is human nature to want something better than the easy, the ugly, the debase.  It is human nature to reach for the stars and share what beauty there inside of us.

    It is all human.  You take the good, you take the bad .... 

  • We don't deserve your beauty; you sexy, god-fearing, man beast.

  • You're too pretty to be on the internet, off with ye!

  • More often than not, I'd say that I'm surprised by beauty online rather than seeking out beauty. I don't think I've noticed any of the more extreme examples you've mentioned like being harassed because of beauty. What I find more troubling online is the mindset that we all have to be presented in this perfect, beautiful light. I've heard so many stress about what to change their profile pic to..."I have a double chin in this one"..."My smile isn't right here"..."I look fat here." This makes me want to change my pic now. I'll find something unflattering.

    So what's the benefit on Xanga of being more attractive? I think in an all-xanga poll, there'd be very attractive people in the "popular" group as well as the "unpopular". It's the same way in real life. Not every stunningly gorgeous woman becomes a supermodel. Some might not have any friends. It's really more about self worth.

    Beauty is still an intriguing topic to me though. It made my senior thesis project quite exciting to do.

  • I really like when blogs are phrased this way, instead of being all matter of fact and using definition and things of that nature. I believe that beauty can be kindled with appropriate boundaries, and also the right form of beauty to be fought for. I liked the emotional quality to this entry and its flow with words. :) thanks

  • I need to see something in person before I define it as beautiful.  People, places whatever it may be......

  • This has been a wearying year for me, so I've been more sensitive to...well, probably everything.  I'm not even sure "beauty" has been on my radar.  It seems I've seen more of the ugly side of internet personalities, at least as far as xanga goes.  People being self-centered, rude to each other, starting feuds, etc.  It's made me realize that while the internet can be used to portray one's good side only, it can also be an outlet to let out one's bad/immature side.

    I suppose that doesn't really add anything to your thoughts...

  • agreed.  the internet ruins most things beautiful by either exploitation or ignorance.  it seems to me to be the equivalent of free will: a wonderful opportunity and terrible bondage simultaneously.  good thoughts, brother.

  • In many ways you are right. I have also seen much of the problem coming from television, as well. These problems have been around for years. You don't remember Twiggy from the late 60s but they presented her as the "perfect woman" every girl wanted to be like. She had the shape of a board for one very good reason. . .she was twelve years old! Beauty and the associated problems are not an internet thing but a general societal thing. People just need to learn to accept people for who and what they are.

  • great post. I've thought a lot about beauty online and I've noticed that everyone wants to look beautiful online and it is very important to put on a good face. Part of the reason why I don't have any pictures. I don't want to be judged how I look, even though it happens in real life. It seems all the beautiful people get the most attention and I hate the ads with so-called-beautiful people that attract so much attention. They always want something from you. 

  • This is beautiful right here.

  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    So it really depends on what you'd like to be viewed as "beautiful"?

    This is weird. You seem to be pulling me out of my sorrowful entries. (:

  • yep and yep - agreed on all counts. I found beauty AND The beast here on xanga this year. and I found myself beautiful through someone else's eyes and because those eyes are gone, I struggle once again to see the beauty in myself. I hate how that works...

  • I had a very stressful year on the web for 2008. A lot of it does, unfortunately, center around beauty. I like what you have said here.

  • I believe someone can know they are beautiful. You have to be able to value yourself and know you are beautiful. Then it doesn't matter if anyone else thinks you are beautiful or not. You don't have to attempt to conform to what someone else considers beautiful.

    You can have all the qualities of a beautiful person on the outside and you can even attempt to mimic what you identify as beauty in others. You can be perceived as perfect in everyone else's eyes but if you aren't and all you do is cause others pain. You are the ugliest person you could be.

  • I, too, am distressed by what I find online. In order to be beautiful these days you have to have the perfect hair and face, be skinny like a model and dress in expensive clothes. Beauty lies within people, the exterior shouldn't matter, but it is advertised all over the web and tv. There are so many products out there that claim to get rid of wrinkles or flatten abs. I say be yourself and your beauty will shine from within. You will have a happier life, if you aren't constantly trying to be that perfect person society wants us to be.

  • You say that a person can not convey beauty upon themselves. In general, I admit that it probably true. However, I think that makes the choice of "which beholder" to listen to, a critical one. To some extent I believe we can "behold" ourselves, but I think other voices and the self criticism we are taught become far to strong to let a positive image of ourselves really win out. I think, then, that responding to who we are (or have the potential to be) in light of God's creation, and re-creation in Christ, is the only thing that can help us to transcend the harsh, subjective, and transcient "laws" of beauty.

    Thomas Merton wrote :"A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying Him…The more a tree is like itself, the more it is like Him…"

    The more we are who we are created to be, the more we are honoring the likeness of God in us. In essence, we are "more like God." And while I'm sure it's an arguable point based on one's particular perspective on God, I believe that's as beautiful as a person can get. So in finding your true self... you are beautiful.

    But now what is "true"... that's a whole different discussion (though not unrelated).

    Thanks for giving me something to think about today, sorry if I went off in a weird direction with it!

  • this is a great post.  i've found a lot of beauty this year, met beautiful people - not just externally but within.  i have not found much ugliness.  maybe i don't venture out enough of my circle.  i haven't had much time.  but lovely people have left comments here and there on my page.  i'm not the most popular xangan, an understatement but it's a pleasant thing to find someone posted something nice on my blog.  it is sad to see awful comments below someone's blog - someone who has put forth effort to show us their talent and passion.  there will always be destroyers and haters, those who don't create but tear people down.  yeah, that has its own appeal, and i suppose it;s an art, to insult with wit.  ultimately though it's a wasted effort.  unfortunately, nihilism hurts many beautiful and sensitive souls.   

  • This is beauty on the internet, and the beauty OF the internet.  If you are a music geek, of course.

  • The internet only reflects the world at large--beauty (of all sorts) is used for evil ends, chewed up, and spit out.  What can you do but create your own pocket of sanity and try to nurture and protect something worthwhile?

  • I don't know, I might be a freak, but I know I'm beautiful-and I'm not talking outwardly, I'm talking about who I am inside.
    One of the most beautiful blogs I've ever read that totally helped me out in just about every way is resolved2worship.xanga.com
    She's definitely paid the price for her free and honest beauty too, and I'd hate it if she didn't blog anymore. Her site is full of energy, joy, Christ, and love. It'd be a shame not to see that anymore.
    Sorry, I know these are old posts but they're interesting and I couldn't help commenting! =)

  • @successjournal010 - No, no, I'm super-flattered you're reading them! Resolved is a wonderful lady, glad you've come across her posts. 

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment