Boy, in addition to being really stupid, the editorial staff at the NY Times must be really ugly as well if they print this nonsense.
Writing in the Times, Daniel S. Hamermesh, a professor of economics at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of “Beauty Pays,” advocates for treating ugly people as a discriminated class.
How could we remedy this injustice? With all the gains to being good-looking, you would think that more people would get plastic surgery or makeovers to improve their looks. Many of us do all those things, but as studies have shown, such refinements make only small differences in our beauty. All that spending may make us feel better, but it doesn’t help us much in getting a better job or a more desirable mate.
A more radical solution may be needed: why not offer legal protections to the ugly, as we do with racial, ethnic and religious minorities, women and handicapped individuals?
We actually already do offer such protections in a few places, including in some jurisdictions in California, and in the District of Columbia, where discriminatory treatment based on looks in hiring, promotions, housing and other areas is prohibited. Ugliness could be protected generally in the United States by small extensions of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Ugly people could be allowed to seek help from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other agencies in overcoming the effects of discrimination. We could even have affirmative-action programs for the ugly.
The New York Times is clearly running an affirmative action program for the stupid.
Of course, the plight of the ugly editorial staff at the Times is of no consequence to me since I am so darn good looking.
August 29, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Would "ugly" have to have regional standards? I mean, some women judged "ugly" in LA would be "really pretty" elsewhere.
August 29, 2011 at 7:46 pm
I have to say that guy in the picture would be rather handsome but for the teeth and some grooming. He has well proportioned facial features and… he's HAPPY! That is one of the hallmarks of attractiveness: a cheerful disposition.
But just think about it: How happy would you be if you looked like that? One would hope that you would be joyful for the gifts you have been given by God. He seems to be.
Ahhh… thank you for posting this – the face of Jesus. Can you see Him in there? In the face of our brother? A happy man, indeed.
GOD BLESS THE UGLY! (And us – the good looking sinners, too!)
August 29, 2011 at 8:23 pm
"Harrison Bergeron." Goodness, Kurt Vonnegut was a prophet.
– federoff10
August 30, 2011 at 1:16 am
Was this written in the spirit of Jonathan Swift's "A Proposal"?
August 30, 2011 at 3:59 am
Yeah. Cause ugly people are treated well throughout their life.
August 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm
So what – does that mean the elimination of the cute discount? Blast it! People with a particular gift of beauty can't help that they are beautiful, nor can they help how other react to said beauty. There is no need to punish them for it! Affirmative action for the ugly can kiss my gorgeous… um… foot! lol!
August 30, 2011 at 6:03 pm
ohh.another victim group…just what we need!
August 30, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Ridiculous concept, though the picture makes me uncomfortable. Feels too much like mocking the man in the picture, which is completely unnecessary and mean.
September 2, 2011 at 12:32 am
FINALLY! Someone who cares about ME! Hopefully I can soon apply for (free) plastic surgery, lots of plastic surgery. Then they will have no reason to reject my employment application at Burger King.