Beauty Inspires Love or Lust?

[Artemis Noir]

I also voted for the "I am blind" option.

I won't lie and say I don't notice physical beauty, because I do. But, I have always believed that ultimately outer beauty is defined by that which is within. For me, if somebody who is physically attractive is an awful human being, they are ugly and the only thing they inspire is revulsion.

I can only fall in love with somebody if I connect with them at a profound emotional level, for me, this is the key. That person's physical appearance means very little to me. Even if we are talking about pure, unadulterated lust, I still need to feel as though I can communicate with somebody beyond a few mono-syllabic grunts

[Lote-Tree]

You forgot the "neither I'm blind" option. That garnered two votes.

Oh yes I have oops :-)

But is love really blind? :-)

[Stanislaw]

But is love really blind? :-)

I would have to take the no side of the argument, love is not blind, it is caused by some perception on our part, that indicates either we should respect, or romanticly love the person in question. We don't simply love someone for no reason without having some visualization of them.

[kathycf]

Oh yes I have oops :-)

But is love really blind? :-)

I didn't state love was blind. I explained why I chose that option in my earlier posts.

[Bakiryu]

It totally looked like Marilyin Manson to me...

It was Eve before I changed it to a Marilyn Manson one!

[Lote-Tree]

I didn't state love was blind. I explained why I chose that option in my earlier posts.

Ah yes you did :-) oops again :-(

[Moira]

It was Eve before I changed it to a Marilyn Manson one!

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote

[Lote-Tree]

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote

LOL :-) I have already apologised to her. I was merely pointing it out in interst of some amusing debate :-)

[kathycf]

I also voted for the "I am blind" option.

I won't lie and say I don't notice physical beauty, because I do. But, I have always believed that ultimately outer beauty is defined by that which is within. For me, if somebody who is physically attractive is an awful human being, they are ugly and the only thing they inspire is revulsion....

Indeed, and I have often found the nastier a person is the uglier they seem, even if they are quite physically attractive. It works the other way for me too, someone might be plain but with a great personality, and that makes them attractive to me.

Even if we are talking about pure, unadulterated lust, I still need to feel as though I can communicate with somebody beyond a few mono-syllabic grunts

Hey, don't knock the grunting!

Ah yes you did :-) oops again :-(

No problem, Lote.

I am going to have to start thinking of you as a registered oopser though, instead of a registered user.
(KIDDING!)

No, I want registered oopser to be my user title. *goes off to modify profile*

[Bakiryu]

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote

Nah, I just saw the manson pic and couldn't resist. The old avatar was getting boring. *Sights* MM....

[Lote-Tree]

I am going to have to start thinking of you as a registered oopser though, instead of a registered user.
(KIDDING!)

No, I want registered oopser to be my user title. *goes off to modify profile*

No problema :-)

You are young, lassie - you have perfect memory...I forget as easily as I remember :-) ;-)

[Shalot]

I voted for the option that says that beauty inspires both love and lust. But, people perceive beauty in different ways. I read in a fashion magazine once that there are certain facial qualities that are universally beautiful, such as symmetry for example.

However, there is so much more to life than having that fashion magazine look, and in the end, looks aren't the number one quality in a potential life mate (if that's your goal...) There's chemistry, understanding, and having fun together just to name a few, and those are worth more than being awestruck by a symmetrical face (and whatever aesthetic it is you're looking for) day in and day out. And I would rather have a kind, average looking man than a so-called "hot" jerk in my life any day.

Although, if you hate being taller/shorter than your b/f g/f or if he/she is too fat or thin than you can stand, than he/she can have the best personality in the world and can be sweet as sugar and you can have the most enjoyable conversations and yet you still couldn't imagine yourself with that person day in and day out.

[Lote-Tree]

I read in a fashion magazine once that there are certain facial qualities that are universally beautiful, such as symmetry for example.

Yes, that what grabs us first...

[Haven]

Lust and or Love.

In my experience lust is a precursor to love. Sexual attraction is of course lust and the fullfilment of that sometimes expresses itself as love. Beauty is 'in the eye of the beholder'. Trite but true.

[Bii]

I don't think there's an appropriate poll answer to the way I feel about beauty. For the most part the question of whether beauty inspires love or lust can only apply when you relate beauty to people, but beauty goes beyond people. Does a sunset inspire love or lust? Or wonder, perhaps? Or rage? Or despondency? Or faith? What about the statue of David, the glory of the himalayas, the grand canyon, the vatican?

If you're talking physical beauty then I agree with the majority here that actual beauty is different to aesthetic beauty - i.e. a woman who is aesthetically beautiful (take a supermodel for example) may not actually be truly beautiful, as there's more to it than that. The most beautiful people I know are wonderful on the inside and ordinary on the outside. It's the inside that counts.