Ugliness a potential health hazard, researcher says (micheal moores not long for this world )

canada.com ^ | 3 14 05 | ARCHIE MCLEAN

[freepatriot32]

If you were neglected as a child or if your parents paid more attention to your siblings, take heart.

It might not be your fault. It might be because you're ugly.

That's what Andrew Herrell's research at the University of Alberta suggests. Herrell, the director of the population research lab in the university's sociology department, studied parents' behaviour in grocery stores, where children often suffer minor injuries. He was trying to understand what factors contributed to those injuries.

What he found would stun most fair-minded parents - ugly kids were neglected more often than attractive ones.

"They'll deny it," said Herrell of most parents' reactions, but adds that 426 observations in 14 local supermarkets are telling.

Herrell and his colleagues followed parents and their 2- to 5-year-old kids around the grocery store for 10 minutes each. They checked if the adult buckled the child into the grocery cart seat, and how often the child wandered more than three metres away.

Only 1.2 per cent of the least attractive kids were buckled in, compared with 13.3 per cent of the most attractive kids. Uglier kids were also allowed to wander away more often than their cute cohorts.

Of course, ugly is subjective. Herrell and his research team judged it on a sliding 10-point scale, one being the Lyle Lovett of kids, 10 being Brad Pitt.

Edmonton Journal

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005

[TX Bluebonnet]

Actually, all things considered, I'd take Lyle Lovett over Brad Pitt any day.

[ladyjane]

I don't get the Lyle Lovett thing. Either he's hung down to his ankles or he's a master in hypnosis.

LOL You guys just don't understand what us girls like.

[oyez]

What was it that Cris Rook said? If Clarence Thomas looked like Denzel Washington, we would have never hear a peep out of Anita Hill.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

LOL You guys just don't understand what us girls like.

Always possible.

(Although I still suspect that Brad Pitt's fan club would beat Lyle Lovett's in a tug-of-war.)

[Capagrl]

I was the favored one. uh-oh but then I WAS a cute kid and my sister wore glasses

Oh man, I'm glad my hubby doesn't read the FReep site! He was definitely NOT the favored child and he's the one who wore glasses (and also most resembled his deceased father whom his mother despised). He may not be Brad Pitt, but dammit, it's what's on the inside that counts!

Contemplating changing my tagline to, "I Love My Geeky Non-Brad-Pitt-Looking Husband! Glasses, big nose and all!" :-)

[didi]

Last one:

Oh, you're thinking of a tigon, they're totally stupid and they reek like poo.

or

Tina, you fat lard, come get your dinner.

[k2blader]

They should've used that Carrot Top guy as an example...

[Mr. K]

me too!! I should start blooming any time now~~!

(my grandchildren think I'm cute though)

[reflecting]

The researcher missed the point entirely, which is, Ugly parents are less attentive to offspring.

of course all my children were beautiful.:}

[timtoews5292004]

hate to rain on everyone's parade, but just how did this guy define "ugly" and "attractive." what if his definitions are the same as that twilight zone episode? That could have some bearing on the study as well.

[oldcomputerguy]

"Ugly parents are less attentive to offspring"

This is actually a root cause as Reed Foxx always said, Follow an ugly child home and what do you find? Ugly parents!"

There is no doubt that handsome people do better in life, and, in my view, have better genes due to their being more attractive to the more attractive mates. Looks imply social class and I think they work that way too, although makeup goes a long way, at least for women, guys are on their own.

[reflecting]

All true, but have you noticed that the daughters of the "super rich" are usually homely...think of poor Eleanor Roosevelt, or for that matter Paris Hilton....

[IamConservative]

Perhaps we should expand hate crimes laws to cover ugly people. Helen Thomas can be the poster girl.

[oldcomputerguy]

"Eleanor Roosevelt"

There are always a few mutants, might be inbreeding.

[theFIRMbss]

>All true, but have you noticed that the daughters of the "super rich" are usually homely...think of poor Eleanor Roosevelt, or for that matter Paris Hilton....

I don't want to be difficult, but even if her hair is dyed, and her eyes are contacts, this is still a woman I'd butcher a moose for!

[theFIRMbss]

>LOL You guys just don't understand what us girls like

Well, every woman I've discussed, umm, physics with, said they want this guy!

[VRWCmember]

"you're fat!"
"well I can diet... YOU'RE ugly!"

"You're drunk!"
"Yes madam, but you are UGLY and in the morning I will be sober."

(I think there was a conversation something like this one in a movie with Cary Grant or Rock Hudson.)

[VRWCmember]

Well when stopped by the police for speeding and other vehicle infractions it is true that attractive females get warnings while males get tickets.

Especially if they wear low cut tanktops showing off their ample cleavage.

[VRWCmember]

Well when stopped by the police for speeding and other vehicle infractions it is true that attractive females get warnings while males get tickets.

Especially if they wear low cut tanktops showing off their ample cleavage.