A bunch of useless crap
Looks Are Deceiving
Published on June 14, 2005 By MasonM In Blogging
I am one of those people who doesn't make snap judgements about people based upon their looks. My own personal experiences in having people mis-judge me has taught me that looks can and often do fool you.

I'm a fairly big guy. Not overly tall at 6 feet, but I have a large build. Except for my currently ummm, ample belly due to several months of inactivity while healing from my injuries I have a pretty muscular build. Very broad shoulders, thick neck, and broad chest. And plenty of upper body strength to match.

I also have several tattoos on my upper arms, and one on my chest. All intentionally located so as to not show when I choose to wear dress shirts. I also have had a good many "experiences" in my life and have the many scars to prove it. Over all I have a rough and rugged look I guess you could say. I've also been told I have "piercing eyes" whatever that really means.

So what the point? I'll tell you. People often make certain judgments about me based on these physical charactoristics. Sometimes this can be a good thing. The guy who's looking for a bit of trouble will often pass me up for someone who looks a bit less like a serious threat. I can pretty much walk around anywhere I please without much fear of being attacked. And, to be honest, at least until my recent injuries, I could more than hold my own in a fight if need be.

But, if I engage someone in conversation it doesn't take very long before I spot that slightly confused or surprised look in their face. They often have the same look I would imagine they would have if they were suddenly confronted with a gorilla that spoke fluent english and was quoting Shakespeare.

You see, I have a mind, and a pretty darned good one if I do say so myself. I was something of an anomaly is school. I was the football player who got straight A grades. I am something of a geek which surprises people. Many seem to imagine the geek as the skinny nerd with a pocket protector and taped glasses, or the obese fellow who's spent far too much time eating cheetos in front of the monitor.

I am rarely offended these days when I see that not so well hidden look of surprise in people when it dawns on them that I am not the neanderthal they thought they were dealing with but instead I am as intelligent as they are and possibly more so. Instead I am secretly a little amused by it because I know they have just had some little prejudice dashed upon the rocks of reality.

For some, a little piece of their sense of superiority has just evaporated, for others maybe a few of the little associative links in their brain just short circuited. Either way, it can be amusing to watch them attempt to mentally regroup and, as often happens, try to totally shift gears to a different level of conversation than the one they started out with.

So, don't presume you know too much about someone based upon on the outer appearance you see before you. They just might short out a few of your brain cells.

Comments
on Jun 14, 2005
There was a bus driver in Jerusalem...he was really weird looking...he had long braided hair, rings on every finger, always wore outragious looking bracelets and necklaces. He was usually quiet, did his job and drove the bus well. Not many people seemed to be that friendly with him.
Once a blind man was getting off the bus. The driver asked him where he was headed...he took the man by the arm and crossed the street with him and pointed him in the direction he wanted to go to. I never saw another driver do that before or since.
Never, ever should we 'judge' a book by its cover, so to speak.
Beauty is from within!
on Jun 14, 2005
Ok, can I hate you because you're stupid?

(hehe, just kidding Mason, that answer came to mind as soon as I saw the headline, not realizing who the author was.)



Beauty is from within!


Very true.
on Jun 14, 2005
I KNEW we had some background life in common.Old thugs do not die , we just mellow out {and the world thanx us}
on Jun 14, 2005
I KNEW we had some background life in common.Old thugs do not die , we just mellow out {and the world thanx us}


Very true.
on Jun 14, 2005
I think you're dead on, Mason. I tend to have the same problems. I wonder how many jobs I *DIDN'T* get because I'm far from beautiful.

But...to play devil's advocate, I think it cuts both ways. When I see a drop dead gorgeous man or woman, I tend to automatically assume that they're complete buttheads and I tend to steer away from them, and that is not always the case.

Which usually happens to be true. Because they are aesthetically superior to me, they tend to think I'm "silly" or that what I have to say has less validity than someone who is equal or even CLOSE to them aesthetically.

Grrrrrrr.
on Jun 14, 2005
Yes sir, Yes Sir!  Anything you say sir!
on Jun 14, 2005
I KNEW we had some background life in common.Old thugs do not die , we just mellow out {and the world thanx us}


we need to start a club...
on Jun 14, 2005
#8 by Shovelheat
Tuesday, June 14, 2005


I KNEW we had some background life in common.Old thugs do not die , we just mellow out {and the world thanx us}


we need to start a club...


sure I am all for it, we can chat, compare scars and wounds, tell old tired war stories, stuff like that.
on Jun 14, 2005
we need to start a club...
sure I am all for it, we can chat, compare scars and wounds, tell old tired war stories, stuff like that.


Sounds like a plan

When I see a drop dead gorgeous man or woman, I tend to automatically assume that they're complete buttheads and I tend to steer away from them, and that is not always the case.

Well, you know what they say about assuming.
on Jun 14, 2005
Yes sir, Yes Sir! Anything you say sir!

on Jun 14, 2005
Nice article Mason. And this rings so true for everyone. It cuts both ways, or should that be several different ways! How could anyone thing you're a neanderthal?!

Amusing and to the point!
on Jun 14, 2005
Nice article Mason. And this rings so true for everyone. It cuts both ways, or should that be several different ways! How could anyone thing you're a neanderthal?!

Amusing and to the point!
on Jun 14, 2005
I would never mistake mason for neandetal {however it's spelled} now cro-magnon,..... heh heh heh
on Jun 14, 2005

Nice article Mason. And this rings so true for everyone. It cuts both ways, or should that be several different ways! How could anyone thing you're a neanderthal?!

True, one of my best friends growing up looked like Mason.  And he was smarter than Ken Jennings!

on Jun 14, 2005
Nice article Mason....Amusing and to the point!

Thanks Serenity

I would never mistake mason for neandetal {however it's spelled} now cro-magnon,.....

Yeah that might be closer to it

True, one of my best friends growing up looked like Mason.

Poor guy