The statement that always throws me for a loop is, "Everyone is (physically) beautiful". Besides not making sense (right up there with "... and all the children are above average"), it seems irresponsible to actually embrace being unhealthy in the name of feeling good about yourself.

It's not the same as "all children are above average", since you're comparing a subjective evaluation (beauty) to an objective evaluation (e.g. reading skills). Neither am I saying that everyone is beautiful to everyone else, just that everyone is beautiful to someone.

After all, there are some niche tastes. Just look at the gay community whose tastes can range from Bears (big chunky hairy guys) to twinks (young skinny femmy guys). For straight male equivalents, look at BBW, to Asian, to MILFs, to femdom/dominatrixes, etc.

I am not advocating being unhealthy. There are many people who have a healthy lifestyle & fitness and body, and yet are not as skinny as many many models and 'attractive people'. The fashion industry does not promote healthy bodies.

But how would you know beauty if you did not also know the lack of beauty? In the same way as, what is light without dark? You can't truly appreciate one without the other.

You could be right about the "everyone is beautiful to someone".

I agree, the fashion industry is not much better. If I was king, I'd have everyone aim for athletic/fit. I suppose that's just one person's preference though.

Yes everyone knows beauty and ugliness, but its not the same standard for everyone. Lots of people have their own idea of beauty and ugliness. What's ugly or meh to me, might be stunning to you. For example, some straight men like grantees/older women. They find these people attractive, and others find these people ugly. There is not one standard.

I agree a lot with the light/dark metaphor. I think a lot of these conversations, weather on HN or tv talk shows, are just bullshit being thrown back and forth to make everyone feel good. The elephant in the room is that Beauty is beauty because it's rare. If everyone where beautiful (consensus wise) it wouldn't be beautiful anymore. We would all normalize to it. Everyone is not beautiful. It doesn't mean they should be treated bad or different, but everyone's face isn't geometrically symmetrical, everyone doesn't have good lines, good skin, good body proportions, nice thick hair.

We call everyone beautiful despite most people being unattractive, because we ourselves, being imperfect, would like someone else to call us beautiful. Its the lie that keeps on giving.

Deep inside everyone sees someone else as ugly or unattractive but we don't want the world to see us as judgmental assholes so we bullshit each other and act like no one on earth is ugly. I always get a good laugh at the audience on Oprah who clap and cheer like crazy during before and after makeovers, and weight loss stories. "You look so beautiful Kelly! You look so much better Jennifer!" But then comfort other women who feel unattractive with "you're beautiful just the way you are"... I'm sitting there eating pizza laughing my ass off thinking, "Really?! You've all got 30 minutes of makeup on your face and you're telling her she's beautiful just the way she is.?! Had she walked out of the room, got a makeover, lost 40 pounds and walked back in, you'd all be cheering your asses off and teller her how much better she looks."... Tsk tsk Humans and their lies...