HOT or NOT?
Realistically I doubt that any one of us hasn't been acquainted at least briefly with the sprawlingly popular <a href="http://www.hotornot.com/" target="_blank">HOT or NOT</a> picture-rating website (and I was playing around the other day, and found that now it's a neat little "meeting service," too). The concept is fun, at least initially when it's still new?looking at people's pictures and judging their appearance (hotness) on a scale of one to ten. It can also be fun to look at really hot people who are exhibitionists enough to chuck their most daring pictures up on a website like that. Now, it's even a lot of fun to search through interests and geographical areas for people that you both (a) find to be hot, and (b) share some interests in, and "meet" them online, through the service.
But what are the ethics of a website/service like this? Doesn't it just teach people to be more judgemental, material, and shallow? What is the constructive purpose of having people slam on you and give you a 2 or a 3 overall rating, and making you feel like crap? Is someone you meet on a site called "HOT or NOT" really going to be any kind of a worthwhile friend or significant other, or be able to be in any halfway-serious relationship? Would you PAY to support this kind of a site?
Regardless of that, it is an interesting concept. Ratings and statistics can be useful information. I wonder what it would be like to mock up a system identical to HOT or NOT's, yet instead of making its basis the anonymity and random factor of strangers rating your body/appearance on the internet, make it more of a community thing. Perhaps people would be nicer, fairer. Maybe they could be constructive and give each other honest opinions and advice that could be formitive in their future, definitely leading to different ways of thinking, and hopefully, self-improvement. We could try it here, perhaps. I would say this is one of the larger, more interesting communities that I visit semi-regularly, with the thousands and thousands of members and surely tens of thousands more lurkers/visitors that know about the AppleInsider (it is the most famous rumor slash forum site.. or maybe I'm being jaded, and it's really just the best of them). Anyway, we've got an established community, we already have huge galleries of our photos up and accessible, and I'd say that everyone has an exhibitionist side, though not all of us show it (still, a good portion do). In defense of the idea, I'd even say that there are quite a few hotties around here (Kate!!! ). However, the big question then, is who would be confident enough in themselves to be able to talk about their physical appearance publicly in such a way? Probably not many people, or maybe I'm a bit biased in that respect (I just know that it would be difficult for me to do that, even though I've already heard everything anyone could possibly say about how I look). So, who knows. It would be an interesting experiment, but more than the "HOT or NOT" part, the "MEET or NOT" part would be fun?to be able to search fellow AIers by geographical location close to you, and by interests, and see their picture and a little blurb about them, and request contact information (online contact info, that is). Am I right? That could be a fun little thing to make, sort of in addition to the "Community" gallery.
Anyway, just a random idea. Discuss the "HOT or NOT" website, my ideas, the AI community gallery, and/or if you're hot, feel free to post hot pictures of yourself scantily clad herein.
But what are the ethics of a website/service like this? Doesn't it just teach people to be more judgemental, material, and shallow? What is the constructive purpose of having people slam on you and give you a 2 or a 3 overall rating, and making you feel like crap? Is someone you meet on a site called "HOT or NOT" really going to be any kind of a worthwhile friend or significant other, or be able to be in any halfway-serious relationship? Would you PAY to support this kind of a site?
Regardless of that, it is an interesting concept. Ratings and statistics can be useful information. I wonder what it would be like to mock up a system identical to HOT or NOT's, yet instead of making its basis the anonymity and random factor of strangers rating your body/appearance on the internet, make it more of a community thing. Perhaps people would be nicer, fairer. Maybe they could be constructive and give each other honest opinions and advice that could be formitive in their future, definitely leading to different ways of thinking, and hopefully, self-improvement. We could try it here, perhaps. I would say this is one of the larger, more interesting communities that I visit semi-regularly, with the thousands and thousands of members and surely tens of thousands more lurkers/visitors that know about the AppleInsider (it is the most famous rumor slash forum site.. or maybe I'm being jaded, and it's really just the best of them). Anyway, we've got an established community, we already have huge galleries of our photos up and accessible, and I'd say that everyone has an exhibitionist side, though not all of us show it (still, a good portion do). In defense of the idea, I'd even say that there are quite a few hotties around here (Kate!!! ). However, the big question then, is who would be confident enough in themselves to be able to talk about their physical appearance publicly in such a way? Probably not many people, or maybe I'm a bit biased in that respect (I just know that it would be difficult for me to do that, even though I've already heard everything anyone could possibly say about how I look). So, who knows. It would be an interesting experiment, but more than the "HOT or NOT" part, the "MEET or NOT" part would be fun?to be able to search fellow AIers by geographical location close to you, and by interests, and see their picture and a little blurb about them, and request contact information (online contact info, that is). Am I right? That could be a fun little thing to make, sort of in addition to the "Community" gallery.
Anyway, just a random idea. Discuss the "HOT or NOT" website, my ideas, the AI community gallery, and/or if you're hot, feel free to post hot pictures of yourself scantily clad herein.
Comments
And no, I wouldn't pay for the site's services because I'm a cheap ass.
[ 08-10-2002: Message edited by: Eugene ]</p>
<a href="http://www.pickthehottie.com" target="_blank">www.pickthehottie.com</a> is better
Too many people are materialistic, superficial and vain. Very sad.
<strong>groverat-not the experience i have had--i found seveal very hot ski partners and they paid their own way and it was a great time--tahoe, mammoth and even vail..great place to find chicks. i just tried it for fun and it was way good......... <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't think groverat is trying to say that all good looking people are superficial or materialistic.. I think he's pointing out the trend in our society for people to judge based on attractiveness or material possesion.. It's really true too.. Everyone judges.. I set myself apart, not take the "high road", because I judge hot chicks sweet bodies, and thats it.. It has no effect on my opinion of their personality, thats WAY different..
I know enough people (good looking and butt ugly) to know that good people are good based on what they do and how they act.. Not how they look..
I agree sites like that are really lame@$$ nuff said
I once visited one of those hotornot sites...
and gave some very low votes just as i don't accept all the junk... well the site was quite boring so i stayed there maybe 90 seconds
hot or not or what..?
now should we start this thread or not??
ok, the first vote: HOT (10 in 0-10) ...
just that i don't tell to who i give it to
ups.. well i mean in the pic 9 ... offlife 10
<strong>Most of those girls aren't even hot.
<a href="http://www.pickthehottie.com" target="_blank">www.pickthehottie.com</a> is better</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanx man, nice site!
IMO :::
Personally, I think the general concept of the site to be somewhat degrading to our perception [or reality?] of others. Now, our perception of society being materialistic is somewhat over dramatized because we pick up this idea from our major 'intake' sources. i.e. movies, supermodels, friends, TV, etc. which all boast on visual appeal.
In a slight way, yes, I would say there's a slight problem with society being judgemental, but that to a degree, is innate and not as problematic as all make it out to be. Everything we do, we draw from our initial impressions, regardless if we made vocal contact or not. conscious or sub-conscious. there's plenty we do at our sub-cnoscious level, you've honestly never acted "extra" nice because you were attracted to someone? [visually or personality]
I have nothing against the site [even though that is far from my style of think]. The original concept of the site [to put up pictures of their own friends, to generically "rate" each other] was a good/cute idea, which blew up, and now it's what it is. And it's profitable for them, makes me wish i created it
As long as you have a good perception of self, you shouldn't be too dramatized by what other's "rate" you. Everyone's taste/style is different.
When you flip this full circle, it's all about the fun/innocence of it all.
So,........ does anyone live in Los Angeles?
*kidding*
<a href="http://www.hotornot.com/r/?eid=KYHEREH&key=QRG" target="_blank">http://www.hotornot.com/r/?eid=KYHEREH&key=QRG</A>
I gave her a 2 but she gets an extra point for using a Mac but OS X is minus one so she's back where she started.
[ 08-11-2002: Message edited by: scott_h_phd ]</p>
I don't think I've ever seen a woman pass up a chance to look at a Playboy. You know they flip a page and say, "that's gross ... those are fake ... what a slut" but they look at the whole damn thing.
<a href="http://www.uglypeople.com/" target="_blank">http://www.uglypeople.com/</a>
<strong>Why's she checking out a girl on the screen? LOL</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's a picture of the same girl. She's checking out her own bikini bod.