Hi, I’m a 21 year old guy and every time I’m outside for example to buy groceries I see so many good looking people (both female and male).

I don’t know what it is but they seem almost perfect, their faces are so beautiful and perfect, their clothes are so stylish and perfect, their hair and make up appearance looks so well groomed and beautiful. (I’m mainly referring to people around my age from Gen Z)

They’re all so confident and wear jewelry etc.

I don’t even have the knowledge how to dress good and stylish as I don’t have a feel for that. I just end up wearing what’s most comfortable for me like random sneakers, sweatpants/shorts and a polo shirt. But even if I was able to dress stylishly my face naturally still looks very average and not like all these other people.

I wonder why people look so perfect nowadays. When I look at old video tapes or pictures (like from the 1900’s) people seem to have looked way more average like me. Why could this be? Is the pressure from social media a reason because that’s why I’m purposefully not on there.

And honestly I also don’t feel like putting so much time and effort into my looks as I think this is only secondary in life and I mainly value human connections. Obviously I put some extra time into it for some occasions where I put on contact lenses, creams, a little make up (one that’s for men of course), hair gel/spray and perfume but even then I feel like I don’t look as good as many of these people I see on a regular basis.

  • DrFistington@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    It depends on where you are. I just drove thru a college campus the other day for the first time in years, and for it being one of the first really nice days, I have to say the student body was… Underwhelming

    • Just_a_person@lemmy.worldOP
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      3 days ago

      Just saying other people look beautiful and better than me doesn’t mean I’m horny. This realization wasn’t meant on a sexual basis. But I guess nowadays people always take stuff like this the wrong way.

      But the comment is still funny lmao

      • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Yeah, it was 95% sarcasm. But don’t underestimate the evolutionary urge to procreate, it’s one of the most powerful forces on the planet.

  • Kookie215@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I live in rural America and can’t say I have the same experience as you do. I (34F) dress like a “bum” 99% of the time (T-Shirts, jeans/leggings, hair thrown in a bun) and thats how most of my busy friends dress too when they are not at work. However I do think if you live in a city or just a more populated area that its realistic to think you may end up on camera at any point during the day, and you want to look good for that, so you could feel compelled to try and always look your best.

    Every once in a while, I do get full glam to go to the local grocery store because I really don’t go anywhere else, and I want a reason to “dress up” and I can imagine that there’s a lot of that going on too.

    • Just_a_person@lemmy.worldOP
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      3 days ago

      I live in a small town but in Germany. From hearing what you said about that rural place in America makes me wish to live there too. It would be so relieving to put looks secondary and see more people embracing comfort and not constantly stressing out about looks.

      But from the videos I’ve seen online it looks like Americans often look even better than here in Germany with perfect white teeth and everything (even from videos recorded in grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart).

      But like you said the factor of “dressing up” most likely plays a role here too.

  • dyslexicdainbroner@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    You see appearance as ‘secondary in life’ and value ‘human connections’

    They value appearance first, far above love for one another

  • make -j8@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    i never was in your situation. I live in France, and wherever I go, everyone looks like Quasimodo’s cousins

  • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    I consider my appearance to be armor. I put on makeup and cute clothes and style my hair so I can face the world. Helps my social anxiety.

    Also, totally doesn’t take that much time. 20 minutes max once you get into the habit of it.

      • ekZepp@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        People looks like people. I honestly saw any kind of face around, average, cute, attractive ecc. Ofk depending from the place, the percentage of “good looking” people may vary. But “perfect” is a long shot. Your answer is right there “don’t feel like putting so much time and effort into my looks”, they do.