whiskey tango foxtrot?
yeah, i was re-e-e-a-l attractive as a kid, what with my giant cokebottle glasses, mouse-like front teeth, and hair that looked like i combed it with balloons. looking at old photographs, i actually was sort of cute in a quirky way--i had/have nice bone structure, at least--, but i was certainly never beautiful. and at the time, i either didn't give any thought to my appearance or thought i was hideous.
i did always look young for my age, but that's not such a good thing when you're eleven or twelve and people think you're eight. or when you're 17 and you still sometimes get carded going to see PG-13 movies.
I think part of the reason we tend to look younger than our age is that our mannerisms could be those of younger people. It's also possible that we have fewer facial expressions and therefore don't form wrinkles as quickly as the norm.
We might even spend more time inside than most and therefore avoid much of the sun damage to the skin which causes faster ageing.
We went to a teacher/parent information night with Lauren last night. After we came back, Lauren gave us both a compliment: she said that her father and I look far younger than the other parents who have children her age, less bland and that we are far more interesting to be around. We were both pleased!
Alison
Cool! It seems that it's rare for parents of teenagers to look young and interesting.
It makes sense to me. I, of course, am autistic and very good looking.
In my own mind, that is.
Well, I was not attractive at all as a child. Though I have noticed that many autistic little boys are incredibly cute. The pictures I've seen of autistic little girls look more ghostly/ haunted than do the boys. But as they get older the odd body language/ fear of dentistry/ dislike of grooming (not all have that but some do)/ non-trendy dress etc. can make one's "looks" take a downward spin.
Wow, in case the "theorist" was not immediately identifiable as an idiot:
"And I think with girls, because a wider range of behaviour is tolerated from them in society..."
What society is he talking about?
I think I'm young and good looking.
As a really small child, I didn't look much different to any other, but after about age 5 or 6, I started to take on this "haunted" or "other worldly" look.
I really can't see the blanket statement of goodlooking as being true. I've seen some real pretty Auties people and not so lovely ones too. Maybe thats where the spectrum part comes in ??? Just kidding. What about what is attractive to me isn't attractive to you? Like sex appeal or chemistry or she has wide hips and could birth many babies or he has a high forehead and looks intellegent or that man looks stable and like he would never cheat on me and leave me? It's all depends to what you see as beautiful. How can a test stat gauge attractiveness? Wide set eyes and a button nose. Pink cheeks and natural curly hair? Do they whip out a measuring tape and write down the length of your chin?
I have seen some beautiful autistic boys on promotional material for autism orgs. Guess pretty brings in more donations bucks.
I was good looking as a child, and a few people have told me I'm still 'hot'. I guess I'm the living proof that good looks alone don't get you laid, LOL
Meh. Personality is also important besides looks.
When I was a kid I won a contest of the most beautiful baby of my country, but today I am, I think quite average looking, or rather I have no clue what I look like, especially to others.
Besides, yes I always had the feeling since I was a kid that my opinion didn't matter to my family, that I never been taken seriously... bringing an ironic smile on their faces when I expressed a will or an opinion. (it affected me a lot still to this day)
I've actually noticed this, every autie and aspie i've met....they're NOT hideous... I mean i've met ALOT of ugly butt NT's, but I've never met a truley hideous autie/aspie. I've met obese people, but that doesnt make you ugly.
Hmmmm, I am a first child, but I'm female and not particularly attractive.
As a child I looked a lot like a zombie. Very pale skin, big dark circles around blankly staring eyes, eczema all over my face, eyes too close together, abnormally underweight, tiny mouth, nose and eyes in the middle of a big moon-like face. In fact I looked like something out of a horror film. I was a very ill child though.
These days I look pretty much the same except for the fact I'm fatter, taller and have less eczema. I don't think I'm ugly exactly, but nobody could ever say I'm pretty (except for my boyfriend, and he's biased). I think the old fashioned term is a 'plain-Jane'.
The only other Aspies I've met in person weren't exactly stunning to look at either. I think this autism=attractiveness idea is probably a sweeping generalisation. I really wish it wasn't though......
As a child I looked a lot like a zombie. Very pale skin, big dark circles around blankly staring eyes, eczema all over my face, eyes too close together, abnormally underweight, tiny mouth, nose and eyes in the middle of a big moon-like face. In fact I looked like something out of a horror film. I was a very ill child though.
Hm, sounds a lot like I used to look when I was a child. Particularly the bit about the very pale skin, big dark circles under the eyes and tiny mouth. The doctors say those are common "looks" for people with autoimmune conditions such as mine. I'd have to say I've improved since, particularly since I've been on medication for the condition. Did you have lots of hair when you were younger? I had masses of bushy hair which was always very fly-away. I've still got a lot, and it still has a mind of it's own!
Alison
As a child I looked a lot like a zombie. Very pale skin, big dark circles around blankly staring eyes, eczema all over my face, eyes too close together, abnormally underweight, tiny mouth, nose and eyes in the middle of a big moon-like face. In fact I looked like something out of a horror film. I was a very ill child though.
Hm, sounds a lot like I used to look when I was a child. Particularly the bit about the very pale skin, big dark circles under the eyes and tiny mouth. The doctors say those are common "looks" for people with autoimmune conditions such as mine. I'd have to say I've improved since, particularly since I've been on medication for the condition. Did you have lots of hair when you were younger? I had masses of bushy hair which was always very fly-away. I've still got a lot, and it still has a mind of it's own!
Alison
I've never had much hair. Still don't. It's very thin and very straight.
Sorry to hear about your autoimmune problems, I hope it's under control now. I looked so ill because had severe asthma, eczema and multiple allergies. The asthma made me look tired and ill, and the steroids I took to control the asthma stunted my growth and made me abnormally skinny (plus the fact I never had the energy to eat because I was too busy trying to breathe).
These days my asthma is a lot better (although my allergies are worse) and I'm on different steroids, hence the reason I no longer look like the undead.