Gray's Matter | I am the Ugly Betty of the software development industry

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I am the Ugly Betty of the software development industry

Mar 20

I finally understand you, Betty
(despite the vast chasm between our appearances)

Wobbly-Bits posted about how she doesn't really get the point of Ugly Betty. I "get" Ugly Betty; its purpose is to show all of the rampagingly attractive men and women out there that ugly people are people too. That's great and I'm certain that homely people around the world are glad that they now have a savior to look to in Betty.

*My* question about Ugly Betty: where are the shows wherein the ridiculously hot people are getting discriminated against? I can't tell you the number of times I've heard statements like the following in my line of work:

“Can’t we get someone uglier to work on the DasBlog autosave feature? This is going to destroy our credibility”
“I’m sorry, Justice, but you're a little too good-looking to head up the frameworks team”
(overheard) "Are you sure he's not in marketing?"

Has anyone really taken a look at the rampant discrimination involved in the software industry? According to Microsoft's promotional material for Vista, all designers wear BDSM gear to work and all software developers must be on an attractiveness-continuum range from plain to hideously deformed. And sure, maybe most developers *are* hideously deformed by society's standards, but that doesn't mean that *all* of us are!! And goodness forbid any of us who happen to be appealing to the opposite sex!! Welcome to being *ostracized*, my friends. In my computer science classes at U of A, I was pretty much alone in choosing to date women on my weekends rather than sit in the labs and play NetTrek. "Neckbeards only at this table, buddy!" It was a lonely degree.

When am I going to see a television series about the tribulations of the good-looking? Fending off unwanted advances at work, having to cry ourselves to sleep, wishing that God made us ugly...there's a lot of pain buried deep inside. Maybe one day some TV exec will see fit to produce our tales of woe. But until then, I guess the lot of us will have to suffer in silence. *sniff* No, I won't cry. Not today!

Comments

#1 Wobbly*bits on 3/20/2007 2:57:06 PM

Well, don't even get me started on the double standard in men and women...hoooo weeee! If a man is unattractive it doesn't matter. If he has money or is really smart or is really funny, people love him. You think Bill Gates is attractive? No sir! But given the chance any woman would take him over David Bekham. Well, not any woman...I'm exaggerating, I mean women who choose their partners based on important things like money. The overweight, sweaty, smelly, greasy leaders of the mob have sexy women pouring all over them because they're so powerful. But an unattractive or overweight woman who has a lot of money and power and sleeps around with hot guys? She's just a bitch, or cold hearted, or all of the above. I have no idea how I got off on that tangent???

I still don't get Ugly Betty, but I am also totally willing to accept other's opinions Swear it! Maybe it's because I don't find America Ferrera ugly. You can't take a hot chick, give her a bad wig, fake braces and some glasses and call her ugly. I ain't stupid! Did you see "Not Another Teen Movie"? They make fun of that phenomenon. They take the "freak" of the school, put her hair down, take off her glasses, and she's the hottest!

I work in an industry where looks are of the utmost importance (high end luxury real estate). People are more likely to buy million dollar properties from a gorgeous, thin woman with a huge diamond. Don't know why, but it's true. However, there are unattractive, overweight women who are successful in the field as well. Perhaps not as many, but they exist. I don't think they should be commended.

#2 Tom Opgenorth on 3/20/2007 3:12:15 PM

Dude, someone thought you were in marketing? Seriously?

That's kind of an insult from where I come from. A serious one.

I think you should - nay, must - find out said that, and pummel them until your knuckles are swollen and broken from the repeated (and heavy) impacts of fist on flesh.

(That being said, you are pretty enough to do marketing)

#3 Justice on 3/20/2007 4:00:23 PM

Wobbly:  *No one* should be commended for being obese and ugly, male or female!  ;)

Would any woman really take Bill Gates or David Beckham, or would they kind of date Bill Gates and then cheat on him *with* David Beckham, though?  I mean, I know that having a decent income and being hilarious totally helps but I still believe that everyone still needs a basic spark of attraction to really have a combustible relationship.

Admittedly, although the women who go for mob leaders might be hot (I wouldn't know personally as I am neither a mob leader nor do I know any unless you count Donald).

I also don't think America Ferrera is that cute, even without the Ugly Betty costuming.  I think she's pretty average, although for certain it does point out how differently people can look if they put on some makeup and dress a little differently.  Heck, after Steve Rockarts put on some eyeliner at work he was like a different person!!  ;)

Tom - I guess it all depends on how you frame it.  It's one of those rather cases where it's an insult and a compliment all rolled into one!  Better than being derogatively referred to as "model" rather than your actual name for a year and a half, anyway.  ;)

#4 Cat on 3/22/2007 7:02:49 AM

Did Don hack your website and post that profile pic ... :O ! Any word at what point we should sue?

#5 Cat on 3/22/2007 5:16:10 PM

Why don't you and Helen have a Justice digital camera headshot night... or better yet get an action shot of you practicing for hours on end, in an attempt to ever get as good at Wii sports as Steve...

#6 Justice on 3/22/2007 9:00:06 PM

I'm already better at Wii sports than Rockarts, although I'm not sure whether I should be bragging about it!

Man, and I liked this picture! Guess you can't please everyone...

#7 MrsLoquacious on 3/23/2007 1:26:59 PM

I think you look hot in that pic, Hubbs, and in real life with those funky new specs you have a great killer look.

Pay no attention to the nay-sayers! Ugly is as ugly does, non? And you're a hottie inside and out!

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