It irritates me when we needlessly replicate social science studies – especially when we do so on the backs of children. This popped up on my FB feed this weekend. https://www.facebook.com/NowThisNews/videos/1094289017327888/?pnref=story
The idea is to expose how horribly lookist that we are, in order to shame us into acting differently.
I’m all for treating people well, regardless of their appearance – it’s part of my commitment to Christ.
James 2:1 – 4 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (NASB)
So, insofar as it involves me – or you, dear readers – I hope that you’re controlling your actions and basing them on compassion. BUT. BUT. This wouldn’t have been in the Bible if it weren’t a natural human tendency. (“Natural” is not a synonym for “good” – especially in the realm of human behavior).
What’s upsetting? This has been proven. Babies prefer pretty people. Babies. This is not nurture, it’s nature. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6355-babies-prefer-to-gaze-upon-beautiful-faces/ This is known. Every interaction any one of us has ever had in the world has reminded us of this hard truth.
You didn’t need to make a little girl cry. I’m mad that they hurt this little girl – do they think she’s going to forget that day? Every protective parental bone in my body is infuriated right now. How DARE they do this to her? They knew she’d be rejected.
And I get mad when I hear grown people say, “well, it shouldn’t matter how I dress…” You’re right. It shouldn’t. But it does. Humans are visual creatures, and we take in information visually.
Learn to speak with your mouth closed, and you can make this work for you. In the meantime, remember that these things work on you just as they work on tiny babies, and act with love.