Why has vanity taken over the world?

[anon98328916]

In recent years society has become so vain and self-absorbed. Between (always looking your best) to taking selfies of yourself in different angles and posting it on social media to get feedback on how pretty and gorgeous you look…what the heck has happened!?? I’m all for taking care of yourself and looking respectable but this has gone to far! BOTH men and women are equally as bad… Lip fillers, botex, face-lifts, eyebrow threading, laser treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry, fake tan (men are really into this now). I am young myself but I wouldn’t be bothered with all that kind of thing and I look around me and everyone around my generation and younger is looking so into their appearance and fake…I can’t help but wonder where will it end? Or will there ever be a line drawn?

 

[ameliepoir]

There have been vain people and practices in every generation. Egyptians using crushed beetles for makeup, white powdered faces in the Elizabethan era, rib crushing corsets through the ages… Beautifying methods are more available to people in different classes today, though.

 

[Strydersroom]

Looking at tiny cell phone screens has taken over, and add Facebook to the mix, where people broadcast their lives 24/7, and it’s a recipe for disaster. And with the dawn of virtual reality coming, it’s only going to get worse. People will spend even more time online, in virtual worlds playing shooting video games and looking at pornography.

 

[Bonnie]

There have been vain people and practices in every generation. Egyptians using crushed beetles for makeup, white powdered faces in the Elizabethan era, rib crushing corsets through the ages… Beautifying methods are more available to people in different classes today, though.

Yep - vanity has been around for as long as there have been people. The most famous Bible quote is from Ecclesiastes (Vanity of vanity! All is vanity), but there are many, many more citations.

 

[Lea101]

I’m honestly all for girls feeling pretty and posting selfies online to be quite honest. If they were doing it constantly (like 2x every single day), it would be annoying. If they were doing it solely to hear compliments, you can call ot vanity although we do not know their intentions.

Fake tanning/eyebrow threading and laser IMO can fall under grooming. Fake tanning is just a fun thing, some people like to add color to their skin instead of lying outside and getting skin cancer. Like dying hair, I don’t really think it’s wrong. Hair removal was never really considered vain wasn’t it? Now it’s a different method + different places to remove hair. Some people’s idea of grooming is to brush her hair, others is to remove it

Idk about surgery. I remember asking here about it before but I didn’t get good answers. But in general, it does seem vain. Most people just want to look better and better. Although I am kind of worried as to why one would be willing to spend money on fixing her face/body. It could be the future psychologist in me but these people are probably hurting IMO

I’ve been called vain bc I’m that girl who scrolls through sephora’s website several times a day hoping for a sale. I wish to get some corrective cosmetic surgery done (although I know it’s impossible because if I had the money, I would want it to go to my university fees). I thread my brows bc I was cursed with thick, bushy caterpillar brows so I need to shape them. Idk if I’m vain but it does make me feel a little better about myself.

And yes, vanity has been around for a long time. It just seems so prevalent now because the ideal standard is so unattainable/troublesome to achieve as opposed to in the past where women would pinch their cheeks and crush insects for coloring (although people who experienced foot binding will disagree)

 

[Javan]

In regards to the selfies: Taking pictures used to be expensive. You had to have a camera and buy rolls of film, which usually had 24 exposures. Then you had to take the rolls of film to be developed and printed. Depending on where you bought your film and the quality you chose, and how fast you wanted your prints (1 hour photo vs 3-5 days), getting 24 photos could cost around $10. The price is an approximation based on my memory, and of course could vary from location to location. The point is that the cost was not negligible, and so people would tend to be more picky when choosing what to capture on film.

Around or a bit after the year 2000, you could also select the option to have your pictures put on CD, which you could then upload to the internet. The only other way to get your pictures online was to use a scanner and manually scan them for uploading. Webcams did exist, but they were generally very poor quality.

Now: Cameras are everywhere and in almost all consumer electronics, and most of them are connected directly to the internet. You can easily snap off more than 24 pictures of yourself and upload them to the internet almost instantaneously. There is no extra cost past the cost of your devices and internet connection.

The constant posting of selfies to social media probably isn’t a sign of increased vanity as much as it is the result of technology making it nearly effortless to take and share virtually unlimited photos.

 

[Garyjohn2]

*Ecclesiastes 1: 2-3, 8

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

  What advantage does man have in all his work
        Which he does under the sun?

All things are wearisome;
Man is not able to tell it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor is the ear filled with hearing.*

Everyone is looking for something. When that “something” is not realized as being God, the result is vanity. I pray we will all learn this before the end. However, the more that people forget God, the more vain our society becomes.

 

[Joe_5859]

Ever since Adam and Eve thought of themselves first over what God wanted, people have had the tendency towards self-absorption. It simply manifests itself differently in different time periods.

 

[oldrover]

As Al Pacino said, playing Satan in “The Devil’s Advocate”…

 

[Della]

Well, as I see it, what is vanity for one person may be harmless fun or a major need for another.

For example, people born with or who receive injuries that make their looks the center of unwanted attention, such as a huge nose or burn scars may want to have those things changed/corrected so they can function in society like everyone else. I see nothing wrong in that.

Or, some have careers that demand they look “good” for their profession. Again, if one can afford it and it is necessary to keep a job, I can see having surgery/procedures for that, too.

We can be overly puritanical about these things–things that, in the end, really don’t matter very much. For example. when all women wore griddles, so did I. Now that that’s gone out of fashion, I don’t. I wear make-up, but I don’t ply it on with a trowel. I try to dress well enough for who and what I am, but I know I’ll never be a fashion plate.

I believe we need to be a bit less hard on our own generation in such matters when , more importantly, our morals are openly attacked and we are fighting to keep our basic constitutional rights. As I see it, there are bigger fish to fry than a little outward, superficial vanity.

 

[oldrover]

As I see it, there are bigger fish to fry than a little outward, superficial vanity.

Respectfully disagree. Vanity IMHO is like crabgrass… you see one little plant at first… harmless… then before you know it your lawn is covered. And it’s a LOT harder to remove once it’s flourishing.

The Lord gave us two directives: love Him… and love our neighbor as we would love ourselves.

Looking presentable and appropriate for your profession or for a public outing is not vanity. That’s respect for others and for your employer.

Again JMHO.

 

[Sarcelle]

Well, as I see it, what is vanity for one person may be harmless fun or a major need for another.

For example, people born with or who receive injuries that make their looks the center of unwanted attention, such as a huge nose or burn scars may want to have those things changed/corrected so they can function in society like everyone else. I see nothing wrong in that.

Or, some have careers that demand they look “good” for their profession. Again, if one can afford it and it is necessary to keep a job, I can see having surgery/procedures for that, too.

We can be overly puritanical about these things–things that, in the end, really don’t matter very much. For example. when all women wore griddles, so did I. Now that that’s gone out of fashion, I don’t. I wear make-up, but I don’t ply it on with a trowel. I try to dress well enough for who and what I am, but I know I’ll never be a fashion plate.

I believe we need to be a bit less hard on our own generation in such matters when , more importantly, our morals are openly attacked and we are fighting to keep our basic constitutional rights. As I see it, there are bigger fish to fry than a little outward, superficial vanity.

In Korea, job applicants are required to enclose their photograph with the job application. Does not matter what job, photos are required of the applicant.

No wonder Korea has one of highest rates for plastic surgery.

 

[Wildgraywolf]

Vanity has always been around and then there’s Ecclesiastes 1:2.

 

[puzzledtoo]

We’ve a long way to go. “The spiritual can never be attained, until the material has been extinguished.” From Swami Vivekananda. Narrow gate-wide gate-we all have to choose for ourselves.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

…
Looking presentable and appropriate for your profession or for a public outing is not vanity. That’s respect for others and for your employer.

Again JMHO.

This is true, but I think what is considered what is looking presentable has gone up several levels according to society. Just looking presentable now possibly includes making sure your body is ‘fit’ and buff, your skin is clear of pimples, your hair is full shiny and always styled nicely plus wear nice clothes from designer lines, or some very close knock off, not to mention your house/and or office and furnishings better be in line with what is current too. All vanity.

Look I rather have a doctor that looks disheveled and his office a mess but can save my life than one that dresses presentable and wears all the latest styles and his office looks like a million bucks to furnish it. You see, its still vanity… this ‘looking presentable’ stuff… St. Paul corrected St. Peter over his judging people like that… not saying you are like that… just that its still all vanity, and therefore, not what is really valuable, though I have to say it is pleasant, just not what is needed.

 

[Della]

Respectfully disagree. Vanity IMHO is like crabgrass… you see one little plant at first… harmless… then before you know it your lawn is covered. And it’s a LOT harder to remove once it’s flourishing.

The Lord gave us two directives: love Him… and love our neighbor as we would love ourselves.

Looking presentable and appropriate for your profession or for a public outing is not vanity. That’s respect for others and for your employer.

Again JMHO.

Well, any minor indulgence can get out of hand, of course. It’s up to us to make sure it doesn’t.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

…

The constant posting of selfies to social media probably isn’t a sign of increased vanity as much as it is the result of technology making it nearly effortless to take and share virtually unlimited photos.

Technology is making nearly everything nearly effortless… Look at sex- used to be a man had to give/share his life to get it… now he can virtually get it for free and with a different beauty every minute.

We can all now take outstanding photos using technology and do artistic stuff with it using photoshop and other computer programs.

We can duplicate documents in second. We can communicate with virtual ease with anyone anytime.

With technology we can cook better meals.... on and on.

The awful thing about getting everything you want is that that everything looses its value when we don’t stop to appreciate it and be thankful to God. Everyone in this nation should be filling churches giving praise to God for all the abundance… instead… empty churches and miserable complaining people!

I think its APPRECIATION and GRATITUDE that has gone by the wayside because all the princes and princesses don’t even know how spoiled they are. … I don’t mean to put people down using those terms, but rather use them because scripture speaks of how princes usually do not appreciate the silver spoons that they were given.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

In recent years society has become so vain and self-absorbed. Between (always looking your best) to taking selfies of yourself in different angles and posting it on social media to get feedback on how pretty and gorgeous you look…what the heck has happened!?? I’m all for taking care of yourself and looking respectable but this has gone to far! BOTH men and women are equally as bad… Lip fillers, botex, face-lifts, eyebrow threading, laser treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry, fake tan (men are really into this now). I am young myself but I wouldn’t be bothered with all that kind of thing and I look around me and everyone around my generation and younger is looking so into their appearance and fake…I can’t help but wonder where will it end? Or will there ever be a line drawn?

With anything, there comes a time when it fades ans something else takes its place as the problem of the time. That doesn’t mean it is solved or resolved… just that it changes. With each generation there is an issue that comes up. People are no better than their idols and with media today, the masses of people are given idols to choose from via media.

If you are young as you say and are bothered by it, how much more ones like you are out there… probably more than you realize. Its a starting point for the change of wind direction. The key is to become the heavy seed that doesn’t get blown away with the wind of the times… like chaff does. As someone else stated here… every era has its wind. the silver lining… Let it teach you something about how humanity and fallen nature is and learn from it!

Every generation basically has to clean up after the party that went before it, so, yeah, there is hope… only wonder what is on the horizon, what next for the future?

 

[saellis]

If they had camera phones back in the day, do you think St. Clare would have taken any selfies? Yes, we are far too vain in this day and age no matter how we try to excuse it.

 

[Della]

If they had camera phones back in the day, do you think St. Clare would have taken any selfies? Yes, we are far too vain in this day and age no matter how we try to excuse it.

St. Clare gave her life in full service to Christ. Most of us are not religious, but lay people. A few selfies aren’t going to damn anyone to hell. There are far worse things people could be doing than that. If a person is living a faithful life of service to God and man, then small indulgences remain just that. It’s why we are in control of our actions instead of being moral robots.