We thank you for your application, but unfortunately we do not accept Shreks within our midst

In a long series of things that don't make sense in this world, I recently discovered this dating website called Beautiful People (thank you MIS class!) where the basic concept is simple. You sign up, fill in all sorts of information about yourself and you are required to put up a picture (actually this is the first step after entering your name and e-mail). And in the following 48 hours, members of the site vote if they should keep you or not. And if they decide not, then you're out. As simple as that.

So if I get this right, you can be able to see my picture once, see what my height and weight is (luckily they don't ask for bra size), and decide if you never want to see me again?? Of course, the site is called "Beautiful People" so we don't want to be bothered with fat or, God forbid, UGLY people!! Actually, this past June, the website was attacked by the "Shrek" virus that allowed applicants to bypass the voting system and therefore be granted access directly. Once this was found out, from the 35,000 members that were concerned by this breach, the company ended up throwing out 30,000 because they didn't fit the bill (see article for more details).

Granted, from a business and marketing perspective, this site is genius! It offers its users a built-in filter which saves its members time since they don't have to bother with unattractive people. What's more, it confers exclusivity and prestige to those who actually get in (and who doesn't like to be part of a private party?). However, from a social point of view, what does this site teach us? Be shallow, focus on looks and as for those who don't fit your standards of physical beauty, push them to the back of your mind where you don't see them, you don't have to deal with them and as far as you're concerned, they pretty much don't exist. What does this promote? Segregation, discrimination and an overall excessive focus on looks.

But people are making money out of this so all is good. And actually, following this business model, I propose that the creators of this site take the next step in diversifying their product. Similarly to car companies that provide the luxury class and the economy class of their vehicles (Infiniti and Nissan, Lexus and Toyota, Acura and Honda), well I think that they should start working on UglyPeople.com. Think about it! This could be huge! Their selling pitch could be "you didn't make it to the top, but don't despair, because you still have a shot at the bottom!" They could even put some barriers to entry in order to make it seem more appealing. They could only accept people with a missing limb (or part of a limb... like a finger or a toe... or a nail) or those with visible scars on their faces. And then they could make a website for average people who didn't get into either of the two previous ones. And another one for single parents. And people over 40. And people under a certain level of income. And immigrants. And then we can all be happily isolated in our own little social bubbles where no one will ever come to disturb us or challenge us or make us think that life could be somehow different.

Somewhat on the same topic, here is a TED talk about how search engines' algorithms can lead us to a similar bubble where certain topics and websites will never ever reach us.

Diversity

About a week ago, I was walking with a friend of mine in downtown Montreal and we ran across this drunk Spanish guy who kept repeating "Cabrones los Quebequences!" (meaning "these Quebecers are real bastards"...and yes I had to look in the dictionary...my Spanish isn't all that good). And it made me laugh because you don't see something like that everyday. I like drunk people because they have the courage to tell the world to go to hell and they voice things that most of the time we keep bottled up for fear of offending someone. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think that we should all get drunk and start a fight. I'm actually all against violence. But I do think that the world needs a bit more sincerity... and extravagance. Because let's face it, a world where everyone keeps in their own closed up little world, where everyone minds their own business, where the streets are filled with people going to work and then back home and where everyone does their best to fit it, well it's a pretty boring world. From the hundreds of times I took the metro in the past years, do I remember the people sitting there reading their newspaper or their books? No, I remember the guy who would spit at the closing doors and I remember the guys dressed as pirates who started pounding on the windows of the metro. I think we should have more apparent diversity in this world because all diversity is good. Freaks, weirdos, handicapped people, gays, drunks, homeless people and all the different cultures of the world should be posted on every street corner. Because that way: 1) our days will be more colorful (yes, yes, insensitive freak that I am) and most importantly, 2) we will never forget their existence. We must break from our cozy, safe and protected air-tight bubble and see that the world is not as great as we might think. There is suffering even in the glorious New World. There are people who struggle and who get stepped upon. And on the other hand, there are people who are simply different and who don't ask for anything but to be accepted as they are and not judged for it.

So homework for the end of the week: go out, take a walk and try to find someone who is different. And try to imagine what it's like to be in their shoes for a day.