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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it’s fair to judge people on their appearance in certain situations?

232 replies

ThisQuickLemonPoster · 11/04/2025 19:20

If someone shows up to a job interview in a stained hoodie or if a teacher is overweight and unkempt, it does affect how seriously I take them. AIBU to think “don’t judge a book by its cover” only goes so far?

OP posts:
Jabberwok · 11/04/2025 19:28

Fully agree. I was just thinking about this today. Recruitment for a large insurance company where I was a manager, colleague and I interviewed a chap who was borderline on being successful. I voted no as he'd not shaved or polished his shoes...we are talking university graduate not 16 year old here

Personally I like to make sure I am the best dressed man in the room as it gives me a physiological edge in business situations. I look wealthy (most clothes bought from charity shops) and confident.

I would not be happy if a teacher looks like a tramp.

I am currently working for a funeral director and it shocks me how many men don't even own a pair of trousers...your mum's died, go to a charity shop or buy something cheap from Primark or Amazon...clearly you don't have any self respect or respect for others

Oioisavaloy27 · 11/04/2025 19:25

Yabu to judge someone on their size.

doodleschnoodle · 11/04/2025 19:25

YABU to lump overweight in with unkempt. Being overweight is not a character flaw or a personality problem.

SergeantDawkins · 11/04/2025 19:25

Judging a teacher for their weight?! Wtf?!
Body size is not the same as a stained hoodie.

SquashedSquid · 11/04/2025 19:25

I'm an overweight teacher and I might look a bit frazzled sometimes because my appearance means nothing to me and I like to focus on my job. If you ever implied to me that my weight had any impact on my teaching, I'd point out how uneducated you are.

XenoBitch · 11/04/2025 19:23

YANBU to think that someone should look their best for a job interview, but YABVU to judge someone for a job based on their weight. It is not like they can do anything about it as prep for the interview like they can with finding smart clothing et.

toomuchfaff · 11/04/2025 19:22

if a teacher is overweight

Does weight impact their ability to teach?

Fair enough turning up to an interview in dirty clothes, but how does weight impact the ability to be in academia (unless it's sports)