Is this a red flag?

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I made the mistake of asking my new boyfriend "What are the three top things you look for in a woman?" He thought about it and replied: "Intelligence, sense of humour, and looks".

The last one unnerves me. Does this mean he's shallow? Would it be a deal-breaker for you?

Not really, he's just being honest and there needs to be an attraction otherwise it's more of a friendship!

Wouldn't bother me tbh. We are all attracted to people we find visually appealing.

He's just being honest. Most people would feel similar. It's ok to find some people more attractive than others.

Don't you look for someone you find attractive?

For me it's important I fancy my partner.

But is attraction really up there in the top 3 for most people?? Looks are not static.

Would you go out with someone you didn't find attractive?

Of course that isn't a red flag.
Nobody thinks "oh he's really ugly. Yep I'm going to go and ask him out"
You have to be attracted to someone. Most people who don't say looks are on their list are lying.

No, it's not shallow, it's reasonable. Most people go for looks they are attracted to, it's only shallow if they don't care about anything else. If he'd said big boobs, minted and is a nymphomaniac I'd be concerned !

I'll be honest, his comment made me feel really self-concious and worried that if/when my looks dwindle in the future, that'll be the end of us. Not sure I can deal with that pressure. Someone talk sense to me as I am obviously being unreasonable to feel this way.

I have to fancy people, shallow as that may be, before I'd go out with them. They don't necessarily have to be good-looking in the conventional sense, but I have to like the way they look. I think he's being honest - which is another one in my top three things!

Would you go out with someone you didn't find attractive?

I wouldn't BUT I wouldn't list attractiveness as important enough to warrant a spot in the top 3!! I feel really sad that this appears to be the norm, based on the responses to this thread :(

But if you're attractive at (x) age presumably you'll always be so? Ie not youthful but attractive?

Can you explain woowoo22. Aren't "looks" associated with age and weight?

Isn't it a compliment? He's going out with you, and looks are important to him, ergo, he likes the way you look?

By not dating someone because you don't immediately fancy them you are missing out on a great relationship ime but no, definitely not a red flag. He was honest, looks came last and he was just answering the question you asked..

I think you're reading way too much into it, OP. No red flag there for me at all. I think it was probably a fairly off the cuff response. If you'd asked him what he was looking for in a life partner, for example, I kind of doubt 'looks' would have featured.

(Presumably, he also likes your sense of humour, and intelligence.)

You should maybe work on your self esteem because of course looks are important to people when looking for a partner. If he'd have said ' a perfect size 6 figure ' you'd have a point

Looks can definitely mean more than age and weight.

I think most people are attracted to people based on looks but not all looks will be lost by age - nice eyes, a cute smile etc will stand the test of time!

Aren't "looks" associated with age and weight?

Really?

Actually, this kind of reminds me of that Sex and the City episode where one of them convinces herself that her new boyfriend is just too good to be true, and ends up rooting through all his stuff in an attempt to catch him out. He discovers her doing so and quite rightly breaks up up with her for being crazy Again, I wouldn't read too much into one innocuous comment, OP.

Unless he's giving you any other massive red flags, obviously! What's he like otherwise?

Was coming on to say what PearHead said- I would take that to mean what he looks for in a woman if he was single and seeking someone, NOT his three most important qualities in a mate for life!

Costacoffeeplease yes really. Old, fat people generally aren't held up as attractive in our culture, right?

I think "tits, legs and arse" would have been a red flag. His answer seems quite honest and genuine to be honest.
He's obviously attracted to you or you wouldn't be dating. Don't worry about looks in the future. If your relationship goes the distance it should grow to be built on more than looks.