As far as I'm aware being an attractive male doesn't hinder your chances in the STEM fields as it maybe would a female.

I think it can work against you, people might not take you seriously as an engineer if you're too goodlooking or well built.

Don't know why you were downvoted. I've noticed this too. Someone who works out a lot (noticeably muscular) is stereotyped in academia or STEM professions.

I can understand there being an issue for being overly muscular, but I also don't think that being overly muscular equals being good looking. This is probably a very common mistake that men make when pursuing better looks.

> I also don't think that being overly muscular equals being good looking

I know. I didn't imply that.

I'm a pretty good looking man by conventional standards. In my n=1 experience the benefits far outweigh any downside. I actually can't think about any downside.

I know this sounds cocky, but I thought it might add to the discussion.

Being good looking is fucking awesome. So is being smart. Both are a combination of genetics and hard work.

You might be able to overcome that by investing in some jam-jar glasses and a thinkgeek t shirt. Bonus points for food or armpit stains.

Good looks during young age remove the incentive to communicate well, so when the looks inevitably expire one might end up not as well-adjusted as their average-looking peers.

Straight porn. They don't want attractive men, it makes male viewers feel inadequate.

Not that I'm the best to judge, but male porn actors seem to be mostly in pretty good shape.

these days they're all young and fit and well endowed. but the camera is never focused on them or their faces, like in the old days.

the ron jeremy days are long gone.

He was young and fit in the seventies. He's just stayed around in that business long after his expiration date.

I seem to recall that the original assumption in porn was that men would prefer unattractive men, but reality (as measured by sales) proved different.

If that was the case, why wouldn't they all have micopenises?

What downsides?

Well, cosx summed it up nicely [1].

I would add, in all seriousness, that it can make dealing with women a problem.

I think it's widely accepted that some men are apt do all kinds of foolish, prideful things in response to working with a woman they find attractive.

Some women are hardly different.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5610378

You might get deported like that Saudi guy for being too handsome.

You can also be targeted by other men (of a different race for example) that feel threatened by you - or women too, the bitter type, in all seriousness.

To make it easier for your probable world view: being a very good looking tall black man for example, won't necessarily have everyone open up to you with smiles on their faces (especially if you don't necessarily want to assimilate into their 'culture'/social structure).

Being a very good looking asian (yes they exist, haha) guy myself - I would say I have experienced many instances in my life where white men have attempted to sabotage me.

People like things that make them feel/seem more powerful, and hate things that tend to do the opposite.

Are you sure they attempted to sabotage you because they were threatened by your looks and not some other reason?

No guarantee's there, but I can say that it works both ways. Xenophobia and these sorts of biases exist and are normal parts of being a human being.

I would say, it's better to accept that these biases exist, so that you can take them into account when reasoning - rather than trying to delude yourself into thinking you are in entire control of all that is going on in your mind (and body).

I mean, what caused you to believe they were sabotaging you based on looks? I'm sure there are all kinds of odd reasons why somebody might do that, but it seems like an odd one to assume unless there's a reason for it.

it's not because you're an asian, it's because you're good looking.

the same thing happens to good looking white guys and good looking women (around other women) too.

you've never heard the term 'prettyboy'? it's used all the time to put down good looking men.

> You might get deported like that Saudi guy for being too handsome.

I still have not seen a credible source for that and basically think it's a PR stunt.