Why do white people tan?

[MongGrel]

She's one of the darker gingers I've seen.

Have had skin cancer once myself all ready, probably from all the tanning in the 70's myself working in fields and just in general hanging out in FL back then trying to get tans on vacation.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I think it's a spectrum, like anything else. I have a pale complexion, don't tan very well, and some of it is just freckling even when I do. But as long as I wear some SPF and don't overdo it, I get some gradually.

There's also different levels of white. There's "looks like pale beige" white and then there's "looks transparent" white. My nephew has a Scottish mother and he's amazingly white. You know those really really black guys in central africa...he's the white equivalent.

 

[ThinClient]

she's one of the darker gingers i've seen.

Have had skin cancer once myself all ready, probably from all the tanning in the 70's myself working in fields and just in general hanging out in fl back then trying to get tans on vacation.

good god, son

moar! moooaar!!

 

[StinkyPinky]

She's one of the darker gingers I've seen.

Have had skin cancer once myself all ready, probably from all the tanning in the 70's myself working in fields and just in general hanging out in FL back then trying to get tans on vacation.

I'm not joking when I say that someone that looked like that would be followed around in China.

I got it bad enough in rural China (ain't many white guys there) and I'm a boring old brown haired, hazel eyed white dude.

 

[videogames101]

I find pale women more attractive, no idea why they intentionally tan. I live in the US too.

 

[inf1nity]

In poor countries tan people are the poor people because they are outside working the fields, where light people are more upscale due to their indoor jobs.

In rich countries rich people are more tan because they are wealthy enough to have the luxury of time and money which allows them to do outdoor activities thus becoming tan.

Tanning is actually a fairly recent trend for white Europeans. Off the top of my head, I'd say late 1800s.

Prior to that, only working class people had tanned skin. Upper crust ladies wanted to look pale because that showed they didn't have to work and could afford the luxury to be indoors all day. White powder makeup was commonly used to achieve that affect. An unfortunate side affect was a lot of early cosmetics contained heavy metals like lead.

Around the turn of the 20th century, industrialization led to a growing middle class and increased leisure time. Western society was also in the middle of a big fitness and health craze.

These Nouveau Riche preferred to spend their free time outdoors. By contrast, industrialization had taken the lower class out of the fields and into dark, dingy factories. So you see this 180 degree turn in beauty standards. Pale meant you were a poor, sickly factory worker. A golden tan meant you were a person of health and leisure.

These two posts explain it well. Thanks.

 

[inf1nity]

LOL, I was Googling for more info on this just learned about spray-on tan. What the hell is wrong with people.

 

[HeXen]

Some white people show their veins bad with pale skin. I don't tan on purpose, I work outside all year so it happens regardless on exposed areas. Basically my arms and head are dark as hell and the rest is pasty white goodness. I'm too lazy to work on a tan but it does help my dry skin.

My wife is a ginger, she gets sun poisoning if she's out in it too long. She kinda looks like an older version of that girl posted except more pasty.

Spray tan

is it me or does that guy in the background behind the 2 in the middle have the tallest forehead in history?

 

[OverVolt]

Thymine dimers :awe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrimidine_dimer

 

[MongGrel]

good god, son

moar! moooaar!!

Try the local Babes thread out sometime

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=45680&page=487&highlight=babes+thread

 

[Printer Bandit]

POrcelein skin a la Stoya is lickable

 

[HamburgerBoy]

POrcelein skin a la Stoya is lickable

Watch an HD video zoomed in on her herp-laden vagoo and you might change your mind.

 

[rsbennett00]

People like different things but generally speaking, tan is not as appealing as pale to the majority of people and tan lines are ugly.

 

[Nograts]

That redhead is okay....too many freckles. Freckles are fugly.