"The supposed blondness and paleness of Europeans is highly overrated". Discuss.

[Duffmannn]

Excepting the first case, the others are still light skinned by any standard.

[The Blade]

1) Blondism is overrated, especially on this forum. In particular the blondism of Scandinavians (despite the fact that they and Balts are the blondest Euros) is highly overrated by many non-Nordic members from Southern and Central Europe.
2) Olive to me is skin types IV and V. IV is rare in Europe, what left for V. I do agree that type II is common throughout the continent and III is present, too.

[Tooting Carmen]

1) Blondism is overrated, especially on this forum. In particular the blondism of Scandinavians (despite the fact that they and Balts are the blondest Euros) is highly overrated by many non-Nordic members from Southern and Central Europe.
2) Olive to me is skin types IV and V. IV is rare in Europe, what left for V. I do agree that type II is common throughout the continent and III is present, too.

OK I certainly think that the porcelain white skin of e.g. Tilda Swinton is a lot less common in the continent than is often believed, while like I said Francois Hollande-type skintones are rather more common than is often believed.

[The Blade]

OK I certainly think that the porcelain white skin of e.g. Tilda Swinton is a lot less common in the continent than is often believed, while like I said Francois Hollande-type skintones are rather more common than is often believed.

I agree.

[Grace O'Malley]

There are obvious differences in the average colouring of Europeans. Irish and British have the lightest skin tones which is due to long term ancestry in the rainy Isles. The differences in European populations are due to long term adaptation to their environment and different ancestral influences. I don't think it is good or bad to have light or dark skin. Vive la difference.

[Ruggery]

Blondness is scarce everywhere except Scandinavia and the Baltic coasts over 20-25 years, I have even posted threads about how most of my friends or famous people in Spain have lost their blonde hair with the years.

That´s true.

But paleness is not overrated, except if by pale we refer to those milky completely incapable of tan people (that anyways are common even in profound southern europe). If by pale skin we understand a wider range of light-white skin, basically 99% of europeans are pale and this spreads even in the Caucasus and Middle East.

Pale white(type 1) is only found mostly in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and some parts of England, outside those places, it does not predominate in any part of Europe, and in southern Europe if it is possible to find it, but it is a minority like blue eyes.

[Ruggery]

I totally agree.

I would say even phenotypical variation, not that Asians look all the same, but I don't think that you find the variety of "phenotypes" that you see in Europe.

It depends. Do you consider Russian, European or Asian?

[Septentrion]

Blondness is scarce everywhere except Scandinavia and the Baltic coasts over 20-25 years, I have even posted threads about how most of my friends or famous people in Spain have lost their blonde hair with the years.

That´s true.

But paleness is not overrated, except if by pale we refer to those milky completely incapable of tan people (that anyways are common even in profound southern europe). If by pale skin we understand a wider range of light-white skin, basically 99% of europeans are pale and this spreads even in the Caucasus and Middle East.

No paleness is overrated!! Europeans as a whole, are typically fair - skinned (von Luschan 6 - 11) with the exception was of some Southern European groups. Pale skin (von Luschan 1 - 5) is mainly found in Northern Europe. The “pale skin stronghold” is in the British Isles and North-West Europe! It definitely doesn’t include the Middle - East and Caucasus!

Blond hair is frequent throughout Northern, Eastern and Western Europe, occasionally also in Southern Europe. It is most frequent during youth and darkens gradually in adulthood. Blond hair varies from dark to light shades.

[Ruggery]

No paleness is overrated!! Europeans as a whole, are typically fair - skinned (von Luschan 6 - 11) with the exception was of some Southern European groups. Pale skin (von Luschan 1 - 5) is mainly found in Northern Europe. The “pale skin stronghold” is in the British Isles and North-West Europe! It definitely doesn’t include the Middle - East and Caucasus!
Blond hair is frequent throughout Northern, Eastern and Western Europe, occasionally also in Southern Europe. It is most frequent during youth and darkens gradually in adulthood. Blond hair varies from dark to light shades.

Most northern, central and southern Europeans have white skin type III.

[Septentrion]

1) Blondism is overrated, especially on this forum. In particular the blondism of Scandinavians (despite the fact that they and Balts are the blondest Euros) is highly overrated by many non-Nordic members from Southern and Central Europe.
2) Olive to me is skin types IV and V. IV is rare in Europe, what left for V. I do agree that type II is common throughout the continent and III is present, too.

Yes, although Finland is as a whole the blondest nation in the world, Eastern valleys Norwegians and Central Estonians score higher the Finland total.
Skin type III is “universal” for Europeans.