What does it mean when someone says that you look 'scary' ?

[Anonymous]

I have a lot of women tell me that I am 'scary-looking' or look like a 'ghost'. And by saying this, they do not mean that I am intimidating or there is something wrong with my personality. It's solely about my appearance.

What makes a woman look scary? I wear normal clothes, don't have weird piercings (just my ears are pierced), or tattoos and don't use makeup. There is nothing creepy or unusual with my face or clothes.

However, I have often heard from people that I am ugly. Is it my ugliness that makes me look scary?

[SomewhereElse]

I'm sorry people are so rude to you! That's horrible that they tell you you are ugly. What's the context in which they tell you these things? I've been called "scary-looking" myself, in my case, it was down to having a solid resting bitch face and holding eye contact. "like a ghots" - strange comment, are you very pale maybe? Or have very pale lips / eyes / hair? Or they mean you move very quietly.

[Asker]

I got called ugly in my real life even after posting the question. I mean less than 24 hours ago.

I don't know. Some people just suddenly point out, "you are so scary to look at! /don't your family members get scared to look at you during the night?" I belong to a tanned non- white Asian race, so I am not that pale. But yes, my skin tone is lighter for my country's average skin-tone. My eyes are a little on the big side. And I move very fast.

[SomewhereElse]

That sounds horrible! I am really shocked people are so rude to you. In my country it's quite common for others to comment on appearance as well (also not in a positive way, i. e. "wow, you've really put on some weight" etc) but I never heard anything like that. Who is making those comments usually, are they bullies at school or work? The ghost comment does kind of make sense if you are significantly lighter than those around you. Is it desirable to have lighter skin in your country, could they be making those kind of comments out of jealousy? Big eyes sound like an attractive trait as well... I'm starting to feel like those who are making the comments might just be extremely jealous of you and actually think you are really beautiful.

[JBlade]

If it was ugly, you’d have to be really really ugly which I doubt. I’ve never thought that any girl I've met in my lifetime was scary looking unless they’re older and aged terribly or they’re on drugs or something and look fucked up.

[Asker]

But I am hearing such things ever since I was a teenager. Here they probably by calling me 'scary' want to call me 'ugly' a different way.