Do looks matter?

While there are plenty of other challenges to attend to in life, many seem to be bogged down by the issue of looks.
“You fatty,” called out a friend, infuriating his colleague.
“It’s better than being a shortie like you. Once I saw you standing and driving,” joked the “fatty.”
“But you need two seats in a car,” replied the “shortie.”
What started as a joke turned out bitter. Adding to the confusion was the middleaged lady M.
“Why do you argue over looks?” she played a judge, while removing her lipsticks from her vanity bag.
“I am not a part of this discussion,” I tried to wriggle out.
“Ya, it is not a subject for oldies,” replied the “shortie.”
“May be, oldie is better than shortie,” I reacted.
Oof, he managed to infuriate me by touching a raw chord.
My vow never to get provoked went for a toss in a second.