Slog - Comments on Wanna Attract More Sex Partners? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners Don't get six-pack abs. Get, uh, symmetrical. The research backs up previous findings that symmetrically proportioned faces are more attractive and suggests that our brains are hard-wired to find symmetry sexy in a potential partner. In our evolutionary past, symmetry may have been an honest signal of flawless development and health. ... The theory is that disturbances in the womb, infections, poor nutrition and genetic flaws all increase your degree of asymmetry and so good proportions are an honest indication of healthy development and hence a partner's ability to produce healthy children. My boyfriend is pretty darn symmetrical, but so... Copyright 2008 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:02:01 -0800 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:02:30 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Poe Jowls, crows feet, veiny arms...these things really turn my crank.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106410 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106410 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:07:42 -0800 Comment by Greg Costly signaling is a fad in biology right now, it seems like. There was a professor at UW who gave a talk on it a couple years ago, and I thought it was fascinating.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106420 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106420 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:19:14 -0800 Comment by harold Causes for asymmetry:
disturbances in the womb
infections
poor nutrition
genetic flaws
baseball bat to the nose in junior high

]]> harold http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106421 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106421 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:19:44 -0800 Comment by Morticia @2: You're right, it is utterly fascinating. Seen this? Shannen Doherty's personality isn't the only thing off-kilter.

http://www.shashachu.com/Shannen/index.html

]]> Morticia http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106431 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106431 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:06 -0800 Comment by Mendicant Six pack abs can be symmetrical too.

]]> Mendicant http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106438 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106438 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:34:21 -0800 Comment by Mike in MO your boyfriend? Isn't it time you make an honest man out of him? I'm sure he would agree to a fair pre-nup.

]]> Mike in MO http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106447 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106447 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:40:53 -0800 Comment by Gabriel Old news. It's amazing how often the popular press repackages old news.

]]> Gabriel http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106460 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106460 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:56:20 -0800 Comment by DanFan @4 - Shannen Doherty has creeped me out since Little House on the Prairie with those lopsided eyes. Everyone I pointed it out to thought I was crazy.

]]> DanFan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106461 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106461 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:58:26 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle On a biological level, another thing to consider is the mate choices of women on the pill may be less than optimal. Normally, one chooses a mate with differences in biochemistry (immunity, etc) that increase the chance of survival. On the pill, women are more frequently attracted to mate choices that are less different and may increase risk factors (it's a survival characteristic that makes it possible to stay with your relatives after you bed down that attractive stranger - and ensure the survival of your children).

But I'm not sure what it would be for gay mate choices - lesbian or otherwise ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106665 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106665 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:30:19 -0800 Comment by sdfg Um , newsweek reported this in the 1990s. They used a picture of Lyle Lovett to show an example of lack of symmetry.

]]> sdfg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106673 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106673 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:31:18 -0800 Comment by unrequited @9: Wow.

http://mumblefumbletumble.blogspot.com/2008/08/yes-yes-yes-yes-yes.html

Still pining I see. Good luck with that.

]]> unrequited http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106800 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106800 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:53:45 -0800 Comment by um Butt Babies!

]]> um http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106881 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1106881 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:02:30 -0800 Comment by robo Poor Thom Yorke

]]> robo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1107341 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1107341 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:07:40 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @11 - no. I'm just telling you that we're all a mass of chemicals that muck around with our emotions and choices. We still have minds, but it's an interesting observation.

Besides, we all know what guys think with - and we're easily known for having even worse inclinations, regardless of how we choose to act - or not - on them.

Heck, even what you eat impacts your reactions.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1107344 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1107344 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:10:40 -0800 Comment by Hoyt Clagwell I've always been a bit of a skeptic on this. And I very often find our cultural icons of "perfection" despairingly dull. I like a little imperfection. I like character. I think that on the right man, a broken nose is masculine and sexy as hell.

And while I find no appeal in someone so inbred they resemble the extras from "Deliverance," I very often find small imperfections completely endearing. Look at Michael Phelps for example. Offhand, he might seem like some model of male perfection, but if you really study him: Underbite. Jug ears. And totally adorable.

Andy Cohen from Bravo TV would be another example. His face is not perfectly symmetrical. But that thing that's going on with his eyes--I love that. Makes me totally want to get humpy with him.

And I think Paris Hilton is just completely weird and alien looking, but I have straight friends who totally want to fuck her.

]]> Hoyt Clagwell http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1108875 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/wanna_attract_more_sex_partners#c1108875 Sex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:02:30 -0800