4 ms·

The article discusses this. The researchers admit they can't know for sure if they got that part right. On the other hand, standards for body size were very dif

The article discusses this. The researchers admit they can't know for sure if they got that part right. On the other hand, standards for body size were very different 750 years ago than today, so that's certainly part of it. Legends tend to get more exaggerated over time, and the legend of Thomas Aquinas has had plenty of time for exaggeration to build up.

masswerk 2y ago
I'm aware of this. But the article gives no reason for this choice. It's rather a "well, couldn't it be" hypothetical, provided as a quote: > “Now, it could be that on the whole we’re a lot larger now than even overweight medievals were, or that St. Thomas was never the portly friar described by his legend,” Father Aquinas quipped, adding, “Regardless, the stories of St. Thomas’ size are probably exaggerated.” This is certainly in stark contrast to the centuries-long traditional notion of Aquinas' appearance, which may require some further detail why and how this choice was made. – I can see why the quoted father Aquinas should be excited by this "angelic" appearance, but this may be hardly sufficient to motivate a scientific choice. Personally, I can't see how the size of the skull (the sole evidence) should or could correlate with body mass.
Rebelgecko 2y ago
It's crazy how standards for body size can change over even shorter time periods. I was watching an old game show with Bob Barker and one of the competitions was for people to guess stats about the "average" man, and then run around Hollywood looking for a man who matched that description. So each competitor would guess the average age, height, number of kids, etc. One woman guessed that the average man weighed 180 pounds and Bob Barker mocked her mercilessly for thinking that the average man is such a fatso.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- abecedarius 2y ago
  Similarly, 70s Steve Wozniak was supposed to be kinda chubby, but people this millennium seeing those old photos are like "what? he's totally average?"
  - gadders 2y ago
    He looks semi-hench in the pic on this page with David Lee Roth: https://lamag.com/news/steve-wozniak-us-fest https://lamag.com/news/steve-wozniak-us-fest
- kenjackson 2y ago
  During the Super Bowl they put up a stat about the size of the average lineman in SB 1 vs now. In SB1 they were 6’3” and about 248lbs (something like that). And now they are 6’6” and 330lbs. That old OLine gets killed in P5 college football now.
  - kjs3 2y ago
    I noticed that as well. Cool stat. And they aren't just big...a lot of them are scary fast. Having a guy like Tylan Grable (6'6, 310) or Tanor Bortolini (6'4, 305) running after you with a sub-5s 40 at the combine has to be terrifying. When I was in college in the mid-80s, one of my fraternity brothers was a scholarship linebacker. A big, fast, strong man. He goes back every couple of years for the big 'meet the new players' event for those associated with the athletic association. He said that if he was that 18yo again in 2025, not only would he not be considered for a D1 scholarship, but he probably couldn't have made the practice squad of our D1 team. He'd be looking hopefully at someplace like Albany State or West Alabama for a scholarship.
- caymanjim 2y ago
  I was about 180lbs by the end of highschool, and I was one of the fattest kids in my class. Not to the point that I was given fat kid nicknames or openly mocked, but I was almost always the fattest kid in any given group. Picked last for teams in gym class, chuckled-at when trying to do pullups for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Now I'm 260lbs and fat by any standard. What I wouldn't give to be 180lbs again.
  - aaronblohowiak 2y ago
    Idk if you are serious about that, but if you are there is hope. For about $200/month (not going through insurance) it can be quite easy to not eat so much. I have been really shocked by how much my mind has been quieted by not being obsessed about food and never feeling deprived. Downside: you feel full all the time. Hims.com it’s super easy (no office visits no video conferencing) and fast. Not affiliated except as a happy customer (my wife is happy too.) you CAN out-eat it, but it’s far easier not to.
- nu11ptr 2y ago
  Yes, and people have gotten used to the new standard. I know many people who have lost weight, look great and have a healthy amount of body fat. People then say they are "too skinny", but they aren't by any standard measurement and are still heavier than most from 1980s or before. When like 75% of people are overweight, healthy weight people tend to look thin to people (I get these 'too skinny' comments myself occasionally: 5'10" male, 170lbs, ~13-14% bf).
pantalaimon 2y ago
How about 25000 years ago? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine
- masswerk 2y ago
  This is close to home, geographically speaking (65km). ;-)

masswerk 2y ago

I'm aware of this. But the article gives no reason for this choice. It's rather a "well, couldn't it be" hypothetical, provided as a quote: > “Now, it could be that on the whole we’re a lot larger now than even overweight medievals were, or that St. Thomas was never the portly friar described by his legend,” Father Aquinas quipped, adding, “Regardless, the stories of St. Thomas’ size are probably exaggerated.” This is certainly in stark contrast to the centuries-long traditional notion of Aquinas' appearance, which may require some further detail why and how this choice was made. – I can see why the quoted father Aquinas should be excited by this "angelic" appearance, but this may be hardly sufficient to motivate a scientific choice. Personally, I can't see how the size of the skull (the sole evidence) should or could correlate with body mass.

Rebelgecko 2y ago

It's crazy how standards for body size can change over even shorter time periods. I was watching an old game show with Bob Barker and one of the competitions was for people to guess stats about the "average" man, and then run around Hollywood looking for a man who matched that description. So each competitor would guess the average age, height, number of kids, etc. One woman guessed that the average man weighed 180 pounds and Bob Barker mocked her mercilessly for thinking that the average man is such a fatso.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
abecedarius 2y ago
Similarly, 70s Steve Wozniak was supposed to be kinda chubby, but people this millennium seeing those old photos are like "what? he's totally average?"
- gadders 2y ago
  He looks semi-hench in the pic on this page with David Lee Roth: https://lamag.com/news/steve-wozniak-us-fest https://lamag.com/news/steve-wozniak-us-fest
kenjackson 2y ago
During the Super Bowl they put up a stat about the size of the average lineman in SB 1 vs now. In SB1 they were 6’3” and about 248lbs (something like that). And now they are 6’6” and 330lbs. That old OLine gets killed in P5 college football now.
- kjs3 2y ago
  I noticed that as well. Cool stat. And they aren't just big...a lot of them are scary fast. Having a guy like Tylan Grable (6'6, 310) or Tanor Bortolini (6'4, 305) running after you with a sub-5s 40 at the combine has to be terrifying. When I was in college in the mid-80s, one of my fraternity brothers was a scholarship linebacker. A big, fast, strong man. He goes back every couple of years for the big 'meet the new players' event for those associated with the athletic association. He said that if he was that 18yo again in 2025, not only would he not be considered for a D1 scholarship, but he probably couldn't have made the practice squad of our D1 team. He'd be looking hopefully at someplace like Albany State or West Alabama for a scholarship.
caymanjim 2y ago
I was about 180lbs by the end of highschool, and I was one of the fattest kids in my class. Not to the point that I was given fat kid nicknames or openly mocked, but I was almost always the fattest kid in any given group. Picked last for teams in gym class, chuckled-at when trying to do pullups for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Now I'm 260lbs and fat by any standard. What I wouldn't give to be 180lbs again.
- aaronblohowiak 2y ago
  Idk if you are serious about that, but if you are there is hope. For about $200/month (not going through insurance) it can be quite easy to not eat so much. I have been really shocked by how much my mind has been quieted by not being obsessed about food and never feeling deprived. Downside: you feel full all the time. Hims.com it’s super easy (no office visits no video conferencing) and fast. Not affiliated except as a happy customer (my wife is happy too.) you CAN out-eat it, but it’s far easier not to.
nu11ptr 2y ago
Yes, and people have gotten used to the new standard. I know many people who have lost weight, look great and have a healthy amount of body fat. People then say they are "too skinny", but they aren't by any standard measurement and are still heavier than most from 1980s or before. When like 75% of people are overweight, healthy weight people tend to look thin to people (I get these 'too skinny' comments myself occasionally: 5'10" male, 170lbs, ~13-14% bf).

pantalaimon 2y ago

How about 25000 years ago? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine

masswerk 2y ago
This is close to home, geographically speaking (65km). ;-)