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Standards of attractiveness vary significantly across cultures, so a simplistic biological perspective is misguided. It’s reasonable to argue that attraction is
by grafmax 1y ago
Standards of attractiveness vary significantly across cultures, so a simplistic biological perspective is misguided. It’s reasonable to argue that attraction is instinctive, but only if we acknowledge that our understanding of those instincts is shaped by cultural influences - including mass media.
- wonderwonder 1y agoThat hot girl in the club is going to be a hot girl in the club, regardless of the club being located in New York, Tel Aviv, Dubai or Nairobi No need to over complicate things
- grafmax 1y agoThat’s modern globalized cultural, which doesn’t really represent the expanse of human cultural diversity, and is heavily influenced by modern social and mass media. Think instead of examples such as lip plates, extreme fattening, crossed eyes, unibrows, tooth blackening - all features considered attractive in different cultures.
- wonderwonder 1y agoEverything you have listed are niche fetishes with no widespread acceptance in society. Again, the hot girl in the club is going to be considered hot by most of the people practicing these fetishes as well. This is akin to me saying women on average are shorter than men and you retorting with "I know a tall woman"
- grafmax 1y agoThose are all examples taken from actual cultures not fetishes. Unibrow: Tajikistan Crossed eyes: ancient Mayan culture Teeth blackening: Ohaguro etc Our modern globalized culture only gives us a tiny taste of what cultural diversity really is. That is because cultural diversity is actually erased by globalization - a process really begun by colonization, really the earliest form of globalization.
- wonderwonder 1y agoWho cares? The Mayans are dead. Civilizations rise and fall. Today we all agree what is attractive or not. The hot girl in the club is always attractive. I don’t care what the fringe likes. We don't have to celebrate or respect what other cultures found acceptable. The Aztecs sacrificed and ate children, the world was better off after they were gone. I don't have to respect their culture or what they found attractive or examine the nuances of why "actually their child sacrifices were ok" I'm going to confidently continue to find attractive what I find attractive and 95% of the world agrees with me. I celebrate the rise of the current global culture. I’ll leave it to you to lament the end of foot binding and blackened teeth.
- grafmax 1y agoMy point was that culture does in fact inform our beauty standards. No reason to get defensive about it.
- wonderwonder 1y agoSorry man, I've had DEI and empathy and "respect for other cultures" forced on me for so long that I unconsciously lash at out now. I hit the limit on it and its bled into other areas. Apologies for taking it out on you.
- grafmax 1y agoNo worries. I appreciate you explaining where you’re coming from. Take care.