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They're definitely on to something with the eyes. I don't scare easily, but any vaguely hominid-shaped creature with big eyes gives me a visceral feeling of fri
by jpeterson 17y ago
They're definitely on to something with the eyes. I don't scare easily, but any vaguely hominid-shaped creature with big eyes gives me a visceral feeling of fright. The vertical slit has an affect, too. I think most people have this same reaction.
Another example of this which I don't think they cite in the article would be modern alien abduction mythology. Most of the renderings and conceptual drawings of them portray beings with enormous black eyes (also slanted in the same fashion as the rendered neanderthals in parent article).
Having said this, there are also many modern animals that, when shown snarling in the same manner as they portray these neanderthals, would be equally terrifying, I think.
- DanielBMarkham 17y agothere are also many modern animals that, when shown snarling in the same manner as they portray these neanderthals, would be equally terrifying, I think. In person, yes. But in a picture? That's unusual for me. I thought the snarl was overdone. Just the big eyes and vaguely human (yet alien) form was enough I intuitively like the idea that another intelligent tool-wielding species put pressure on humans to evolve. I have no idea of the likelihood of the claim, but it would explain the sudden changes in our species in the last 100K years or so.
- Semiapies 17y agoHaving big eyes is a common threat trigger for animals. Putting big eye stickers on an inert object will scare away birds.