What's on your mind?

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Still possess a great fondness for the lovely girl that I work with. Erin has thankfully not treated me any differently since I confessed to my crush on her last month, as though wishing to avoid me. In anything, she might actually have been more talkative and friendly with me since then. I am grateful for that.

Man.. my mood has gotten really bad for certain portions of my week.

They are so cute and fluffy!

Miles said:

Because Dawkins likes to turn people against each other in the name of science. If he truly cared about the subject, I think he would encourage folks to study hard and get involved regardless of where they stand on religious issues. Science is agnostic. Anybody can use the scientific method, learn more about nature, and expand human knowledge. Theists view nature as creation, and atheists view nature as creator-less, but it's all the same stuff. Instead, he chooses to attack others who don't happen to share his personal philosophical views. Although he calls himself rational, his actions reveal his irrationality. Whenever he mentions his views on religion he is editorializing. People do this all the time, because people have opinions, but that part isn't science. Unfortunately, not everyone knows this. Frankly, I prefer to see cooler heads involved with scientific matters... whether atheist, theist, or otherwise.

At the end of the day, he seems to care more about being controversial than about actual academic research. In another thread, I accused Jack Chick of doing something similar. Making controversial assertions that get people fired up enough to buy their stuff. It's good for business, but not great if you're looking for truth.

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Yeah, Richard Dawkins is a bit of a polemicist. I picked up a copy of one of his books in a bookshop, had a quick flick through, but did not buy it. I think it was called 'The God Delusion', but it was a long time ago, so I may not have remembered correctly. The style of writing was a huge turn off for me. He appeared to be playing to the atheist gallery when he wrote it, as the style was often unnecessarily mocking and condescending. From that I would say that he seems to enjoy being deliberately abrasive. I'm not sure what an average atheist would get from reading it, apart from perhaps a slight feeling of smugness that they think theists have been comprehensively debunked.

.Mikha'el. said:

Anyone seen @shineyourlight lately?

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Not at all.

Power went out at work in our last two hours...

Been watching Youtube videos about facial features and attractiveness. Fills me with insecurity, but it's kind of fun and addicting. Been thinking about squinty "hunter eyes", I clearly do not have them. Although I've always thought my eyes looked fine, but again a woman's biological brain might perceive it in ways I do not understand. I also do not have a compact mid-face, although I think all three tiers of my face are about equal in length. Might be somewhat rare for a man who has a long thin nose. It's kind of weird.. most men with long noses have long faces, yet mine seems more compact than it should be.

Seems like it is easier for women, most of their facial features look fine. Again though, just a consequence of men being the bigger selector in looks compared to women. Not even sure where some of this male model aesthetics come from. Most men are bogged down with some unbalanced neotenous features.

Miles said:

Because Dawkins likes to turn people against each other in the name of science. If he truly cared about the subject, I think he would encourage folks to study hard and get involved regardless of where they stand on religious issues.

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He does. I have seen him talk to religious people and give them advice, such as if they really need to keep their faith fine they just need to find a way to work evolution into their worldview. He has also stated that he is for teaching the Bible in school since he considers it a text that is central to understanding European history and literature.

Science is agnostic. Anybody can use the scientific method, learn more about nature, and expand human knowledge. Theists view nature as creation, and atheists view nature as creator-less, but it's all the same stuff. Instead, he chooses to attack others who don't happen to share his personal philosophical views. Although he calls himself rational, his actions reveal his irrationality. Whenever he mentions his views on religion he is editorializing. People do this all the time, because people have opinions, but that part isn't science. Unfortunately, not everyone knows this. Frankly, I prefer to see cooler heads involved with scientific matters... whether atheist, theist, or otherwise.

At the end of the day, he seems to care more about being controversial than about actual academic research. In another thread, I accused Jack Chick of doing something similar. Making controversial assertions that get people fired up enough to buy their stuff. It's good for business, but not great if you're looking for truth.

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Most of his atheist advocating seems to have come later in his life. Really, it seems more to be a retirement venture for him than anything. The vast majority of his books have nothing to do with atheism. It's just something that has gotten him popular with the mainstream press. He's a soft spoken man who stands up for himself, not sure what else anyone expects from him. He has civil discussions with religious people. Plenty of atheist advocates conduct themselves with less restraint than he does.

MehGuy said:

Been watching Youtube videos about facial features and attractiveness. Fills me with insecurity, but it's kind of fun and addicting. Been thinking about squinty "hunter eyes", I clearly do not have them. Although I've always thought my eyes looked fine, but again a woman's biological brain might perceive it in ways I do not understand. I also do not have a compact mid-face, although I think all three tiers of my face are about equal in length. Might be somewhat rare for a man who has a long thin nose. It's kind of weird.. most men with long noses have long faces, yet mine seems more compact than it should be.

Seems like it is easier for women, most of their facial features look fine. Again though, just a consequence of men being the bigger selector in looks compared to women. Not even sure where some of this male model aesthetics come from. Most men are bogged down with some unbalanced neotenous features.

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I can understand brow ridges in relation to men's attractiveness in an evolutionary sense. Even though our more neotenized faces have seen increasingly less and less pronounced brow ridges in the general population. Interesting face, our reduced brow ridges are actually pretty old in our evolutionarily history. Our cousins Neanderthals branched off some time ago, and they originally had our reduced brow ridges but for whatever reason evolved more pronounced ones back over time. So in some sense, modern humans more "archaic" features than Neanderthals. Although in our case, reduced brow ridges frees up the eyebrows for more diverse expressions increasing facial communication. Still, for what little brow ridges we have left it is still an indicator of more dominate looking faces and human females still find it attractive. If women cared more about looks, I'd suspect they'd become more frequently pronounced again.

I've gotten so boring and unfunny/uncreative these last few years. I've turned so sugary and sweet it disgusts me. I really need to reignite my emotions and passions.. but bad when I do I'm such a freak.

Beagles

MehGuy said:

Been watching Youtube videos about facial features and attractiveness.

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Physiognomy was a big deal in the past. It was commonly mentioned in classic novels as an important component of character discernment.

Seems like it is easier for women, most of their facial features look fine. Again though, just a consequence of men being the bigger selector in looks compared to women. Not even sure where some of this male model aesthetics come from. Most men are bogged down with some unbalanced neotenous features.

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I find oval faces with proportionate features more attractive for women. I like heart shaped faces for men with a defined brow and mouth. It anchors the face nicely.

That applies to natural features. Not enhancements through makeup or surgery.

~Bella

Never binge-watched anything in my life before, but now binge-watching The Office thanks to my crush's recommendation a couple of weeks ago. That's pretty much how I have spent half my time on days off since then, so already at the start of season 6. .... Laughing my butt off at it, but, I just realized, leave it to me to easily allow the power of mere suggestion from a lady I happen to be most fond of to cause me to do something I never had done before ... like binge-watching on Netflix.

LaBèlla said:

Physiognomy was a big deal in the past. It was commonly mentioned in classic novels as an important component of character discernment.

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Interesting.. while physiognomy may largely be pseudoscience, things like testosterone can affect the morphology of men's faces and statistically give you clues about their personality and behavior. You also have to consider how society treats people based on their facial features and how that may slightly morph the personality too.

I find oval faces with proportionate features more attractive for women. I like heart shaped faces for men with a defined brow and mouth. It anchors the face nicely.

That applies to natural features. Not enhancements through makeup or surgery.

~Bella

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I could never really understand face shapes. You need a widows peak for a heart shaped face right?

Yeah, I do not like plastic surgery. You're lying to potential partners. While it may be shallow I would not be thrilled if I found out a woman I was dating or married was previously less attractive but only became more attractive because she went under the knife. On a genetic level I would worry about how this could affect our future children. Which I suspect is the main psychological reason most people are hesitant about plastic surgery. It cheats the game of sexual selection and falsely advertises their genetics.

MehGuy said:

I could never really understand face shapes. You need a widows peak for a heart shaped face right?

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No. A heart shaped face has a broader forehead which is fine on a man. A woman almost always wears a bang. The oval and heart have tapered chins. This adds softness to each. I look for symmetry most of all. Having balance throughout is ideal.

Yeah, I do not like plastic surgery. You're lying to potential partners. While it may be shallow I would not be thrilled if I found out a woman I was dating or married was previously less attractive but only became more attractive because she went under the knife.

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I have no issue with plastic surgery. But when I’m assessing beauty I prefer to see the face untouched. You can alter your features through makeup. It can redefine your look but it requires much effort to maintain.

On a genetic level I would worry about how this could affect our future children. Which I suspect is the main psychological reason most people are hesitant about plastic surgery. It cheats the game of sexual selection and falsely advertises their genetics.

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Some men don’t mind. They want a specific look and may suggest surgery themselves. They usually have weight and dress requirements and may provide supplemental services (hair, spa, personal trainer) for her upkeep.

Nevertheless, there’s no guarantee with genes. She contributes 50%. But the child may take after the other parent. You never know.

~Bella

LaBèlla said:

No. A heart shaped face has a broader forehead which is fine on a man. A woman almost always wears a bang. The oval and heart have tapered chins. This adds softness to each. I look for symmetry most of all. Having balance throughout is ideal.

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I might be weird, but I love women with large foreheads and a smaller face. Like Christina Ricci.

I have no issue with plastic surgery. But when I’m assessing beauty I prefer to see the face untouched. You can alter your features through makeup. It can redefine your look but it requires much effort to maintain.

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My main problem is if she is not upfront and or falling in love with her because she did alter her appearance. Modifying my jawline to look more defined with makeup would be fun; although I guess that is what beards are for, lol.

Some men don’t mind. They want a specific look and may suggest surgery themselves. They usually have weight and dress requirements and may provide supplemental services (hair, spa, personal trainer) for her upkeep.

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I do have weight requirements (for myself too), and I think people should have the best body they can by natural means by working out and having a proper diet. The scary thing with plastic surgery is that it can end in disaster. I do not feel comfortable pressuring a woman to go through something so risky.

Nevertheless, there’s no guarantee with genes. She contributes 50%. But the child may take after the other parent. You never know.

~Bella

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A reality that is worrisome. Really depends on how the two genetics mesh. While two ugly parents can produce a beautiful child, sometimes the reverse happens. Most men and women have more feminine features (including the men), so they do not rock the boat too much. Some girls have it rough. For instance if she had a mother who had a kid from Fabio. The girl could end up looking more like her father be a disgusting ugly rancid looking creature, while her mother was probably cute as a button.

That is the dilemma. Both sexes want different physical attributes in their partner's facial features, and this can produce weird looking children.

MehGuy said:

I might be weird, but I love women with large foreheads and a smaller face. Like Christina Ricci.

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That isn’t weird.

I’m looking with a designer’s eye. There are some silhouettes I find more appealing than others.

My main problem is if she is not upfront and or falling in love with her because she did alter her appearance. Modifying my jawline to look more defined with makeup would be fun; although I guess that is what beards are for, lol.

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I know people who’ve done it. They usually gravitate to men who value aesthetics. Understandably so. Both are invested in looking well.

I do have weight requirements (for myself too), and I think people should have the best body they can by natural means by working out and having a proper diet. The scary thing with plastic surgery is that it can end in disaster. I do not feel comfortable pressuring a woman to go through something so risky.

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I monitor my intake and have a weight standard. I prefer men with the same mindset. I don’t embrace body positivity in the guise its presented. I believe we should respect our temples and care for them to the best of our ability.

For instance if she had a mother who had a kid from Fabio. The girl could end up looking more like her father be a disgusting ugly rancid looking creature, while her mother was probably cute as a button.

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My previous connection had a lovely face. It was stunning for a man. But his sister looked identical. It was like seeing him with a wig.

~Bella