Takuan_Soho said:TheBrainintheJar said:I actually think women are more close-minded towards abnormality, at least when it comes to men. They want a man they can depend on, who is successful. A weird man is dangerous, since he has a low position in society and is most likely isn't successful by society's standards
Hypergamy and all.
I don't disagree with your point, I just don't think that it is a sign of being "closed minded". It falls into the same category I mentioned for men - historically a woman's chance at happiness, no even survival, was almost entirely based on picking the right man. And "right" back then was someone who could fit into the society - by either being a good provider, or not upsetting the balance of the community. Think Jane Austin. She understood such things, though fortunately for us, a good family (and unfortunately an early death) meant she didn't have to conform to that model
So much of the past, so much that people condemn as stupid, irrational, religious, traditional, whatever, is in fact well refined common sense for an age where starvation was always a constant threat. We think we are better, smarter, more enlightened today, but we really aren't, we are just more secure in our faith that we will be fed tomorrow. Take that away, and wow how wonderful those past thoughts become....
I say this as one of those "weird men" who was lucky to have found a woman who understands all of this.
I will also point out an interesting observation. I don't wear a wedding ring, because I know that women will not hit on me if I don't have one. At my age that should seem a contradiction - but really it isn't. The biological imperative for most women is towards stability, a wedding ring is a sign that the man has already been vetted by a woman, hence it becomes an attraction.
But in not wearing a ring, this signals that there is something "off" about me. And because of this I am not approached by women. They automatically assume that there is something "wrong" about me. Ask any man, and if they are honest (or better observant), they will admit that they get hit on more when wearing a ring. Humans are funny that way.
I should add that this protection expires at a certain age. Probably where through life expectancy, women really begin to outnumber men. I will be curious to observed the behavior I experience when I reach that age.
The point in all this? Humans are rational animals, yes rationality is great and all, but to be honestly rational we can never forget the animal side.