From: lkahn@mitre.org (Larry Kahn)
Subject: Re: Humans as Physical Creatures.
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 20:07:06 GMT

-----------------------------
Nance Colucci writes:

In article <ewright.717782850@convex.convex.com> ewright@convex.com 
(Edward V. Wright) writes:
>
>I was talking about physical appearance.  "Looks," ya dig?

My friend John belongs to a computer dating service and every month or
so has a date with a woman who "requests" him (he's no longer active in
the service but he's on file to be "picked from").  A few times ago I asked
him how a date went and he said he wasn't interested in dating her again 
because
she was "fat."

Now John, I condescended, you *know* that's not a good criteria for 
determining
if you want to see someone again.  He said yes, to him it was, for the mere
reason that he's athletic in nature and likes to swim, ski, bike ride, 
hike,
and dance and is looking for a life partner to do those things with.  Her
interests were more in the way of crafts, cooking, and literature.  I 
argued
that they could always adapt each other's interests but he felt that if he
were to ask her to become more athletic, he'd be offending her.

Of course, if she asked him to become more literate she might offend HIM.

I saw his point, somewhat.  If I were looking for a mate (which I'm not)
I'd certainly be interested in someone with whom I have a lot in common
activity-wise.  Since this would be someone who enjoyed the outdoors and
recreational sports, a morbidly obese person would probably not catch my 
eye.
Maybe that's shallow and nose-in-the-air, but in that way "looks" are
important to me.

-Nance
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I don't see anything wrong with using physical appearance as a screening 
out process.  I have my own ideas of what I like physically, and in some 
cases I wouldn't choose to go out with someone no matter how good 
everything else was.

Physical attributes, like anything else, are preferences.  It's no 
different than not wanting to consider someone because of IQ, politics, 
values, cat lover, or anything else for that matter.  I don't think less 
of anyone as a person in general for any of these types of things.  
Everyone should be free do do and be whoever they want as long as they are 
happy (and don't bother anyone else).  However, I, along with everyone 
else, have certain preferences for potential relationship partners and 
there isn't anything wrong with that.  You should be free to set your own standards.
                   Larry 

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   | Larry Kahn                       |                                  |
   | The MITRE Corporation            |   BE REASONABLE. DO IT MY WAY.   |
   | lkahn@mitre.org                  |                                  |
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   |  pay any attention to an insignificant lackey like me, anyhow).     |
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