Scientists have just proven what we’ve always suspected to be true: Human beings can’t even decide something basic and primal like who they’d like to shag without consensus from their buddies.
Oh, so you think you decide who you fancy on your own? Like some kind of sentient, intelligent being? That’s cute.
Scientists now say that perceptions of hotness are contagious — i.e. If buddies/strangers/nemeses/co-workers/compilers of those 100 Sexiest People lists decide that someone is ‘hot,’ you’re more likely to find them smokin’ too.
We’re like Lemmings holding a popularity contest. If enough people call Cameron Diaz the hottest woman on the planet, it becomes true simply by consensus.
That’s certainly what happened when I was a teenager: It was like a dude-sized game of Dominos; One guy decided Diaz was a total babe, and everyone followed suit. You wouldn’t dare disagree – or, worse – divulge that you’re attracted to someone different than erryone else.
That would basically make you an outcast.
OK, so quick clarification. When I said “scientists,” I actually mean academics working for the website Hot or Not, but given the topic matter, we’ve gotta let them have this one. They seem to have legit degrees and stuff, so let’s go with it.
These guys are world experts in the brutal assessment of someone’s aesthetic appeal based on their photograph – more commonly known as “hotness” or “bangability”. They know what they’re talking about here, and they probably have the greasy beards to prove it.
Watch: Beauty changes throughout history. You’ve just got to find your era.
First, these purveyors of superficiality analysed behaviour patterns on the site Hot or Not, where (you guessed it), you’re presented with a photo of a person and you must click a button to indicate whether they are HOT or NOT. Then they made the following observations: