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Comment by xeromal | Hacker News Reader

I would say that past preferences are simpler than malnutrition. The biggest brute wins. People feel safe around bigger people if they're on their team. I met Thor Bjornson a few years ago and meeting him was terrifying. I can see that trait as being desirable just from a protection and safety perspective.

Like you said though, that's less necessary in this day and age.

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Even if you add that and other hunter-gatherer positive qualities, those don't apply in modern society as much either. Today the frail rich nerd wins, for the most part (or at least their ability to kill a man wit their bare hands matters a lot, lot less).

I was wondering how far I had to scroll down to find one person (on HN no less) finally stating the obvious.

Thor could be 8ft tall and able to lift to a house. It won't save him from a drone swarm designed by a nerd at Lockheed.

I don't think anyone is arguing who has greater modern power. I think people are just arguing if the preferences are created through upbringing or do they come from something more innate in our biology.

They come from messages broadcast in media culture, and people saying disparaging remarks about height non-chalantly. All these things are malleable.

Why would our ancient ancestors in the middle east and elsewhere use large men as their examples of powerful men who attain women and treasure?

Agreed. I'll also say though that we have these preferences and a lot of them are hardwired. Some come from upbringing but our brains looking for symmetry in a face or perhaps certain features on men or women come from our DNA.

I find women of a certain size and shape attractive. That doesn't mean I can't find other kinds of women attractive, but you're doing the argument a disservice if you don't think at least some of our preferences are innate.

I think many people over attribute to innateness what is likely caused by childhood upbringing and conditioning over time, which can feel like its innate.

See this article about an isolated tribe that has developed an ability to see shades of green other humans cannot: https://gondwana-collection.com/blog/how-do-namibian-himbas-...

Even if part of it is genetics, it shows even that is easily malleable therefore manipulatable for long term goals.

I appreciate this comment and you're probably right at least with me. It's hard to define the lines between genetics and upbringing or maybe a combination of both!

That is a major oversimplification. Many fractures and disc disease are much more common with increasing stature so there are clear limiting factors in play.

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