I'm not sure most men put a lot of thought into the specifics of how that look gets created.

That's what I figured too. And, as such, some (many?) protestations of "I don't care about those things" may be suspect, since it might have been a while (and it was their mother) since they saw "raw" woman.

It's smirking:

[link]

If you have a way-general premise, all you can reason to is a way-general consequent.

True. But if my way general premise is about the prevalence of right-handedness, I'm okay with that. It doesn't mean I insist no one be left handed, nor even that I'll be startled at people who aren't right handed. Just that, nine times out of ten, my students will need to step forward with their left foot to get into fighting stance, and that every now and again I'll have a class where I don't have to flip anything for anyone.

Generalisation? Yes. Useful? Yes. Damaging? Don't see how it is. It's just reporting numbers. It's just statistics, with a wee bit of not-set-in-stone prediction as a result.

I don't see the general problem with it, although it's patently obvious that overzealous application/adherence is not recommended.

I'm with the suspecting protestations. I've had a couple of genuine "I really, truly don't care/notice" guys but more who made noises along the SNAG agenda but subtly supported scrape/pluck/tug.

Generalisation? Yes. Useful? Yes. Damaging? Don't see how it is.

This isn't about morals for me.

It's just that universal statements itch me. I think it's the math training; whenever I hear "All A are B", I IMMEDIATELY start trying to think of a counterexample. It's reflex. Not because I disapprove of stereotypes, but because I'm a geek.

I think it's the math training; whenever I hear "All A are B", I IMMEDIATELY start trying to think of a counterexample

Okay. I went back and edited in the "most." So although I'm insisting continually I didn't think anyone would take it as 100%, now I've SAID it that way from the start. Otherwise, I got nothing.

Okay. I've got plenty o' nuthin', too.

I prefer JZ to dress up and wear makeup, and encouraged her to groom her eyebrows.

A woman's style is more important to me than her bodytype.

But I think of style as an expression of an inner life, not just an artificial gilding or seeking the approval of anybody. (Hence, my reverence toward Jilli.)

Though it's generally a mistake to generalize about things using me as a baseline.

I don't believe that "Most guys like sports" is valid.

"Most" means more than half to me. So I think that statement is probably valid considering the number of ESPN offshoots thrive on cable.

(catching up)

Basically, I dress and groom for me.

That would be me. Yes, Pete likes it when I'm dressed up extra Gothic-Victorian fancy, but he also thinks I'm cute when I'm shuffling around the house in my jammies and no makeup (and usually lurching toward the coffeemaker).

I know I feel better if I'm wearing makeup and nice clothes. They make me happy.

Oh! Betsy, you do know that Holy Clothing has a web site so you don't have to go through eBay auctions, right? Let me see if I can find the link ...