h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes - you mustn't be manic with it. That can be a bit wearing. Having no enthusiasm for anything is also a drag. An attitude which seems to look outwards rather than inwards, is appealing. Talking about yourself and your problems will drive people away.

I find deliberately tending towards listening rather than talking definitely helps make up for my lack of intuitive perceptiveness.

you have to wonder, though, don't you... whether it all boils down to something a lot more basic. pheromones?

There is some research to suggest pheromones or other chemicals may have an effect, but I think they're only a small part of the picture, and if they often come into play later than effects such as appearance, voice, etc, the effect may be more more a matter of excluding Mr/Ms wrong, rather than making the 'right' person even more attractive.
Some studies show a bias towards avoiding choosing a mate who is too genetically similar, which does make biological sense, but I guess in that case, in many modern populations most people aren't very close family.
I *vaguely* remember some linkage between testosterone levels in sweat and male attractiveness, and I think changing female hormones levels are supposed to boost attraction at times of greatest fertility, if only by a small amount.

Aparently being on the pill asffects your taste in men. That explains sooooo much!
No seriously, it aparently makes you feel attracted to men who are more similar to you rather than the opposite.

There HAS been a study published a few weeks ago (by the University of Texas, if I remember correctly), proving that men are more attracted by the smell of fertile women. There must be an article on the BBC-news site about it.

What I meant with "body language" is not so much reading others' bodies, but "controlling" your own.
Crossing ones arms or legs is a sign of closing off oneself, not being "open".
Not looking people in the eyes can be seen as a sign of dishonesty or secrecy (staring at cleavage is even worse, but that's another subject).
Wiping ones hand before shaking hands is a sign of uncertainty, low self-confidence.
While shaking hands, letting the other twist his/her hand on top is a sign of submission (or the opposite, as the case may be).

The list goes on, of course, but it's easy to pay attention to these little details.

I get nervous around men who can look me in the eyes. Even my friend gav who is camper than christmas has a thing about my breasts.

It's not that breasts must never be looked at, I just think it's impolite to talk at them...

yeah well, mine could instruct anyone about shakepears a wintertale, cos thats where my english teacher directed his lessons at!! Mine get spoken to so much I almost think they could speak back!
hxx

A few months ago, on a Belgian TV-talkshow (LIVE!), a singer, who is also known for modelling swimsuits and a daring photo-shoot with a snake as only clothing, said tho the host: "Would you kindly look at my face when you're talking to me?" It was great fun seeing the guy turn red THROUGH his make up, live on TV...

Strangely, the subject of the talk was more or less the same as this thread!

Mrs V, have you ever thought about painting a face on them?

Or better yet, put on a blouse that shows a bit of cleavage. Then right under you write on them "Stop staring". Then you can pull down the blouse a bit if somebody keeps looking, and reveal the letters

OOOhhh the temptation. I like that!
Course my other option is my "don't touch what you can't afford" tshirt.
Last time I went out drinking with the girls I was wearing a not particularly low cut top, but one conversation went like this....
"So, what do you do?"
I'm a Student
"Oh yeah, I'm studying reaaaaalllly hard" (blatant stares down my clevage)
At that point I resisted the temptation to chuck my pint over him




but only cos it would be a waste of good beer


Hxx

My fave t-shirt (though I havent bought it) is one which says "All this and brains too".

A well-endowed girl called Ben

I've got one that says "I am the evil twin" which is pretty cool, and I scare little boys in "men wanted, no experience necessary"
Ah, slogan tshirts! What joys

The best t-shirt that I DO own says "You call me a bitch like its a BAD thing?"

But my boobs are too big for me to wear it!

Arrrgh, sooo know the feeling, like haning the shop assistant in debenhams in glasgow check every rack, but no, they just don't have a bra in your size!! Not that I'm that big, just bigger than most and a really funny sorta size, somewhere in between about 3 sizes!
Hxx

> Crossing ones arms or legs is a sign of closing off oneself, not
> being "open".

Hmmm I do have a tendency to fold my arms; otherwise I just end up feeling awkward and not knowing what to do with my hands. I almost always cross my legs when sitting down.

> Not looking people in the eyes can be seen as a sign of dishonesty
> or secrecy (staring at cleavage is even worse, but that's another
> subject).

I always look people in the eye. And I *never* stare at cleavage, the temptation is always there, but I consciously control it

> Wiping ones hand before shaking hands is a sign of uncertainty, low
> self-confidence.

Ah yes, the bane of the nervous. I can usually predict when a shaking-hand situation might arise, and make sure my palms are dry when nobody would notice.

> While shaking hands, letting the other twist his/her hand on top is
>a sign of submission (or the opposite, as the case may be).

I've not heard that one before. I'll have to look out for it

Hooloovoo

Hooloovoo, that DOESN'T mean you have to take the "Al Bundy"-position when sitting down! I suspect that won't do either...

Or the 'hands clasped behind the back' position when standing (male memebers of the royal family excluded)