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

In the immortal words of Meatloaf:

"I would do anything for love - but I won't do THAT!"

A photographic emulsion? What ever happened to just being putty in their hands.

Well, *technically*, a photographic emulsion ready for development already contains a latent image which you can't do very much about. The opportunity for artistic manipulation comes when you get to printing your negatives or slides, with all the opportunities for variable exposure, cropping, dodging & burning, or paper grade.

However, given that both sexes can often be so unreadable to the other, maybe the analogy of *thinking* you're in control of how someone develops when it was already predetermined might be quite appropriate.

Latent image? Who you calling 'latent'? I pride myself on my punctuality, never been late in m'life. Ridiculous ...harumph!

*you gettin' this all down Peregrin - this is a goldmine*

The keyword in Potholers analogy being "manipulation"?

I agree with pretty much everything said here, but I'd add a couple of things...

Firstly - weirdness! That's essential - only other weird people can understand me well enough and besides, they're never boring...

Another thing is the ability to talk - especially if there are problems... Yelling at each other never leads anywhere but if even the worst of problems can be solved by talking it over - that's when I know he really understands and respects me, wanting to take the effort of trying to solve problems when yelling would be so much easier...

And luckily I have the most wonderful boyfriend in the world who fulfills these qualifications and also most of those other people have mentioned here...

spontanaeity is good too... did someone already mention that? i wouldn't be able to avoid falling for a man who randomly drags me to the botanical gardens in the middle of a workday...

But how many times can a guy be spontaneous before it gets tired. And quite often spawn-tan-eity is rebuffed as 'not now I have a headache' so a fella never knows when to come and when to go. I've pretty much given up on 'trying' to be spontaneous except for one trick I'm saving for when I finally meet the woman of my dreams, spontaneous combustion. Do you think she'll like that? She'd better because it'll be a one off.

Simple and brief explanations about technical matters like computers and filling the windscreen wash bottle. Don't forget, women have much more important things to do than indulge in the finer points of technology, especially with the old body clock ticking away. Keep in mind that unlike men, women have only up to the age of ca 40 - 50, before as far as the species and gene pool are concerned, they become redundant.

What a woman looks for in a man?:

Big brown eyes;
A wet nose;
Large floppy ears;
Liveliness;
shiny coat;

woops, that sounds like a;

rabbit;
A cat;
Nonsense;
Dog;
Your favourite horse/pony?

But;

Weird;
Hilarious;
Intelligent;
Passionate;

Is the kind of thing some people like.

some one who wants me for me... however troublesome that might be.

AGB, aged 45, still single, still looking for a good man with a good heart, who will love me and enjoy being loved in return.
Preferably over 6' tall, attractive, slim, eyes I could drown in, nice telephone manner, wonderful voice.
Oh, and a sex-machine in bed.

Nice telephone manner? Sounds like a job advertisement.

'tis a job. a lifetime one, with plenty of perks!!!

you don't have to be spontaneous all the time, jwf. that becomes unspontaneous. but every now and then, just to break the routine....

I tend to look for evidence of very major surgery in a man...

Now, that statement conjured up a bunch of visuals ...

well, I am not quite 6 foot tall, but fill most other criteria, (some of us are happy to love and be loved..)

shorty

I might not be 6FT, but ive got ***Inches, Ha, Ha, HA. But as to the ultimate question of what a woman looks for in a man;

A good broad chest; gives a nice target to aim for..
Broad forehead is also a key feature; its less difficult to miss, especially if you have decent gun-sights..

Some more personal view - can any other ladies relate to these?

Sitting in a cafe yesterday, I couldn't stop looking at a bloke opposite. He had gorgeous blue eyes and thick eyelashes and reminded me of Ewan McGregor. Still, all men can't have that. And lots don't need it.

One thing that I find v e r y attractive is an accent. Whatever language I'm speaking, throw in a regional dialect and it adds lots of personality and somehow gives the impression of someone down to earth and with a sense of humour. Human in fact.

Has anyone yet mentioned touch. Touch her right the first time and she's putty (or photo emulsion or whatever) in your hands forever.
Not telling you what the right way is though!!

Now, GB, you almost decribed my man there, only he's only 5'11'' (same height as me, but I get to wear heels, how useful) and cuddly.
I go for gorgeous eyes, an ability to make me laugh, a liking of good beer and better conversation, and most of all, to like having fun.
And not to say "whatever" when i ask what they fancy doing....