The Cute Factor
January 7, 2006 9:03 PM Subscribe
The Cute Factor: "Cute cues are those that indicate extreme youth, vulnerability, harmlessness and need, scientists say..." (NY Times registration req'd)
"New studies suggest that cute images stimulate the same pleasure centers of the brain aroused by sex, a good meal or psychoactive drugs like cocaine, which could explain why everybody in the panda house wore a big grin."
OMFG!!1! Cuteness is just a stepping stone to hard drugs, gluttony and porn! Who's going to protect the children?
(Stimulating the pleasure centers of the brain sounds mighty sinful)
posted by Meridian at 10:04 PM on January 7, 2006
OMFG!!1! Cuteness is just a stepping stone to hard drugs, gluttony and porn! Who's going to protect the children?
(Stimulating the pleasure centers of the brain sounds mighty sinful)
posted by Meridian at 10:04 PM on January 7, 2006
A big problem is that not all living things are beautiful or cute at some stage. Most popular efforts for saving endangered species only get public support for the beautiful/cute.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 10:40 PM on January 7, 2006
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 10:40 PM on January 7, 2006
MonkeySaltedNuts -- Most popular efforts for saving endangered species only get public support for the beautiful/cute.
The PBF comic has this covered
posted by Meridian at 11:00 PM on January 7, 2006
The PBF comic has this covered
posted by Meridian at 11:00 PM on January 7, 2006
Well, cuteness is an essential factor in making judgements.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:33 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:33 AM on January 8, 2006
animals are hard wired to apreciate cuteness because it helps us automaticaly take care of our kids. There's obviously some back and forth (cute babies get more care then less cute) but mostly it has to do with the way babies must be, and so we are hard wired to love 'babiesh' or cute things.
posted by delmoi at 1:17 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by delmoi at 1:17 AM on January 8, 2006
Wow. I've never understood the nature of "cute." To me, it's always been synonymous with "annoying." I also have no desire to have children.
It's all so clear to me now.......
posted by Afroblanco at 1:53 AM on January 8, 2006
It's all so clear to me now.......
posted by Afroblanco at 1:53 AM on January 8, 2006
(Predicts this thread will be totally adorable)
posted by I Love Tacos at 2:30 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by I Love Tacos at 2:30 AM on January 8, 2006
Angiers is behind the curve. Where is the evolutionary science of enjoying seeing objects on cute animals, as seen in the above pancake shot and the Web site "StuffOnMyCat.com"?
posted by johngoren at 4:33 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by johngoren at 4:33 AM on January 8, 2006
What can be more cute than silly-attractive young ladies?
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 4:45 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 4:45 AM on January 8, 2006
I agree that Angiers did not delve too deep with this one.
I personally think that any significant discussion of cute ought to reference Japan, where cuteness is often the most important attribute. More info at Paul Baron's extensive archive of "kawaii/cute" references.
posted by gen at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2006
I personally think that any significant discussion of cute ought to reference Japan, where cuteness is often the most important attribute. More info at Paul Baron's extensive archive of "kawaii/cute" references.
posted by gen at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2006
We've been quoting that cute = cocaine/sex remark for days now. Worth repeating.
posted by nobody at 9:24 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by nobody at 9:24 AM on January 8, 2006
You killed Cute Overload.
My wife is very upset.
I thought you should know.
posted by Grangousier at 10:49 AM on January 8, 2006
My wife is very upset.
I thought you should know.
posted by Grangousier at 10:49 AM on January 8, 2006
This is a problem for sociology, not science. Never has cute been so omnipresent and maturity so vilified. Our is an culture of infantalization. America has gone Disneyland.
posted by ori at 11:55 AM on January 8, 2006
posted by ori at 11:55 AM on January 8, 2006
A curse on cute. I don't even like the word "cute." Slavering over "cuteness" is like a non-sex form of pedophilia. Or something. Whatever. But I especially can't stand the artificially "cute." Keep all artificially big-eyed beings (or is it big-eyed artificial beings?) the hell away from me.
That is all. Thank you for listening.
posted by pracowity at 1:47 PM on January 8, 2006
That is all. Thank you for listening.
posted by pracowity at 1:47 PM on January 8, 2006
Gen: "I personally think that any significant discussion of cute ought to reference Japan, where cuteness is often the most important attribute."
Actually, it did reference Japan, suggesting that cuteness there serves to soften the edges of a rigid, hierarchical society. Though that seems a bit superficial.
posted by Coherence Panda at 6:29 PM on January 8, 2006
Actually, it did reference Japan, suggesting that cuteness there serves to soften the edges of a rigid, hierarchical society. Though that seems a bit superficial.
posted by Coherence Panda at 6:29 PM on January 8, 2006
Really, if babies weren't so cute, wouldn't we regularly murder the squalling little beasts?
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:02 PM on January 8, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:02 PM on January 8, 2006
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posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:18 PM on January 7, 2006