Curvy = smart
January 5, 2008 12:39 PM Subscribe
I can't watch the video, but let me guess: another haphazard attempt to conflate women's minds (and be extension their value as human beings) with their physical properties? Featuring either dubious or wildly misrepresented scientific "fact"?
You forgot the "Oh fer crissakes, shut up" tag.
posted by jokeefe at 12:45 PM on January 5, 2008 [21 favorites]
You forgot the "Oh fer crissakes, shut up" tag.
posted by jokeefe at 12:45 PM on January 5, 2008 [21 favorites]
Here's what I think: women who are less focused on their looks are more likely to be using their brains, and thus appear smarter. News at 11. (But the video did have some interesting insight on brain juice being stored in the hip area, thus making the kids smarter.)
posted by SeizeTheDay at 12:49 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by SeizeTheDay at 12:49 PM on January 5, 2008
Yeah, but here's the trick: if you have an hourglass figure, a lot of people really, really won't WANT you to be smart.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:50 PM on January 5, 2008 [10 favorites]
posted by miss lynnster at 12:50 PM on January 5, 2008 [10 favorites]
Know what New Year's resolution I'd like cable news to make?
When doing a story on body-type studies, how about we declare a one-year moratorium on the "faceless fatass" shot. It never really adds much to the segment, does it? And that's gotta be a surreal shoot for the cameraman, running around town, looking for a certain shape and then framing everyone's neck out of the shot.
So how about you knock that off, cable news? Oh, and quit calling every single organization in rural areas 'grassroots.'
Thanks.
posted by EatTheWeek at 12:55 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
When doing a story on body-type studies, how about we declare a one-year moratorium on the "faceless fatass" shot. It never really adds much to the segment, does it? And that's gotta be a surreal shoot for the cameraman, running around town, looking for a certain shape and then framing everyone's neck out of the shot.
So how about you knock that off, cable news? Oh, and quit calling every single organization in rural areas 'grassroots.'
Thanks.
posted by EatTheWeek at 12:55 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
I do believe my "pear" shape correlates very well with my intelligence. Mind, I'm not all that bright.
posted by maxwelton at 12:56 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by maxwelton at 12:56 PM on January 5, 2008
I am with SiezeTheDay, I like the video because it indicates that fat stored in the hip areas is good fat compared to other fat that is stored somewhere else. If that is scientifically accurate, then I guess it is pretty interesting.
posted by dov3 at 1:00 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by dov3 at 1:00 PM on January 5, 2008
Do you have an origami feldspar? Then you may be trumpy.
Do you have an average toenail? Then you may be yogurt.
Do you have an indignant question? Then you may, or may not, be Vroomfondel.
posted by ZachsMind at 1:00 PM on January 5, 2008 [11 favorites]
Do you have an average toenail? Then you may be yogurt.
Do you have an indignant question? Then you may, or may not, be Vroomfondel.
posted by ZachsMind at 1:00 PM on January 5, 2008 [11 favorites]
I look a lot like a potato, and I'm pretty smart. Where's your theory now, Dr. Science?
posted by "Tex" Connor and the Wily Roundup Boys at 1:02 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by "Tex" Connor and the Wily Roundup Boys at 1:02 PM on January 5, 2008
But the video did have some interesting insight on brain juice being stored in the hip area
Maybe it's like the extra brain that dinosaurs were supposed to have in their butts?
posted by jokeefe at 1:07 PM on January 5, 2008
Maybe it's like the extra brain that dinosaurs were supposed to have in their butts?
posted by jokeefe at 1:07 PM on January 5, 2008
Flagged as crackpot pseudoscience.
posted by sneakin at 1:08 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by sneakin at 1:08 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Then you may be smart.
Or you may be dumb as rocks, or you may be of average intellect... you may be a friggen homicidal dwarf this is nice to dogs and indifferent about ants.
posted by edgeways at 1:08 PM on January 5, 2008
Or you may be dumb as rocks, or you may be of average intellect... you may be a friggen homicidal dwarf this is nice to dogs and indifferent about ants.
posted by edgeways at 1:08 PM on January 5, 2008
I
like
big
brains and I cannot lie.
posted by parallax7d at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2008 [18 favorites]
like
big
brains and I cannot lie.
posted by parallax7d at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2008 [18 favorites]
So as a gentleman who enjoys big butts and big brains I guess I'm in luck.
posted by Space Coyote at 1:13 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Space Coyote at 1:13 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
I suppose this means us skinny-nerd types are just out of luck.
posted by casarkos at 1:23 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by casarkos at 1:23 PM on January 5, 2008
These women are smart.
They have hourglass figures.
Women with hourglass figures are smart.
(And no, I couldn't get the video to load either, so my apol. for oversimplification)
posted by nax at 1:26 PM on January 5, 2008
They have hourglass figures.
Women with hourglass figures are smart.
(And no, I couldn't get the video to load either, so my apol. for oversimplification)
posted by nax at 1:26 PM on January 5, 2008
I look a lot like a potato, and I'm pretty smart. Where's your theory now, Dr. Science?
It's your big eyes. All of them.
I have a sort of a sundial figure myself.
posted by pracowity at 1:26 PM on January 5, 2008
It's your big eyes. All of them.
I have a sort of a sundial figure myself.
posted by pracowity at 1:26 PM on January 5, 2008
I always thought the gaseous omniscient overmind energy-being shape did more to signify smartness, but I recognize that I have been biased by an upbringing of lousy sci-fi shows and books that really weren't as good as I wanted them to be.
I don't know if I'd call it smart, but I do think that certain people have somewhat more will to bend themselves towards certain things, for some people you see it in exercise and eating habits, and I've known a few freakish superbeings, (of both genders), who just seemed to possess that particular ability to will themselves to eat well, as well as will themselves to study constantly, or work constantly. I never really connect that to what I'd call smart, (natural intelligence-wise, some of the smart college professors I know are fairly pudgy, some seem malnourished, some are even what I would call lazy, but I think they're all still smart).
I've always been impressed, and somewhat scared of folks that demonstrated a seeming total dominance of will over all aspects of their lives, as if the temptations of fried food or a night of TV instead of quiet study just are not present to them, but I do NOT think that those folks are the majority of the hourglass set.
posted by SomeOneElse at 1:35 PM on January 5, 2008
I don't know if I'd call it smart, but I do think that certain people have somewhat more will to bend themselves towards certain things, for some people you see it in exercise and eating habits, and I've known a few freakish superbeings, (of both genders), who just seemed to possess that particular ability to will themselves to eat well, as well as will themselves to study constantly, or work constantly. I never really connect that to what I'd call smart, (natural intelligence-wise, some of the smart college professors I know are fairly pudgy, some seem malnourished, some are even what I would call lazy, but I think they're all still smart).
I've always been impressed, and somewhat scared of folks that demonstrated a seeming total dominance of will over all aspects of their lives, as if the temptations of fried food or a night of TV instead of quiet study just are not present to them, but I do NOT think that those folks are the majority of the hourglass set.
posted by SomeOneElse at 1:35 PM on January 5, 2008
If you're a skinny nerd-type *male*, you may have an hourglass(ish) figure and simply not be aware of it. When I was in my early 20s, I was 5'10" tall, and weighed about 105 pounds. Some foster sisters talked me into dressing up as a woman for a Halloween costume party. I didn't shave my mustache though, as I wasn't *really* trying to look like a woman. To find a dress that fit me, they took my measurements; they were 34-25-34. Okay, maybe not Marilyn Monroe hourglass, but hey, not bad for a dude. In a dress, from the rear, guys *were* hooting and whistling at me, which made for some really funny moments when I'd turn around and show them the 'stache. ;)
posted by jamstigator at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jamstigator at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wow. From that CNN video, it seems like having a hourglass figure means being seriously overweight.
posted by cytherea at 1:38 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by cytherea at 1:38 PM on January 5, 2008
Do you have a pear figure? Then you may be book smart.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:44 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:44 PM on January 5, 2008
I think this is the abstract of the study in question. The study itself is behind a registration wall.
posted by aerotive at 1:56 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by aerotive at 1:56 PM on January 5, 2008
Do you have a swimmer's physique? Then you may be street smart.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008
Hip fat has lots of omega-3 fatty acids and belly fat has lots of omega-6 fatty acids.
You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from fish.
Therefore, men who want to catch up with smart women have to put fish in their pants.
posted by maudlin at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008 [4 favorites]
You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from fish.
Therefore, men who want to catch up with smart women have to put fish in their pants.
posted by maudlin at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008 [4 favorites]
I go to CNN.com just for the consistently stupid headlines and to gawk at the absurdity that is their non-news, just to remind me of the true state of 'Merican media
"Women: Men who eat potatoes are more likely to like sex"
"Kid falls out of tree, becomes gay"
"Study: Most people have innie belly buttons | Gallery"
"One hot dog wins world hot dog eating record"
It really seems that bad. The mind reels at this garbage.
posted by moonbird at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008 [3 favorites]
"Women: Men who eat potatoes are more likely to like sex"
"Kid falls out of tree, becomes gay"
"Study: Most people have innie belly buttons | Gallery"
"One hot dog wins world hot dog eating record"
It really seems that bad. The mind reels at this garbage.
posted by moonbird at 1:59 PM on January 5, 2008 [3 favorites]
All it is saying is that women with hourglass figures tend to have stores of fat at their hips and thighs which seems to store Omega-3 fatty acids, essential for higher brain function and healthy brain development in fetuses.
Anything else is folks grinding their own particular axes.
posted by batmonkey at 2:01 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Anything else is folks grinding their own particular axes.
posted by batmonkey at 2:01 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wow. From that CNN video, it seems like having a hourglass figure means being seriously overweight.
You're not allowed to say that anymore. You can't say "seriously overweight". It's "real".
Those were all "real women".
Suddenly any girl that's hot is now a hologram for some reason.
posted by wfc123 at 2:04 PM on January 5, 2008 [4 favorites]
You're not allowed to say that anymore. You can't say "seriously overweight". It's "real".
Those were all "real women".
Suddenly any girl that's hot is now a hologram for some reason.
posted by wfc123 at 2:04 PM on January 5, 2008 [4 favorites]
Anything else is folks grinding their own particular axes.
Heeeeere's Johnny!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:16 PM on January 5, 2008
Heeeeere's Johnny!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:16 PM on January 5, 2008
Suddenly any girl that's hot is now a hologram for some reason.
So you're saying an overweight woman can't be "hot"?
posted by cmgonzalez at 2:19 PM on January 5, 2008
So you're saying an overweight woman can't be "hot"?
posted by cmgonzalez at 2:19 PM on January 5, 2008
So, the claim is that they are smarter because of the type of fat that is stored at the hips? Forgive me if I am ignorant of some nicety of physiology here, but wouldn't stored fat not be getting shipped to the brain since it is, like, stored? Plus, are fetuses consuming stored fat in moms, generally, rather than nutrients eaten during the day?
(and wouldn't this kind of direct causal attribution to fat types imply that would should see direct IQ/Omega-3 correlations in anyone who takes supplements or eats fish? Do we see that?)
posted by O Blitiri at 2:45 PM on January 5, 2008
(and wouldn't this kind of direct causal attribution to fat types imply that would should see direct IQ/Omega-3 correlations in anyone who takes supplements or eats fish? Do we see that?)
posted by O Blitiri at 2:45 PM on January 5, 2008
So you're saying an overweight woman can't be "hot"?
Not in my experience--it seems that having a large volume to surface area ratio make people more inclined to turn up the air conditioning more frequently, whereas skinny people are always complaining about being cold.
And on the beaches in the summer, at least on TV, you tend to find a large number of lith, taught, sun-tanned bodies. Probably trying to get warm.
posted by cytherea at 2:50 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Not in my experience--it seems that having a large volume to surface area ratio make people more inclined to turn up the air conditioning more frequently, whereas skinny people are always complaining about being cold.
And on the beaches in the summer, at least on TV, you tend to find a large number of lith, taught, sun-tanned bodies. Probably trying to get warm.
posted by cytherea at 2:50 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Thanks wfc123, I was also hating the discussion of the study and its merits, and thought we should switch over to lolfatties.
posted by agentofselection at 2:51 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by agentofselection at 2:51 PM on January 5, 2008
I am way too smart to be interested in this.
[goes to make sandwich]
posted by JanetLand at 2:56 PM on January 5, 2008
[goes to make sandwich]
posted by JanetLand at 2:56 PM on January 5, 2008
Wooo! My ass makes me a genius! Or my theoretical kids geniuses. The ones I'll never have.
Sorry society, my overwhelming hate of sticky hands that smell of sour milk and urine may prevent the next Einstein from being born.
posted by Kellydamnit at 3:02 PM on January 5, 2008
Sorry society, my overwhelming hate of sticky hands that smell of sour milk and urine may prevent the next Einstein from being born.
posted by Kellydamnit at 3:02 PM on January 5, 2008
Sorry society, my overwhelming hate of sticky hands that smell of sour milk and urine may prevent the next Einstein from being born.
Whoa. You're dating the wrong guys!
::washes hands::
posted by LordSludge at 3:11 PM on January 5, 2008
Whoa. You're dating the wrong guys!
::washes hands::
posted by LordSludge at 3:11 PM on January 5, 2008
I personally believe that it is just external pressures that cause them to try harder and focus on education. Such as, if they want to compete with the Miss South Carolinas of the world, they have to out smart them and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so they will be able to build up our future.
posted by Mr_Zero at 3:47 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by Mr_Zero at 3:47 PM on January 5, 2008
HOW TO BE A SCIENCE REPORTER
Step 1: Acquire paper title and authors
Example:
Angiotensin II stimulates NADH and NADPH oxidase activity in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells
KK Griendling, CA Minieri, JD Ollerenshaw and RW Alexander
Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Step 2: Replace all sciency terms in title with nearest equivalents that come to mind.
Use Wikipedia as necessary.
Ex:
'stimulates' -> 'causes' or 'prevents', depending on what NADH is
'Angiotensin II' -> 'drug'
'NADPH oxidase' -> kills bacteria -> prevents infections (thanks, Wikipedia!)
'vascular' -> 'heart'
Ex: Drug helps prevent dangerous heart infections.
Don't forget the other three [four?] 'W's!
Who? Scientists. Sometimes researchers.
Where? Wherever is mentioned in the title and abstract.
When? Right now, as far as you know.
Ex:
New drug discovered by Emory University scientists prevents dangerous heart infections.
Step 3: Write remainder of article
It's only 250 words, just elaborate on the title and call the researchers to mine for some quotations.
posted by Pyry at 3:49 PM on January 5, 2008 [22 favorites]
Step 1: Acquire paper title and authors
Example:
Angiotensin II stimulates NADH and NADPH oxidase activity in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells
KK Griendling, CA Minieri, JD Ollerenshaw and RW Alexander
Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Step 2: Replace all sciency terms in title with nearest equivalents that come to mind.
Use Wikipedia as necessary.
Ex:
'stimulates' -> 'causes' or 'prevents', depending on what NADH is
'Angiotensin II' -> 'drug'
'NADPH oxidase' -> kills bacteria -> prevents infections (thanks, Wikipedia!)
'vascular' -> 'heart'
Ex: Drug helps prevent dangerous heart infections.
Don't forget the other three [four?] 'W's!
Who? Scientists. Sometimes researchers.
Where? Wherever is mentioned in the title and abstract.
When? Right now, as far as you know.
Ex:
New drug discovered by Emory University scientists prevents dangerous heart infections.
Step 3: Write remainder of article
It's only 250 words, just elaborate on the title and call the researchers to mine for some quotations.
posted by Pyry at 3:49 PM on January 5, 2008 [22 favorites]
Hmm. I'm shaped like a professional wrestler, or a major household appliance (52" shoulders, 42" waist, 32" inseam, 6'3") And I'm smart.
Thees ees confusing.
posted by stenseng at 3:56 PM on January 5, 2008
Thees ees confusing.
posted by stenseng at 3:56 PM on January 5, 2008
Actually, most crappy science reporting is done by general interest reporters, not science writers-- signed, member of National Association of Science Writers.
posted by Maias at 4:15 PM on January 5, 2008
I would be a genius, but my tiny waist is cutting off the massive brainpower that's stored in my hips.
Hmmm.
posted by louche mustachio at 6:17 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Hmmm.
posted by louche mustachio at 6:17 PM on January 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Are Leaky Hour-glass Figures the Cause of Sand-in-the-vagina Syndrome? News at 11:00!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:19 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:19 PM on January 5, 2008
Also reported on BBC News and in The Times, for anyone like me who would rather read than watch videos. I can get the full article from ScienceDirect, and I don't think I'm using my institutional login.
O Blitiri: The paper suggests that the hip fat stores are mobilized in late pregnancy and during breastfeeding, and that 60-80% of the fatty acids come from stored fat rather than dietary It also references studies which show that maternal omega-3 intake during pregnancy does have some effect on IQ, whether taken as a supplement or by eating more seafood. Bad Science has extensive coverage on the evidence for the beneficial effects of omega-3 supplements in children.
posted by penguinliz at 7:13 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
O Blitiri: The paper suggests that the hip fat stores are mobilized in late pregnancy and during breastfeeding, and that 60-80% of the fatty acids come from stored fat rather than dietary It also references studies which show that maternal omega-3 intake during pregnancy does have some effect on IQ, whether taken as a supplement or by eating more seafood. Bad Science has extensive coverage on the evidence for the beneficial effects of omega-3 supplements in children.
posted by penguinliz at 7:13 PM on January 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Waist-hip ratio and cognitive ability: is gluteofemoral fat a privileged store of neurodevelopmental resources?
posted by sisquoc15 at 7:43 PM on January 5, 2008
posted by sisquoc15 at 7:43 PM on January 5, 2008
The Omega wave
Nothing definitive, but interesting, no?
You may now return to your snarking.
posted by sisquoc15 at 7:52 PM on January 5, 2008
Nothing definitive, but interesting, no?
You may now return to your snarking.
posted by sisquoc15 at 7:52 PM on January 5, 2008
What are women going to say now? "Sir, my eyes are up here, not by my hourglass figure."
posted by dasheekeejones at 9:07 AM on January 6, 2008
posted by dasheekeejones at 9:07 AM on January 6, 2008
I just took my measurements and concluded I am a genius.
Who would like to award me a grant/give me jewelry?
Nobel committee, I'm lookin' at you.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 6:07 PM on January 6, 2008
Who would like to award me a grant/give me jewelry?
Nobel committee, I'm lookin' at you.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 6:07 PM on January 6, 2008
Once again, my innate superiority is proven by science. Ha! Take that, Jenny Craig!
posted by dejah420 at 8:20 PM on January 7, 2008
posted by dejah420 at 8:20 PM on January 7, 2008
« Older Robot Baseball | Most people have never heard of Metafilter, will... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:44 PM on January 5, 2008