At least you think you would. I'm not saying you're wrong, or that I know you better than you know yourself (I definitely don't), but sometimes its hard to separate what you "like" from what is culturally sexually driven. Or rephrased, why do you like them? How did that come to pass? They came from the culture, which values them for reasons that benefit sexual reproduction, etc. If that wasn't an issue, society likely wouldn't value them, they'd stop being a status symbol, and you may no longer "just like them."
We all like to think our personal likes and desires are entirely our own creation, but this is a fantasy.
Edit: the fast car you still might like, as it has utility (getting places quickly), but a house beyond a reasonable size has little utility beyond status.
Re:What should I do with my life?
by jaytee_clone on Thursday April 29, 2010 @04:14PM
(#1305857)
"Personally I'd work hard to live in a big fancy house and drive a cool fast car even if there were no women in the world, because I just like 'em."
Why yes, isn't that a great design? You don't even need to rationalize about what attracts a mate, you just like to do it by default, and most women just happen to be attracted to that by default also.
Certainly your chance of reproducing and passing down these default settings will be much greater than someone who has to rationalize about attractions, don't you think?
Or else it didn't catch on because people didn't like living in them. I assume you're talking about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_house
Evolution contradicts the desire for smaller. Consider Peacock tails, the longer they are and the fuller they are, the more likely they are to mate, because peahens like them -- even though rationally, they increase the likelihood of death to predator.
This kind of crazy peacock behaviour is the exception rather than the rule among animals, though, which is why peacocks are so noteworthy. If pigeons had vast feathered tails too you might have a point.
Similarly, it takes a lot of "strength" to maintain a large expensive home and accumulate a lot of unnecessary stuff and the chicks dig it. A guy with a fast car, excessive spending, and flashy clothes will go home from the bar with a girl before the geek with meek clothes and spending way below his means -- even if he is 1000x smarter than the flashy guy.
You sound very convinced that intelligence is what women should be selecting for, rather than being one of many traits that is nice to have in a potential partner.
Personally I'd work hard to live in a big fancy house and drive a cool fast car even if there were no women in the world, because I just like 'em.