17.58, Tuesday 11 Jan 2011

If someone doesn't think you're hot, the next best thing for them to think is that you're ugly. -- OKCupid (the dating site) did some awesome research into the mathematics of beauty, by looking at hotness ratings and number of messages received. They looked at consensus over cuteness. You get more approaches if some people think you're hot and some people think you're ugly, compared to everyone thinking you're merely cute.

This is the conclusion: We now have mathematical evidence that minimizing your "flaws" is the opposite of what you should do. If you're a little chubby, play it up. If you have a big nose, play it up. If you have a weird snaggletooth, play it up: statistically, the guys who don't like it can only help you, and the ones who do like it will be all the more excited.

I used to draw the yay/nay/meh triangle when talking about people's reactions to brands. You can choose to be on one side of the triangle. And - my opinion - it's better to be a yay/nay brand than to be a yay/meh one. Yay/nay at least means everyone is passionate. But yay/meh? There's not much you can do with indifference.