>>30133195Women don't just care about looks. In a speed- or online dating context, looks (or rather: physical qualities, such as facial symmetry, height, etc.) are by far the most important determinant, but outside of that, social status matters quite a bit. A guy who studied at an elite university, born to rich parents who founded a successful company and became the richest man in the world at some point of course was attractive to (some) women. Fame, being the centre of attention due to being good at something, makes you more attractive to women. The alpha-nerd who brings everyone to the D&D table, runs great campaigns and is popular because of it, has a high likelihood of being popular with the nerdy girls in his group. The guild leader has the opportunity to groom the underage girls joining his guild, since the authority he possesses makes him attractive to them. But if you're unlikely to be that guy in any context due to lacking extraordinary talents or the personality of the kind of person who would claim the spotlight, then you're not particularly likely to succeed.
>I don't think these things are immutable. Are they out of reach for most people? Ya.Well, we do know that traits such as IQ as well as most personality traits are largely immutable. And if you agree that they are immutable for all but some - what tells you that those who ultimately end up manifesting them were not already pre-determined to manifest them?
>Theoretically there's a small chance you'll win, which means that SOMEONE has won before. Why not you? Why can't you follow in their footsteps?I would again argue that what we're dealing with here is not like playing the lottery where everyone has the chance to succeed. Some people are due to who they are very unlikely to succeed - and they might as well intuitively realise that to be the case, comparing themselves to people who do succeed and realising that they are comparatively lacking. e.g. if you're below average height, you're not particularly likely to be successful in the NBA, so it wouldn't be very wise to make a substantial effort to try but you're better off trying your luck in a field that naturally suits you better.
