Talk: Human physical appearance

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VfD 17 September 2003:

• Human physical appearance -- No useful content. Page needs a complete rework or delete. - 200.141.91.15
  • Keep: even if you do not call it an article but just a list without further content, it is a useful overview of the topics related to human physical appearance and the articles we have on these topics. - Patrick 20:58, 17 Sep 2003 (UTC)
  • Current content seems trivial. Perhaps would be better at Simple English? It maybe could be un-trivialized here though.... (genetics, evolution from protohumans, symmetry, role in sexual selection, abnormalities etc) if someone has the time, energy and skill. Pete 14:06, 17 Sep 2003 (UTC)
  • [Simple English] will not welcome trivial content any more than this Wikipedia will do. This is just a collection of vaguely related links and I see no point in keeping the page. Angela 06:05, Sep 18, 2003 (UTC)
    • The links are very much related, they are topics affecting how people look, in some cases the topic is specifically about one aspect of it, in others it is something that has change of appearance as a notable side-effect. - Patrick 08:35, 18 Sep 2003 (UTC)
    • I've tried to have a go at encyclopedicizing the article at its talk page. Unfortunately, although the subject is big and interesting, I just don't know enough about it. The bit about embarassing erections has not been retained :). Pete 13:12, 18 Sep 2003 (UTC)
  • I'd say keep, though what exactly it should be is debatable. -- Jake 06:20, 2003 Sep 21 (UTC)
  • Keep. I see no reason to get rid of useful articles. -- Taku

-> consensus to keep

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This article has been listed on VfD because, it is claimed, it contains no useful content. Below is an attempt to address that concern. I have not replaced the main article with this alternative and the change is quite significant, removes content and the author of the current page is a vocal supporter of the page

Contents

1 --Begin proposed alternative-- 2 Changes in human appearance throughout evolutionary history 3 The role of appearance in sexual selection 4 Physical appearance as adherence to a social framework 5 Physiological differences in human physical appearance from individual to individual 6 Long-term physiological changes in an individual 7 Short-term physiological changes in an individual 8 Clothing and personal effects 9 See also 10 References 11 --End proposed alternative--

--Begin proposed alternative--

Variations is the physical appearance of humans is believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations. There is a relatively low sexual diamorphism between human males and females in comparison with other mammals. However humans are acutely sensitive to variations in physical appearance for reasons of evolution. Some people have traditionally linked some differences in personal appearance such as skelatal shape with race (but this is a controversial and sensitive matter).

Some differences in human appearance are genetic, others are the result of age or disease, and many are the result of personal adornment.

Changes in human appearance throughout evolutionary history

The role of appearance in sexual selection

Physical appearance as adherence to a social framework

Physiological differences in human physical appearance from individual to individual

• Height, weight, skin color, sexual organs, moles, hair color and type, body shape, somatype (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph), body deformations, mutilations and other imperfections such as amputations, scars, and wounds.

Long-term physiological changes in an individual

• Aging

Short-term physiological changes in an individual

• Blushing, crying, fainting, sexual arousal, reddening of the skin due to increased blood flow due to exertion. Sweating, Shivering, skin colour changes due to sunshine

Clothing and personal effects

• clothing, including headgear and footwear. Some clothes alter or mold the shape of the body (e.g. corset,bra)
• Style and colour of haircut, (See also dreadlocks, braids, pony tail, wig, hairpin, facial hair, beard and moustache]])
• cosmetics, stage makeup, body paintings
• body modifications, such as body piercings and tattoos
• Decorative objects such as a necklaces, bracelets, rings
• Medical or body shape altering devices (e.g. tooth braces, bandages,hearing aids, calipers, cervical collar, glasses gold teeth)

See also

• Beauty, Fashion, Social role of hair, Vanity, human sexual attractiveness

References

• A discussion of the possible effect of physical appearance on personality development at personalityresearch.org
• Page with a list of links to discussions of the role of physical appearance in sexual selection and evolution. We need to link to their links directly, having read them, as this page is a blizzard of pop-up ads

--End proposed alternative--