Agree about herd mentality, but I would argue that on the fashion in question, the social stimulus is less about avoiding ostracism, and more about earning *easy* points -- frankly, on the backs of folks who have suffered through terrible trials, and continue to suffer in many sectors of society. This is where your comment on easy versus hard resonated with me.
I also believe that when it comes to sexual psychology, our instincts will prevail. That is, the forces of attraction that cause humans to couple in various ways are ultimately stronger than any social contagion.
Fair points, and I agree, Eli. Humans have not stopped being human. And of course there will always be variation, thank goodness. It's the social contagion point on which we continue to agree. Part of my point is that fashion often, perhaps usually, doesn't age well.
edited to correct my oversight by replacing "the" for "that", right before "social".
It doesn't age well, that's true, and especially so for trends that deviate further from the norm. The silver lining, I suppose, is that by definition any fashion will also inevitably become outmoded. I think of the toupee or the push-up bra. Both require trading a measure of dishonesty for vanity and/or social currency.
Agree about herd mentality, but I would argue that on the fashion in question, the social stimulus is less about avoiding ostracism, and more about earning *easy* points -- frankly, on the backs of folks who have suffered through terrible trials, and continue to suffer in many sectors of society. This is where your comment on easy versus hard resonated with me.
I also believe that when it comes to sexual psychology, our instincts will prevail. That is, the forces of attraction that cause humans to couple in various ways are ultimately stronger than any social contagion.
Fair points, and I agree, Eli. Humans have not stopped being human. And of course there will always be variation, thank goodness. It's the social contagion point on which we continue to agree. Part of my point is that fashion often, perhaps usually, doesn't age well.
edited to correct my oversight by replacing "the" for "that", right before "social".
It doesn't age well, that's true, and especially so for trends that deviate further from the norm. The silver lining, I suppose, is that by definition any fashion will also inevitably become outmoded. I think of the toupee or the push-up bra. Both require trading a measure of dishonesty for vanity and/or social currency.