Key West: Bacall moving in Bogie’s direction without any change in the weather to propel her. (Internet photo)
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger (Re-post from BF 2014)
A Ph.D. psychologist who lives in the Grove, collects seashells, and wears glow-in-the dark chartreuse sneakers, has evolved a hypothesis over 30 years or more having to with the behavior of women in late autumn, as the temperature grows cold.
He prefers to be sort of anonymous, but he is convinced that his observations, which have been consistent over the years, are true and real, even though they have never been subjected to scientific scrutiny. We’ll call him Walter after Walter Reed, MD who helped find a cure for yellow fever.
Walter says that his concept has its roots in human biology, specifically the procreation of the species. He refers to the mechanism as being “of mammalian origin.” Basically the idea is that women are innately understanding that they must survive the winter and do so by finding a mate who can “keep them warm and have sex.”
The behavior reveals itself in a “subtle nuanced manner” since women, by nature, tend to be social and interested in the “other gender.” So what Walter has observed is that women, late in autumn, become more friendly to men. It is an “extension” of how they normally behave, but men will find women to be more attentive to them than usual: to offer to have coffee, or to come visit, or to have conversations. Men may miss this phenomenon unless they are looking for it. I would guess that it would be more apparent to available men.
According to Walter, women become more agreeable, smiling more and being more polite. He sees women as being “warmer” towards men than usual as the weather gets colder. He refers to this behavior as “controlled” but also being “frenetic” beneath the surface, behavior which he describes as “scurrying” while, at the same time, being more sociable and personable.
The end result is often an increase in coupling, relationships, engagements, socializing and dating . Have any of you experienced Walter’s theory?
BERTIE HIGGINS. “Key Largo:”
I am impressed by Pam’s observation of the vanity, silliness, and heat of many members of my gender—–a gender that overall resides on this particular planet for brief periods than do persons of Pam’s gender.
It’s nice to see another person recognize discernible differences between males and females.
Wow This post really makes me miss the abandoned controversial news coverage.
Maybe men and women have different thermostats. It seems like I’m warm when my wife is cold. My friend John comes to stay with us in the summer, and he cranks up the AC in his bedroom so that is freezing cold. He says he likes it to be “like a meat locker.” My uncle Morris was famous in the family for opening his bedroom window even during a snowstorm. My Mom’s other brothers would come in the next morning and find him sleeping with snow on his face.
My mother, on the other hand, also hated heat, so she would never go to Florida. In the summer she carried a little battery powered fan around with her, blowing air into her face frequently. So maybe it’s more about genetics than gender.
My observation has been that some women will wear the flimsiest of clothes in cold weather–miniskirts, shirts with no sleeves or not even covering their shoulders–bra straps showing; some with deep cleavage (like the bank teller at Wells Fargo) where cold breezes can blow through her like a form of cross ventilation—-apparently all in the interest of fashion (or perhaps some other reasons) and without consideration of temperature and seemingly in contradiction to Walter’s heat-seeking women who crave warmth in the late autumn.
Maybe women seem to be more friendly and attentive towards certain men as winter approaches in hopes that these men will take off their shorts and put on their pants. Everywhere I go–to Wegman’s, Costco, in town, the mall–I see men of all ages and sizes still wearing shorts, some way into the winter, whereas the women are sensibly wearing pants and sweaters.
What’s up with this shorts wearing when its cold? Does it have something to do with biological/genetic differences? I hope I don’t sound sexist!
Blogfinger Editor:
Checking on the trail of posts, it appears I’m part of the “you three.” Allow me to clarify my point of view:
My post was hardly a personal attack on Walter’s education or character. Am sure this is not the first time (or the last) that his thought-provoking thesis has caused people to laugh out loud.
As for why people wear what they wear, it isn’t psycho babble to discuss motivations behind how people dress. Case in point: When you wear your Blogfinger hat, doesn’t that draw attention? For whatever reason Walter chose his glow-in-the-dark footwear, they’re bound to be noticed.
Ladies, ladies: a little respect is due here to a man who has a doctorate in his field, wrote a 600 page dissertation, worked at some of the most respected institutions in the world, and who continues his innovative writings in the Grove.
His specialty, psychology, is well suited for his current topic on Blogfinger. His hypothesis here, although not proven, is worthy of consideration and respect even if you don’t agree. He is saying nothing against women, but you are attacking him personally even though you don’t know him, and none of you have actually given any thought to his ideas or discussed them on BF.
It seems that you three somehow see his thesis as threatening to women. That is pathetic. Surely you three have more to offer than that.
As for the sneakers, I know for a fact that he bought them because there was a wonderful sale price, and that color was the only one left in his size. He is a modest man of character and wisdom who is a nonconformist and who cares nothing about fashion. So much for the “notice me” theory of psycho babble.
And just what are “Walter'”s observations about men’s behavior as winter approaches?
Also, if “Walter” was so sure of the validity of his observations, why won’t he, at least, use his own first name? If he were to identify himself, I would love to observe him during the coming months.
I often brunch along Main Ave and notice men showing the same behavior as “Walter”‘s women subjects. But I prefer not to analyze their actions as I tend to mind my own business and get on with life.
This is laugh out loud funny! Sounds like wishful thinking on Walter’s part. And let me add my own “theory,” which is based on work in the fashion industry: Neon-glow-in-the-dark chartreuse sneakers worn by an adult could very well be interpreted as a ” notice me” signal.
Lisa: It is an unproven hypothesis, but sexist? There are biological/genetic differences between men and women, so Walter’s observations would, in my opinion, not be sexist—- although they may be a bit far fetched. I would like to know what definition of “sexism” you are using in this instance.
I do hope that you are not suggesting that we reject Walter’s opinions on the grounds of “sexism.” I actually asked Walter if he thought that some might find this to be sexist, however he wasn’t concerned about that possibility.
For me, on Blogfinger, most controversial ideas are welcome. —Paul
Rather sexist, don’t you think?