Wouldn’t dyeing your hair a color that stands out and immediately gets noticed be for attention?
I mean, its like saying peacocks have their feathers like that not to get attention. Or colorful birds do it to not be noticed. It doesn’t really make sense.
Maybe like, just want attention on my hair and not the rest of every part of my personality? Idk its weird though because every single thing we do to our outward appearance is for the attention of others around us whether sexually socially or whatever.
I’m a dude so maybe a little different but if I dyed my hair bright blue or pink then you can bet on it getting attention. And when asked whey I did and I’d say “oh man I didn’t want anyone to notice!” People would rightfully call me out on that being bullshit.
Its ok to want the attention of fellow humans around you as long as you aren’t manipulative about it. But to do it and seek it out and then act like its bothersome you are getting attention for it is strange behavior.
I know a muslim woman who fully covers her hair with hijab in public and still colors a few select strands red if that introduces any new perspectives.
Idk its weird though because every single thing we do to our outward appearance is for the attention of others around us whether sexually socially or whatever.
This is where the disconnect is for you.
People can want to alter their appearance for their own reasons that have nothing to do with socialization. Sometimes it’s just because they want to treat themselves, try something new, or just feel good about how they look.
Wouldn’t dyeing your hair a color that stands out and immediately gets noticed be for attention?
As a kid I thought about dyeing my hair one day because hair-dyeing and gay culture were big, and i definitely wouldn’t have been doing it “for attention” - rather just to see how it looks, and in case it looks better than my natural hair colour.
I don’t think people like looking better for the sake of more attention, but rather to be perceived better when they do get noticed, which hopefully continues to happen at the same rate.
People tend to think in terms of “how will my current social circle respond to this change”
I mean, its like saying peacocks have their feathers like that not to get attention. Or colorful birds do it to not be noticed. It doesn’t really make sense.
They have their feathers like thst because they’re born with it. Because of natural selection. Humans make cosmetic changes which are not related to genetics.
This can help with getting “naturally selected,” but people also present themselves for work reasons, status signalling, signalling role specialisation, religious belief or other philosophy, fandom (which i’d ssy falls into philosophy or religion).
So the last 3 of those - roles, religion, fandom - might in some way help to stand out to mates seeking those traits or beliefs, but aren’t primarily for that.
The former 3 are more about integrating and socialising with others, not about attracting mates.
Yes. Dying your hair crazy colors will get you attention. But it doesn’t mean that you dyed your hair because you wanted attention.
If my dog goes too far away, I will shout its name very loud so it hears me and comes back to me.
Doing this will inevitably draw the attention of most of the people around me. But that was not my intention though, I just wanted the attention of my dog. The attention of the other people is just an unavoidable side effect. It may even be an unwanted side effect.
Besides humans not being peacocks, I think there’s a philosophical difference between being genetically programmed to get attention and actually consciously desiring attention. And wanting to look a certain way is not the same as wanting attention at any given moment from whoever.
Wouldn’t dyeing your hair a color that stands out and immediately gets noticed be for attention?
I mean, its like saying peacocks have their feathers like that not to get attention. Or colorful birds do it to not be noticed. It doesn’t really make sense.
Maybe like, just want attention on my hair and not the rest of every part of my personality? Idk its weird though because every single thing we do to our outward appearance is for the attention of others around us whether sexually socially or whatever.
I’m a dude so maybe a little different but if I dyed my hair bright blue or pink then you can bet on it getting attention. And when asked whey I did and I’d say “oh man I didn’t want anyone to notice!” People would rightfully call me out on that being bullshit.
Its ok to want the attention of fellow humans around you as long as you aren’t manipulative about it. But to do it and seek it out and then act like its bothersome you are getting attention for it is strange behavior.
I know a muslim woman who fully covers her hair with hijab in public and still colors a few select strands red if that introduces any new perspectives.
This is where the disconnect is for you.
People can want to alter their appearance for their own reasons that have nothing to do with socialization. Sometimes it’s just because they want to treat themselves, try something new, or just feel good about how they look.
As a kid I thought about dyeing my hair one day because hair-dyeing and gay culture were big, and i definitely wouldn’t have been doing it “for attention” - rather just to see how it looks, and in case it looks better than my natural hair colour.
I don’t think people like looking better for the sake of more attention, but rather to be perceived better when they do get noticed, which hopefully continues to happen at the same rate.
People tend to think in terms of “how will my current social circle respond to this change”
They have their feathers like thst because they’re born with it. Because of natural selection. Humans make cosmetic changes which are not related to genetics.
This can help with getting “naturally selected,” but people also present themselves for work reasons, status signalling, signalling role specialisation, religious belief or other philosophy, fandom (which i’d ssy falls into philosophy or religion).
So the last 3 of those - roles, religion, fandom - might in some way help to stand out to mates seeking those traits or beliefs, but aren’t primarily for that.
The former 3 are more about integrating and socialising with others, not about attracting mates.
Yes. Dying your hair crazy colors will get you attention. But it doesn’t mean that you dyed your hair because you wanted attention.
If my dog goes too far away, I will shout its name very loud so it hears me and comes back to me.
Doing this will inevitably draw the attention of most of the people around me. But that was not my intention though, I just wanted the attention of my dog. The attention of the other people is just an unavoidable side effect. It may even be an unwanted side effect.
Besides humans not being peacocks, I think there’s a philosophical difference between being genetically programmed to get attention and actually consciously desiring attention. And wanting to look a certain way is not the same as wanting attention at any given moment from whoever.