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Culture War Roundup for the week of November 3, 2025

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Most men in bio are short because they can’t get women, but because you’re tall I know you’re genuinely interested in bio

What, concretely, bothers you about this? (Are you a height-challenged guy?)

Is it that he seems to hold a belief that shorter guys compensate for a lack of height by choosing scientific occupations? I'm not sure about this, but I'm almost curious enough to pull NLSY data on height and major to find out.

Or is it that you object to the idea that occupational groups show differences in their anthropometric measurements at all? If so, these are very well-attested in the literature: managers, professionals, and especially politicians are all taller than average.

Or is it just that he's not treating possible discrimination in a very somber, serious tone? If so, whenever Obama dies, will you be posting here about how he made fun of Buttigieg and said he could never become President because he's too short?

Is it that he seems to hold a belief that shorter guys compensate for a lack of height by choosing scientific occupations? I'm not sure about this, but I'm almost curious enough to pull NLSY data on height and major to find out.

Sometimes I’ve wondered if this stuff happens on some kind of unconscious level people aren’t entirely aware of. A lot of socially awkward people for instance find their way into reclusive activities and hobbies often because they don’t integrate well with others and are not invited to participate in a lot of outgoing activities. It’s not a coincidence that geeks and nerds all tend to ‘look’ a certain way physiologically and find their place in the same setting and occupied by the same hobbies. “Are you into computers because you can’t socialize or are you incapable of socializing because you’re into computers?”

Or it’s the same reason guys with big dongs find their way into pornography while guys with small dongs tend to become serial killers and ride motorcycles. This kind of self slotting of people into categories rarely happens through conscious and deliberate decision making. It’s some kind of social pattern that I haven’t deciphered yet but it’s a lot like when they gave testosterone to liberals how they instantly became republicans. Thankfully I’m not just right-wing but I’m far right-wing.

ride motorcycles

Any evidence for this?

It’s pretty hard to see.

In the case of nerds specifically, I think the simplest explanation is that they are high-systemisers who are fascinated by abstract systems with complex (yet consistent and legible) rules. The world of interpersonal relationships with its frustratingly arbitrary and definitely inconsistent ("lookin' good, Susan") ruleset is confusing and scary for them.

If you're an intelligent high-systemiser, this means pursuing a career in physics or computer science; if you're not particularly intelligent, you instead get into D&D, MtG or trainspotting.