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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2813 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 6, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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Your con man argument actually argues for physiognomy, just an imperfect one.

I have a kind and approachable face, so people often approach me for directions or other things. And they’re right to. I am kind and approachable.

But let’s say that 1% of people with my physiognomy have criminal tendencies. Would it not be easy to prey on people? Certainly much easier for me than for the guy who looks like an extra in a mob movie.

But this is assuming the conclusion. How do we know that the majority of people with faces perceived to be "kind and approachable" actually are "kind and approachable"? How do we know that those two things are correlated at all? Why is that the null hypothesis?

We don't really. I feel that it's true but obviously no one is studying this rigorously.

Appearances definitely matter but it's hard to say how much is clothing and broad gender/racial characteristics. Nevertheless, if I see a guy with a face like this, I'm giving him some space.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Valuev#/media/File:Valuev-nach-Haye-Fight-2009.jpg

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