Are we deceived by computer generated beauty?

[redpaintednavi]

It seems that by creating certain types of faces, with emphasis on features and structures that we perceive as attractive we can be manipulated in such a way that we prefer the computer generated features before the ones in real, living humans. This can be seen in the fact that at least some individuals thinks that the computergeneraed beauty of Neytiri exceeds the beauty of most real women.

Neytiri is not alone. In a reserach project where one morphed together the faces of several contenders in a beauty competition, people who were shown images of the competitors and the morphed image of them, preferred the morphed computer image.

If this trend increases will it give rise to a society where more and more of us will long for unrealistic images of a would be future partner while we overlook real people? How many have not perhaps overlooked a real, beautiful and nice girl because their minds have been fixed into some dream of Neytiri?

Here is something about virtual beauty:

Beautycheck - virtual miss germany

[iron_jones]

That's not being deceived.
The Miss Germany on the right is way more attractive.
Neytiri IS better looking than most women because she was based off of the golden ratio of facial symmetry, and has no flaws. I don't see how it's manipulation. If you think a face is beautiful, then you do. Everyone desires beauty when it comes to themselves and the people around them.

[Human No More]

That's not being deceived - that's just optimisation. It's taking features that are appreciated and creating a new combination - much like happens to any human via a random element; simply removing the random element from the picture.

You seem to be implying Neytiri is NOT attractive, in a disparaging tone - that to me seems like a clear agenda right there - well, yes, Neytiri IS attractive, and more so than many humans. Remember that ~50% of everyone is below average in any given respect. If I didn't know better, I'd think this thread was a concern troll.

Humans vary. Unless you're implying all humans are equal and ideal, then it is blindingly obvious to even someone stupid that some people (or depictions) are better than others. There is no reason that does not extend to depictions in general, as it has done for hundreds of years. The whole 'uncanny valley' idea is complete rubbish, it is arguable up to a point but then becomes terminally flawed.

[iron_jones]

Originally Posted by redpaintednavi

If this trend increases will it give rise to a society where more and more of us will long for unrealistic images of a would be future partner while we overlook real people? How many have not perhaps overlooked a real, beautiful and nice girl because their minds have been fixed into some dream of Neytiri?

So I'm not allowed to prefer and want a very attractive woman?

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by redpaintednavi

If this trend increases will it give rise to a society where more and more of us will long for unrealistic images of a would be future partner while we overlook real people?

Why is this statement in the future tense?

[Niri Te]

As technology improves, and the Virtual becomes as real to the senses as the actual mundane world, we might have something close to the first Matrix movie. The "Virtual reality will be far more enjoyable that the humdrum real one. VR will become the new drug of choice.
Niri Te

[iron_jones]

As true as that could be, Niri Te, that has little relevance in this case.

[Pa'li Makto]

I think that we all have our own view on what we find to be appealing or beautiful. Though there can be some generalisations here and there. Of course Neytiri really does seem to appeal to everyone, and I think that's not just the way she looks but also her personality is really attractive as she is really passionate, dedicated, loving and wholesome and that makes her appear even more beautiful as an individual, albeit a computer generated one. I don't think there's a problem with liking the appearance of a computer generated character at all to be honest.

[mikkowilson]

But if you could plug into a computer and have it render for you your dreams imperceptibly from reality; why would you ever wake up? Why would you ever unplug?

- Mikko

[redpaintednavi]

Originally Posted by iron_jones

That's not being deceived.
The Miss Germany on the right is way more attractive.
Neytiri IS better looking than most women because she was based off of the golden ratio of facial symmetry, and has no flaws. I don't see how it's manipulation. If you think a face is beautiful, then you do. Everyone desires beauty when it comes to themselves and the people around them.

But is it not at least somewhat manipulative to use special geometrical features to trigger some inherent instinctive pattern for perceiving beauty? Its little like manufacturing a lure for fish that exaggerate the sorts of movement that triggers reflexes in the fish that makes it attack. In commercials and other contexts these beautiful, artificial faces can perhaps manipulate us to buy things, or to support things we should not have supported without them. At least it is some kind of risk. And can it not be some risk that we loose ourselves in dreams of unobtainable and unrealistic beauty, while we miss out on the real beauty out there in the world?

At the same thing maybe these images can make women trying to manipulate themselvws (plastic surgery and other stuff) just to be like the computer generated faces in order to be more attractive. Is it not something of a danger in that?

[redpaintednavi]

Originally Posted by Human No More

.

You seem to be implying Neytiri is NOT attractive, in a disparaging tone - that to me seems like a clear agenda right there - well, yes, Neytiri IS attractive, and more so than many humans. Remember that ~50% of everyone is below average in any given respect. If I didn't know better, I'd think this thread was a concern troll.

I do not deny the attractiveness of Neytiri, but at the same time she is not real, she is just a computer generated image (that borrows voice, body language and some features from Zoe Saldana and who act upon a script). No real woman can be exactly like that. A risk with such a character is that some people will dismiss real women because they cannot live up to the standard of her. And still they are real, but not she.

And one do not have to be a troll because one sometimes can see through the fantasy and see the reality behind it.

[redpaintednavi]

Originally Posted by iron_jones

So I'm not allowed to prefer and want a very attractive woman?

But perhaps one still must see the difference of a computer generated image that is designed to trigger our instincts (as the fishing lure is to the fish) and real women. Unfortuantely many women today feel that they are forced to try to live up to more and more unrealistic ideals.

[Advent]

Well, some people (myself included) find humans mostly, if not all, unappealing. Some people have very specific preferences. And some find attractiveness in almost everyone, and in some cases, everything. Might as well leave it to them.

A little off topic, but it might turn out to help with our population problem anyway.

[Marvellous Chester]

@ OP: I think what this comes down to is you are mistaking the attraction some of the people feel here for physical attraction. Do not think Neytiri fanboys are so shallow I don't doubt some slimy individual somewhere just sees her as a sex object, but that's not us. While Neytiri is indeed very beautiful, the greater part of why people love her is because she has the kind of personality many men would love to have in a women. Beauty aside, another thing that gets us is that she is alien and has unusual features, a tail for example. People like new wierd things, they're interesting.

[redpaintednavi]

Originally Posted by The Silver Stag

@ OP: I think what this comes down to is you are mistaking the attraction some of the people feel here for physical attraction. Do not think Neytiri fanboys are so shallow I don't doubt some slimy individual somewhere just sees her as a sex object, but that's not us. While Neytiri is indeed very beautiful, the greater part of why people love her is because she has the kind of personality many men would love to have in a women. Beauty aside, another thing that gets us is that she is alien and has unusual features, a tail for example. People like new wierd things, they're interesting.

Yes, i was talking more in general about computer generated women and beauty. When it concerns Neytiri, i agree that her beauty not only sits in her looks but in her personality. Still one must not forget that also her personality is a result of a combination of computer image, acting and script writing. She is not real, and it seems that several people think that no, or few, real women can live up to her standards. One can wonder why a fictionary person is considered so superior to real women, in several aspects.