The age-old numbers question

[Jes]

All right, everyone. I know this has been asked before and I know it can't really be answered. And yet I'm goingo to ask it again, and I'm going to hope for answers, even if they're sort of anecdotal or based on spurious data.

What do we think the percentage of FAs is in the genpop of....let's say Western culture, american culture, I don't know. Something. It's a very free-form question, I know.

But if I'm walking down the street here, what percentage of MEN do you think might prefer me fat to thin?

Now, there's a subgroup of those men who would act on their preference (for whatever reason--not finding ME specifically attractive, already being involved, not being 'out'), and you can tender a guess as to the percentage for that group too, but I really don't feel like I have any sense of what the numbers might be, and I'm curious. I certainly never have locker-room-type talks with groups of guys (bullshitting or not!) and...so I'm curious to hear.

thanks!

[moonvine]

The data I have heard is 1 out of 10. I have no idea if that is based on anything scientific or it is pulled out of someone's ass.

[Jes]

Originally Posted by moonvine

The data I have heard is 1 out of 10. I have no idea if that is based on anything scientific or it is pulled out of someone's ass.

1 of 10 men, you're saying...

[moonvine]

Originally Posted by Jes

1 of 10 men, you're saying...

Yes, 1 out of 10 men.

[The Weatherman]

But 'they' say 1 of 10 for everything under the sun: 1/10 people are supposedly gay as well, 1/10 are alcoholics, 1/10 are schizophrenics, 1/10 have the potential to be math geniuses...

it's just a nice number when you want it to seem like a seemingly miniscule percentage of the population really isn't that miniscule...

now, honestly I have no clue. There are probably many more men out there who don't really care as to fat or thin than those who are explicitly FAs... but I honestly have no clue

[Jack Skellington]

What is considered fat is subjective of course. Fat in the media and fat in reality are obviously two different things for example.

In all honestly I don't think heterosexual men find the scrawny androgynous look the media has been shoving down our throats at all attractive. Show a guy a picture of a curvy 50's bomb shell and a picture of a 97 pound modern runway model and they will pick the fuller figured one every time.

I'm going to go a little off on a tangent here. But it's one of my pet peeves.

Hollywood pisses me off to no end. Women and gay men get to oogle attractive male actors like Brad Pitt, Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp, etc. Heterosexual men are forced to look at androgynous, emaciated, flat chested actresses with their lips jacked up on collagen. Like Keira (I overdosed on collagen) Knightly and the boyish Hillary Swank for example.

This new sexuality of boyish women being forced on the male gender pisses me off to no end. It is not politely correct or acceptable for men to like curves and admire feminine women anymore.

Umm, yes, well...

Back to the topic.

I think most men like women in the average 14 to 16 size range. Which is obese by Hollywood standards. Then a slightly smaller amount like the "thick" or chubby range. Say, size 18 to 20. A much smaller amount like women in the size 22 and up range. Probably do to in no small amount the social stigma that it would carry. Men in general are a cowardly lot about their preferrences and are scared shitless about being judged or ridiculed about it.

[moonvine]

Originally Posted by The Weatherman

But 'they' say 1 of 10 for everything under the sun: 1/10 people are supposedly gay as well, 1/10 are alcoholics, 1/10 are schizophrenics, 1/10 have the potential to be math geniuses...

it's just a nice number when you want it to seem like a seemingly miniscule percentage of the population really isn't that miniscule...

now, honestly I have no clue. There are probably many more men out there who don't really care as to fat or thin than those who are explicitly FAs... but I honestly have no clue

Well, I think that the other topics (gay, alcoholic, math, etc) have actually been studied to some degree. I'm not sure that any official studies have been done to find out. So people use WAGs (wild ass guesses). Heh.

[bigsexy920]

Originally Posted by Jes

All right, everyone. I know this has been asked before and I know it can't really be answered. And yet I'm goingo to ask it again, and I'm going to hope for answers, even if they're sort of anecdotal or based on spurious data.

What do we think the percentage of FAs is in the genpop of....let's say Western culture, american culture, I don't know. Something. It's a very free-form question, I know.

But if I'm walking down the street here, what percentage of MEN do you think might prefer me fat to thin?

Now, there's a subgroup of those men who would act on their preference (for whatever reason--not finding ME specifically attractive, already being involved, not being 'out'), and you can tender a guess as to the percentage for that group too, but I really don't feel like I have any sense of what the numbers might be, and I'm curious. I certainly never have locker-room-type talks with groups of guys (bullshitting or not!) and...so I'm curious to hear.

thanks!

WHAT ?????


I know not what you speak !!

[Jes]

Originally Posted by moonvine

Well, I think that the other topics (gay, alcoholic, math, etc) have actually been studied to some degree. I'm not sure that any official studies have been done to find out. So people use WAGs (wild ass guesses). Heh.

Right, and I guess that's what I'm getting at. Do people have any sense, how did they arrive at that sense, etc.

[Kingplaya4]

Originally Posted by Jes

All right, everyone. I know this has been asked before and I know it can't really be answered. And yet I'm goingo to ask it again, and I'm going to hope for answers, even if they're sort of anecdotal or based on spurious data.

What do we think the percentage of FAs is in the genpop of....let's say Western culture, american culture, I don't know. Something. It's a very free-form question, I know.

But if I'm walking down the street here, what percentage of MEN do you think might prefer me fat to thin?

Now, there's a subgroup of those men who would act on their preference (for whatever reason--not finding ME specifically attractive, already being involved, not being 'out'), and you can tender a guess as to the percentage for that group too, but I really don't feel like I have any sense of what the numbers might be, and I'm curious. I certainly never have locker-room-type talks with groups of guys (bullshitting or not!) and...so I'm curious to hear.

thanks!

As a guy, just based on what guys have said, (no scientific research) I would say about 20% of guys would choose a girl from like 160 pounds to 200 pounds purposely. I have never heard a guy in the flesh publicly or privately express preferences beyond that.

I've only heard one guy that professed to like stick thin 100 pound women, so I would say both are pretty rare.

David

[Tad]

Yes, we have been wanting to know Jes's numbers for ages......oh wait, that isn't the numbers she is talking about--oops!

As to percentage of FA, hmmmm, I think I wrote my thoughts on this at length at least a couple of time on the old boards, and I don't feel like writing the whole thing out again, so I'll summarize and hope I'm not too confusing because of it.


My estimate is that about one third of guys basically like whatever their culture tells them to want. To put it in positive terms, they are attracted to what is most in demand. I think another third don't really have all that strong a preference physically--not that they don't think some women are more attractive than others, but probably a broad range of sizes of women who have 'regular' proportions will appeal to them (that is, waist smaller than hips, belly mostly in the belly area, etc), so they may be attracted to some portion of bigger women--although they may have other attributes that they care about, and given an attraction to a broad range of women, most will probably tend to favor those considered socially desirable, especially when younger. Finally I think around around a third of guys have strong inate preferences, with these being spread across all sizes and shapes.

By way of examples:
- My friend 'M' is a really nice guy, and I've had deeper discussions with him than with anyone other than my wife. However he also has an obsession with appearances--he got into power lifting to look more manly, hated having to wear glasses and got laser eye surgery at his first opportunity, and perhaps not surprisingly, when he talks about someone he thinks is great looking his description sounds like a lot of actresses on TV "Yah, she has a really tight body, toned, but with big breasts, and she has a great smile."
- Another friend, 'D,' is a confirmed bachelor. He's a not bad looking guy with a decent job, but really he would not stand in general, except that he is the casanova of our group. He's the one who can walk into a party, and even odds end up sleeping with someone he met there (or seemed to the rest of us in our bachelor days). Basically he likes women's bodies and he likes sex, and thinks there is never anything wrong with either one. He does tend to like really big breasts, and so tends to gravitate to somewhat plump women as they are apt to be that much bustier.
- Since at least puberty I've been attracted to heavier ladies with a substantial hip-waist ratio. The first girl I was smitten with was like that, what I dreamed of over the years was like that, my wife is like that.

What portion of the strong inate preference crowd prefers larger ladies I don't know, but I'd call it at best a tenth, given that there are a lot of different types of builds to be attracted to.

-Ed

[americandookie]

I believe 1/10 men prefer women with, lets say, "extra luv"... but i believe only 1/10 are willing to admit it. I'm sure there are tons more who are just too afraid to admit it because they are scared that they are going to be judged because of it. I dont usually like to go back to my high school days, but thats exactally what i went through... and it sucked big time. Just the fact that i knew they liked me but couldnt be seen with me just added to the stress i was already going through as an overweight girl. But like i said, i hate going to back to those times because they are over... and i've moved on. Ok now this post had turned into my life story... sorry people! LOL

[Totmacher]

It's more like 20% have good taste, 70% don't really care, and the 10% everyone listens to prefer skinny chicks.

[Vince]

I would estimate that less than 5% of the male population fancy really fat women. Those who like supersized women must be less than 1% of the population. I have owned a gym for over 35 years and have yet to come across another man who fancies fat women. I have met only three men who admire large women. Conrad, Nadir in Sydney and Ian in Sydney. That's it. I met another bodybuilder who liked them big but I didn't know about his preference at the time. His name is Chet Yorton and he won the Mr Universe title and beat Arnold in 1966. Arnold apparently told someone that the girls he liked he didn't take to the beach. I remember him looking at me in 1968 when I was with a really big gal on Venice Beach. I knew he had a preference similar to mine.

How many closet admirers are there out there? No one knows. I do know that many guys who would not be seen with a larger woman would secretly have sex with a few of them. I am always amazed at just what some guys think is large. They consider a gal who wears a size 16 large. I don't.

If in America over 50% of the women are fat then there are not enough thinner women to go around. That means lots of men will have to go with fat women. I doubt we could call them admirers. I have often wondered what guys like Tall Fat Sue's husband are called. Is Art an admirer? Seems to me they become default ones if they can regularly be with and have intimacy with fat women.

I guess the reason Conrad hasn't done more with his plus size personals is because the market doesn't have enough men out there who would subscribe to such a service.

Now, Jes, don't go picking on the size of the fonts I use. It is just easier to read for older people.

[EtobicokeFA]

Actually, current numbers suggest that over 10% admit to being fat admirers. That of course, doesn't count the number of closet FAs, who are FA but don't want to admit to it, due to social pressures.

Then there are those who enjoy both thin and fat women!

[Littleghost]

Tell ya what, concentrate deeply upon the matter while drinking heavily (alcohol frees the spirit from the chatterings of the consciousness) and inscribe several random ratioes on your naked body with a timed camera nearby. Lay down on a Tibetian carpet and place a dowsing rod on your chi center. While chanting yourself into a trance, call up the anchient spirit of statistics, Pollstrodamus, and request of him to bestow his knowledge upon you. (He appreciates a sacrifice of an old fashioned adding machine.) Then collect the polaroids from the camera and send them to me. With my years of higher education, I will decipher the positions of the dowsing rod and inform you of the correct number of FAs in the general population.
Wasn't that easy?

Still can't find anyone to play Ouija board with me,
--Littleghost

[Frogman]

I think you have to be more specific in order to answer the question properly. How fat is the Fat in Fat Admirer? A lot of guys might prefer "larger women," meaning a bit overweight, but not clinically obese. Similarly, guys' conception of what constitutes a "thin" woman might range from noticeably underweight to normal, or a little athletic.

[Jes]

Originally Posted by Littleghost

Tell ya what, concentrate deeply upon the matter while drinking heavily (alcohol frees the spirit from the chatterings of the consciousness) and inscribe several random ratioes on your naked body with a timed camera nearby. Lay down on a Tibetian carpet and place a dowsing rod on your chi center. While chanting yourself into a trance, call up the anchient spirit of statistics, Pollstrodamus, and request of him to bestow his knowledge upon you. (He appreciates a sacrifice of an old fashioned adding machine.) Then collect the polaroids from the camera and send them to me. With my years of higher education, I will decipher the positions of the dowsing rod and inform you of the correct number of FAs in the general population.
Wasn't that easy?

Still can't find anyone to play Ouija board with me,
--Littleghost

Oh, littleghost, you've been trying to get your dowsing rod onto my chi center FOREVER. It's just not gonna work out between us, what can I say?!

[Jes]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I think you have to be more specific in order to answer the question properly. How fat is the Fat in Fat Admirer? A lot of guys might prefer "larger women," meaning a bit overweight, but not clinically obese. Similarly, guys' conception of what constitutes a "thin" woman might range from noticeably underweight to normal, or a little athletic.

Well, I'm bad at specifics. Feel free to answer it as you would, if you can or want. My example was about me, but I don't necessarily need to limit it just to me.

[Littleghost]

Phooey, you found me out.

[Webmaster]

Originally Posted by Jes

What do we think the percentage of FAs is in the genpop of....let's say Western culture, american culture, I don't know. Something. It's a very free-form question, I know.

Okay, let me go about this scientifically... From a genetic point of view, nature would likely have it so that weight distribution roughly parallels attraction to certain body types. Which would mean that as long as you are around one standard deviation away from the mean weight of the female population, at least 32% of the male population would probably still be generically attracted to you. If you are still around two standard deviations, then your chances drastically fall, and generically only 5% are still attracted. Get beyond three standard deviations, and we're talking just one percent.

Now there are probably forces that counteract this theory. For example, our society teaches us that average or slender body types are good and fat ones are bad, hence a percentage of those who would normally be fine with, or even drawn to, a larger size will be influenced towards thinner partners. On the other hand, some who like extreme things may be enamored with that very fact and deviate towards the other side.

Now that, of course, does not take personality and personal magnetism into consideration. Some people who look "ideal" according to conventional wisdom can be dull as hell, whereas others who are nowhere near that ideal can be veritable people magnets due to their personalities and qualities. Personally, I think that accounts for quite a bit.

So the bottomline is that those who are very far away from societal norm definitely face an uphill battle. They may encounter those who are seeking exactly their type, but then chances are that personalities may be standard deviations apart. If things click on both curves, then we have a Dimensions relationship.

[HassanChop]

Originally Posted by Kingplaya4

As a guy, just based on what guys have said, (no scientific research) I would say about 20% of guys would choose a girl from like 160 pounds to 200 pounds purposely. I have never heard a guy in the flesh publicly or privately express preferences beyond that.

I've only heard one guy that professed to like stick thin 100 pound women, so I would say both are pretty rare.

David

I think 20% is about right for guys who like girls who might be classified as 'thick'. I would also throw another element into the mix, African American men, many Hispanic men and some Middle Easterners I've met are more open about their preferences than the caucasian fellas. Reasons for this could probably fill another discussion thread... Outright FA's I would guess would be around 10%, guys that are open about it are much fewer. I can think of only 1 or 2 guys I've ever discussed it with.

From my military experience I've known a lot of guys who prefer small 100 lb. Asian women, I guess that's the other end of the spectrum...

[Angel]

Originally Posted by Webmaster

So the bottomline is that those who are very far away from societal norm definitely face an uphill battle. They may encounter those who are seeking exactly their type, but then chances are that personalities may be standard deviations apart. If things click on both curves, then we have a Dimensions relationship.

Crossing my fingers. Saying my prayers. Being as sweet as can be. Patiently waiting.

He knows how special I am! *giggles*

[Orso]

A difficult question, complicated by the fact that there are men who like only BBWs, men who prefer BBWs, men who like anything, as long she's a woman and men who like thin women but, out of curiosity or for any other reason, would be interested in bedding a BBW.

For instance a suuper-supersize friend who often takes part in official meetings, told me that sometimes she senses that one or more of the men taking part in the meeting would be interested in having sex with her, even if clearly they are not FAs.

So I think that finding out percentages would be interesting, but very difficult

[moonvine]

Originally Posted by Jack Skellington

I think most men like women in the average 14 to 16 size range. Which is obese by Hollywood standards. Then a slightly smaller amount like the "thick" or chubby range. Say, size 18 to 20. A much smaller amount like women in the size 22 and up range. Probably do to in no small amount the social stigma that it would carry. Men in general are a cowardly lot about their preferrences and are scared shitless about being judged or ridiculed about it.

Personally, I think *most* men like women in the size 4 to 6 range. (Hollywood's ideal is more like a size 0-2). I know way too many lovely ladies who are a 14-16 and considered fat and have lots of problems finding dates.