# Silly Things That Make a Man/Woman Unnatractive To You **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254 "2009-02-10T18:40:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/41 "2009-02-10T22:13:26Z")
Cell phone addiction. Put that damn thing down for a minute! Plump girls wearing clothes intended for skinny girls. Picky eaters. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/42 "2009-02-10T22:18:48Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > (Yes, I have English teeth.) Ex-queese me? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/43 "2009-02-10T22:46:57Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Yes they do. As for it being in the African-American vernacular, what’s the excuse for people in this country saying it? Anyway, does being gay mean I get to punctuate every sentence with “girlFRIEND!” and get away with it? I don’t think so. 😉 I say “ask,” but I might note that many words are not pronounced in strict accordance with their spelling. English is a vibrant language with many branches. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/44 "2009-02-10T23:02:53Z")
> [@mauxlicious](#): > > I can’t date a woman who does not have cute feet. I actually passed on a girl in college, strictly because of her monkey feet. Are man hands okay? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/45 "2009-02-10T23:08:58Z")
On the one hand, if it flips my switch, it ain’t silly. On the other… > [@pbbth](#): > > Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=505603) > As for myself, if I was on a date with a man who didn’t like/was allergic to cats that was obviously a deal breaker, but I once dated a man who seemed to like cats fine and wasn’t allergic but thought it was hilarious to talk about tormenting my kitties. “Have you ever wanted to cut your cat’s whiskers off just to see what happens? We could totally try that on your cats!” Umm, no. Joking about being an ass to my pets isn’t funny. After that one joke I couldn’t look at him the same again and stopped seeing him. If you knew he liked cats and you knew he was joking…IMHO you need to relax. ---
**Author:** ![mauxlicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@mauxlicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mauxlicious)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/46 "2009-02-10T23:09:51Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Are man hands okay? There seems to be a strong correlation between cute feet and non-man hands. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/47 "2009-02-10T23:14:34Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I say “ask,” but I might note that many words are not pronounced in strict accordance with their spelling. English is a vibrant language with many branches. Can I just check: we’re discussing silly things that make someone unattractive, right? So can I have my silly reasons please? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/48 "2009-02-10T23:22:27Z")
Smoking, but I don’t consider that a “silly thing”. Littering, total deal breaker. I went out on one date with a girl, and after dinner she popped in some gum to freshen her breath and just tossed the itty bitty wrapper over her shoulder. End of date. Women who are overly-coiffed. If it looks like you spent an hour on your hair and/or make-up, it doesn’t impress me, I just feel like your priorities are messed up. Sorry, I now some women like to feel all pretty and everything, but I like women more for _who_ they are, not how many layers of greasepaint they wear. That’s not “pretty” to me, it’s “clown”. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/49 "2009-02-10T23:31:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > English is a vibrant language with many branches. But we all know mine is right. 😉 I have to say I might be guilty of a few of these things: I have longer fingernails than the average guy (although certainly not longer than the average woman!) because I hate keeping them down to little nubs with no white space, and I do have a tendency to look at myself in mirrors a lot and use my iPhone as a mirror. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/50 "2009-02-10T23:33:17Z")
Ditto on guys with long fingernails… Skeeve city. They can be bitten, they just can’t be longer than the end of the finger. My husband lets his get too long sometimes and it’s just gross. Poor grammar. I had proper grammar drilled into my head as a kid and the penchant for it stuck with me. Answering your cell phone, or worse, making a call, when we’re out together. Not picking up the check on the first date, assuming you asked me out. Funky teeth but if that’s the case I probably didn’t accept your invitation anyway. Bad haircuts. I don’t care how long or short as long as it’s a decent haircut. Bad table manners can annoy me but if you chew with your mouth open or talk with food in your mouth, I’m done. Self absorption. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/51 "2009-02-10T23:33:38Z")
> [@jali](#): > > A guy with no books at home. I can’t be bothered. “I don’t read books” is one of my immediate “okay, check please, we’re done” dealbreakers. So, how _you_ doin’? ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/52 "2009-02-10T23:35:37Z")
Men who prefer to live in the suburbs, have a ponytail, habitually wear ugly shoes, or wear pants with high waistbands, would be out. I would like to say chewing with his mouth open, identifying as a “climate change denier,” ironing his jeans and bedsheets, and wearing baseball caps too much, but I have dated those. In some cases they were reformable, and in the rest I should have followed my first instinct. Books are essential, but that’s not silly. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/53 "2009-02-10T23:43:45Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > On the one hand, if it flips my switch, it ain’t silly. > > On the other… > > If you knew he liked cats and you knew he was joking…IMHO you need to relax. I can see where she’s coming from on this. One of the most annoying things my husband does is make jokes about how horrible my cat is. He likes the cat, pets the cat, plays with the cat, but always pretends that he hates the cat. It drives me bonkers. It’s silly, but in a way, since I adore my cat, he’s putting _me_ down, not just the cat. While it’s obviously not a deal-breaker for me, I could see how it could really bother someone. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/54 "2009-02-10T23:46:27Z")
> [@HolyFreakingMoly](#): > > Not picking up the check on the first date, assuming you asked me out. Can you elaborate on this? Why does the man have to pay on the first date? And why does it matter if he asked you out first? Would you expect to pay on the first date if you’d asked him out? I’ve got a copy of _The Female Eunuch_ here and I’m not afraid to use it. ---
**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/55 "2009-02-11T00:11:24Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Can you elaborate on this? Why does the man have to pay on the first date? And why does it matter if he asked you out first? Would you expect to pay on the first date if you’d asked him out? > > I’ve got a copy of _The Female Eunuch_ here and I’m not afraid to use it. Absolutely I would expect to pay if I’d asked him out. If I invite one of my girlfriends out, I pay. I make it clear if it’s a dutch kind of deal. If someone asks me out on a date, I presume they intend to buy me dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/56 "2009-02-11T00:26:31Z")
I sincerely hope I never have to hit the dating scene again, but if I did… I have a number of the same “serious” things others have mentioned, like smoking, racism, or being rude to waiters. As for the little things: [ul] [li]Chewing gum with your mouth open and/or snapping gum. Can’t stand it.[/li][li]Single-topic conversationalists. I want to chat about current events, good books, history, funny things that happened to you yesterday, music, art, games, and technology. If you can only manage to discuss celebrity trivia, we won’t make it an hour.[/li][li]People hung up on what other people look like. If you carry on a running monologue about that girl’s shoes and that guy’s pants and how silly that purse looks with that blouse and who wears that style anymore, you can do it by yourself.[/li][li]People who can’t stop talking long enough to watch a movie or listen to a good song.[/li][li]Prissy indoor women. I like to get my boots dirty. I wade through beaver ponds, hug dirty horses, hike dusty trails, lay down in fields to look at the stars or clouds, and crawl through the bushes and trees.[/li][li]On the flip side, women who don’t like to dress up now and then. When we’re going out for a nice dinner, I like to see my lady in a pretty dress, and I’ll be happy to dress myself up, too.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/57 "2009-02-11T00:27:26Z")
I’ve blatted on before about a guy who picked me up for a blind date, reeking of patchouli. Went out to the car and there was the bottle of Hai Karate on the front seat! So - too much cologne. Bad OR good. Mustaches. 99 guys out of 100 look skeevy with mustaches, and that includes Johnny Depp. Shaved heads. 99 out of 100 look like white supremecists whipping up a batch of meth in the trailer park - or - look like they’re going through cancer treatment. Neither one is an aphrodesiac. Double chins on young guys. Even worse, receding chins. And/or double chins. Covered with stubble. ’ Short sleeved dress shirts on guys who work in an air conditioned office. Dude. You work in an air conditioned office. Wear a damn proper long sleeve dress shirt and roll the sleeves up at the forearm when you go out in the heat! That’s kind of sexy. That short sleeve dorky shirt looks like something your mommy bought on sale for back to school. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/58 "2009-02-11T00:43:05Z")
Not too long ago, I refused to date a guy who told me in our “getting to know you” conversations that he didn’t believe in evolution. Man, I’d never met one of those in the wild before. Really threw me for a loop. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/59 "2009-02-11T00:45:41Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > Calling me just to chat while you’re busy with something else. Driving, cooking, working, or talking with someone else…you’re wasting my time. Call when you aren’t busy. Ooh, that’s a big one with me. For a while, my girlfriend would call me and then watch TV or call me when she was with her family and then just interact with them like I wasn’t there. I told her in no uncertain terms that in the future, she should only call me when she wants to talk to me. She’s been great about it ever since 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicolas_Bourbaki)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254/60 "2009-02-11T00:59:59Z")
Facial piercings. Really _really_ unnerve me. I got no problem with pierced ears, since they’re covered by hair most of the time anyway. But a pierced eyebrow? Or _lip_? \Gu-u-hhhhh.\ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-that-make-a-man-woman-unnatractive-to-you/485254.md?page=4)