Yeah, that really shouldn’t be happening, all “Woman of Kleenex” issues aside.
They explained this in a “it’s consistant” (although it’s still stupid) way.
There are, on Pre-Crisis Earth 1, different kinds of heat. Flash’s aura, for example, protects him from friction-heat, but not fire-heat or giant-magnifying-glass heat. Why? Because.
Ignoring the stories where Green-K was indestructible ('cause it was from Krypton), Green K couldn’t be hurt by friction (so it could fall through our atmosphere, but could be melted with heat vision, or in crucibles (except, as mentioned, when invulnerable).
Martian Manhunter: immune to heat, vulnerable to fire (and no psychology reason, back then. It’s just that flames hurt him, but a smoldering coal wouldn’t)
So–Superman’s costume is immune to the sun’s heat, but not to heat-vision heat. Because heat doesn’t equal heat on Pre-Crisis, Earth 1.
Doesn’t make sense, but consistent except when it wasn’t.
I’m just amused by the OP’s confusion about how something can be tough, yet feminine. I suggest he bring up the subject with, say, a woman giving birth (I also suggest he update his will and have his affairs in order before doing so …)
“Person” is not synonymous with “human”. It is close to synonymous with “sophont” or “hnau” (in fact, I strongly suspect sure that two of those three are exactly synonymous, though I’m not sure which two). Superman is not a human, but he is a person, a sophont, and a hnau.
And yet, one of the hominids of the Ring does propose to engage in rishathra with Speaker to Animals (though is deterred upon seeing the details of his genitalia).
The Ringworld inhabitants aren’t always the brightest of bulbs 
See, when I think about cornstarch, the first thing I think is that it makes a great quick thickener for sauces, particularly in Chinese cuisine.
The second thing I think is that one-pager in Ken Kesey’s GARAGE SALE, where he talks about pouring cornstarch down his pants onto his balls during hot weather. “Keeps things smooth and sliding, all day long!”
So when I think of “cornstarch” and “Supergirl” in conjunction, I picture her stroking it slowly onto her long limbs, making herself supple and slippery and smooth for me.
I am so impressed by all you Science Guys, and how you’re able to keep your minds out of the gutter into which I so frequently fall.
Oh, geez…did I say “Kryptonite Spanking Glove” ? No? Thank god.
Question unrelated to this thread but that occurs to me after reading the linked page:
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]
The “Water People” species of hominid on Ringworld are not able to rish with most other hominids due to the requirement that such activities take place underwater. Air breathers are typically not able to hold their breath for sufficient time to allow the act of sexual intercourse to take place.
[/QUOTE]
Do they not have scuba gear or the like in this universe? 
:smack: Then again:
[QUOTE=MrDibble]
The Ringworld inhabitants aren’t always the brightest of bulbs
[/QUOTE]
And the answer we both seem to agree on is that it’s intelligence levels. Or, more directly, the fact that an animal cannot give meaningful consent to sex due to their lack of sapience. That’s why I brought up that Kryptonians have human-level intelligence.
If you say it the other way, and their species matters, then you’re saying that you have the right to control the sexual activity of two (or more) consenting (adult) persons. That’s the same logic used to criminalize homosexuality. It’s the same logic used to criminalize miscegenation.
I can’t see how one can be against the latter two, but be against the former. The same principle is involved in all three. And, as it is well-known that MrDibble is against those forms of bigotry listed above, I assumed he would also be against criminalizing interspecies romance–as long as both are consenting sapient adults.
If this is not so, then I invite him to explain why one is okay but the other two aren’t.
It’s not a mere semantic quibble, but a fundamental disagreement. I can’t figure out what is wrong with interspecies sex if all participants are adult “persons.”
I don’t see that as the OP’s issue. I see the OP wondering how Supergirl can feel like a normal human woman to the touch.
While the same issue exists with Superman, it’s more striking with Supergirl, since women have an additional layer of subcutanous fat even when quite fit. The only exception is if they have a really low body fat content, and Supergirl does not appear to have that.
That’s what I think he means by saying she looks “soft and feminine”–that she appears to have that layer of subcutanous fat. Not that she can’t be tough.
I said nothing about criminalizing (the only illegality I mentioned was Kryptonian cousin marriage). I said it would be essentialy bestiality because Kryptonians are not close biological relatives of ours. I didn’t say I wanted the practice legislated.
Although, given the power dynamics, I would not be in favour of it, just like I’m not in favour of Zeus seducing human women. Comic history has shown Superman, for one, has no quibble using his powers on Lois Lane.
It’s not morally wrong, in and of itself, but like I said, there’s the imbalanced power dynamic. I have no objection to Supes getting it on with Wonder Woman, say, or Martian Manhunter getting freaky with Supergirl.
Unless you’re dealing with a version of Superman who has mental powers (super-hypnotism… ugh!), I don’t see a problem there. He has no position of official authority over her, he can’t impede her free will, and while he can physically overpower her if he so chooses, that’s true of most men and most women. Now, Professor Xavier, say, it’s hard to see how he could ever be in an ethical relationship, even with another metahuman.
The technology available on the Ringworld to most groups is very limited due to the scarcity of metals.
Remember the amnesia causing kiss from Superman II? That version of Superman does.
Are we countingsuper-intelligence here?
Not that non-mental powers don’t count. Superman and Supergirl have both been shown, in various media, as willing to use X-Ray Vision, super speed and super hearing to spy on people, trick people and modify people’s behaviour to whatever norm they require. I don’t see that being off the cards when getting laid is on the table.
So…a bra, basically.