# Thinking about ears - yours and mine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801 "2022-02-19T21:23:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/21 "2022-02-19T23:42:12Z")
And it does suit the needs of our upright-standing tribe. So two cheers for evolution - but where is the process heading, assuming we’re around long enough for it to head anywhere? (Will the purpose of earlobes finally be revealed?) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/22 "2022-02-19T23:42:18Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > shaped by evolution to capture sound as best as possible That would not be human ears, that would be [bat’s ears](https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=bat%27s+ears&iax=images&ia=images). Gorgeous, they are. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/23 "2022-02-19T23:44:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Perhaps better to describe it as resulting from evolution, it captures sound well enough to permit survival. Improved designs are definitely possible, but evolution generally results in the “that’ll do for now” product. Of course you’re right. “As best as possible” doesn’t describe the human ear. I as an electrical engineer should have known better. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/24 "2022-02-19T23:48:30Z")
About the dragon-snake lady, she seems like a nice grandmotherly type, if only my own granny had been as satisfied with herself. I wouldn’t have removed the ears though. Maybe have them sculpted into dragon ears - don’t some dragons have ears (in art, of course)? ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/25 "2022-02-20T00:04:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > intimate engagement might be enhanced if you requested a forum change. I thought Mundane Pointless was a bad name for a forum that sometimes covered serious news events, and once suggested a change; a few people agreed but nothing happened and it never will, so here it stays. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/26 "2022-02-20T00:11:22Z")
Human ears are for whatever reason set up so we won’t pay much attention to them. Many species have ears that can swivel around and can express not only the direction of attention (or more than one direction, I’ve often seen a cat with one ear swiveled one way and the other aimed elsewhere) but also a great deal about the mood of the one whose ears they are (attentive? relaxed? laid back in fear or anger?) Human ears can’t do any of that. I expect that cats, dogs, horses etc. pay attention to the positions of each other’s ears. I don’t see any particular reason why humans should pay attention to other humans’ ears. And I don’t think most people do. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/27 "2022-02-20T02:41:30Z")
You might want to be careful how “diligent” you are about swabbing out your ears. My doctor told me if you’re not careful, you can really hurt your ear doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/28 "2022-02-20T02:42:14Z")
A pigs ear isn’t it? Edit. No it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/29 "2022-02-20T02:46:00Z")
To the OP, aside from _unusual_ ears (very large, very small, sticking out, half missing etc.) I pay as much attention to them as I pay to someone’s little finger. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/30 "2022-02-20T03:41:51Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You might want to be careful how “diligent” you are about swabbing out your ears. Yes, so I’m told. It’s too late for me - save yourselves! Nowadays I do more tweezing than swabbing. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/31 "2022-02-20T03:42:43Z")
My ears have quit working. I consider my ears to be useful as a place to hold my eyeglasses. As far as ear aesthetics, I fell in love with Mr Spock (1968) at my first glance of his incredible pointed ears. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/32 "2022-02-20T05:17:39Z")
The top from a Pilot BP-S pen is the best thing _ever_ for scratching down inside those fuckers! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/33 "2022-02-20T07:54:40Z")
It has recently occurred to me that my ears have to work very hard. Besides just _hearing_, I mean. When I go out into the world, I’m wearing my glasses, which sit on my ears. And my hearing aids, which also sit on top of and behind (and inside) my ears. Then there’s my mask, with an elastic that loops over each ear. And finally, I always wear earrings (pierced). Whew! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/34 "2022-02-20T13:53:20Z")
I find them, in addition to my nose, very useful for keeping sunglasses on my head. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/35 "2022-02-20T15:44:54Z")
Very true. An example of reimagining function from a given form. Imagine we had no ears, how would glasses be held in place? It is not a trivial problem. Something that pinches the nose might work but would be uncomfortable. But we do have convenient ears, so the current gravity-dependent solution works well, though I imagine the first person to wear them got stared at. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/36 "2022-02-20T16:02:30Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Imagine we had no ears, how would glasses be held in place? It is not a trivial problem. Probably by a strap behind the head; which is how I hold face masks on. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/37 "2022-02-20T16:24:00Z")
Strap keeps slipping down, or is so tight it’s fatiguing. The face mask I’m wearing has elastics going around the ears, you should try it. I bet the snake-dragon lady wishes she’d thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/38 "2022-02-20T16:43:55Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Strap keeps slipping down, or is so tight it’s fatiguing. The face mask I’m wearing has elastics going around the ears, you should try it. I’ve tried it both ways. I find the strap behind the head a lot more comfortable. People vary. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/39 "2022-02-21T00:28:40Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > That would not be human ears, that would be [bat’s ears](https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=bat%27s+ears&iax=images&ia=images). Gorgeous, they are. Bats’ ears are designed for echo-location, at which they excel. But note, OTOH, that dolphins are also masters of echo-location and they have no externally visible ears at all! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801/40 "2022-02-21T04:01:14Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > As a grade schooler, I had a very mixed feeling about ears, in particular the ears of other grade schoolers and how clean they were. I would definitely judge you if I saw earwax in your ears. It really made me sort of queasy, moreso than if you had, say, a snotty nose. I was very diligent about Q-tipping my ears, and for a short while, I used to try to sleep with my ear folded over to keep any ear stuff from falling onto my pillow. (I still clean out my ears but they always still _ **feel** _ to me like they should be cleaner.) I thought kids with waxy ears were unclean in other ways, wouldn’t be friends with them, didn’t want to eat near them or even think about them. With age this obsession has lessened. I should hope so. It sounds like your phobia (It’s called Kypselidaphobia.) hurt your quality of life as a kid. You probably missed out on some good friendships (and maybe hurt some feelings) due to those irrational heebie-jeebies. The image of a poor little kid trying to sleep with ears folded over because of the fear a tiny bit of ear wax would fall out onto his pillow is sad. And your childhood Q-Tip habit was probably cramming the wax farther into your ear canal, trapping dust and skin cells. I’ve never thought ears were, in and of themselves, weird or gross. I mean, all our features are weird if you regard them objectively. Are the eyes beautiful windows of the soul or (by and large) globes of connective tissue moistened by secretions of the lacrymal glands and containing vitreous jelly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-ears-yours-and-mine/959801.md?page=3)