The Chicago Blog is reportin’ on the Science of Cute. They forgot a few of the rules of cuteness, but other than that, it’s a good report.
Margie T., you are a suuuuuuuper nerd, thank you
[Nerd Laugh] The Science of Cute!
February 27, 2009 By
The Chicago Blog is reportin’ on the Science of Cute. They forgot a few of the rules of cuteness, but other than that, it’s a good report.
Margie T., you are a suuuuuuuper nerd, thank you
highly educational, indeed, for the lay person. but for CO peeps, it’s old news…
Clearly they missed out getting this reseach peer reviewed, clearly next time it should be submitted to Profs Frost and Theo first.
Baby kitty go meeeeeoooooooow. *brain explodes*
OMG. Never thought I’d see my school on CO! Awesome.
This would be more scientific if it had voiceover narration like those 1950s Britannica Educational Films. Also some scratches and projector lens dust.
I wonder if there’s an proficiency test for this….I could get a degree!!!!
kittehs! puppehs! pnandahs!
that’s not science, that’s wmotional blackmail. of course we’re gonna believe the “science” because they blinded us with ADORABLE!!!aaaaaaahhhhhhhh, too much!
see — can’t even type from the overload!
Gosh we could all get degrees in teh cute.
Oddly, I could look at kittens all day, but I don’t like human babies at all.
Whoa, inappropriate puppies.
“popsci” looks an awful lot like “pasickie”
Harumph.
I’ve always had a big head and a soft round body, and I don’t see people overloading on MY cuteness.
Maybe I should try waddling.
Theresa: What could be more appropriate? Boy on top, girl on bottom–even the missionaries would approve!
No video for Katrina, aaaaaaaaaaaalllll gaaaaaaahn.
I’ll take your word for it.
Let’s not forget to put this under Kittens, Pups, Bears, and Birds as well.
It’s my birthday, and I’ve waited all week to see what cute animal would be on the CO calander for my birthday. What do I get? Just my luck, an opossum, probably the least cute animal on the planet. Even the WartHog is cute when it’s little, opossum’s are just plan ugly all the time.
(Sorry, through ’nuffing’ now, been sick all week, going back to bed.)
I am fascinated that COers unanimously support the “human child resemblance” theory of Cuteness while simultaneously insisting that human children are not cute. There is something very interesting going on here. Is there a social anthropologist in the house?
Hey. dey took it down! Grrrrrrrrruff!
[Er... no, it's still working... - Ed.]
revolution724: I am with you!!!
I am going to make like a Panda and pedomorphize because it’s my birthday and I’ve never, ever been this old before. Ugh. Course, I’ve never been this cute before, either.
catslovechanel-if properly managed, cute is timeless and ageless, as you are finding out. Happy Birthday!
I saw the video, thank you to whomever fixed it.
Yes, that kitteh is pure cute- the sound almost got me to run out of the house and get one, I had a hard time believing it is part of out reality, but then I do look ‘up’ quite often.
I am not a Golgafrinchin, nor have I ever sanitized a telephone.
Have a great day, Peeps!
What happened to my post, it wasn’t that bad? So, I don’t like Opossums, Take my post and shot me why don’t you. And I’m still sick, and it’s still my birthday.
Happy Birthday, DumBunny. Feel better.
@catloveschanel: Happy Birthday!!!!!
…er, happy birthday DumBunny AND CatLovesChanel. Feel younger.
I loves ALL the babies in that video, but ESPECIALLY the human baby . . . those cheekers!
Wunnerful vid and I too love all babies, especially hooman babies. So there!
Mew! d’awwww
I remember studying this in Psych class too, but I was so distracted by the cute animals that I couldn’t pay attention to what the professor was saying.
The pug segment is the best part
the kitty looks like brain from pinky and brain!
Oh my goodness!! o_0
When the kitten made that sound I actually squealed out loud…I…I think I may have overdosed on cute in just that one moment…
Kitten miews are deadlier than Kryptonite.
I can’t take the “infantile characteristics” argument seriously. I love kittens, puppies and most animals but I find baby humans utterly repulsive.
so why is it that baby animals are so much cuter and adorables than baby humans? Evolution may have gotten too smart for itself on that one.
Lucy, I was going to make a Pinky and the Brain reference too. Anybody remember the episode where Brain figures this all out and makes himself extra cute so that he can take over the world? He got big fake blue eye and a wig with blond ringlets and became a child star. Luckily for us, his evil plan did not work.
I love how the woman filming the pugs realizes what she has just said
and stifles giggles.
Oh and alll the babes are cute and I believe our predilection for baby anything is due to BOTH of what Lorenz and Morris argue.
I studied pedomorphosis in school as well. IIRC…
“As he woke up from a night of unsettling dreams, Gregor Samsa rose to discover that he had transformed into an adorable panda bear.” (Franz Fluffka)
I once had a date take me to my favorite nice restaurant. He took a bite of food, chewed, then began gagging and spitting food all over his plate, howling “Grrrrossss! a Mushroom!” so loud the entire place turned to look. He wiped his tongue with a napkin just like Tom Hanks in Big, then proceeded to announce to me, the wait staff, and anyone within earshot how disgusting mushrooms are and how much he hated them.
That’s what you baby-hater nuffs remind me of. Seriously.
Thank you Michelle S. for your totally spot-on analogy.
All of these babies were very cute!
Analysis is cute, too!
This reminds me of all those evolutionary psychology explanations. Your mind may for a second go ‘ah huh, that seems to makes sense.” But it is completely distracted and overwhelmed by the helpless meow the next. As per usual this latest attempt at unweaving the rainbow results in fail.
Well that explains alot … but… how come animals in sun spots are so freakin cute!?!?!?!
Huh, really, Michelle S.? Because I read it just as having stated an observation and a preference calmly. I guess I don’t see where the overblown exaggeration comes from.
Michelle:
Untwist your maternity panties.
Seriously.
revolution724:
No? You don’t see how comparing someone who inappropriately announces to an entire gathering how repugnant they think something is to someone who inappropriately announces to an entire gathering how repugnant they think something is? Hmm. Okay. I stand corrected.
And PH: I don’t have maternity panties, but thanks for the tip. I don’t particularly care for babies either, I just don’t feel the need to publicly howl about how disgusting they are whenever one pops up in front of me.
. . . proudly and firmly twisting maternity panties in place where they belong . . . ahh, now that’s better!
Hey, anybody “seen” Silent Meow lately?
Talk about hyperbole, Michelle. Revolution724 said “I don’t like human babies.” Nothing inappropriate, no howling or use of the word disgusting. Chill.
There’s some master baiting going on here, folks, but you don’t have to bite. The ones who consider themselves ‘anti nuffers’ will never ever recognize that they are the problem–may as well just ignore them.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
Um… hate to point out the obvious, but Revolution724 wasn’t the only poster who commented in the negative about human babies. “Utterly repulsive” is pretty strong wording. I’m of the opinion, not that anyone asked, that human babies are cute enough, as long as I don’t have to take one home.
“Silent Meow” are you here?
That film was just adorable.
Ohhhh, so that’s how it works!
For me wasn’t just the perfect, teeny, squeaky kitty meows that got me, it was the simultaneous Ear Wiggles that turned me into a puddle.
Thanks for the birthday wishes y’all. So far so good. Plus I got a free birthday gift at Sephora!
WOO HOO.
I’m with the Panda.
yeah……. like Nik said, the ear wiggles of dooooooom.
Catlove, what was it? I lervs me some Sephora.
I’m not sure I can support this theory. They didn’t mention toe beans, NOR ethereal whiskers, for example, as being among the factors. Therefore, their research is incomplete and suspect as to its applicability.
I must be the only person in the CO universe who doesn’t think toe beans are cute. I just can’t. I prefer the fuzzy. I also don’t think baby fingers are cute either, but the baby in this video was awesome. Future musician!
Pasickie! They were ALL adorable!
Any reason why my posts are removed but the “human babies are utterly repulsive” posts get to stay? Just curious.
catloveschanel…You deserve the best birthday
ever…
Silent Meow–I miss hearing from you. Hope you
are ok. I am one of many
caring friends here at CO.
Hamry
Silent Meow–I really admire you for all your
good ideas and efforts for justice. Sometimes it helps
to have someone to write
to who is supportive. We
are here for you.
For more like that, go look at the producer’s site, SmallMammal.com. Chris Mims is fantastic.
Theo, Kryptonite is only deadly to Superman. Your cover is blown. Lois has been wondering why there aren’t any lenses in your frames, anyway..
Hi Peeps-I’m off to see the…flowers poppieeeees, poppieees.
I’ll tell you what it was like on my triumphal return!
(insert Aida march, please Theresa)-Hamster-on-rye-nice to ‘see you! totalee puppy – nice to see you too! Have a great weekend, Peeps!K.
Urgh. Baby. NOT cute.
Gah! I want to hold that kitteh!
oooooooooohhhhhhhhh I need that kitteh
I,too,find baby animals cuter than baby humans. I’m not “anti-baby”:they just don’t appeal to me. But a friend from out-of-town will be visiting soon with her new baby so I will have to gush appropriately!
Katrina– ever seen the Met production of Aida? Everything takes place between two giant feet. (Explanation on request
)
Pandas take the cake. ‘Nuf sed: http://www.pandafix.com/pandafix/
Patito — I’d swear viciously at being outed, but it’s not my nature.
“Pedomorphosis”…I just learned a new word today!
“Theo”, the good citizens at superdickery.com have seen your dark side…
Hey, did anybody make the podomorphosis/Kafka joke yet? I don’t feel like scrolling up to check.
I’m back! Cue the Aida! It was wonderful! Noelle- did you go? what did you think?
I would be very happy to go again next year! Oh, so very fun!
Theresa- ‘splain Luuuucy.
Oh, I think I fidderd it out. The feet are the bottom of a huge Egyptian statue.
so, are the professors going to explain those of us who find kittehs and puppies cute but not babies? are we just freaks of nature? someone needs to get on that study.
hi
Accidents of physiology? Uhhhhh no, animals were cute FIRST, babies are GROSS