forsyth: (GG ID)
Forsyth ([personal profile] forsyth) wrote2006-01-13 01:05 am

A theory

I have a theory. About evolution, sex, and relationships. At least partially about them. It's probably stupid though.

So, scary movies. $Guy and $Girl go to some scary movie. Ohnoes! There's a monster on the screen! Now, everybody knows full well it's just a movie, it's not real. On a conscious level, anyway. But part of our brain doesn't realize that. It sees a big monster. Huge. On some level, you see it, it's real. So, $guy puts his arm around $girl, to "protect" her. And hey! Movie ends, monster goes away. Even though it's not exactly relevant these days in most of the developed world, one of the important things women looked for in a mate for millions of years was the ability to protect her and any spawnlings from monsters. Usually lions or other kinds of happy grassland critters, and not so much zombies, but the principle's the same. And since the monster in the movie didn't eat $girl, then $guy gets some credit for protection. Not on any conscious level, 'cause dudes, it's just a movie. But there's a lot more bits in our brains than the parts that think in words.

Or I could just be thinking too much and talking bullshit. Or all three!

[identity profile] peterchayward.livejournal.com 2006-01-14 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
That is truly an awesome theory. I reckon it's got to be at least partially true.

In the films where the zombie DOES eat the girl though, does the guy lose credit, or just get less credit for the protection? (it was an attempt, after all)

[identity profile] forsythferret.livejournal.com 2006-01-14 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
Well, in very few movies do the zombies eat the audience. So even if the whole cast bites it, the particular chick in the theater escapes. And then you've got the whole adrenaline bareley escaped from danger thing going on. Danger makes people want to breed. Agasin, minor, since it's just a movie, but it's probably still there.

[identity profile] peterchayward.livejournal.com 2006-02-12 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I know it was a while ago, but this is seriously one of my favourite comments ever. I completely misunderstood what your original post said, and your first sentence there is comedic gold.

[identity profile] forsythferret.livejournal.com 2006-02-15 07:41 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad it makes sense now, and I'm glad it was funny. I do try.