121 réponses à ce sujet

[Funkcase]

laecraft wrote...

Asari are not liked for their looks. Mordin speculates that it's something neural-chemical. Maybe they emit some kind of mental waves that fool the minds of the observers that they see something very attractive.

This could be true, although I have to say if it was the case in my eyes the Asari wouldn't have tentacles on their heads, apart from that though they look great, I suppose they would just be blue humans if they had hair though. The fact their skin dosen't seem to age is an added bonus.

Modifié par Funkcase, 21 septembre 2011 - 12:33 .

[Dean_the_Young]

The real question isn't 'are Humans attractive?' The real question is 'If Asari have a taboo in melding with Asari, what are the social rammifications for melding with an Asari with painted skin and a wig?'

Humans should be the biggest taboo escape clause for the sexually-repressed part of the Asari population that, gasp, finds their own species attractive.

'I'm not attracted to Asari: I just find a species that looks almost exactly like us incredibly hot. But they're aliens, so it's OK.'

[slimgrin]

Siansonea II wrote...

Nashiktal wrote...

That is of course if Asari actually look like they do. All the species seem to think they look similar to their own.

Of course that should be debunked with pictures or something, but still.

Asari look like asari. Other species just fixate on the traits that are most similar to their own, which is telling about what features those species focus on in general.

I think that whole bit is just a well played joke by the writers.

[Van Der Muchbetter Cosanostra]

They are Mass Effect's answer to Star Trek's green space babes.

Asari are simply a race for boys to oogle and fantasize about. There is no "reason" that asari are viewed as attractive while humans are not. It would be hard to have a jack of all trades **** reputation if only humans found them attractive. Even races who don't experience lust (salarians), races that think 2 eyes are hideous (batarians) and dinosaurs (krogan) who aren't even the same general shape and size are into asari. I must reiterate, fiction does not require logic or consistency.

The answer is simple and was shown in ME2. Its a good ol' brain****. Those...things tamper somewhere in everybody's brains to to turn themselves into something subject is comfortable with. Strange thing is that asari seemingly viewed as teir 'usual' form even through media-giant holo-screens, fornax magasines, news broadcasts
etc, which raises some questions like "Is this a plothole or a sinister design by Bioware?".

And if asari can control their perceived look in billions of specimes across the galaxy, one could wonder how they do it? Only similar thing in series is reapers' indoctrination, and while reapers do it through some sophisticated machinery, asari perform their little trick with their minds only, similarity  is still there.

Thus one might ask if asari are reaper creations. The possibility of that scenario is truly unnerving. Besides, i began to wonder how asari looks without this mind-tampering.

[Mims]

It's likely asari have socially conditioned other species to find them 'attractive', or at least, desired as a status symbol. After all, they were on the citadel first, and also live the longest. That's a heck of a lot of time to dominate marketing, fashion, and galactic culture. Not to mention sprinkling it in with a little magic sex allure.

Aliens might be physically different from us, but mentally, they're more or less different shades of the humanity. Which means they're as likely to try to socially control [and susceptible to control] as much as humans are.

As far as how aliens see humans, I'd think human females might fill in an unfortunate niche for aliens who want asari, but are intimidated by them, or possibly want more control over them. [Or as mentioned, asari who want other asari.] Human males are probably funny looking, having bodies like batarians but faces like asari.

[lovgreno]

The aliens in ME are actualy more like different human cultures than different spiecies so it makes sense that xenophilia seems rather common.

[RPGamer13]

I actually find the Asari, more attractive. Go figure.

Hairlessness means I don't have to worry about a major thing for me.

They also seem more open to new things, though I don't have experience to say for sure.

Then their colors make them look 'exotic'. I like especially Aria's color, the bar matron on Illium, and the dark blue colored ones. Liara and Benezia's colors are not the least appealing to me.

[AlexXIV]

From a male point of view butts and boobs are attractive. I won't go into detail into the why, but it is an evolution thing most likely. So, check on Liara and Tali: both have butt and boobs. So they are attractive. Not to mention that they basically have a model body. Model as in fashion model. Liara basically looks human, even her tentactles or what she wears on her head could be just a haircut. I would only worry about being attracted to alien races when you start drooling at turians, volus, elcor, etc. etc.

[Saberchic]

Van Der Muchbetter Cosanostra wrote...
The answer is simple and was shown in ME2. Its a good ol' brain****. Those...things tamper somewhere in everybody's brains to to turn themselves into something subject is comfortable with. Strange thing is that asari seemingly viewed as teir 'usual' form even through media-giant holo-screens, fornax magasines, news broadcasts
etc, which raises some questions like "Is this a plothole or a sinister design by Bioware?".

And if asari can control their perceived look in billions of specimes across the galaxy, one could wonder how they do it? Only similar thing in series is reapers' indoctrination, and while reapers do it through some sophisticated machinery, asari perform their little trick with their minds only, similarity  is still there.

Thus one might ask if asari are reaper creations. The possibility of that scenario is truly unnerving. Besides, i began to wonder how asari looks without this mind-tampering.

Good point. I didn't see the possible reaper connection...hmmmm. This gives me something new to ponder.

But yeah, I always thought Asari we're "tipping the odds" in their own favor, so to speak. There's nothing particularly special about them that would induce the kind of asari worship from the other races. It doesn't make sense considering how vastly different some of these races are and the tendancy for people to like characteristics that are close to their own.

[armass]

Next time you see a hanar, you should ask him/her what S/he thinks humans look like. Im guessing we don't look pretty to the hanar.

"What's with those four stiff appendages and that mouth, ugh... And why are you so hairy?" Cause im pretty sure thats what the hanar is thinking, even tough they are too polite to say it to your face.

I find it kinda curious what part of an asari a hanar finds so attractive... Maybe its all mental connection.

If you ever play Star Control 2, go and talk to the VUX. They have alot to say about human appearance, and how we look to a really alien species. Just be prepared to take alot of insults.

Modifié par armass, 21 septembre 2011 - 03:14 .

[shepskisaac]

The Twilight God wrote...

They are Mass Effect's answer to Star Trek's green space babes.

Asari are simply a race for boys to oogle and fantasize about. There is no "reason" that asari are viewed as attractive while humans are not. It would be hard to have a jack of all trades **** reputation if only humans found them attractive. Even races who don't experience lust (salarians), races that think 2 eyes are hideous (batarians) and dinosaurs (krogan) who aren't even the same general shape and size are into asari. I must reiterate, fiction does not require logic or consistency.

Aaaaaaaaaand /thread. Asari = male fantasy race.

Modifié par IsaacShep, 21 septembre 2011 - 03:06 .

[RinpocheSchnozberry]

Such a great question! I'm betting they/we are not. The asari have like crazy biotic powers, so I think that makes them more attractive to the other species. Humans don't have that same natural biotic link, so we're probably all dumpy looking.

[Gterror]

Asari=Marketing strategy

[The Twilight God]

Van Der Muchbetter Cosanostra wrote...

The answer is simple and was shown in ME2. Its a good ol' brain****. Those...things tamper somewhere in everybody's brains to to turn themselves into something subject is comfortable with. Strange thing is that asari seemingly viewed as teir 'usual' form even through media-giant holo-screens, fornax magasines, news broadcasts
etc, which raises some questions like "Is this a plothole or a sinister design by Bioware?".

And you base this on speculation conceived over drinks by three guys at a "bachelor party"? That is just a couple guys talking.  I think it was just the devs making fun of themselves.

RPGamer13 wrote...

Then their colors make them look 'exotic'. I like especially Aria's color, the bar matron on Illium, and the dark blue colored ones. Liara and Benezia's colors are not the least appealing to me.

I also have a think for blue skin. The dark elves in everquest/lineage/etc. were my favorite.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

I don't think we are attractive to other species. Shepard, however, is attractive to different species through personality and accomplishments. (Even Ugly Shepard can get laid.)

[RyuujinZERO]

When I saw the asari - "blue women", I was kind've "meh" at their design. Too obviously human, It was only later I had a moment of fridge brilliance at their design.

BASICLY, as we all know Asari take a fraction of the genetic code of the species they mate with. But this still means that Asari are subject to evolution and sexual selection just like any other species. Asari with sexual markers that make them attractive to any given species, increases their chances of successfully mating - natural selection at work.

Which is why the Asari have evolved visual traits, that mimic and make them attractive to a wide range of species; Turians see their crest-like head fronds and tight waists, the Salarians their slightly scaled skin (and colour) and large eyes, the humans see their hips and breasts amongst other things - and all 3 races have similar facial features. Undoubtedly they also probably have pheromones similar to all 3 races too.

So what RELEVANCE does this have...



Well to answer the OP - humans looks as much like Asari as Asari do Turians, at least to the Turian observer. But a human still looks like a human to a Turian, humans might have some shared traits they find sexy, and there'll always be those who deviate from the norm in any population (See example: Furries IRL), but a human is so differenyt visually it's unlikely other races would consider them actively attractive. There's also the matter of pheromones - dextro DNA species would "smell bad" to an conventional species, toxins tend to be percieved as unpleasant for good reason.

...kind've ruins it for the Garrus lovers if you consider that he'd smell like a rotten egg to a human. 

Modifié par RyuujinZERO, 21 septembre 2011 - 04:51 .

[GunMoth]

 Mmm. I'm not sure how to approach this.

Humans have a neurological way to recognize other faces. There's actually a disorder called Prosopagnosia where the individual cannot differenciate between two people. 

There are other studies that have shown that:

• We are more attracted to individuals who look similar to us (or something / someone that is familiar to us) because it takes less time for our brains to process new visual information. Its why most abstract art / art that relies heavily on atmosphere is difficult for some to appreciate.
• The same parts of our brain that become active when we're "deeply in love" will occur in less than a couple seconds of seeing someone new that we find physically attractive. (Meaning there is no difference between the two - its just a matter of being able to tolerate one another over time. 

In conclusssion: There is something within us that finds humans "attractive". At the same time, I can acknowledge that a different race / animal is aesthetically pleasing (not in a sexual way. In a visual way gosh.) 

The asari have human faces, making them easily likable since we use that as a form of "indentifying" others of our species. If it were to be an alien with a human body and an insect face - I doubt many would find the asari that attractive. 

Personally, I like the drell (Mainly Feron because of his colors), the turians (they remind me of cats with an exoskeleton :3 ), and the geth?? (they don't count)

Asari would be more aesthetically pleasing to me if they had more scaley type things. or different skin textures. Sometimes they look like giant blobs of play dough. I also kind of like the concept of the hanar - but I wish their skin texture was more like that of an octopus - they're too "shiny" and don't really fit the artistic flow of the game. 

[Mims]

However, as an addendum to GunMoth's post;

The human brain wants to see faces. It's a survival instinct. We are super programmed so that we will recognize a face in literally just about anything that remotely resembles a face. There's a reason we're able to process that a smiley face=human face. We see cartoons, dolls, and art as being representative of human. The brain is insane when it comes to wanting to see a face and connect with it.

[It's also super good at realizing a 'fake' too. Hence, the Uncanny Valley threshold. If you want to get super hardcore into why alien LIs are popular in Mass Effect, I guarantee you that this threshold has something to do with it.]

Whether that facial recognition super braining applies to aliens or not is hard to say...but I wouldn't be surprised, since most of the species we've seen are social individuals. [With the exceptions of the various starfish alien species.]

Turians, humans, drell, salarians, and asari all roughly have the same facial ratio. It isn't surprising that they'd be able to form emotional/social bonds rather easily. While I doubt that this is intentional, it's interesting that aliens that do not fit this facial ratio tend to be less liked by the community in general.

[GunMoth]

Mims wrote...

However, as an addendum to GunMoth's post;

The human brain wants to see faces. It's a survival instinct. We are super programmed so that we will recognize a face in literally just about anything that remotely resembles a face. There's a reason we're able to process that a smiley face=human face. We see cartoons, dolls, and art as being representative of human. The brain is insane when it comes to wanting to see a face and connect with it.

[It's also super good at realizing a 'fake' too. Hence, the Uncanny Valley threshold. If you want to get super hardcore into why alien LIs are popular in Mass Effect, I guarantee you that this threshold has something to do with it.]

Whether that facial recognition super braining applies to aliens or not is hard to say...but I wouldn't be surprised, since most of the species we've seen are social individuals. [With the exceptions of the various starfish alien species.]

Turians, humans, drell, salarians, and asari all roughly have the same facial ratio. It isn't surprising that they'd be able to form emotional/social bonds rather easily. While I doubt that this is intentional, it's interesting that aliens that do not fit this facial ratio tend to be less liked by the community in general.

Funny that you mention that! On the Mass Effect 1 bonus content / interviews one of the artist talks about a concept they had where a giant alien (sort of like an elcor or a hanar) which has no face would wear somewhat of a holographic / computer interface type mask to display emotion. Therefore allowing them to integrate into the galactic economy. I would have LOVED if they did that. 

[Mims]

Now that WOULD be amazing. Awesome to see they were thinking about that!

[Arkitekt]

Humans are beautiful because we are programmed to sense ourselves that way, in order to get horny, copulate, etc.

Krogran should find your heads, for instance, incredibly wrong and just ****ing ugly.

ETC.

[Cornughon]

Interesting reactions here, I was also wondering if Asari may have been bio-engineered to be what they are, also the large concentration of Element Zero on Thessia might have been a cause for things.

[Pockles]

Dean_the_Young wrote...

The real question isn't 'are Humans attractive?' The real question is 'If Asari have a taboo in melding with Asari, what are the social rammifications for melding with an Asari with painted skin and a wig?'

Humans should be the biggest taboo escape clause for the sexually-repressed part of the Asari population that, gasp, finds their own species attractive.

'I'm not attracted to Asari: I just find a species that looks almost exactly like us incredibly hot. But they're aliens, so it's OK.'

I thought the taboo was against an asari couple having kids, not melding. On account of those pesky ardat-yakshi.

[SandSanta]

This is kind of a hard question to answer because there's no real-world equivalent. Whatever theory we come up with will be tainted by our own definition of "attractive." That being said, inter-species copulation happens in the Animal kingdom and per the latest evidence, happened between humans and neanderthals.

This brings up a line from a comedian making fun of Panda's and their utter reluctance to mate in captivity:

"Who do they think they are anyway? Put me in a cage with anything and after a week I'll be trying to f*** it!"