Posted: Jun 25, 2008, 3:07 AM CST
"Superficial is a general term meaning "
regarding the surface", often metaphorically.
Both in the literal as in the metaphorical sense the term has often a negative connotation based on the idea that deeper parts are also important to consider.
The term is used to describe an observation or analysis that deals only with the most apparent and obvious features of some object, or phenomenon.
A superficial, or alternatively, an
"over-simplified" argument is prone to many logical fallacies: including hasty generalization, division, composition and many others.
A person who exhibits a "superficial" comprehension of some or many subjects may be negatively attributed as being shallow, materialistic..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superficial
As I read thread after thread here, I see what to me suggests a lot of superficial thinking, and I am not implying I am free of it. But I wonder...we are supposed to be adults, mature people seriously looking for a 'soul' mate...or most of us. Yet, over and over again are threads devoted to topics such as from which country come the sexiset men or women, what physical characteristics make a person sexy, and on & on. Many responses say over and over again that it doesn't matter, it's individual preference, it's in the eye of the beholder, etc. But still, these threads appear, and people spend hours responding to them...in fact they seem to be some of the most popular threads, all dealing with what are very superficial aspects of a person, when at the same time we all, or most of us, continue to insist we are looking for a truly serious relationship or a soul mate.
So I am just wondering, why? Why are these threads so popular? Why do they continue to crop up over and over again? Why do we continue to respond to them? Are height, weight, hair color, ethinicity, and other superficial aspects really that captivating?
Also, if we are all so distracted by these superficial aspects of a potential mate, aren't we running the risk of missing the person who would actually be the best match for us?
I guess one response to this is that it is all in fun, and I understand that, but it does seem to be that a lot of time, thought and energy is put into these threads, whereas not really equal time is put into discussions of what may be deeper, more serious and more important considerations when looking for someone with whom to spend, at the least, quality time.
Or maybe I'm all wrong and these are not superficial things to consider and look for in a mate....??
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