Hanrahan, I have no idea if you're male or female, but let me ask you this: do you find horses erotic? What about sea slugs? Monkeys?

The reason you (probably) don't is genetic. One of the tests of speciation is whether two creatures can and will spontaneously interbreed. Horses don't generally want to mate with donkeys, although they are sufficiently similar that they can interbreed with partial success. The things that turn male horses on are slightly different to the things that turn male donkeys on.

Our genetic heritage is not confined to what colour our skin or eyes become.

Back to the proto-humans and early humans: if my theory is correct, then there would have been a payoff for males who got it up quickly when the alpha male started his fun, since they'd have the most opportunities to get their own end in.

There is some evidence that the human penis is so dispropotionately large compared to other apes and is shaped the way it is in order to displace other males' semen from the vagina.

It seems that "easy" women have been with us since the dawn of humanity.

Ah I love it when we get to reducing people to base instincts. You may be right antiseptic, but it sounds like you're talking out of your arse for sure.

What about pheromones? I think they are more powerful than visual cues. That's why guys with hot looking sisters don't want to shag them. Just raising the bar...

(intended)

Houellebecq:"What about pheromones?"

What about them? Name one that has been shown to occur in humans and influence sexual behaviour.

Besides, even if human pheromones exist, which is by no means sure, they may be just one trigger. Why are you so scared of the possibility that your sexual behaviour is hard-wired to visual cues by your genetic heritage? Don't you ever get horny watching your wife undress, even though she's not remotely horny herself and you know it ain't gonna happen?

Houellebecq:"That's why guys with hot looking sisters don't want to shag them."

But some do. The Oedipal urge has also been well documented and we all know that some men want to have sex with their daughters.

In tribal societies pubescent boys were often sent away, possibly to avoid that very possibility you mention.

I wasn't placed in temptation's way: none of my sisters were hot and they were all much older than me.

Actually you may be onto something anti. I remember guys wanting to keep me away from their sister when I was younger. This could actually have been motivated by jealousy.

I thought pheremones in humans was proven. I'll have to talk to those What's Good for You people. In their show they had a sister sniff three guys shirts, and the BO she found the most offensive was her brothers.

It was very scientific you know:_)

Damn, I'm also going to have to stop buying those sachets from the toilets at the pub. I thought they were working, but it may be related to the fact the missus is drunk. Then again, I get a few flattering advances sometimes when I wipe-on sex appeal. But then again again maybe the missus gets jealous and that's why they work.

It's really really interesting isn't it. I should start a blog. People would love to hear about my Journey.

Gawd, Anti - as an evolutionary anthropologist you make a good sawmiller. Don't give up your day job, old chap.

Here's a thought: you could work your primal fantasy up into a good pot-boiler, combining it with your firsthand family experiences and call it something like 'Clan of the Cave Bear'... oh hang on, that's been done.

It might be therapeutic, anyway.