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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

Tim:

Once a supposedly evidence-based discussant begins with, "Common sense suggests ... ", it's time to stop listening. Dr. Hanson's post invited discussion of the premise "there is an inexplicable shortage of sex," and the implied difference between male and female sex drive. I have strained, but I cannot find anything in any of your comments that addresses this issue.

As noted, I am new to blogs. Apparently there is some cliche about how many comments will be made before the word "Hitler" is used; am I remembering correctly? Has anyone ever posted an analysis on a sophisticated blog such as this one about how many comments it takes before there is no mention of the original subject, such as Mr. Tyler's? For instance, on this thread there are 41 (now 42) comments. Excepting this one, and three others, all discussants address some aspect of the original topic. The three that do not are all by the same author.

As to the question of current sexual research, our professional society is the International Society for Sexual Medicine, begun in 1982 as the International Society for Impotence Research, and broadened to include all male and female sexual issues. Here is the home page. Damn! I got back on topic!

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Tim Tyler's avatar

If the genes "want" it to be present in males, the embryologic device requires that it be present in females at no extra charge, even if it has no demonstrable genetic purpose.

Right - but it can be present the same way that antlers are present in females - i.e. hardly at all.

Call me a panadaptationist, but male nipples don't seem like a good example of what a vestigal feature (which owes its existence to embryological developmental constraints) looks like, either. In rats, mice and horses, male nipple development is completely suppressed by male sex hormones. However many other male mammals have nipples - and they often contain a rich supply of sensory nerves and erectile tissue. Common sense suggests that they have a role in sensing, generating and signalling arousal.

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