'I don't really parse attraction except in a really simple aesthetic way, so I generally base whether someone is attractive or not on other people's estimates.'

This... really interests me. I sort of want to start a massive multi-ace conversation on how we "parse" attraction, now, except I don't know where. (Dwth's asexual_fandom is the only ace comm I can think of with enough people to get some good chatter started, and I don't have a specifically fandom angle on the question. Though they might just take it as "research for writing ace characters", type of thing? *thinking out loud*)

(Me, I... basically go for "who do I like watching and looking at the most". Which means the majority of my "attractive" guys aren't conventionally handsome, but have really expressive faces and/or clever hands, and/or are really acrobatic. Also I have this weird instinct for spotting guys who love kids, which manifests itself as... something I tend to peg as "attraction".)

(Man, you know, telepathy or empathy would make all this stuff a lot easier; we could actually tell what feelings other people are talking about. *g*)

Also: ooh, that was your Troughton post! I couldn't find it when I was looking, a little while ago. *pounces*