Post: #1

My dilemma is selfish and superficial, but at the same time deeply evolutionary. The barest essence of my qualm is that due to sports and fighting, my nose is slightly crooked; the comprehensiveness of the true problem is much more elaborate. Symmetry - it's what makes individuals attractive. But more than simply correlating with attractiveness, symmetry correlates with good health, intelligence, and higher earning potential. These are just the more pronounced and alluring benefits of being symmetrical (face and body).

Now I have broken my nose a few times through sports, fighting, and other masculine endeavors. This was never a psychological issue for me until I started researching evolutionary psychology. What we all seem to truly discard is the importance of attractiveness and good genes, not simply just for mating, but for male-male competition as well. Having good genes is romantically attractive and alliance promoting. We may not want to admit it, but we naturally gravitate to attractive individuals, for whatever our selfish purposes are.

I was born with a fairly symmetrical face, but my genes are skewed by a traumatic, sequence of traumatic incidents really, experience. Numerical attractiveness aside, by having a lightly crooked nose I am lowering my mate value; asymmetry correlations with a high mutation load and developmental instability in utero. My concern it turns out, is not just superficial, but is also of a functional matter. I visited an ENT, where after recommending a CAT scan, he was shocked to see the damage. The CAT scan showed that I had a broken nasal bone, collapsed cartilage, and a displaced septum. He commented on how, at best, I was breathing at 50% efficiency, which makes me think about how that impacts sleeping, for sleeping is such a necessary part of life for more than a few reasons.

So insurance will pay for a surgery to fix everything, but the dilemma lies not in the ability to fix the aesthetic and functional problem, but whether that is the best overall option. Everything seems so straightforward, but for one problem: my desire to practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I've boxed for years, but a martial art is a discipline which teaches a 1000 lessons. It is simply not smart to fix my asymmetrical nose and practice jiu-jitsu.

Is the best option to learn jiu-jitsu for a couple years and then fix my asymmetries, knowing full well that if I choose this position I'm not only hindering my jiu-jitsu and athletic performance (less oxygen) and attractiveness, or just say, forget it; get the surgery? Fix the problem; fighting is so unnecessary.

Thanks for having the patience to read this.

Post: #2

Cool story bro.

Post: #3

Post: #4

You just reminded me of a 90s Newsweek article about this.

Post: #5

Less than two weeks ago, someone ran a post through a gender-detection algorithm, which suggested that the poster was female. Could someone link me to that website?

(I tried using search function, but couldn't find it.)

Post: #6

OK, I'll be serious for a minute.

Stripping out all the silly pseudo-philosophy from your post, is your question, "I got my nose broken in a fight and I think it looks ugly. It's also hurting my breathing. Insurance will cover it, so should I get it fixed?"

And if it is, why would the answer possibly be anything other than "Yes, you moron."?

Secondly, why do you talk like that? Do you think it makes you sound smart?

Post: #7

SamuelBRoberts, you're right, I could have said this all in one sentence, but that wouldn't have captured the entire dilemma. I'm not sure what you are referring to as psuedo-philosophy.

Post: #8

Couldn't one argue that the term pseudophilosophy is an oxymoron?

Post: #9

I write this way in the hope that a wise individual corrects my writing and points me down a better path.

Post: #10

Wild guess not medical advice, the central problem is not nose/breathing it's obsessive compulsive and narcissistic personality traits.

"The barest essence of my qualm" sounds unnecessarily pompous.

The stilted use of language sounds like someone trying to impress, not communicate. Is the martial arts how you're going to make your living, what role does it play?

There's a lot going on here that's not being looked at , and being a good paranoid myself, I always have to wonder.......

Post: #11

(10-30-2015 06:59 PM)MMX2010 Wrote:  Less than two weeks ago, someone ran a post through a gender-detection algorithm, which suggested that the poster was female. Could someone link me to that website?

(I tried using search function, but couldn't find it.)

http://www.hackerfactor.com/GenderGuesser.php#Analyze

Post: #12

Did you just write an essay to say your nose is crooked using words you probably don't even understand?

Post: #13

I don't usually do this, but since you're a new member I want to help you out.
I took your case to a renowned doctor who's an acquaintance of mine, and had him diagnose you.

He was even kind enough to record a video.

Post: #14

(10-30-2015 07:38 PM)asasadadad Wrote:  http://www.hackerfactor.com/GenderGuesser.php#Analyze

Thanks.


Genre: Informal
Female = 955
Male = 908
Difference = -47; 48.73%
Verdict: Weak FEMALE

Weak emphasis could indicate European.



Genre: Formal
Female = 531
Male = 717
Difference = 186; 57.45%
Verdict: Weak MALE

Weak emphasis could indicate European.

Post: #15

Iknowexactly, you have some good points. Perhaps I've over-analyzed the scenario too much, and you're probably right about the prose; re-reading it does seem a bit pretentious and pompous, especially given the medium (forum...not trying to criticize anyone), but this was my first post and after a few beers. Im not especially adept with how the forum totally functions. But is it so wrong to be self-analyzing? We all are on this forum for a simple purpose: to improve ourselves. This is an aspect of improving myself. Martial arts will not be a job, but I've heard notthing but the wonders of such a pursuit, and can't help feeling that if I start I'll be captivated by it just like so many others.

Post: #16

It's OK dude, people are just ragging you a bit, no sweat.

The symmetry stuff is overrated, Jean-Paul Belmondo rode his broken boxer nose to stardom, he was the French Steve McQueen.



Have you thought of using a protective mask for sparring?

Post: #17

Why would we be qualified for advice on a personal health issue?
Go ask a doctor and (probably) get if fixed pronto.

Post: #18

(10-30-2015 06:40 PM)Mindful Nomad Wrote:  Thanks for having the patience to read this.

To be honest, I sort of zoned out after the first paragraph. My diagnosis is: male hamstering.

Whatever your problem is, I think something to do with your nose, you shouldnt be tying yourself in knots about it.
Game requires decisiveness. Fix the problem or make a virtue of necessity. Then move on.