Defining Attraction (what's yours?)

Over brunch this morning, we (some of the girls) had a charged conversation about what makes a man attractive to us. A couple of days back, I sent this article out to my friends and it served as the focus.

Take a moment to read it and come back when you're done.

We're waiting.

The conversation went a little something like (and I won't tell you which one I am):
"I read that article you sent"
"Yeah me too actually!"
"Which one?"
"The one about proof that there's love at first sight"
"Oh GAWD that one? That's such bullshit"
"Do you think they're still serving green beer?"
"It's 10 a.m.!"
"Yeah. I know. I don't want to order it! I'm just curious..."
"Why do you think the article's bullshit?"
"I don't know if it's bullshit. I think there's a lot of truth to it. Oh wow look at that girl's jacket. That's so cool but she must be freezing. Uhm. What? Oh. Yeah. That, uhm, like, it's so true. Men are more likely to fall in love at first sight, anyway. More than women, actually. Yeah, she's got to be cold"
"See that's it. That's exactly the reason it's bullshit. They're trying to tell you that one of the BIGGEST decisions you make in your life is totally based on your visual senses. Worse still that HE'LL make that decision based on how hot you are. And that means that if you're not attractive, you can kiss a rleationship goodbye! No more. And it's even worse with what you're saying, because you're totally buying into the whole 'beauty myth'"
"I hated that book. If you're pretty, use it. If you're not...whatever"
"I thought the book had some merit"
"It's a book? I thought it was a magazine. That would make a great title for a magazine to"
"To what?"
"Huh?"
"You said "...title for a magazine to..." and not "...title for a magazine too..."
"Oh. I think that's just Maha's typo"
"Oh, ok"
"So, like, where were we?"
"The beauty myth?"
"Look. It was neat and something I'd always thought may just be true, but other people just chalked me up to be a total dreamer, so I welcomed the piece"
"I can't BELIEVE you think it's true"
"I think it's true too"
"Wow. That's crazy"
"Have you watched Falcon Beach?"
"Isn't that a Canadian show? It probably sucks"

Ultimately, the decision was made that although true love may not be had at first sight, true lust most definitely would. As for what attracts a woman to a man this was sort of the general consensus (& in this order):

.1. Protection.
.2. Principled / strength of conviction.
.3. Confidence.
.4. Wit.
.5. Face / body.

As for the men at the table, their top five 'what attracts a man to a woman' were quite different:

.1. A nice smile.
.2. Body.
.3. Sense of humour.
.4. Chaste / virtuous ("Not a ho" as it was so eloquently put).
.5. Brains.