What is the purpose of...

[DBella]

Well, with 3D-Man, that was actually the name of the comic book character.

Can a man be in any other form but 3D?

 

[Steve Rogers]

Both. So what's your answer to my question, genius?

I hope you are calling me a genius as a compliment and not being sarcastic. If you are being sarcastic and calling me genius to be an @$$hole, I have to ask, what the hell did I ever do to you? Anyway, armpit hair, like all hair on our bodies, keeps irritations from direct contact with the skin. Much like the clothes we wear today. Imagine running through bushes or something and getting dust, leaves, twigs and bugs caught in your hair, rather than directly on the skin. It's a defense mechanism. The existance of mosquitoes is much like our own. They are just here to live. They however, unlike us, have a prominent place in the lower levels of the food chain. Many birds and fish feed on mosquitoes. They are prey. The Earth has predators and therefore it must have prey.

 

[Carcharodon]

So you're saying that hair on the pubic region serves no purpose at all?

Not at all. It could have advantages to sexual selection (or could have at one time).

Humans are unique with respect to selective traits: we can change them, and often do, at will. Even if we're born with hair on our head or pubic region, some will prefer no hair at all.

This is apparent when you look at the trend of shaving or trimming pubic hair. Most of us have the ability to grow pubic hair locked into our genes, and yet when it does grow, we shave or trim it. It hasn't disappeared because we haven't used this as a basis for sexual selection...because we have the ability to cut it off.

As for the armpit hair, I'm at a loss. It could very well have served a purpose at one time, and it may now. Studies are suggesting and have suggested that the armpits are a hotspot for pheromone release, especially when sweating. Perhaps the armpit hair is actually meant to trap heat in order to promote sweating? Perhaps it's meant to keep those pheromone glands at some optimal temperature?

I'm by no means an expert on armpit hair, but there are some things about it that may make sense, if you look closely.

 

[Erzengel]

Suck it.

Disgusting.

I think the numbers bear some sort of significance. Like a birthdate or birth year or a favorite number. Maybe?

Someday, someone is gonna come here and wanna be Erzengel so badly...that he'll settle for Erzengel87, and he will be the greatest poster the Hype has ever known.

One day, I will retire this username. And only my son could carry it on, or someone who is like a son. Mee, maybe one day you will carry on in my stead.

 

[dpm07]

One other thing that I was wondering about: the existence of mosquitoes. The only anwers I've got to that one are: 1) they exist to annoy me and 2) population control.

In an example of a balanced ecosystem, every creature is necessary for the survival of the ecosystem. If one of the organisms is gone, then the ecosystem will collapse. Each of these organisms have a purpose, as most people would define it.

Now let us add a parasite to this system. Let's say that mosquitos feed on both the bears and wolves. This takes blood away from both the predator and prey, and makes the animals less energetic. The animals won't be sick enough to stop their important role in balancing the ecosystem, but there might be fewer numbers of them. Is the mosiquito important? The mosquito really doesn't have a role in balancing the ecosystem. It could be said, therefore, that mosquitos do not have a purpose.

Let's go one step further and say that a certain bacteria infects the bear. In order to get from inside one bear to another, the bacteria must be transported by a mosquito. In that case the mosquito has a purpose for the bacteria.

Now let's say that a scientist comes and collects some of the mosquitos. They take them back to the laboratory and finds a chemical inside them that is useful in treating humans with heart disease. This individual collects more and uses them to make a new medicine that saves many lives. Now the mosquito has a purpose to humans.

Let's say that an ecologist goes into the ecosystem and discovers how the bacteria get moved from one bear to another through the mosquito. He studies the ways in which the bacteria lives, and then writes a scientific article on the interesting life of the bacteria. Other people read about this interesting bacteria, and it is very inspiring to them. The bacteria has a purpose to the people who find it interesting.

Additionally, All creatures have their place in the food chain and thus the the drama of life in the cosmic universe. We need mosquitos for bats and all the other things up the line that require it for survival. Take away mosquitos and the ecosystem will be thrown off balance. The world needs balance to remain healthy.

On a side note, I do not appreciate armpit hair on the female form. It lacks a social etiquette and grace I find disturbing. If I can take the time to groom myself there, then I prefer a female to do the same.

 

[Carcharodon]

I hope you are calling me a genius as a compliment and not being sarcastic. If you are being sarcastic and calling me genius to be an @$$hole, I have to ask, what the hell did I ever do to you? Anyway, armpit hair, like all hair on our bodies, keeps irritations from direct contact with the skin. Much like the clothes we wear today. Imagine running through bushes or something and getting dust, leaves, twigs and bugs caught in your hair, rather than directly on the skin. It's a defense mechanism.

That's another plausible explanation. Underarm skin is very sensitive, as is the skin surrounding the genitals...warranting the continued growth of pubic hair at sexual maturity.

 

[Prognosticator]

What's the purpose of Wendy's? I mean, the commercials suck and ever since Dave Thomas passed away, the chain has gone down hill.

We already have efficient (McDonald's), char-broiled (BK), and sloppy (CJ Star's)....we don't need Wendy's anymore.

 

[Carcharodon]

Square hamburgers? Seriously?

 

[Steve Rogers]

Finger chilli?

 

[DBella]

I hope you are calling me a genius as a compliment and not being sarcastic. If you are being sarcastic and calling me genius to be an @$$hole, I have to ask, what the hell did I ever do to you? Anyway, armpit hair, like all hair on our bodies, keeps irritations from direct contact with the skin. Much like the clothes we wear today. Imagine running through bushes or something and getting dust, leaves, twigs and bugs caught in your hair, rather than directly on the skin. It's a defense mechanism. The existance of mosquitoes is much like our own. They are just here to live. They however, unlike us, have a prominent place in the lower levels of the food chain. Many birds and fish feed on mosquitoes. They are prey. The Earth has predators and therefore it must have prey.

Are you seriously offended by my reference to you as 'genius'? If you are, my apologies because no offense was intended.

If the purpose of armpit hair is to "keep irritations from direct contact with the skin", how come I don't get skin irritation under my arm when I keep it hairless all the time?

Thanks for the explanation on mosquitoes. Much appreciated. I actually knew the answer to that since I took Environmental Science but I just wanted to ask because they seriously irritate me and almost killed me (with dengue) when I was away on vacation in Asia a few months ago.

 

[Steve Rogers]

Are you seriously offended by my reference to you as 'genius'? If you are, my apologies because no offense was intended.

If the purpose of armpit hair is to "keep irritations from direct contact with the skin", how come I don't get skin irritation under my arm when I keep it hairless all the time?

Thanks for the explanation on mosquitoes. Much appreciated. I actually knew the answer to that since I took Environmental Science but I just wanted to ask because they seriously irritate me and almost killed me (with dengue) when I was away on vacation in Asia a few months ago.

My guess is because in this day in age we are no longer running around the forest naked. I assume that maybe one day evolution will step in and remove armpit hair much like it has done with the appendix.

 

[DBella]

Not at all. It could have advantages to sexual selection (or could have at one time).

Humans are unique with respect to selective traits: we can change them, and often do, at will. Even if we're born with hair on our head or pubic region, some will prefer no hair at all.

This is apparent when you look at the trend of shaving or trimming pubic hair. Most of us have the ability to grow pubic hair locked into our genes, and yet when it does grow, we shave or trim it. It hasn't disappeared because we haven't used this as a basis for sexual selection...because we have the ability to cut it off.

As for the armpit hair, I'm at a loss. It could very well have served a purpose at one time, and it may now. Studies are suggesting and have suggested that the armpits are a hotspot for pheromone release, especially when sweating. Perhaps the armpit hair is actually meant to trap heat in order to promote sweating? Perhaps it's meant to keep those pheromone glands at some optimal temperature?

I'm by no means an expert on armpit hair, but there are some things about it that may make sense, if you look closely.

In an example of a balanced ecosystem, every creature is necessary for the survival of the ecosystem. If one of the organisms is gone, then the ecosystem will collapse. Each of these organisms have a purpose, as most people would define it.

Now let us add a parasite to this system. Let's say that mosquitos feed on both the bears and wolves. This takes blood away from both the predator and prey, and makes the animals less energetic. The animals won't be sick enough to stop their important role in balancing the ecosystem, but there might be fewer numbers of them. Is the mosiquito important? The mosquito really doesn't have a role in balancing the ecosystem. It could be said, therefore, that mosquitos do not have a purpose.

Let's go one step further and say that a certain bacteria infects the bear. In order to get from inside one bear to another, the bacteria must be transported by a mosquito. In that case the mosquito has a purpose for the bacteria.

Now let's say that a scientist comes and collects some of the mosquitos. They take them back to the laboratory and finds a chemical inside them that is useful in treating humans with heart disease. This individual collects more and uses them to make a new medicine that saves many lives. Now the mosquito has a purpose to humans.

Let's say that an ecologist goes into the ecosystem and discovers how the bacteria get moved from one bear to another through the mosquito. He studies the ways in which the bacteria lives, and then writes a scientific article on the interesting life of the bacteria. Other people read about this interesting bacteria, and it is very inspiring to them. The bacteria has a purpose to the people who find it interesting.

Additionally, All creatures have their place in the food chain and thus the the drama of life in the cosmic universe. We need mosquitos for bats and all the other things up the line that require it for survival. Take away mosquitos and the ecosystem will be thrown off balance. The world needs balance to remain healthy.

On a side note, I do not appreciate armpit hair on the female form. It lacks a social etiquette and grace I find disturbing. If I can take the time to groom myself there, then I prefer a female to do the same.

Thank you for your thoughtful answers, guys. I honestly didn't think I'd get answers like these when I started the thread.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The purpose of Armpit hair on women was so that European women who don't shave their pits won't steal away American men with their exotic accents.

Mosquito's purpose of existence is so that Harrison Ford movie could get it's name.

 

[Steve Rogers]

Mosquito's purpose of existence is so that Harrison Ford movie could get it's name.

Awesome. In the favorite 80's movie thread I said that The Mosquito Coast was one of my favorites and everybody went, "gee, never heard if it."

 

[DBella]

My guess is because in this day in age we are no longer running around the forest naked. I assume that maybe one day evolution will step in and remove armpit hair much like it has done with the appendix.

I don't think I'll live to see the day when I don't have to shave my armpit anymore.

Why don't guys shave their underarm? I don't mind guys with armpit hair as long as they're ... well-groomed.

 

[Carcharodon]

My guess is because in this day in age we are no longer running around the forest naked. I assume that maybe one day evolution will step in and armpit hair much like it has done with the appendix.

Doubtful. The genetic ability to grow armpit hair isn't likely to be a factor in sexual selection in humans simply because we have the ability to get rid of it if we want to.

Therefore, the elimination of armpit hair as a factor in reproductive success means that it will likely be with us until we no longer have the ability to get rid of it by other means than to eliminate it from our genepool.

 

[DBella]

The purpose of Armpit hair on women was so that European women who don't shave their pits won't steal away American men with their exotic accents.

When I lived in Italy, I've seen some women with armpit hair and they're... gross.

Mosquito's purpose of existence is so that Harrison Ford movie could get it's name.

Harrison... *swoon*

 

[Carcharodon]

The purpose of Armpit hair on women was so that European women who don't shave their pits won't steal away American men with their exotic accents.

We have a winner.

 

[Steve Rogers]

Doubtful. The genetic ability to grow armpit hair isn't likely to be a factor in sexual selection in humans simply because we have the ability to get rid of it if we want to.

I didn't say that. I said maybe one day it will be phased out, like our appendixes. Not because we can get rid of it, but because, like the appendix, we simply don't have a need for it any more.

 

[Steve Rogers]

I don't think I'll live to see the day when I don't have to shave my armpit anymore.

Why don't guys shave their underarm? I don't mind guys with armpit hair as long as they're ... well-groomed.

Same reason we don't shave our legs. Because society says only women have to do that to be accepted. We expect women to be hairless. Even women with pubic hair is slowly becoming unacceptable.

 

[Carcharodon]

I didn't say that. I said maybe one day it will be phased out, like our appendixes. Not because we can get rid of it, but because, like the appendix, we simply don't have a need for it any more.

There's no reason for it to be phased out, though. We keep reproducing knowing full-well that each new person is going to have the ability to grow armpit hair. The difference between humans and other species, however, is that we can make the conscious decision to shave it off, thus eliminating it as a genetic basis for sexual selection.

Evolution doesn't work by saying, "Hey, I don't use this anymore, so I think we'll just get rid of it." Now, if there were somehow a mutation that prevented the growth of armpit hair, and we as a species (whether consciously or unconsciously) would more often than not select for that trait in reproduction, then you might see it begin to be phased out.

It just seems to me that you've got a bit of an oversimplified view of evolution, that's all.

 

[Carcharodon]

I thought that's exactly how it worked. I've always heard that the reason that our appenixes don't work an in some cases, aren't present, was because we no longer had a use for them. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I have heard before.

The appendix is a debated issue, don't get me wrong. Nobody has the clear answers. Still, given the known and proposed mechanisms for evolution, it really doesn't work that way. Actually, it may have been lost long before the humans. Other primates possess a veriform appendix (the supposedly vestigial form that humans possess) as well.

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/vestiges/appendix.html

This site gives a pretty comprehensive history of the appendix, and provides possible explanations.

Hell, it suggests that there may even still be a function that we've yet to discover.

 

[DBella]

****

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

To propagate the species

 

[Mee]

What? Armpit hair?