I recognize a certain type of Hollywood hot, like Chris Hemsworth is full of muscles and to me seems likely to be seen as attractive. Same with Henry Cavill, etc. But I know that stereotype from being exposed to it, nothing innate like when I see a beautiful woman and immediately feel how attractive she is.
And besides that one stereotype, I can’t tell a hot guy from average. For example, when Ryan Reynolds was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010 it caught me completely by surprise, I had no idea. Similarly when people talk about George Clooney as a paragon of male attraction, I wouldn’t have guessed that before hearing about it. (I don’t at all doubt that it’s true, I simply don’t experience it myself.)
It’s subjective and context based, on a person to person basis and in the aggregate societal norms.
It’s the same as if you were talking about whatever broader group you were personally into. Just with the erotic attraction part removed.
If you, personally, have no criteria for judging you can try and work with what you understand the conversation partners tastes to be.
If you are talking to someone you think appreciates Hollywood hot then you can way “they are hot” with the understanding that you are commenting from a shared context of hot.
If you were to say “I think they are hot” that’s a different context and implies you, personally, think they are hot.
To be clear, neither of those explicitly states an erotic attraction, though it can be taken that way, depending on the context.
Serious question: How can you tell?
I recognize a certain type of Hollywood hot, like Chris Hemsworth is full of muscles and to me seems likely to be seen as attractive. Same with Henry Cavill, etc. But I know that stereotype from being exposed to it, nothing innate like when I see a beautiful woman and immediately feel how attractive she is.
And besides that one stereotype, I can’t tell a hot guy from average. For example, when Ryan Reynolds was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010 it caught me completely by surprise, I had no idea. Similarly when people talk about George Clooney as a paragon of male attraction, I wouldn’t have guessed that before hearing about it. (I don’t at all doubt that it’s true, I simply don’t experience it myself.)
I’m pretty queer, and even I don’t get the George Clooney thing.
It’s subjective and context based, on a person to person basis and in the aggregate societal norms.
It’s the same as if you were talking about whatever broader group you were personally into. Just with the erotic attraction part removed.
If you, personally, have no criteria for judging you can try and work with what you understand the conversation partners tastes to be.
If you are talking to someone you think appreciates Hollywood hot then you can way “they are hot” with the understanding that you are commenting from a shared context of hot.If you were to say “I think they are hot” that’s a different context and implies you, personally, think they are hot.To be clear, neither of those explicitly states an erotic attraction, though it can be taken that way, depending on the context.Communication is hard.