Social Theory #38 - Social Sonar

Much as a bat is blind yet able to guide himself through a tangle of branches, so, too, a man can get an accurate image with which to locate himself in our complex society. The insight came to me during my morning run through the park this week. In an effort to be courteous, I typically nod, smile, and wave as I pass others. Some return the courtesy, and some do not. Just recently, however, I have noticed that in the case of females, there is a direct correlation between the general attractiveness of the women and the likelihood that they will wave back. Thus, the science behind "Social Sonar", which states that the likelihood of a female acknowledging my existence is inversely proportional to her general attractivity.

For example, whenever I cross paths with an "8", my greeting and existence will go unheeded, as I am operating on an incompatible social frequency (see fig.1). Should I instead intersect a "3" (see fig.2), my wave is returned, and information is gathered regarding my position within my own environment. Social laws state that a higher frequency is only returned by a frequency equal to or less than itself, thus social sonar is invaluable for social navigation and comprehension of one's own frequency position.

Social laws are not as inflexible as physical laws, and exceptions do occur. Using myself as an example, I as a 5.8 managed to pick up and lock onto a frequency several notches above myself, a phenomenon known as the "King of Queens" effect.