A step in the right direction

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Indeed. 

[Swatopluk]

[advocatus diaboli]  Does not a similar problem occur with eyes in a sandstorm? Are eyelids helpfully excised to prevent chafing?  [/advocatus diaboli]

Sand in the eyes is indeed a problem (camels have specially 'designed' eyelids to cope with that). But the other protective functions speak gainst uch radical solutions. Cutting off of eyelids was iirc a form of punishment, the first step in a sequence of nasty treatments. Fixing eyelids in the open position has also been used in support of sleep deprivation torture. It's of course also an option to put sand under the lids and then force them closed for an extended period of time.

[pieces o nine]

The advocatus diaboli may delliberately pose provocative arguments or those with which s/he does not agree to explore flaws in previously presented arguments. (Even when s/he knows the other, more barbarous usages of the provocative argument posed.)

[Aggie]

Never mind the horrid practice of mutilating little girls-- there's also a growing trend to body-modification of not-so-little girls with breast augmentation in their teens... WTF?   I have no criticism of adult women choosing this for themselves; it's their body, it's their decisions and their decision alone (or it should be).  

But a teen girl is no more qualified to "choose" this, than a teen boy is to becoming a father.  They are not experienced enough.   And being so young, they have plenty of time to choose these things, later in life, when they are not hopped-up on raging hormones.

I have it on good authority that this same cohort of not-so-little girls has moved on to undergoing voluntary labiaplasty (reduction / reshaping surgery), more or less to look more like the images portrayed in pornography.  This is still female genital mutilation, to meet a culturally-imposed standard.  Does the factor of choice negate the criticism of the practice?

I'm kinda with Bob on this one...  I think people should be able to make decisions for themselves, but few seem to really be aware of why they make the decisions they make, and what the long-term consequences are.

[Griffin NoName]

................. few seem to really be aware of why they make the decisions they make, and what the long-term consequences are.

Yeh, like having one breast chopped off!!!

[Swatopluk]

That still leaves the amazon career choice open

[Griffin NoName]

mmmm lots and lots of books

[Roland Deschain]

The only form of bodily alteration I can understand the reasoning for when performed on children, beyond corrective surgery for cleft palates, etc, is when a child is being bullied for some bodily feature, such as ears which stick out a lot. Even then i'm not in total agreement of it, and look upon it partly with cynicism borne from the cosmetic surgery industry just looking for ways to earn more money. But labiaplasty and boobs jobs on teenagers? What the FSM?

I like boobs of many different sizes, from small to reasonably large, although there's a definite upper limit, and understand the need a woman may feel if her self-esteem is very low because of her boobs being either too big or too small (not so sure about labiaplasty in adult women, and i'll refrain from airing my thoughts here about that, lol), but for someone who is still developing physically, mentally, and emotionally? It should not be an option.

[Griffin NoName]

A significant issue is boobs too big meaning too heavy. However, I have not heard much of reduction being done for such cases. Another significant issue is one boob being bigger (or smaller ) than the other. Again, I think the number of women having this corrected surgically is relatively few. The main reason for surgery is to make boobs look stupidly big (IMO).

[pieces o nine]

My mom expressed horror at the thought of breast reduction surgery because, "Then a boy will never like you and you will never get married!" 

Of course, this same dire fate was inescapable for any girl expressing actual opinions, winning a game, seeking employment in order to provide for herself -- or, horror of horrors! -- to ask out a person of the male persuasion, or performing well in math or science, ...     

[Roland Deschain]

Girls performing well in maths and science is a prerequisite for me. Having an interest in history and nature doesn't go down badly either. Boobs are neither here nor there, if you know what I mean. Not to say that i'm not fascinated with them, like most straight men, just that they are secondary.

[Swatopluk]

I don't have hard up-to-date numbers but have read once (might be a decade ago) that according to surveys only half of men even consider breast size when judging the attractivity of females and that of those again only half think that beauty is in any way proportional to size.
I guess most men think that there is a natural size in harmony with a specific body and that attractivity goes down when the deviation is too big.

As for myself, I do not find big boobs to be beautiful per se but my experience in actually handling any is also zero, so my opinion could change there.

To be provocative: How many people consider Keira Knightley to be ugly because she is clearly lacking in that department and how many would change their mind, if she suddenly developed king-sized* mammaries?

*why is there no queen-sized?

Inflatable (and thus easy adjustable) tops would be the most practical solution in everyday life, I guess Or the hot water bottle as in Gormenghast.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

A significant issue is boobs too big meaning too heavy. However, I have not heard much of reduction being done for such cases.

I know of those cases back home, the excuse being that the extra weight will cause back problems, although it is performed in cases where the size isn't really that large, so it IMNSHO preys on the insecurities of the woman in question just the same way for those who want a larger size.
---
I've heard the anthropological explanation (more than once, mind you) about men being partial to large(r) breasts and hips because it would be a marker for healthy(er) children (lower risk of problems at birth and perceived higher milk output for the babies). I imagine both markers have an influence on preference but the realities of match making and pair bonding should be significantly stronger predictors of preference.

[Griffin NoName]

I've heard the anthropological explanation (more than once, mind you) about men being partial to large(r) breasts and hips because it would be a marker for healthy(er) children (lower risk of problems at birth and perceived higher milk output for the babies). I imagine both markers have an influence on preference but the realities of match making and pair bonding should be significantly stronger predictors of preference.

Yes, otherwise women with small breasts would have died out.

[Sibling DavidH]

It's all this here stress what does it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19180983