The data’s in: nice guys DON’T always finish last

Recent research at Binghamton University and the University of Arizona casts new light on the nice guy versus aggressive jerk question. Who is more successful, the polite gentleman or the pushy fellow who won’t take no for an answer? The answer appears in the November 6 issue of Science Magazine.

This is a very important question for YA writers, don’t ya think?

It turns out that these scientists study attraction in water striders rather than in humans, but their findings seem to translate to human culture pretty well. When a male jerk (water strider) approaches a group of female water striders, the females bug out (bad pun intended, and no, water striders aren’t really bugs, my fine fellow science geeks…) If a female happens upon a gentleman of a strider, though, she sticks around. Pretty soon, the nice guys are surrounded by females while the jerks…I don’t know, maybe they get into a bar fight?

Take heart, all you sweetheart males in the world. As soon as the gals notice you, you’ll be the center of attention.

I’m not sure this is good news for the girls, though. It might explain why most of the good guys are taken….

:) Cheryl