Do you think most men date women 'out of their league ?'

[Comfyslippers28]

I don't particularly believe in that at all, but just wondered if you think men would go for someone who they considered better-looking, more intelligent, talented, kinder etc. Or would they not bother, even if they knew the woman was interested ? Would it dent their ego and they would feel like they couldn't measure up ?

I’m at an age where chemistry rules all and in my experience that’s had absolutely nothing to do with facial dimensions and bodily measurements. I remember one lady I became absolutely besotted with who was a size 12-14, a B-cup and had crooked teeth but darn it if she didn’t have something about her. And from the amount of other guys who similarly were drawn to her like moths to a flame, it quickly became apparent she was out of my league.

Likewise, there was the girl I knew in college who I fancied and got on well with, but who I never asked out because she was tall, willowy and had jock-types hitting on her. I was convinced she would never settle for a runt like me. Years later I discovered she had a huge crush on me. So go figure.

• just to clarify not saying that being size 12-14, b cup and having crooked teeth in any way make someone unappealing. However, I’m taking the OPs post to indicate men might only go for women who are that cliche of size 8, big-boobed and classically beautiful. This woman was none of that but, quite frankly, had men falling for her as if Aphrodite herself walked in.

Chemistry does indeed rule all @TossaCointoYerWitcher and who knows how that works? I recently fell for someone big time who on paper is the most unsuitable person for me. Literally everything I would have as a 'must have' he doesn't have, and vice versa. Good job he moved away.

Songlyrics makes an interesting point. I will have to look for the study, but I'm sure it has been shown that women are more likely to slightly underestimate their own attractiveness and men are more likely to slightly overestimate theirs. So maybe they see themselves as being evenly matched.

On a purely anecdotal basis, amongst the couples I know, they are either roughly as attractive as each other or the women are a little bit better-looking. Of course it's all subjective and you can't generalise, but I do think it's an interesting topic.