Anybody who says that looks don't play a HUGE factor in a relationship is a downright liar. It's the importance of looks that play an important part of what determines "attraction". I read somewhere that initial attraction to a potential mate (or partner) is somewhere in the realm of the mid-to-upper 90 percentile. That being said, attraction is often initially physical based until we get to know the other person. If we know the person, it may weigh heavy on the amount of attraction, but if the potential partner doesn't fit into one's physical attraction standard, the relationship is already starting off rough.

But overall (and generally) speaking, most people do their best to break down attraction into two barriers. One being their personality. The other, how they look. So I'm going do the same.

Physically:
First and foremost, one's eyes. I like a person who is deep and often enough the eyes are a true testament of this. Light colored eyes almost always win me over.

Personality:
Independence is a HUGE plus with me. I like a person who's not afraid to actually turn down a date because they want to go out on their own.

There are so few things in common among the people I find attractive ... I think one of the few things is animated facial expressions... expressive eyes, great smile, etc.

I believe a common thread is the eyes. The eyes are the mirror of the soul, so they show a person true being.
Then, for me there is also long hair. I find long hair, straight or curly, such a turn on. Long figure with curves...Add a passion for life and strong self-confidence and WOW....

eyes, intelligence, sense of humor, voice.....

i would say many things..because everyone is so diffrent...but the main thing would be their mouth..their lips..and the gazeing of the eyes...the eyes never need no words to say what they want...(wink)...giggle-giggle.

Asians...

;)

Seriously I'd have to say when searching for a lover, (which it should be noted is different than picking a casual hook-up) I search for something different, something that stands out. I can't be specific about it because I'm always surprised by it, having no preconcieved idea of what that thing will be.

...and Asians. *crosses fingers*

lol

It's odd but looks for Chris and I are only maybe hafe the way. Your personality hygen and desire to be with us makes it a done deal You can be very cute and oh so sexy but if your hygen isn't up to par your nowhere. A great personality out weighs a pretty face if we choose between the two. Sometimes it's a mystery why we choose the partners we choose. Chris is different then me and I dirfer from her. Between us we are more than us apart. We may see different things in different people that we choose but sometimes it's just opprotunity and avalablity and the oh well why not if someone asks us to join them for some fun. Why because first impressions are not always the best way to go and you find that you wind up like them by surprize. The person is everything the seen and unseen when it is all shook out and piece and bits examined. If you really think about it you'll agree that the reason your with someone particularly if it's a long term thing it isn't because there cute, it's because there's a connection. Something invisable between you. So then what's the difference between lust and love? Is lust simply core brain grunt ,,,,attraction or is there more? The one big bit in the deal is if someone shows interest in you. That alone is huge. As a couple we can walk up to others and show interst in them and 3 out of 4 will join us. It works the other way as well. Smile and say hi I am --- and this is----- how are you tonight. There goes the shoes. If you don't show interest you can stand there alllllll night. The one thing I see online is sure someone may talk but they never meet. Go to where you can meet in person. Meeting people online is 9 times out of 10 a disappointment. We say the longer you talk online the bigger the gap between your preception and reality. Like a movie to a book you make up things about the other and it is disappointing when you meet.in person. What attracts us it's different for everyone but nothing is better then interest and a smile.

I would agree that not thinking about it too much is the key with me as well. It isn't like I have some screen play and am looking for the perfect character to play a certain role. That would make me more in love with a scenario than with a person and leads to disappointment if the person isn't exactly as I had cast them to be and could lead to resentment if their are "directed" to stay as one might subconsciously cast them.

There are many different kinds of people who are attractive to me and I have probably not yet met many of them. What attracts me is hard to say but what I find unattractive is much easier.

Besides, I am not sure I would want a potential lover to know what attracts me because that could lead them to attempt to play a role rather than just be themselves. If they knew what I thought was attractive, would they pretend to be or aspire to be that in order that I might find them attractive? I would rather naturally be attracted or not to someone who just is being what they are. If they don't know who they naturally are or are convinced they aren't worthy as they normally are (lack a strong self identity or have a strong self-loathing) then a relationship with me is probably not what they need most at the moment.