first of all I read over the word "online" so that changes everything and I'm really sorry
but I'll still post the rest because I was already some sentences into a reply because for an irl context it's nice to have articulated ig:
because unless you're ace or strongly dedicated to celibacy it's really hard to be in a relationship if physical intimacy isn't an option. It absolutely does play into attraction beyond being physical
why should this be a thing we have to think about? because we live in a world where it's fairly normal for people to date total strangers: they do.
like I said tho, being uber paranoid [to do this to random ass women when you're not considering them] is fucking weird. I agree
I would've said it was a bit too simple in its message but again, I miss one key word because I'm a dingwit hhhhhh
you don't need to see someone's genitals to know whether you find them hot though. and physical intimacy doesn't have to directly involve the genitals of either party. and finding someone hot only rarely involves even the desire for a relationship.
1: at the surface yeah, but often people want to see more and it 100% tops it off for them. Swinging one way can quickly seal or kill the deal
Is it cultural tho? Is it just how most people are? Idk and I'm not gonna pretend I do
2: rest is perfectly true but you'd be surprised how many people don't get one or the other. That one is definitely cultural