Your rationality is just fine. You're just ugly.

As a matter of fact, I am. I've done enough research on facial structure and body type to recognize subtleties that most people will miss consciously. Although I do have nice skin. But that comes from keeping hydrated and away from major sun damage, which may have something to do with rationality.

And, here's the interesting part, I have found major benefits by being rational, in exactly the way I'm describing.

On the other hand, if you want to treat other people as solved systems, and stop worrying about them, I suspect you are out of luck.

I'm thinking of someone I work with, who is quite definitely less good looking than just "plain". Aesthetically awful. However, she dresses and does her makeup immaculately, and then projects through personality. And this seems to work for attraction.

And a short fat guy who is brilliantly witty and perceptive and dresses well will never be short of a girlfriend.

MendelSchmiedekamp's message is one of hope: this stuff is reducible and many have reduced it before, so get learning.

I think I've got a pretty realistic view of my own attractiveness (probably an average rating on the scales of those around me of about a 6.5, but with a lot of variance, thank god).