Kevin Simler

@KevinSimler I think you can view the tail as a signal that is hard to fake more than expensive. It carries information beyond the handicap.

@adamdangelo @KevinSimler this, plus the (independent) Fischer process of self-reinforcing female mate choice on arbitrary characteristics

@adamdangelo @KevinSimler so not at all the case that benefits are only on daughters - males get a mating benefit

@sarahdoingthing @adamdangelo Yes, males benefit from runaway. Females benefits from honest signals. But who benefits from *handicaps*?

@KevinSimler @adamdangelo both because handicaps are honest signals and they reduce the costs of mate selection

@KevinSimler @adamdangelo how else would you signal fitness? nature is cruel & horrible

@sarahdoingthing @adamdangelo Facial symmetry is a signal of a strong immune system(?), but isn't costly to carry around. Just hard to fake.

@KevinSimler @adamdangelo yup see previous link - it's possible but not universal, as in human economic systems