http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/humans-monkeys-fall-uncanny-valley-26184.html

new link: http://scienceblog.com/26184/like-humans-monkeys-fall-into-the-uncanny-valley/#fipXZcQdWqY0PCIe.97

The uncanny valley is a dip in the graph of positive response vs realism of a human representation.

"Movie-goers may not be familiar with the term, but they understand that it is far easier to love the out-of-proportion cartoon figures in the "The Incredibles," for example, than it is to embrace the more realistic-looking characters in "The Polar Express." Viewers, to many a Hollywood director's consternation, are emotionally unsettled by images of artificial humans that look both realistic and unrealistic at the same time."

The article addresses only the realism of the images. It does not explore personal constraints on what "looks realistic." I wonder if the very earliest race-based revulsion was related. I wonder if the more racist people now are those with the narrowest definition of what people "should" look like.

Even so, no matter what one's gut says about whether someone "looks right," the part of the mind that controls behavior needs to suck it up and treat people with respect.