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[zharkov]

I appreciate the advice to be inclusive. Thank you very much. I had the same idea. However, it appears clearer and clearer to me that these two people probably will not approve my work that way. There was a time when the first person told me to cut out a part of my paper while the second person told me to only retain and elaborate it. Each has made negative comments about the other’s approach (not person, just approach).

If the two potential advisers are already criticizing each other's method to you, you probably are going to have to make a choice.

Especially if they have some underlying philosophical differences about the direction your work should take.  Sometimes, you have to "choose sides."
 
But I also wonder about your writing.....  I have found that many times when two faculty give different feedback, it is owing to differing interpretations of what was read,  owing to some lack of clarity in the student's writing.   That is, the profs come away with different interpretations, thus give different directions to the student.   

[larryc]

Ditto what Zharkov said. I found your long posts pretty confusing. And don't use "hu"--it is not a word and makes your writing less clear.

[totoro]

There is absolutely no funny business between us because our sexual orientations do not match.

There is with the "rockstar"?

I did know someone who's PhD advisor was a Nobel Laureate who flew in each week from NYC to give his lectures. They were very proud that they were his advisee, but I'm not sure they got much help. OTOH I would never spend 6 hours straight working with a student. I've probably spent a couple of hours in the past when necessary and worth it.

[closet_vs]

Although the dissonance among these two scholars in regard to my paper was solely based on my take on a particular school of thought, I appreciate your comments on my writing. Thank you. Yes, clarity is always good.

I have no funny business to do with anybody. I mentioned that only because a six-hour meeting seems fairly long, and I want to confirm that the younger prof and I are strictly unrelated. He is currently in my committee but he will never become my advisor for an administrative reason (he is not in my department).

[polly_mer]

He is currently in my committee but he will never become my advisor for an administrative reason (he is not in my department).

Again, you are not limited to mentors who come with the official title of advisor.  6-hour meetings multiple times a week would be weird.  However, 6 productive hours every few months can be a fantastic way to get guidance that a student wouldn't otherwise get.

[imawakenow]

I have no funny business to do with anybody. I mentioned that only because a six-hour meeting seems fairly long, and I want to confirm that the younger prof and I are strictly unrelated...

I find the references to "funny business" (twice now) odd.

Is it your assumption that when a professor and graduate student spend a certain amount of time together that they naturally end up having sex as long as they have "matching sexual orientations?" Or do you assume that that's what other people assume? Either option seems odd to me also.

[westcoastgirl]

Why don't you ask him or her if there is attraction in the air?

It sounds to me like you want the folks here to make exegesis of the situation and report to you that, "yes indeed, he/she has a crush on you." It sounds like you are hoping to venture into funny business land very soon.

[closet_vs]

The reiterated reference was an answer to a question asked by totoro.

In my first year, I was sexually harassed by a full professor who is still in power in my department today. It upset me so much because I trusted him and he gave me hell. I never ever wanted to work with any male professors again. Apparently, later, I worked with the others. Maybe that was the reason why I thought there was a need to clarify the nonexistence of sexual attraction.

Why don't you ask him or her if there is attraction in the air?

It sounds to me like you want the folks here to make exegesis of the situation and report to you that, "yes indeed, he/she has a crush on you." It sounds like you are hoping to venture into funny business land very soon.

This kind of aggression is just shocking.

[aside]

I foresee all these nurturing acts will stop after I go with the rockstar because hu will not be interested in my work anymore. 

I want to confirm that the younger prof and I are strictly unrelated. He is currently in my committee but he will never become my advisor for an administrative reason (he is not in my department).

This is hard to follow.  If the non-rockstar cannot be your advisor, what really is your question?