Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I Want To Get Married! What Am I Doing Wrong?


THIS APPEARED ON CRAIG’S LIST
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 432279810


WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy. I’m not from New York. I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don’t think I’m overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won’t get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:
-Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms
-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won’t hurt my feelings
-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I’m 25)?
-Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I’ve seen really ‘plain jane’ boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I’ve seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What’s the story there?
-Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
-How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY.

Please hold your insults - I’m putting myself out there in an honest way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I’m being up front about it. I wouldn’t be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn’t able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.


THE ANSWER
Dear Pers-431649184:

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.

Firstly, I’m not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here’s how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here’s why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here’s the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won’t be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you’re 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn’t make good business sense to “buy you” (which is what you’re asking) so I’d rather lease. In case you think I’m being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It’s as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as “articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful” as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn’t found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn’t need to have this difficult conversation. With all that said, I must say you’re going about it the right way.
Classic “pump and dump.” I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. blink, blink.

Some women are just too much to understand. I am a woman, but I think for the most part I should have been born a man -- it would have validated my confusion with them.

I greatly enjoyed the gentleman's response. So very well put!

Thank you for sharing your findings. =)

groovymaster said...

This woman is confused why "less pretty girls" are married to guys doing well financially... let me explain how that works. This woman wants instant gratification and isn't interested in a guy currently working on his career. Most guys in their late twenties and early thirties won't reach their peak earning for ten to twenty years. This woman isn't interested in those guys so those guys marry the "less pretty girl" she complains about. The "less pretty girl" will be the wife of the Divisional Vice President making 500k but she will wait ten years for that to happen. In the meantime, she cared for him and had confidence in him all those years. The "less pretty girl" put in the work, stuck with her guy, and deserves the reward. This woman refuses to do that.

I'm in my early thirties, have a Masters degree, make 184k and also receive stock and stock-options. I'm in Seattle not NYC so it's some decent money here. I have a new Mercedes convertible, a new Italian motorcycle, and several investment accounts. My credit rating is 802 and other than my wheels I don't spend money on much of anything. Despite that, I'm not "financially attractive" to this woman. I'd like to date this woman. Hell, I'd probably marry her but I'm still working on my career and she's not all that interested me. So good luck to her... most of the guys she dates will consider her a gold digger and will use her appropriately. In the meantime, I'll be looking for someone special who wants to stick with me long-term.

Daniel Stolte said...

Wow. I'm speechless. So this is what Crazy Town looks like.