vicarz | (no subject)

2:42 and I can't get back to sleep. Something about working out often leads to this - is it the massive post-workout food (a small sandwich?) being sore (no, not really) or some rebound effect?

Reading "The Logic of Life" by Tim Harford. These econ meets life books are killing me, thanks a lot Colin. They're like candy for people with 3 digit iqs. And cynics.

Take romance vs. economics. I had a friend telling me that in NY nobody looks at a female over 30 w/o kids like she's crazy. Well, according to sex in the city of NY 1.3 million males bounce around 1.8 million females. In fact, statistics show that overall urban environments have a higher % of males than rural in the industrialized world. Women in areas in which they outnumber men, even by a little bit, tend to be higher paid and more educated.

So not crazy perhaps just means not alone.

A while ago I was whining that girls all stated they want tall men. However, it turns out that in all studies (and certainly my experience) you choose what you have to choose from. Economics folks have been cruising "speed dating" for data, and finding sad realities:
Men choose twice as many possible mates as females
Everyone lowers their standards based on what is available. Big time. So much so it is comical. Women want tall, but settle quickly when no tall people are around (Mexico and Asia, here I come). Men want not overweight (I'm quoting here) but will settle when no thin women are around.
Or as noted in Silence of the Lambs, you first covet what you know?
If true, I should get the fuck out of gothdom and fast...

As housework got easier, both men and women started marrying at older ages. The division of labor became less important so there was no need to pair up? Divorce rates have shown steady trends related to developing nations, while female worker participation is related to lower rates of abuse. Bargaining power = love. Fascinating theories.

Still wish I could sleep. When I got up star trek, 5th element, and harvey birdman were on. Thank insomnia for cable. In 2 hours I might as well get up.

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The covet thing I kind of catagorize as more of "You want (more) what you can't have", which also feeds into the idea you mentioned about "rank".

There is a theory that the more you have to work for something, the more valuable it is to you, which would make sense why some relationships which start off as one-night stands tend to remain so whereas after investing a lot of "get to know you" time, the relationship may last longer. There are always exceptions, but no one likes to feel as they've wasted time, energy, or money.

That bridges over to that whole manipulative trick of "The method" for picking up mates. Ick. Any system can be manipulated, but the people tht use tricks well...ick.

Hehe, you read that too...

But really, how is it a trick? The other option is to try to proove yourself to someone else and really, if you have self-respect, you should never have to do that expect maybe in a job situation, but surely not in romance.

At least, I personally am more interested in someone who doesn't act desprate but demonstrates valid confidence.

Read 'the method,' and it involves engaging in behavior that is disingenuous with the intent of manipulating someone into fucking you - presumably then dumping them when the using is done. Deliberately insult to establish rank? Disregard to trick them? It's disgusting, and it's disciples are rightly ridiculted. Anyone playing games and doing tricks to get laid is pathetic. By the time you're able to engage in such trickery, you should be mature enough to have more mature goals in terms of relationships. Says me.

Right, but you're speaking of the entire "method".

I was only speaking to the part that it's true that something/one worked for is perceived as more rewarding/valuable. Hell, I think that's just common sense. I don't know if it's disingenuous especially since it's natural.

Really, how often do you find yourself disgusted by someone who is physically attractive but acts like a slut; if they acted with self-respect, instead of the town whore, wouldn't you be more interested in them? It's basically the same idea.

I probably would have been more disgusted about that part when reading about it if I didn't know it to be true and had not witnessed a lot of people knowingly, or unknowingly, playing off the "hard to get" theme. Eh, it's just human psychology, really. As humans, especially children, most of us wanted that cookie (or whatever) more after being told we couldn't have it.

I could write at-lenght about the psychology behind "The Method" because I do find it facinating due to it being so simple yet contraversial due to the obvious manipulation techniques, but I'll save that for another time. What's more, it is very telling about gender psychology and how we tend to interact. I do agree with your final point, however, and I belive "The Game" illustrates how pathetic things can get... but the main character eventually discovers this when he finally meets a women he loves and wants to stay with because she is a challange to him.

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