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May 7, 2007
Asian mail order brides - social faux pas?
You can get anything out of a catalogue these days; and if there isn't a specific brad that produces whatever you desire, chances are good that you'll find it on ebay. Dating has its' catalogue shoppers as well - heck, that's what niche dating sites are all about. But if you want to really cut out the whole "courtship" aspect out of the equation and pick up a partner the same way you'd buy a bag of pretzels, there's always Asian mail order brides. The whole thing seems uncomfortably close to slavery to me (isn't paying for a partner considered prostitution in most countries?) but there's apparently enough people saying "Why should I waste hours on Asian dating sites when I could just cut the bull and order one online?"
I suppose if convenience is your number one concern, then mail order brides makes sense. If you're looking for instant gratification and just want get married as soon as humanly possible, then hitting those mail order catalogues. Some guys just want to rush into kissing Asian lips without any drama like "finding common interests" or "asking someone out on a date". It could also be argued that the whole monetary aspect of mail order brides is irrelevant when you consider how much cash is funneled into normal dating. Money is usually going to be involved when you're dealing with social interactions - not always to be sure (it IS possible to do dates that are pretty much cost-free) but money is still frequently mixed in there.
With all that said, I still have yet to meet anybody that's been brazen enough to brag about their mail order brides. Ordering your partner on eBay is still considered pretty left-field, and it can definitely be considered a bad dating idea. Freedom of choice is enshrined in this part of the world, and there are uncomfortable hints of non-consent when you buy a bride online. Sometimes that fear of slavery is unjustified - the women know what they're getting into, know that this is basically a financial obligation, and are dying to get far away from their current (unpleasant) environment. But more frequently the women are naive, typically rural, and apply for the mail order bride positions because they think it's a domestic service job (I think you can almost smell the irony here). It's safe to say that mail order brides still fall into the social faux pas category, and the links between it and prostitution are a little too close for comfort.
Posted by Glen at May 7, 2007 2:06 AM
Comments
How can you make any connection between prostitution, slavery, and mail order brides? What's wrong with having an arranged marriage? They usually last, unlike "love" marriages. And what's this BS about not "finding common intrests", most men do interview potential brides to see if they will be compatable. And why would men like myself travel halfway around the Earth just to date someone, very expensive date I'd say. Girls arn't forced into these marriages as you claim, for the marriage to work both people have to be willing for it to work.
Posted by: Murphy0530 at May 13, 2007 10:21 PM
I have always felt with these mail order bride sites, is that while you are technically getting a woman, is there any LOVE involved as well?
Posted by: Jason at July 8, 2007 6:11 PM
The guy above seems to think so, Jason. I think it just depends. True love is hard to find so it certainly can't be any easier just because you fly half-way around the world to meet women from less-developed countries. I guess it just depends if that "idea" appeals to you or not.
Posted by: CupidsReviews Doug at July 9, 2007 9:49 AM
Yea CupidsReviews Doug I agree with your comment. True love is indeed hard to find and I have never felt that going to a mail order bride site is going to make it easier.
I must admit some of these sites have very patronising web addresses, such as bridesbymail.com or bestwife4u.com. To me they give the impression they are 'selling' brides like an online computer site selling laptop computers, which can lead to some men believing they can 'buy' a woman off the shelf like a laptop computer.
At the risk of sounding like a hyprocrite I do find some of these Asian women attractive and wouldn't mind being 'introduced' to them and seeing if anything worked out, but I certainly wouldn't spend heaps of money under the notion that I am buying an 'off the shelf' wife.
Posted by: Jason at July 9, 2007 4:22 PM
