Must be a dry news month

[marsden_online]

The Herald is talking about the man-drought again

Man drought deepens (census data)
Single women ask 'Where have the good fellas gone?' (Subjective stuff)

A couple of comments in the latter article made me roll my eyes a bit:

Tyson's ideal date would be in his late 20s or 30s, smack in the middle of the worst age group for the man drought. She admits she is picky. Many New Zealand men lacked style and confidence, she said. They weren't ambitious and didn't set goals.

And what else?

"They need to have good taste in music ... and shoes. They have to have the whole package, and they rarely do."

Maree and her many single girlfriends in their late 30s and early 40s have all noticed the shortage of eligible men.

"A lot of my single girlfriends are really beautiful, intelligent girls, nothing wrong with them. But they just can't find a man. [The men are] all taken or else total geeks."

That second actually gets my hackles up a bit, although academically I know outside my particular social circles the term "geek" still has a different and mostly negative definition.

One interesting connection my brain made though was between this line from the second article - Many New Zealand men lacked style and confidence, she said. They weren't ambitious and didn't set goals. - and this statement from the first - More young men leave New Zealand than women, and the men stay away longer. Are the ambitious men more likely to leave the country? I wouldn't be surprised.

So what's a 30-something, non-ambitious, non-stylish geek to do?

(Disclaimer - the Herald is of course an Auckland newspaper, with all the likely bias in their sample population that entails ;p)

~~~
In learning you will teach
And in teaching you will learn
Youll find your place beside the
Ones you love
Oh, and all the things you dreamed of
The visions that you saw
Well, the time is drawing near now
Its yours to claim in all

Son of man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day youll walk tall with pride
Son of man, a man in time youll be

- Phil Collins, Son of Man

Comments

[cthulhu-dream.livejournal.com]

Every guy I have had a relationship with has been a computer geek to some degree.

[marsden-online.livejournal.com]

And very lucky geeks they were ;D

[niennahirilfea.livejournal.com]

Those articles just amuse me. Well, not so much the articles, as the women in them always seem to be saying the same thing "Oh, but I want a guy who's this this and this, and has good taste in shoes, and eyes the colour of my favourite flower, and can play romantic guitar songs, and has lots of money and a nice car...and they have to like my friends, who are all as shallow and judgemental as me..." *rolls eyes* I mean, some people prefer geeks.:p Ok, there is a difference in numbers, but I imagine the same women would be saying the same thing if it was split 50/50. I dunno, that's how I see it anyway. *shrugs*

I can't hear that song without thinking of the Disney Tarzan movie.

[the-piedpiper.livejournal.com]

Daniel was this and this, good taste in shoes, played romantic guitar songs (didnt have lots of money, or a car), is sensitive, etc etc and it still didn't work out. I think that most people are just too superficial when they are looking for a parnter. There are certain things I dislike in guys, for instance I could never be with someone who was racist, sexist, or homophobic - but I generally don't meet that sort of person because my social group is a pretty open minded and tolerant one. So I know that most of the guys I meet who I may consider to be a potential partners are pretty tolerant.

[niennahirilfea.livejournal.com]

"I think that most people are just too superficial when they are looking for a partner." Hehe, that's what I was trying to say, but without the rambling.

[theuns.livejournal.com]

So, how does it feel being an appreciating asset?

[marsden-online.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I'm feeling distinctly under-appreciated :D

[uaekiwi.livejournal.com]

...Are the ambitious men more likely to leave the country?...

Speaking as a sample size of one... yes. ;-)