His Money + Her Looks = a Match

[Theobald]

His Money + Her Looks = a Match

By Lauren Moraski

A New York Dating Event Pairs Rich Guys With 'Hot' Gals; After All, It's Only 'Natural Selection'

Jan. 25, 2007— Jimmy Cyrus is a 25-year-old New York City bachelor who works 16-hour days.

He also happens to be wealthy, an asset that makes him eligible for the upcoming "Natural Selection" speed-dating event open only to "rich guys" and "hot girls."

Cyrus, who works in real estate, is one of nearly 150 well-to-do single men in the running for the Feb. 7 Manhattan matchmaking event.

If he makes the cut, the ticket costs $500. But for that steep a fee Cyrus may have a chance to meet Heather Tierney, a 27-year-old entrepreneur living in New York, who has also applied to attend the matchmaking event. If the Indianapolis native is chosen, her entrance fee is just $30.

Speed-dating is nothing new. For the past few years, single Americans have spent evenings in bars getting paired up with other singletons in four- to eight-minute "dates."

But the upcoming "Natural Selection" gathering puts a spin on the trend by reinforcing some age-old ideas about relationships: Men go for looks, and women prowl for money.

Bank Books vs. Beauty Bibles

This is often the case when it comes to dating, according to a couple of recent studies, which suggest that women place high value on income, while men value looks. Still, "Natural Selection" has been getting mixed reactions, according to organizer Jeremy Abelson, co-founder of Pocket Change, a monthly newsletter that informs New Yorkers about the most-expensive goods and services in town.

"The sad thing is not the fact that we would put it together," Abelson, 26, said. "The sad thing is that people will actually pay for it. The beautiful thing is that it exposes innate desires in dating."

But entrance into the upscale speed-dating affair won't be easy.

A man hoping to snag the woman of his dreams will be judged by pretty stiff criteria. Guys who are 25 and under must make at least $200,000 a year, and men between the ages of 26 and 30 have to bring home $300,000 a year. Over 30? The required income level jumps to $500,000.

Not gainfully employed? No problem. Men who have at least $1 million in invested assets or a $4 million trust fund can apply.

"The man could be worth $2 billion, be 83 years old, and can attend," said Abelson, who added that men must show proof of earnings or savings to apply.

For women there's only one guideline: beauty. Five photos are all that's needed to enter the competition. Education, profession, personality and income will not be considered.

Applications started flowing in shortly after the event was announced. Just days after an ad for "Natural Selection" ran in New York Magazine, Pocket Change received nearly 150 responses from men, along with about 300 applications from women, who have submitted photos ranging from cute poses with dogs to sexy lingerie shots.

In the Eye of the Beholder? Umm …

New York City matchmaker Janis Spindel will decide which "beautiful" women get to attend.

"We'll be rejecting people left, right and center," said Spindel, who's been married for 23 years.

Although the responses have already exceeded Abelson's expectations, not everyone supports the concept. Pocket Change has received hate mail from people who call it "crass" and "tasteless."

One angry woman left a message that said: "How dare you. Shame on you. If I had the power I would tell the next president of the United States … to shut you down. Power to old women. Power to ugly women."

Despite the uproar from some critics, Abelson has also received positive feedback about "Natural Selection." Another woman wrote in saying, "I'm already married to my catch but what a way to organize things. … It would have saved me years of scouting to have all the men in one place."

That's exactly why the founders of Pocket Change decided to link up with the New York-based Cupid.com for the event. Abelson said he kept seeing a disparity between what people say they are looking for in a spouse and what they want. "It's like people aren't allowed to say, 'I'm looking for a successful man,'" he said. "And it's taboo to say that men are looking for attractive women."

Lisa Daily, a 39-year-old dating expert and author of "Stop Getting Dumped!" agreed, and said, "The fact is, no matter what we say, biology compels us. For men, it's an attractive woman; for women, it's a good provider. They are stereotypes, but they are tried and true."

A 2005 speed-dating survey, co-written by Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia University's business school, backed Daily's claims. The survey concluded that women showed a greater preference for men who came from affluent neighborhoods, and that the majority of guys responded first to physical attractiveness.

A similar online dating study, cited in the 2005 book "Freakonomics," suggested that women place almost twice as much emphasis on income as men do, and that a woman's looks are of "paramount importance" to men.

So, are guys really only after hot gals? According to Spindel, many times the answer is yes, especially when it comes to extremely successful men.

"At the end of the day, you can go to Harvard and you can go to Brown … but there's not a chance in China that you'll get a second date unless you're pretty," she said.

But even Spindel admitted that wasn't always the case. She believes romance sometimes just comes down to chemistry. "That's an intangible that nobody can account for," she said. "Men will not have chemistry with a woman unless they're attracted to her."

Spindel should know. She's said her matchmaking skills have resulted in more than 750 trips to the altar. But her services don't come cheap. After a man hires her to find him a wife, she negotiates the pay based on his age, salary and location, which can range anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000.

Put a Price on Happiness?

"It's a small price to pay to be happy for the rest of your life," she said.

Spindel will be on hand Feb. 7, when an estimated 40 single men and women meet at Bruno Jamais, an upscale French restaurant on New York's Upper East Side. An icebreaker will get the night rolling, according to Daily, who said the two- to three-hour "Natural Selection" event will include six- to eight-minute dates.

When the buzzer goes off, the ladies stay put, and the guys move to the next table for the next round. With score cards in hand, participants check off whom they'd like to see again. If both people are interested, then theyll receive each other's contact information.

Cyrus has never attended a speed-dating event before but said he's looking forward to seeing so many beautiful single women in one place. Although looks are the No. 1 attribute that entices him in a potential mate, he said, "I don't feel like the woman of my dreams has to be gorgeous."

As for Tierney, she thinks the whole speed-dating idea sounds like fun. "I'm not looking for a rich husband," she revealed but added that monetary status is something she considers when looking for a mate. In the end, though, for Tierney, it comes down to something even more basic. "I look for someone I can have a good time with," she said.

Source

[Marcus Marulus]

Ridiculous idea...typical American psuedo-Darwinist pseudo-scientific "explanations" of human behaviour. There is no "natural selection" between men and women. Man (and woman) chooses by his own free will whom to marry: you can marry a rich one, a poor one, or anyone you like...or you will act according to customs prevalent in your society. Natural selection would imply something completely unconscious...

[Tennyson]

Although I have never worked my father has given me a comfortable apartment and some money. I am wealthy compared to other people of my age.

I once responded to a dating ad which said "a beautiful girl looks for a rich man." The girl turned out to be a blonde, a dumb airhead and reasonably attractive by Finnish (East-Baltic) standards but not quite up to my level. I discarded her after brief sampling.

I tried to get another girl flaunting with my wealth. Her parents turned out to be multi-millionaires.

Using my wealth as attraction I secured a blind date with a girl who said that she was a photomodel. She didn't lie of that but to my surprise she turned out to be an Egyptian immigrant. I was revolted at the instant I saw her.

That was the point of my life I decided to become a racialist Internet crusader.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Although I have never worked my father has given me a comfortable apartment and some money. I am wealthy compared to other people of my age.

I once responded to a dating ad which said "a beautiful girl looks for a rich man." The girl turned out to be a blonde, a dumb airhead and reasonably attractive by Finnish (East-Baltic) standards but not quite up to my level. I discarded her after brief sampling.

I tried to get another girl flaunting with my wealth. Her parents turned out to be multi-millionaires.

Using my wealth as attraction I secured a blind date with a girl who said that she was a photomodel. She didn\'t lie of that but to my surprise she turned out to be an Egyptian immigrant. I was revolted at the instant I saw her.

That was the point of my life I decided to become a racialist Internet crusader.

I hope it was just because of the egyptian ... BTW, I would not trust minimally a woman looking openly for a rich man. Too stupid to say aloud what is the secret goal of the many who hunt of rich men but do pretend that it is not true in order to increase their public virtues, too vulgar because its purpose is just exploitation without even a pretence of sentiments behind.

[Carnyx]

"For men, it's an attractive woman; for women, it's a good provider. They are stereotypes, but they are tried and true."

[Galaico]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Although I have never worked my father has given me a comfortable apartment and some money. I am wealthy compared to other people of my age.

I don't want to offend you, but do you think that's correct? You have an apartment for yourself and money and you've never worked?

I could understand it if you were still studing, and in a different city from your parents. Please tell me that's your case.

I once responded to a dating ad which said "a beautiful girl looks for a rich man." The girl turned out to be a blonde, a dumb airhead and reasonably attractive by Finnish (East-Baltic) standards but not quite up to my level. I discarded her after brief sampling.

I tried to get another girl flaunting with my wealth. Her parents turned out to be multi-millionaires.

Using my wealth as attraction I secured a blind date with a girl who said that she was a photomodel. She didn't lie of that but to my surprise she turned out to be an Egyptian immigrant. I was revolted at the instant I saw her.

That was the point of my life I decided to become a racialist Internet crusader.

How on earth did you answer to those ads? Didn't you care about those girls being with you only because of your money?

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Galaico

I don't want to offend you, but do you think that's correct?

I fail to see a problem.

You have an apartment for yourself and money and you've never worked?

Yup.

I could understand it if you were still studing, and in a different city from your parents. Please tell me that's your case.

Yes, that is the case.

How on earth did you answer to those ads? Didn't you care about those girls being with you only because of your money?

I never intended to have a serious relationship with a golddigger.

Basically she was just an attractive woman who was ready to have sex with me and availed myself of the opportunity. It cost me nothing and I hope that she learned her lesson.

[Gavril]

Tennyson, you sound like a really nice person.

[Tennyson]

Oh... and another experience.

A girl responded to my "rich young man" dating ad. She said that she could have sex with me for 500 € / 1 night and 1000 € / 2 nights.

She said her name and where she studies (engineering at an university).
The girl described herself as a beautiful nymphoman in her absolutely hilarious letter.

"What on Earth is she thinking offering sex to strangers giving full personal information and everything?", I thought.

I sent her SMS to a contact detail service which gave her full address. I was surprised to find out that she lived in a very exclusive area of Helsinki. I typed her address to Google and found out that her family home was for sale for 2 million euros.

I was astonished. I replied her that I wasn't interested to pay her for her services but what if we met as if we were in a real date? I said that if I became interested in her I could occasionally buy her something.

She replied telling that she needed new shoes (300€) and if I bought them she could have sex with me.

The daughter of a millionaire was whoring to buy herself new shoes.

She drove to meet me with a brand new 100 000 € Mercedes-Benz (her mother's as she explained) and I offered her a dinner. All the time she talked about Italian cuisine, fashion and expensive living in a dry, snobby style like some 50-year-old spinster. She mentioned relatives of considerable standing in the society who were also known to my parents.

As turned out to be plain-looking contrary to previous information and obnoxious I didn't have the slightest desire to engage in sexual intercourse with her.

What are freaks like her doing on Planet Earth?

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

Tennyson, you sound like a really nice person.

Do personal morals have any kind of place in a society like this?

[Gavril]

For some of us, yes.

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

For some of us, yes.

Whores do not deserve my empathy.

[Gavril]

Oh, please. You complain about girls being whores, yet you openly admit, almost brag, that you're luring them to you with your money. That is hypocrisy.

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

Oh, please. You complain about girls being whores, yet you openly admit, almost brag, that you're luring them to you with your money. That is hypocrisy.

Quit moralizing. Whoring and normal sexual conduct of men are not analogous.

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Tennyson

[...]
Using my wealth as attraction I secured a blind date with a girl who said that she was a photomodel. She didn't lie of that but to my surprise she turned out to be an Egyptian immigrant. I was revolted at the instant I saw her.

That was the point of my life I decided to become a racialist Internet crusader.

You decided to become a racialist internet crusader because an Egyptian immigrant girl responded to your wealth-decoyed offer for a blind date? Give me a break.

Originally Posted by Tennyson

What are freaks like her doing on Planet Earth?

Have you ever considered the possibility you could be a freak either? Just curious...

Originally Posted by Tennyson

Quit moralizing. Whoring and normal sexual conduct of men are not analogous.

Men also can be whores, and women have no lesser desire for sex than men.

[Tennyson]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr