Superman syndrome

[MrLister]

Passport collecting girls are more likely to be the mainland Chinese type. Not that I'm making silly and vast generalisations or anything, just observing, 'like.

[jgl]

Not amongst Mainland Chinese in China, at least. "Proper" girls don't go out with uncouth Westerners.

[emmie]

Think that is more to do with poverty than the women finding the men alluring supermen or do you mean that going there makes the men feel like superman? Guess there is part of that going on.

[Inserted bold] Have pondered a bit 'bout that, too.

Is it "poverty" &/or a little of the understandable aspiration for UPWARD mobility for not just themselves but their prospective offspring, if any?

[hullexile]

[Inserted bold] Have pondered a bit 'bout that, too.

Is it "poverty" &/or a little of the understandable aspiration for UPWARD mobility for not just themselves but their prospective offspring, if any?

Obviously it varies but for many it starts at least with the need to feed their childen, pay for school fees, hospital bills, etc. Moves on to providing security for the future for their family in a society with no social welfare system. For others it could be classified as upward mobility, but nothing more than what the rest of us would take for granted.

[emmie]

Obviously it varies but for many it starts at least with the need to feed their childen, pay for school fees, hospital bills, etc. Moves on to providing security for the future for their family in a society with no social welfare system. For others it could be classified as upward mobility, but nothing more than what the rest of us would take for granted.

Hm, well-put... sorta points to some ole socio-biological imperative (?) ...with occasional warm and fuzzy romance-luv - like glue - that bonds/binds, and keeps a relationship "ticking".

A mousy-blonde gweilo friend, who’s into his share of late night crawls in LKF-Soho-Wanchai, never had problems attracting cute 20-something locals who perceived HIM as a rather "exotic" catch... One date even thought him totally "charming" in some "other-worldly" way (That previously mentioned "Super-being" effect?)

Could easily have been labelled "Lothario", till he eventually hooked-up, seriously, with one bright, cheery HK gal. The initial whirlwind dating done, then the move into his company-subsidised Mid-Levels flat, followed by a bun in the oven 8mths later. And 'bout a half-yr after that, happily wed they were, with trimmings and all, plus us mates attending. Seems she'd found a way out of mum’s wee place (apparently, sometimes didn't get along).

Now the lovebirds are well settled in the West, with gorgeous babe thriving, enjoying green-grass open spaces and somewhat “clean air” – with occasional visits to HK for in-laws. Recall him expressing a soft spot for kids BEFORE he got hitched... All's good

Yeah, these things are not as straightforward as per 1st, even 2nd, glance; but maybe cold-light-of-day cynicism about them doesn't help towards "understanding", either. (Not discounting others' views on here.)

[hullexile]

Hm, well-put... sorta points to some ole socio-biological imperative (?) ...with occasional warm and fuzzy romance-luv - like glue - that bonds/binds, and keeps a relationship "ticking".

A mousy-blonde gweilo friend, who’s into his share of late night crawls in LKF-Soho-Wanchai, never had problems attracting cute 20-something locals who perceived HIM as a rather "exotic" catch... One date even thought him totally "charming" in some "other-worldly" way (That previously mentioned "Super-being" effect?)

Could easily have been labelled "Lothario", till he eventually hooked-up, seriously, with one bright, cheery HK gal. The initial whirlwind dating done, then the move into his company-subsidised Mid-Levels flat, followed by a bun in the oven 8mths later. And 'bout a half-yr after that, happily wed they were, with trimmings and all, plus us mates attending. Seems she'd found a way out of mum’s wee place (apparently, sometimes didn't get along).

Now the lovebirds are well settled in the West, with gorgeous babe thriving, enjoying green-grass open spaces and somewhat “clean air” – with occasional visits to HK for in-laws. Recall him expressing a soft spot for kids BEFORE he got hitched... All's good

Yeah, these things are not as straightforward as per 1st, even 2nd, glance; but maybe cold-light-of-day cynicism about them doesn't help towards "understanding", either. (Not discounting others' views on here.)

Well said Emmie. The people in Wan Chai are extremely complex, both the men and the women. The men have a wide range of motivations and issues and so do the women. The men (labelled as customers/guests/papas/boyfriends/asawas depending on the type of relationship) vary from total sleaze bags and evil shits (in terms of sadism and payment), to nice blokes, with a range of sad buggers in the middle. Describing it as sad old men paying for sex from vulnerable poor girls just does not get anywhere near the complexity of it. I met one of these "poor vulnerable girls" who had brought her maid with her and had several rich guests and boyfriends including the CEO of a famous UK company. Others are totally desperate and have to get drunk or drugged every night to earn enough money to stop their family starving. Some of the relationships that develop are genuine in both directions (though very few), often it is one way (either the man using the woman or the woman using the man). People who think they know what all the men or women are thinking clearly don't. Sorry I'm an academic with a speciality in cultural differences so this whole area intrigues me. Plus I'm a nosey bastard.