Race and Korea

[Neil]

Perhaps but I don't think many parents would see a teacher as a catch. 

That's because you use the well to do middle class as your universal measure. Whether it's an affectation to proclaim your belonging to that class or simple parochial ignorance, I'm not sure.

Plenty of parents would see a teacher as a catch.

Teachers are definitely less well regarded in the US than in Canada, for example.

[derspiess]

I don't think that's it.  ET's statement was that if parents were to choose suitors in America that Tim would be pretty successful. Perhaps I'm overestimating the degree to which teachers are looked down upon (noble vocation and sacrifice...) but I don't really see that making him a catch.  I certainly don't think any of my teachers would have ever been considered a great catch.  The salary just isn't there unless you are already living below or near the poverty level.

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

[garbon]

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

[Neil]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Once the doctors, lawyers and NFL quarterbacks are out of the way, they'd do alright.

[garbon]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Once the doctors, lawyers and NFL quarterbacks are out of the way, they'd do alright.

And business people and professors.

[The Brain]

Can Tim pass for white? I've never met him.

[Neil]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Once the doctors, lawyers and NFL quarterbacks are out of the way, they'd do alright.

And business people and professors.

No, they'd be in pretty much the same range as most of those types, barring the successful business owners who would naturally be above the doctors and lawyers but below the QBs.

[derspiess]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

I'd agree that in general, parents would prefer their daughter marry someone with higher income potential than a teacher.  But it would vary how much they would weight that preference vs. individual qualities.  And I would hope most parents would prefer their daughter marry a teacher who treats her like gold to a doctor who is either indifferent to her or treats her like crap.

[Slargos]

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Let me build a metaphore for you, so you will get a clearer understanding of the point people are trying to make:

Let's say we're out walking [for the sake of this metaphore, let's just assume that we would for some reason] in the forest (or a gay bar, if that's more your thing) and suddenly a Bear comes running straight towards us. Now, I'm going to want to get away, naturally. I don't want to get pounded by a Bear. I don't have to outrun famous Black American sprinter Wilma Rudolph, or even the Bear. I just have to outrun you.

What I'm getting at, is that I only have to be faster, not fastest.

Do you see?

[Malthus]

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Let me build a metaphore for you, so you will get a clearer understanding of the point people are trying to make:

Let's say we're out walking [for the sake of this metaphore, let's just assume that we would for some reason] in the forest (or a gay bar, if that's more your thing) and suddenly a Bear comes running straight towards us. Now, I'm going to want to get away, naturally. I don't want to get pounded by a Bear. I don't have to outrun famous Black American sprinter Wilma Rudolph, or even the Bear. I just have to outrun you.

What I'm getting at, is that I only have to be faster, not fastest.

Do you see?

Heh, one or both of you might *want* to be "pounded by a bear". 

[Neil]

Then again, it seems that most American teachers are pedophiles, so there's a good chance of a prison sentence in their future.

[Slargos]

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Let me build a metaphore for you, so you will get a clearer understanding of the point people are trying to make:

Let's say we're out walking [for the sake of this metaphore, let's just assume that we would for some reason] in the forest (or a gay bar, if that's more your thing) and suddenly a Bear comes running straight towards us. Now, I'm going to want to get away, naturally. I don't want to get pounded by a Bear. I don't have to outrun famous Black American sprinter Wilma Rudolph, or even the Bear. I just have to outrun you.

What I'm getting at, is that I only have to be faster, not fastest.

Do you see?

Heh, one or both of you might *want* to be "pounded by a bear". 

Why do you always have to sully my jokes with unecessarily adding a punchline that is already subtexted? 

[Malthus]

You're underestimating the degree to which some parents hate their daughter's current boyfriend

Tim's a nice, clean-cut guy with an education and a stable career in front of him.  Contrast that with a tattooed/pierced dude who barely got through high school and has no career prospects, other than the extremely remote chance of his shitty band somehow getting a major record deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

Let me build a metaphore for you, so you will get a clearer understanding of the point people are trying to make:

Let's say we're out walking [for the sake of this metaphore, let's just assume that we would for some reason] in the forest (or a gay bar, if that's more your thing) and suddenly a Bear comes running straight towards us. Now, I'm going to want to get away, naturally. I don't want to get pounded by a Bear. I don't have to outrun famous Black American sprinter Wilma Rudolph, or even the Bear. I just have to outrun you.

What I'm getting at, is that I only have to be faster, not fastest.

Do you see?

Heh, one or both of you might *want* to be "pounded by a bear". 

Why do you always have to sully my jokes with unecessarily adding a punchline that is already subtexted? 

Joke ... or Freudian signalling? 

[garbon]

Let me build a metaphore for you, so you will get a clearer understanding of the point people are trying to make:

Let's say we're out walking [for the sake of this metaphore, let's just assume that we would for some reason] in the forest (or a gay bar, if that's more your thing) and suddenly a Bear comes running straight towards us. Now, I'm going to want to get away, naturally. I don't want to get pounded by a Bear. I don't have to outrun famous Black American sprinter Wilma Rudolph, or even the Bear. I just have to outrun you.

What I'm getting at, is that I only have to be faster, not fastest.

Do you see?

No that doesn't help me. Why settle?

[garbon]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tim doesn't have a lot going for him.  I'm just saying that if parents were to theoretically be picking out ideal candidates for their children, I don't think teacher would rise to the top.

I'd agree that in general, parents would prefer their daughter marry someone with higher income potential than a teacher.  But it would vary how much they would weight that preference vs. individual qualities.  And I would hope most parents would prefer their daughter marry a teacher who treats her like gold to a doctor who is either indifferent to her or treats her like crap.

Fair enough.