[etherael]

This problem is extremely culturally localised, look at the rash of mail order bride sites, not in isolation but as to what it suggests. Just because the market works one way within one culture is absolutely not a global indicator that this must always be so.

And to immunise myself from potential responses of "ewww, mail order brides are creepy", I'm not actually suggesting using those services, merely pointing out that if markets exist where women happily engage in such practices, consider what it implies about normal dating locally in some instances.

The western cultural experience is not the only option on the table.

[amirn]

Not sure I get how the example relates to the point your making. But agree 100% that Western culture is not the be all and end all.

It is the market we're playing in though...

[etherael]

Not the market you need to be playing in, something enormously frequently overlooked when a localised problem arises here I have found, is all.