Oddly enough, over the years – I’ve read some pretty strange stories. More often than not – the stranger the story – the more likely it is to have a kernel of truth in it. I mean, seriously – 20 years ago would you have imagined there would be a dearth of movies based on television shows from the 70s and 80s – the Dukes of Hazard was a Friday night television show along with Dallas and the Incredible Hulk – now two of those have been made into feature films and the third one is on the way.
But I digress . . .
As I write for this blog, I read even more on the topics of marriage whether it’s in a book, a website or a magazine. I spend a lot of time looking for interesting tidbits in the news to share and to discuss and the more I read – the wider my eyes get. Case in point: the mail order bride. The idea of a mail order bride is popular in old westerns.
The idea that mail order brides continues to be a popular in the modern digital age not only verges on the truly bizarre, but also defies understanding. Now you might argue that mail order brides is no different than meeting or dating online. Yet, I am not sure how likely I would be to agree to that.
First and foremost, online dating sites create an atmosphere where two singles can meet and interact. Whether you are a proponent of the medium or not – there are many success stories from encounters that began on the Internet. The idea behind mail order brides takes Internet dating to a higher level.
Vacations to Meet Brides
When you visit businesses that promote mail order brides, you will be able to view images of women from over 49 countries. I can understand why many of these women post their images and profiles through these sites. They are likely coming from an economically depressed area and are looking for a way to better their situation, but why would men elect to choose a bride through an image, a profile and from a different culture?
I have no true understanding of why someone would want to do that? Curiosity might draw in the unwary, but many of these sites invite you to contact the potential brides over the phone at a bargain basement price of $5.99 per minute or more. Others offer vacation tours to countries where you can meet potential brides and court them during the course of your vacation. I suppose that’s a step up from just filling out a form and picking up a total stranger at the bus stop.
Do Mail Order Marriages Work?
I have no idea. I’ve been looking for some statistics on the subject, but I’ve not had a lot of luck so far. Arranged marriages are still popular in many areas of the world. There are many cultures that embrace the idea of marriage first and love later. The challenge of marrying and building a successful relationship is hard enough without trying to click it and pick it.
Yes, we are a gratuitous society that is becoming truly spoiled by the one-click shopping available over the Internet. Yes, the mail order bride is not a new trend. But love is not something you can just shop for online.
Internet dating is one thing, but anyone who has ever checked out an Internet dating site knows that you can’t tell a lot from a photograph and even when you meet someone at a social gathering – most of us are on our best behavior. How open and understanding can a meeting between two people do when they have only a few phone calls and a designated vacation moment in which to interact.
What do you know about mail order brides?