Date-onomics
Definition: The non-word "date-onomics" comes partially from the Greek word nomos "custom, law" (correct me if I'm wrong, Warnser) and the English word date "social engagement often of the romantic nature" and thus means social engagement management. Essentially, date-onomics is the study of human choice behavior, applied to dating. The subject has two broad categories. One category is microdate-onomics, which deals with the individual, and the other category is macrodate-onomics, which deals with the culture or community. In this post, I am focusing more on the microdate-onomics as applied to myself.
Date-onomic Assumption: Under date-onomic theory, there exists a theory of value. I have decided that there is a "dating theory of value," which assumes that a date or a boyfriend is worth the labor and effort that it takes to produce. Often, I forget that I have this theory, but there it is. It does exist.
Supply and Demand: I am going to (very briefly) attempt to describe, explain, and predict the appropriate amount of flirting and number of males available to produce a date in my life. Scary, yes, but this is date-onomics, so it must be done. Please follow me on my journey through this model:
Willingness to flirt: In other words, this is the effort that I have to put into being asked out or going on dates. Sometimes this includes my effort in asking someone out. In the classic supply and demand model, this is known as PRICE.
Number of Males: Basically, this is the same as in the classic model: QUANTITY.
Datable Males: Datable males are people who I would consider to be datable. The requirements vary and would require an entirely different post itself. Naturally, this is SUPPLY.
Desire: In other words, how interested am I in dating? Do I have the time to date? Am I reminded of the dating theory of value? How many females are out there competing for males (and ferosciously, at that)? Is the opportunity cost of dating greater than the opportunity cost of not dating? In the classic model, this is known as DEMAND.
Let us not forget that this model is subject to certain constraints, one of them being scarcity. For example, one can have more dates by flirting more effectively, looking prettier, etc., but there may not be enough time to fit in all of the dates that come from that behavior, so time is scarce in some cases. Fortunately, this is not a problem for me. Moving on...
So, as you can see, there really is only one point at which I will date, and that is during a blue moon that occurs on a Friday, when pigs fly, hell freezes over, and my desire to date crosses with the datable males. In other words, timing and miracles. (Please notice the areas of shortage and surplus, as well.)
In conclusion, there really is a perfectly rational explanation for date-onomics. I can even graph it. Any questions, class?
16 comments:
First of all, thanks for the post and the dedication. I'm touched.
Next, I love economics - even when it's date-onomics.
Finally, I bet my dating graph would look very similar to yours, although I think my supply of datable men is less than yours (I know one single man) and my willingness to date is, on average, lower. It will definitely take a miracle for me to date, or a change of scenery. I bet I can guess which one will come first.
Really, I enjoyed you breaking down dating into an microeconomics format. Maybe in a future post you could do the macro version - I tend to prefer macroecon for some reason. You could even dedicate it to me! :)
Julie - I have to say that one of the reasons that I dedicated it to you is because it was going to be economics applied to dating. Perhaps you will be the only person who enjoys this post!
I should mention that the graph shows, of course, more than one instance in which dating will occur. Let me specify and say that there is only one OPTIMAL point. ...and really, there are a lot of untouched variables in this discussion of date-onomics, but ... you get it, right?
I will think about doing a macrodate-onomics post. Actually, stay tuned for more posts in the school of dating.
Ohhh, Cardine, you made me laugh out loud. How funny you are! Love the "only one point at which I will date . . ." Do you think my husband would be impressed if I similar treaty and graph on amor-onomics?!
Perhaps if you graph amor-onomics, it will increase his level of desire. I know I would be turned on if a male presented an economic model of his attraction to me. But then, I am weird like that.
Cardine, does the optimal point become even harder to find if the subject is 50, divorced and a COB (crusty old broad, a term borrowed form a book "Almost Sisters"? And the desire to date is even less.
If a sense of humor was the most powerful aphrodesiac, you and Julie would be fighting off the men.
Book, I've never heard of a wife seeking to increase the amor-quotient level. At least, that is what I picked up on my 50's trip. According to my friends, supply and demand are on parallel lines that never meet. (I hope I haven't demonstrated my woeful misunderstanding of economics.)
I am confused. I thought dating had more to do with global warming and pirates than with all that "-onomics" stuff.
Cardine, does your willingness to flirt increase when you are out of town and may possibly never see those individuals ever again?
My dating graph has more to do with money, and has only one number on the x-axis.
cardine and framed, I think you misunderstood my intended message. I was thinking of the 'only one point on the graph that is during a blue moon that occurs on a Friday, when pigs fly, hell freezes over, etc.'
your graph made me laugh so much Elora started laughing too!
You know, two new couples moved into our ward and spoke on the same day. They were both freshly plucked from BYU, and both couples looked...exactly the same!!!
Now I know people go to places like BYU to get married, but if the price is looking exactly like all the other blonde girls, and your husband looks just like you neighbors husband, so much so that it doesn't matter which one you married, is it worth the loss of self?
I was pondering this at church on sunday.
http://carpecrustulum.blogspot.com/2006/07/when-pigs-fly-etc.html
Too, too funny, myke. You are such a dreamer.
That was funny, Myke!
banana - I forgot to answer your comment.
Yes, I think that it is clear that my willingness to flirt is a lot higher when I am out of town and may never see that person again. (Humiliating flirting, at that!)
And, I loved your comment about the money and only one number on the x-axis.
I must admit that I didn't follow the economics lesson very well (due to my inexperience with the subject); however, I would be very interested to see my own graph, as I am quite a visual learner.
I have to admit, after reading the comments and the blog, and believing that I am the first male to respond, I am apprehensive about what I might say. But I will try to be on my best behavior.
First I have to say that I like the term date -onomics.
For your greek... I was convinced. Really Greek is less about denotation and more about expression. But I believe that your definition for nomos (which by the way, good usage of the actual root) was at least as accurate as I could do.
At first when I read the blog,
I guess I didn't really get it.
I mean I understand the principles, but It didn't seem very complete,
But now, as I study the graph,
and hearing your explanatory comments, I think it is starting to make more sense to me.
I guess I agree with your dating theory of value, but I too, sometimes forget that I agree with the theory.
I think that sums things up.
Cardine! You need some more help in flirting in your home town. Anything progress with Provo(Orem?) guy?
I know who you are. Do you know who I am?
guesswho:
I don't know who you are. May I have a hint?
Yes, it's true that I need help with flirting in my own home town. I don't know who you're talking about with the Provo/Orem guy. I have an idea, and if it's who I think you're talking about, um... yeah, that was gone a long time ago. (Sorry.)
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