It’s getting thicker.
Tis okay, AJ. I’ll introduce you to some ‘different types’ when and if you ever decide to make the trip up. 
It’s getting thicker.[/quote]
Well, I don’t remember seeing anything good-looking western at “river” of late - or ever.
I didn’t mean to imply that all engineers are boring and I never used the word “nerdy” to describe them. But perhaps it came across that way. If so I apologize.
Actually some of my good male friends here are engineers. They are good guys and I like them a lot as friends. Maybe some engineers are hip and adventurous, but my friends are not.
And I can’t feign interest in them, just because they are nice guys. If I’m not sexually attracted to a guy, what’s the point of taking it any further than friendship?
Looks aren’t so much the issue. It’s more about style and attitude. For example, I dated a model-rific Taiwanese guy a while back. He was tall and good looking, but I found out he was pretty traditional. Then one day I asked if he would change my lightbulb for me (since he is so much taller than me). He said he couldn’t do it because he didn’t want to risk damaging his handsome face. What the *@%#???
Anyway, Jin Cheng Wu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Zhou Jie Lun (Jay Chou) are both from Taiwan and they are hot AND STRAIGHT. I know cool guys do exist here. I just have to get out and meet them. Maybe I’ll find one at the Living Room. I’ll give it a shot anyway! 
At the risk of being pelted . . . while politically incorrect, I think there’s some truth to AJ’s statement. Of course those are stereotypes, but there does seem to be less diversity in at least the outward appearances of people in Taiwan than in other places I’ve been. We all know that conformity is big in Asian culture. Kids have less freedom to experiment with different clothes, hair, jobs, music and ways of living here than elsewhere because they mostly live at home with parents who would not tolerate such behavior and it’s easier here to try to excel within the standard format than try something new. Nor do they have models for rebelion/experimentation. Then by the time they’re adults it’s too late to change.
As for the absence of artsy fartsy types, the person who started this thread should’ve gone to france or italy or california or brazil, heck anywhere but East Asia. It’s been said a million times that asians are good at math and science and less interested in the arts. While that’s obviously not true in all cases and there are talented artists, musicians, poets, dancers, etc in Taiwan, the arts scene here is not internationally renowned.
In any event, it’s been my experience that it’s always hard to find a good partner when looking for one. They always seem to show up when one’s either not looking for one or not actually completely technically available. But if she wants to boost her chances she should go to places where the guys she might like might hangout. . . wherever that would be.
I have been hearing this crap for years. Ever since I got picked to become a thespian, my life has been greatly enriched by the addition of many, many gay friends. I have also met even more heterophobic gay men. They are not my friends. If I can accept them and not judge them, why can’t they accept that there are completely straight men who are interesting, kind, good-looking, single and intelligent. I need only go as far as my bathroom mirror to find one. I can also look around my school and find a few more…both of the Asian and Caucasian variety. I even know some Nubian gentlemen who fall into this category. Isn’t the statistic that 1 in 10 men are gay? That leaves 90% of us as breeders. Now, granted, 90% of breeeders are, what our local friends would call “Ju Ge” (Pig Brother), that still leaves some of us that are prime dating material.
So, as far as the statement; “All the nice guys are either gay or married.” goes, all I can say is…YOU WISH.
[quote=“Mother Theresa”]
As for the absence of artsy fartsy types, the person who started this thread should’ve gone to France or Italy or California or Brazil, heck anywhere but East Asia. [/quote]
Italy! 
:mrgreen:
I’m a bit confused as to what ‘artsy fartsy’ means anyway. I might consider my bf artsy due to his profession, and his colleagues too. But as for ‘deep thinking’, I think this is not something one can generalize down to certain types. Some of the most bogus and shallow people I’ve known have been artsy fartsy posers. While some of the working class and less educated have been deeper thinkers.
Although I agree that this society is what is called ‘collective’ in sociological terms, there are still those who dwell on the fringes, which you’d find in any society in the world.
I mean, you really could classify any society into certain “types” if you put your mind to it.
For instance the foreign male or female populace in Taiwan isn’t terribly varied either, is it? I won’t make a list here, but encourage others! :?
Just to clarify Mother Theresa, I’m not looking for “artsy fartsy”. My last long term boyfriend was “punk rock crazy”. We had a great relationship and had loads of fun together. But he was Japanese and we met in the U.S.
Maybe I should move to Japan. I’ve thought about it. When I’m in Tokyo I see lot’s of white girls with young attractive Japanese hipsters.
…but I like Taiwan, I have good friends here, and moving to Japan would mean 4+ years of studying Chinese down the drain. :?
Hopefully I can find the right guy here. I still have faith!
You could always try online … Yahoo personals or something like that. If nothing else, your Chinese will improve a lot from staying up late at night chatting on MSN in Chinese!
Why don’t you just go to one of the Oriented Happy Hours? Get in touch with this guy here called Tomas. I hear he has loads of cool Taiwanese friends he can hook you up with.
I heard the Oriented Happy Hours are a real meat market. :bouncy:
Come on the oriented happy hours is ABC wannabees, and other people dressed in their only nice suit trying to “network”.
More looking for a job than a lay.
The forumosa happy hours are much better, at least people there aren’t scouting for potential employers.
Oh, I forgot that Oriented and Forumosa are different now? Didn’t that used to be this place’s name?
Let me make this argument: perhaps these guys dress similarly and has similar hair style because a large majority of them have the same kind of jobs, specifically business or engineering related. These kind of jobs are by nature conservative because you need to project the idea of professionalism and competency when meeting clients, addressing superiors, etc. So visible piercing and tattoos or other wild or trendy appearances are frowned upon, because in a conservative environment they project a sense of rebelliousness or anti-authoritarianism.
I confess that I do work in an engineering-related field, so I am sort of defending myself, but case in point: I got a new hair style and also trendier glasses earlier this year (my barber, I mean hair stylist, finally convinced me), and got some surprising comments from co-workers and bosses (just from a new hair-do and new glasses!): “Oh, you’re so fashionable!” “You must get a lot of girls!” “Going clubbing?” These aren’t exactly the attributes you want to convey in a conservative environment. This phenomenon is also true in the US: in Silicon Valley, the guys there look and dress similarly as well. The Polo shirt, khakis pants… because they all work in similar fields.
As for the weekends, well, since you still might need to go into the office that day, or might get called by clients, bosses, or whomever at anytime for emergencies, you don’t want to get caught looking unprofessional. Or perhaps someone you know from work might bump into you at Sogo! So you stay conservative, at least appearance-wise.
They all look alike, eh, MT? 
Erhu, I feel for ya, really. I mean, all I ever asked for in life was a kind, well-groomed young Playboy bunny with enormous inheritances and a Ph.D. in mathematics who loved me for what I am (a fat broke balding middle-aged computer nerd) and would wait on me hand and foot and bear my children – I’d even settle for someone like Paris Hilton or perhaps Britney Spears. But alas, none have come forward. They’re all too shallow and insist on dating rock stars, porn kings, and romance-novel cover models, those stuck-up b*tches. Meanwhile, I’m stuck dating ugly boring chicks.
Damn it, I deserve better! Where’s my Playboy bunny?!?!?!?
Erhu - I’m here, but I’ve been busy with my girlfriend. The question I have to ask is why should a guy who has a choice want to be with you, rather than with someone else? The ‘fine men’ are not hanging around in bars waiting to meet you. The fine men are probably dating girls who measure up to whatever standards they have set themselves. I know I am.
MT - I spoke to Tomas today. Apparently he’s becoming fat and unattractive, but I’m going to see his wonderful gf tomorrow and I’ll ask her opinion. I’ve met a few of his Taiwanese mates, and have a few of my own, who might measure up to Erhu’s requirements. But I have to agree that they are definitely a minority.
This is not a culture that promotes individuality, nor is it a place that attracts a lot of quality foreign types. There are endless threads here about ugly, stupid, and/or fat westerners giving the rest of us a bad name.
I don’t. And yet, I frequently go into the office on weekends wearing patched and faded bluejeans and one of my Grateful Dead T-shirts and a bandana on my head… and I never comb my hair nor do I shave on weekends.
The way I see it, the weekends are my time… I’m not getting paid for overtime… so, if I’m giving my time for free (to the firm, not my clients)… I’ll be damned if I’m going to wear the monkey suit then.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, non?
Erhu, if you ask me, the question is not “where are all the fine men at”, but “where are all the fine single men at.” It seems like the ones that are wonderful and fun to be with have already been discovered by someone else. Nearly two and a half years and I am still looking for one who is both nice and available. 
well, they are here, you just have to look VERY hard for them. But they do exist… or do they now!!! Well, I’ve been here for a year and I am still single, that tells you something!!!
No, there isn’t anything wrong w/ me!!
What about us un-cool, un-fine, ugly, horrible attached men ? Don’t we deserve love too ?