Comments on: American woman marries auto-rickshaw driver http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602371 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602371 I also agree with @19 Mitch. He's hit the nail on the head. I do wish them luck--may the marriage be blessed. Jen. I also agree with @19 Mitch. He’s hit the nail on the head. I do wish them luck–may the marriage be blessed. Jen.

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602116 jimh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602116 If this is a test to see if I'm jaded or not, I guess I am. I vote hoax. If this is a test to see if I’m jaded or not, I guess I am. I vote hoax.

]]> By: Daedalus http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602372 Daedalus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602372 Just because it's probably doomed doesn't mean it ISN'T a nice story, too. :) It's great when two people find happiness in each other, even if it's a relationship built on an initial fetish for the exotic in both of them. I agree with some other posters in seeing the lady as kind of predatory -- the dude seems sincere, even though it's infatuation. But I'd be surprised if both of them didn't have this exact conversation and are totes fine with it. A few month's happiness, and a plot for the next Jennifer Aniston movie, and an interesting story to tell. Lots of marriages have a lot less than that. Cheers, kids. Just because it’s probably doomed doesn’t mean it ISN’T a nice story, too. :) It’s great when two people find happiness in each other, even if it’s a relationship built on an initial fetish for the exotic in both of them. I agree with some other posters in seeing the lady as kind of predatory — the dude seems sincere, even though it’s infatuation. But I’d be surprised if both of them didn’t have this exact conversation and are totes fine with it.

A few month’s happiness, and a plot for the next Jennifer Aniston movie, and an interesting story to tell. Lots of marriages have a lot less than that. Cheers, kids.

]]> By: Adam Stanhope http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602378 Adam Stanhope Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602378 @#35: The old lady offers 10 rupees as a gift/blessing. 10 rupees is about USD$0.10. Not a big deal for the bride, but quite generous on the part of the old lady. The husband - Harish - refuses the money. "No, no, Mrs. Patna. You keep it." She insists. The money is handed directly to the bride and the bride offers great thanks for the gift. There was nothing greedy about her accepting the 10 rupees. It was, in fact, the proper thing to do. @#35:

The old lady offers 10 rupees as a gift/blessing. 10 rupees is about USD$0.10. Not a big deal for the bride, but quite generous on the part of the old lady.

The husband – Harish – refuses the money. “No, no, Mrs. Patna. You keep it.” She insists. The money is handed directly to the bride and the bride offers great thanks for the gift.

There was nothing greedy about her accepting the 10 rupees. It was, in fact, the proper thing to do.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602124 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602124 Ah, for Harish's self-confidence, another U. of Chicago woman, and a time machine... Ah, for Harish’s self-confidence, another U. of Chicago woman, and a time machine…

]]> By: Adam Stanhope http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602381 Adam Stanhope Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602381 My own marriage was/is very similar to this one except that I am the westerner and my wife is the foreigner (and the country wasn't India). We've been together 21 years now and have a beautiful daughter who will start her freshman year in college next year when she'll be the same age I was when I met her mother. My own marriage was/is very similar to this one except that I am the westerner and my wife is the foreigner (and the country wasn’t India).

We’ve been together 21 years now and have a beautiful daughter who will start her freshman year in college next year when she’ll be the same age I was when I met her mother.

]]> By: W. James Au http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602128 W. James Au Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602128 Score dude! Score dude!

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602901 jimh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602901 Now, every time I scroll past this the guy at the right of the youtube freeze frame creeps me out! The one with the crazy staring eyes. Yeah, him. Now, every time I scroll past this the guy at the right of the youtube freeze frame creeps me out! The one with the crazy staring eyes. Yeah, him.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602903 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602903 @KMOSER, I would like to point out that commenter #1 is 15-years old whose gender is currently undetermined--do you really want to marry this person? @KMOSER, I would like to point out that commenter #1 is 15-years old whose gender is currently undetermined–do you really want to marry this person?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-603416 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603416 how has no one gone to the "he's looking for a way to America" theory? it is admittedly cynical but no less so than saying she's just in it for some exotic changes in her life. Nevertheless, she looks really happy - so I hope it's not the guy who is taking her for a ride. how has no one gone to the “he’s looking for a way to America” theory? it is admittedly cynical but no less so than saying she’s just in it for some exotic changes in her life. Nevertheless, she looks really happy – so I hope it’s not the guy who is taking her for a ride.

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602396 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602396 Ignoring the context, it sounds like a whirlwind proposal, which tends to yield whirlwind divorce. Exceptions occur, but that's the real hazard I see here. Then again, I've been dating someone for over two decades and we have no plans to marry -- we'd drive each other crazy if we didn't have elbow room in the relationship -- so my perspective is a bit odd. Ignoring the context, it sounds like a whirlwind proposal, which tends to yield whirlwind divorce. Exceptions occur, but that’s the real hazard I see here.

Then again, I’ve been dating someone for over two decades and we have no plans to marry — we’d drive each other crazy if we didn’t have elbow room in the relationship — so my perspective is a bit odd.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602141 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602141 I'm skeptical of such a short time together... but at the same time, i think inter-racial marriage is beautiful. my mother was well-off and fresh from europe (portugal, if you're curious) and my father a poor new-to-america honk kong guy. back in the 70's everyone said it was stupid and couldn't work. 30 years of marriage and two kids later, they're still happy. even if i think think this couple jumped the gun and are rushing into marriage, i wish them the best in weathering the odds. bravo and welcome to the melting pot! I’m skeptical of such a short time together… but at the same time, i think inter-racial marriage is beautiful.

my mother was well-off and fresh from europe (portugal, if you’re curious) and my father a poor new-to-america honk kong guy. back in the 70′s everyone said it was stupid and couldn’t work. 30 years of marriage and two kids later, they’re still happy.

even if i think think this couple jumped the gun and are rushing into marriage, i wish them the best in weathering the odds. bravo and welcome to the melting pot!

]]> By: al314 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-630045 al314 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-630045 I (from India) married a Westerner (from Argentina) in the US. She was from a rich family, I from a lower middle-class family. We have been married for 26 years and 11 months. It has been great. We live in the US. She got her Green Card because of me, which is atypical. Love and commitment, both are needed. May Harish and Whitney have both in plenty! I (from India) married a Westerner (from Argentina) in the US. She was from a rich family, I from a lower middle-class family. We have been married for 26 years and 11 months. It has been great. We live in the US. She got her Green Card because of me, which is atypical. Love and commitment, both are needed. May Harish and Whitney have both in plenty!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602401 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602401 Shoot, marriages like that happen all the time in California. After the ceremony it's a dice roll. But seriously...even if it fails, at the very least they got to feel whatever they felt for that first day. Shoot, marriages like that happen all the time in California. After the ceremony it’s a dice roll. But seriously…even if it fails, at the very least they got to feel whatever they felt for that first day.

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602149 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602149 Who knows what will last and what won't? Best laid plans and all that. I bet their marriage has the same 50/50 chance as everyone else's. I wish them the best. Who knows what will last and what won’t? Best laid plans and all that. I bet their marriage has the same 50/50 chance as everyone else’s. I wish them the best.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602150 bardfinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602150 Awesome! Awesome!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602151 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602151 loved the video...as sweet as it seems, I don't think she realizes what she just got herself into! I hope there is a happy ending though. loved the video…as sweet as it seems, I don’t think she realizes what she just got herself into! I hope there is a happy ending though.

]]> By: cinemajay http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602152 cinemajay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602152 Marriage does take work, but they look happy to jump into this new adventure. I say Mozel Tov! /or whatever you say in India Marriage does take work, but they look happy to jump into this new adventure. I say Mozel Tov!

/or whatever you say in India

]]> By: agentouchie http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602667 agentouchie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602667 there are so many reasons why i think this is a stupid idea but hey, people make stupid decisions all the time. there are so many reasons why i think this is a stupid idea but hey, people make stupid decisions all the time.

]]> By: cognitive dissonance http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602412 cognitive dissonance Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602412 this reminds me of the south park where everyone buys up the peruvian flute music to seem more cultural. no one likes it, they just want to be seen as more cultured and worldly. don't get me wrong, i wish them the best, but i don't see her living out her life in a third world country, and i wonder if he'd be ready to leave his entire family behind to live with a practical stranger in the US. i think he's in it for the lond haul, and she's along for the ride while shes young and stupid. whats worse, as i see this as an adumbrative inspiration for a slew of new sitcoms. this reminds me of the south park where everyone buys up the peruvian flute music to seem more cultural. no one likes it, they just want to be seen as more cultured and worldly.

don’t get me wrong, i wish them the best, but i don’t see her living out her life in a third world country, and i wonder if he’d be ready to leave his entire family behind to live with a practical stranger in the US.

i think he’s in it for the lond haul, and she’s along for the ride while shes young and stupid. whats worse, as i see this as an adumbrative inspiration for a slew of new sitcoms.

]]> By: The Chemist http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602161 The Chemist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602161 What worries me more is that this will perpetuate the myth that all you have to do is keep asking and eventually the girl will cave. :D The racial aspect worries me little. It's the class aspect that i think is the greatest hurdle, and the guy has serious stones for jumping over it as he did. Do I think they'll die together? Who am I to say? I'm just glad his name isn't Mohammed. That attracts the worst sort of commenters. What worries me more is that this will perpetuate the myth that all you have to do is keep asking and eventually the girl will cave. :D

The racial aspect worries me little. It’s the class aspect that i think is the greatest hurdle, and the guy has serious stones for jumping over it as he did. Do I think they’ll die together? Who am I to say?

I’m just glad his name isn’t Mohammed. That attracts the worst sort of commenters.

]]> By: Irene Delse http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602421 Irene Delse Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602421 @ Mitch #19: Good point. And because of the "daughter deficit" (Google it, people! or there's a good article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23FOB-idealab-t.html ), young Indian men tend to turn more and more to foreign women when it comes to finding a bride. Let's hope their generation will be wiser than their parents' and value their daughters as much as their sons. @ Mitch #19: Good point. And because of the “daughter deficit” (Google it, people! or there’s a good article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23FOB-idealab-t.html ), young Indian men tend to turn more and more to foreign women when it comes to finding a bride. Let’s hope their generation will be wiser than their parents’ and value their daughters as much as their sons.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602422 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602422 Marriages are made in heaven and the maintenance here on earth. Let us be the spectators of the world. Marriages are made in heaven and the maintenance
here on earth. Let us be the spectators of the world.

]]> By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602167 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602167 With India being such a class conscious society, I'd say an auto rickshaw driver has a better chance with an idealistic American college student than with an educated Indian woman. With India being such a class conscious society, I’d say an auto rickshaw driver has a better chance with an idealistic American college student than with an educated Indian woman.

]]> By: kmoser http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602172 kmoser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602172 @1: I couldn't have said it better myself. Will you marry me? @1: I couldn’t have said it better myself. Will you marry me?

]]> By: bakelblog http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602686 bakelblog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602686 I hope they live happily ever after. Realistically, I give it a year, maybe two. It'll end in a sea of cultural misunderstandings; failed expectations about issues like marital roles, freedom, independence, and spousal duties; not to mention bouts of sadness, self-recrimination, and bitterness toward the other. I'm enough of a romantic to seriously hope I'm wrong. I hope they live happily ever after. Realistically, I give it a year, maybe two. It’ll end in a sea of cultural misunderstandings; failed expectations about issues like marital roles, freedom, independence, and spousal duties; not to mention bouts of sadness, self-recrimination, and bitterness toward the other.

I’m enough of a romantic to seriously hope I’m wrong.

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602177 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602177 For all we know, her dad could be a cab driver. For all we know, her dad could be a cab driver.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602178 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602178 She looks really happy. I wish them the best. She looks really happy. I wish them the best.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602179 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602179 i really dont want to, but i seriously give it two months, if that. the foundations upon which theyve decided to marry are weak, if not non-existant, and for that reason alone i dont give long. that being said, i hope they can fulfill their contract and stay married but im just comparing their marriage to a history of failed marriages with a 'somewhat' similar foundation. thanks for sharing. i really dont want to, but i seriously give it two months, if that. the foundations upon which theyve decided to marry are weak, if not non-existant, and for that reason alone i dont give long. that being said, i hope they can fulfill their contract and stay married but im just comparing their marriage to a history of failed marriages with a ‘somewhat’ similar foundation. thanks for sharing.

]]> By: CrazyByChoice http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/american-woman-marri.html#comment-602180 CrazyByChoice Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602180 I see a lot of amusing comments here, so I'll join in. I'm 65 - married 45 years (same woman). I'm a writer/journalist, divemaster, pastor (of sorts), marriage counselor and general beach bum in a small town in the Southwest Pacific. I've married a lot of people and counselled more. I've seen these types of marriages (none that I performed) time and time again. I give them one chance in a hundred of making a year. These marriages generally result from an inability to control impulses. On the other hand, I proposed to my wife at 19 after I'd known her a week. Go figure! I see a lot of amusing comments here, so I’ll join in. I’m 65 – married 45 years (same woman). I’m a writer/journalist, divemaster, pastor (of sorts), marriage counselor and general beach bum in a small town in the Southwest Pacific. I’ve married a lot of people and counselled more. I’ve seen these types of marriages (none that I performed) time and time again. I give them one chance in a hundred of making a year. These marriages generally result from an inability to control impulses.

On the other hand, I proposed to my wife at 19 after I’d known her a week. Go figure!

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