Desperate Times
Through Tuesday, the New Orleans Craigslist Men Seeking Women ad section looks to have been pretty moribund, getting 2-4 postings a day, typically. Yesterday and today, it’s exploded with generous, altruistic, humanitarian men offering up their homes to hot, homeless refugees. (The numbers at the end of the headlines below are the posters’ ages, as self-reported.)
Come to Florida / Female wanted - 42
I am sorry to here of your loss and suffering. I am a single man an artist who is fun and energetic. I am looking for a single woman 27-35 attractive and fit. I have a small apartment I live close to the ocean there is work here also. The women in Floirda are shallow so I thought this may be a way to meet someone special. I am a honest decnt man and you should be with no kids or drugs. Send a picture to me and I will arrange transportation for you.
Can Help Out Single Younger Woman, - 40
my heart is with you i feel terrible-i love the city.I am 40 yr.good looking guy and i admit I have a soft spot for younger woman.So if you need something up here in new york city hit me back. .I’m praying and hoping for you so hang in tough,Hit me back if you can. pic for pic
I’m a single male, no kids, 5’ 8” 140 pounds, athletic. I have a big house in Las vegas. I’m looking for a pretty single white girl. If you’ve lost your home and you and your family need a place to stay, I can help. I can help you and your family. I have a truck and am willing to drive out there and pick you and your family and whatever possessions you can load up. I hope people stay safe.
(Via this MeFi entry, which shows that a bunch of this kind of ad has already been deleted)
The comments on MetaFilter just about say it all, but I can't help but chime in with my disgust. "I'm willing to help storm victims, but only if they're of the appropriate sex and willing to schtup me. Oh yeah, and send a picture so I can determine whether your attractiveness is enough to arouse my, um, human kindness."
What's even sadder: I'll bet that there are people out there desperate enough to accept such an offer, but the vast majority of them are African-American, unemployed, and probably come from several generations of poverty. What are the chances that these posters would think of taking in one of those refugees?
Posted by Jimcat on September 2 2005 06:50
I wish I'd saved the response that appeared briefly last night (before being deleted) from one of these guys to all the hate email he was getting. It was this misogynistic, bitter rant about how women are users, or some such. I was reminded of the line from "Wedding Crashers" -- "Get a preview of life with Ike Turner here!"
I think I understand what's motivating these guys, at least in part. I'd guess most straight adolescent boys indulge at some point in fantasies about rescuing a girl, and then she'd appreciate just how wonderful they are, with appropriate gratitude...
And that's just fine for an adolescent fantasy kept to oneself. Still clinging to that adolescent fantasy, and trying to realize it in middle-age is just creepy, though. And doing so in the face of this tragedy, well, that becomes disgusting.
Posted by Zed on September 2 2005 08:06