Dear Abby (10/17/2007) - NY's Depreciating Asset is asking Dear Abby for Advice

[i am le tired]

I'm fairly decent looking, but don't 'spruce myself up' on a daily basis. I've had people tell me that I should wear makeup and land a rich guy (and seem positively flummoxed that I'm not into the idea). So as much as it is sad that some women have that attitude... sometimes that attitude is not originally of their own doing.

I've always used the phrase "beauty is fleeting"... maybe it's time I switch over to "beauty is a depreciating asset". Lol!

[Sirius]

Daaaaaaaanng. Talk about a hard sell - I'm intimidated, and I'm a female with reasonable self-esteem. What a way to describe yourself. And the guys she dated? Attractive and bright. What about fun? Charming? Sensible? Romantic? Gentlemanly? Thoughtful? Quirky? Loving? Is there any room for a guy who's caring and genteel, but only rates an 'eight' or Lord forbid, a 'seven' on the Hott-O'-Meter?

Confident...yes...that's the word I'll use to describe her. 

It'd be interesting if this woman met up with one of those charmers who turns a woman down by saying that they can only be seen with gorgeous women. It'd be even more interesting if she was turned down as not being gorgeous enough. 

[Monarda]

I actually don't see anything wrong with describing yourself as beautiful. I don't even see anything wrong with being proud of it. Say you're writing to an advice columnist and you want to describe yourself. It's perfectly acceptable to mention nice character traits, so why not physical traits? The advice columnist can't see you, so you have to give them something on which to base the advice. If you look good, that's relevant to your romantic status (we all know that a lot of people care about looks to some degree), so it should be included.

On the other hand, this woman did sound very full of herself. But I think that you can describe yourself as beautiful (in situation where looks are relevant) without sounding like her.

[Seraphia]

Daaaaaaaanng. Talk about a hard sell - I'm intimidated, and I'm a female with reasonable self-esteem. What a way to describe yourself. And the guys she dated? Attractive and bright. What about fun? Charming? Sensible? Romantic? Gentlemanly? Thoughtful? Quirky? Loving? Is there any room for a guy who's caring and genteel, but only rates an 'eight' or Lord forbid, a 'seven' on the Hott-O'-Meter?

Confident...yes...that's the word I'll use to describe her. 

It'd be interesting if this woman met up with one of those charmers who turns a woman down by saying that they can only be seen with gorgeous women. It'd be even more interesting if she was turned down as not being gorgeous enough. 

Isn't that actually a dating strategy? I think I recall some sort of MSN article on the 'rules' for men. I think one of them was: give a woman a sort of 'half-compliment' so she'll be all the more eager to seduce you, or something.

[Brentwood]

My first thought was "Oh wow! It's the Craigslist Half Million Dollar woman!"

Uh, surely there can't be two of them out there?

Half Million Dollar Woman? Do tell!

ETA:
Never mind, I see someone has posted a link.

[Brentwood]

Why?  I am beautiful, in candle light if I haven't eaten all day and I wear perfect makeup 

My favorite quote from Fran Fine Sheffield: "After 40, a woman's best lighting is candle- and/or moon."

[Brentwood]

Hmm . . . there was something about the letter that didn't feel right to me.  First, as we all guessed w/ Craigslist Lady, it seemed too self-indulgent & conceited to be real.  Secondly, the writing pattern did not suggest a women in her early-to-mid-20s to me (I'm 27), such as the vocabulary, the turn of phrase she used ("bright" "in tune with the arts").

Anyone want a piece of turtle cheesecake?

Yeah...it seemed to me like it was made up also.

[Brentwood]

Daaaaaaaanng. Talk about a hard sell - I'm intimidated, and I'm a female with reasonable self-esteem. What a way to describe yourself. And the guys she dated? Attractive and bright. What about fun? Charming? Sensible? Romantic? Gentlemanly? Thoughtful? Quirky? Loving? Is there any room for a guy who's caring and genteel, but only rates an 'eight' or Lord forbid, a 'seven' on the Hott-O'-Meter?

Confident...yes...that's the word I'll use to describe her. 

It'd be interesting if this woman met up with one of those charmers who turns a woman down by saying that they can only be seen with gorgeous women. It'd be even more interesting if she was turned down as not being gorgeous enough. 

I could give her the name of the charmer who said that to me. I think I even know where to find him.

[Chivewarrior]

We discussed the Depreciating Asset in my Expository Writing class. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read... get over yourself a little, really... or should that be "yourselves", since we don't know for sure if there are two of them...