Sakura dreaming

Are they amicae or strangers ?/A friendly push

The newest challenge of social mobility lies not in who you know you as much as who is interested in knowing you.

For women, it's one of the primary indicators of his level of interest: if he asks you out, you become fairly certain that he is interested you. But the question remains, how well (or long) do you have to know to someone before you decide to accept an invite to hang out with him or his friends ? An hour? A day ?

I always wondered if men could ask such casual things and consider its future implications. For exmaple, is it appropriate to invite someone whom you've known for less than a couple of weeks to hang out ? At what point can you read into things he says (and are reasonably certain) he means more than what he says ?
More importantly, it is better to refuse the first offer (and ask to reschedule) or if you should hang out the first time he asks and risk having several potentially awkward momments where neither party knows what to say ?

Economics helps us find the answers to these problems:
First, draw a supply-demand graph to note the benefits (Demand curve) and costs (supply cuve)of the situation.

Benefit
(1) you've been invited (a good indication that you might not be a complete social outcast afterall)
(2) he returns your phone call the SAME day after you called and left a message


Cost
(1) you called him first and thus indicated you're more interested in him than he is in you
(2)when he says "hang out", he means go out in a large group (presumably to some bar/club) thereby making it difficult to talk

The terms of agreement occurs where Supply = Demand (S=D) and where the
price** = marginal cost given everyone is a price taker and there are no monopolies (of time, cost, ect) on hot guys.

Calculating the demand curve:P = X - Y(Q)
This says the price at which he can be purchased = your initital interest value in him (X) minus the slope of the demand curve (Y) times the quanity of time (Q) you're willing to invest in him.

In our example, keeping in mind, his initial interest value is based on a combination of your first initial encounter and first look at him.

B = 78.50

20.00 for looks: cute would rate above average (12.5), but not model hot (22.5)
18.75 for personality (seems friendly and polite)
18.75 for overall first impression (generally good impression = 0.75 X 25 =18.75)
21.00 for height (taller than me, but could be a litter taller; optimal height difference is 3-5 inches)

Assume Y is exogenous, Y = 0.8 (1- time for sleeping- time for shopping = 1 - 0.1 - 0.1 = 0.8)

The demand equation would look like: P = 78.5 - 0.8Q

Calcuating the supply side:
Total Supply of guys avilable = 100 (100 represents the socially optimal and desired guy)

Putting it all together: S= D

P= 100-(1)X = 100- X

And where supply equals demand also equals the time you'd spend deciding if you want to flirt with him or not.

P = 78.5 - 0.8X = 100- X
0.2X = 21.5
X = 10.75

Thus, for every guy a little above avg friendy and cute, the chances that you're willing to go out on a date is 89.25% (P = 100- 10.75 = 89.25 as the price**. Price and willingness to go out are directly related: for each higher unit (measured by price), the more willing you become to go out on a date with him.


**price: measured by the associated costs of hanging out (ie. food, gas, ticket to movies)

posted by Sakura @ 4:17 AM