Watch National Geographic

[SandT 0]

I didn't meet my fiancee via an agency, but it makes little difference - co-workers know I've gone for several months to live with her, and I've gotten an occasional 'borderline' comment, but they're shut up easily enough. It's never bothered me much what people think outside of the people who truly matter in my life, but some people will think whatever they wish; I see it as their problem, not mine.

I've seen the 'movie,' though - it can be found on YouTube if you haven't seen it. Here's part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7cM_6q4FeA

It's interesting, but a surprising choice of 'couples' for a National Geographic movie - it's a bit sensationalistic and plays to some of the stereotypes, IMO.

I think one guy never showed his girlfriend his apartment, after being together for years, and the one younger guy claims he knows her well, then mentions something like a half dozen emails in 6 months(!!!). Interesting nonetheless.

[dxg68 0]

it is about American women liberating themselves out of the market and getting angry because you refuse to tolerate their BS and find a more traditional woman who enjoys being a woman and looks like it.

100% true

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

100% true

I second that.

[mox 298]

If ever there were a truism, it would be: who smelt it dealt it. I think it's particularly applicable here.

[SandT 0]

...

The worst part of it is that I'm working/living in Dillingham, AK atm and it's like the capital of fat chicks here. They take one look at my wife and give her a sh*tty look for the fact she doesn't have a fat ####### like the rest of them here. It's got to the point to where she doesn't even want to go out anymore for a few drinks and deal with the stares she gets from fat chicks here with chips on their shoulders.

...

This is priceless. My initial reaction is to laugh, because it is funny, but it does have to get old for both you and your wife.

There's something SO wrong about people trying to judge others because of their own shortcomings. (being annoyed with you/you wife because she isn't fat).

I'm curious - I'm assuming you finally gave in and said something to someone giving an attitude to both of you?

[eekee 182]

If ever there were a truism, it would be: who smelt it dealt it. I think it's particularly applicable here.

I watched part of the special, and those dudes were the awkwardest awkwards who ever awkwarded.

[Martyshk 137]

I watched part of the special, and those dudes were the awkwardest awkwards who ever awkwarded.

It's like they went into a home for mentally retarded and picked the slowest ones.....

[mox 298]

If this is one they showed about a year ago, I've seen it. And yes, of course they have to find the most extreme examples, because who wants to watch a show about the (made up statistic alert) 90% of long distance relationships (LDR) that work out just like so-called "normal" non-LDR's.

I've tried to find a study that I saw some years ago, showing that the divorce rate amongst international LDR marriages is almost exactly the same as the non-LDR divorce rate, but it's either fallen out of Google's cache or maybe my search fu sucks, I don't know. But I wouldn't be surprised if it were true. Dating and getting to know somebody who is geographically near you definitely has its advantages, but when it comes down to it I really think you can only know somebody so well. Except for the most extreme cases of men who just jump on an airplane as soon as they find a pretty picture on Elena's, I'd bet that most of us knew our fiancee's at least as well as most people know their SO's before marriage. They like to portray international marriages as a couple people who barely know each other at all, but the reality in most cases is, I think, a lot different. It's too bad the producers focused on such extreme cases, but that's what sells deodorant and car insurance I guess.

[Martyshk 137]

I have to agree. My fiancee knows me better than some people who've known me for years. It really doesn't take long to get to know someone, just depends on how open you are about everything.

Of course there's other aspects that come in play - like never living together. So that's a period of adjustment too. But who says that all couples that meet locally live together before marriage? Hell, I know people who date girls 2 blocks away from them and see them on weekends MAYBE, if lucky.

The show was retarded FOR the retarded

[mox 298]

Ah, you made me think of another point I was going to make, which is that marriage changes everything. So to some extent it doesn't even matter how much you got to know each other pre-marriage. Even living together before marriage won't prepare you that much, because you always know in the back of your mind that it can be temporary. Marriage changes that, and it changes how you act in a relationship. That's where I think being geographically close to your intended loses any advantages it may have. Living together in a marriage is always going to be different, no matter what your relationship was like pre-marriage.

[visaveteran 1]

If this is one they showed about a year ago, I've seen it. And yes, of course they have to find the most extreme examples, because who wants to watch a show about the (made up statistic alert) 90% of long distance relationships (LDR) that work out just like so-called "normal" non-LDR's.

I've tried to find a study that I saw some years ago, showing that the divorce rate amongst international LDR marriages is almost exactly the same as the non-LDR divorce rate, but it's either fallen out of Google's cache or maybe my search fu sucks, I don't know. But I wouldn't be surprised if it were true. Dating and getting to know somebody who is geographically near you definitely has its advantages, but when it comes down to it I really think you can only know somebody so well. Except for the most extreme cases of men who just jump on an airplane as soon as they find a pretty picture on Elena's, I'd bet that most of us knew our fiancee's at least as well as most people know their SO's before marriage. They like to portray international marriages as a couple people who barely know each other at all, but the reality in most cases is, I think, a lot different. It's too bad the producers focused on such extreme cases, but that's what sells deodorant and car insurance I guess.

Divorce rates is not the whole story with international LDRs. You'd have to factor in how many Fiancee Visa people never actually got married and split up before the 90 days. I grant that this is an interim stage you would not contend with in marrying a local woman. But as you fiancee visa boys know, the 90 day period can make or break a relationship.

The challenges with language and cultural differences with the Russian ladies adds additional burdens you won't encounter with American women. And with the high costs and limited time most men can devote to travel to be with their Russian women, I can not see their is parity with time devoted to dating local women. So I don't agree with your position. I'll be like you guys and make one of those "I know a lot of people" comments and say I know a number of American men who've married 2 or 3 Russian women. They must get addicted and keep coming back for more. But, obviously, these guys keep getting divorced. Why I don't know. But this does not support a theory that Russian marriages work better than American ones.

[mox 298]

The show was retarded FOR the retarded

It's sad to see National Geographic taking the low road like this. I know even NG have to pay the bills, but what's next, documentaries on young earth creationists? The NG name used to stand for a certain level of credibility. Not this kind of garbage.

[visaveteran 1]

It's sad to see National Geographic taking the low road like this. I know even NG have to pay the bills, but what's next, documentaries on young earth creationists? The NG name used to stand for a certain level of credibility. Not this kind of garbage.

Face reality...the mail order bride concept turns many people off. And men who have to turn to a frozen wasteland, and spending thousands of dollars, to find a woman who'll tolerate them can seem pathetic. The stereotype of MOB men is as losers. Desperate men (fat, bald, old) permeates the discussion. You jokers have now added "retarded" to the dialogue. And the perception of the women is equally negative. Gold diggers, green card whores, cold, exploitative women desperate to escape an inferior homeland.

What did you expect from NG, Joanie meets Chaccie?

[Martyshk 137]

It's sad to see National Geographic taking the low road like this. I know even NG have to pay the bills, but what's next, documentaries on young earth creationists? The NG name used to stand for a certain level of credibility. Not this kind of garbage.

Same has happened to Discovery and History.... I mean have you seen that show American Pickers? It's two guys tripping on acid running around the country collecting sh!t... #######...

[mox 298]

Same has happened to Discovery and History.... I mean have you seen that show American Pickers? It's two guys tripping on acid running around the country collecting sh!t... #######...

It's gotten to the point where I won't even watch History Channel. It's become a parody of the word "history." It should just be called "Let's see what kind of ####### we can peddle as legitimate history" Channel.