singles, abandoned market?

Ok, here is what happened.
I received a call from a big airline mileage plan. They are organizing a focus group event. Which means they invite their target customers, figure out how to make them happy, and how to attract more customers just like them. You spend 2 hours with them so they can pick your brain. In return, they pay you $70 cash for your precious time and sharing your thoughts with them.

I thought, nice move. This company apparently care about their customers. It would be fun for me to make myself heard. I'd also love to observe how it is conducted because I facilitate the same kind of workshops in my full time job. Plus, I'm getting paid to do it. Sweet. After I found out about the time and location, and the caller confirming my willingness to participate, the qualification process started over the phone.

First question: "How many people are staying in the same household with you including yourself?"
"I live alone."
And that first question became also the last question. She thanked me for my time and quickly ended the call before I could say "Does my dog count?" although I don't have one.

Obviously, I am not one of their customers that they care enough to listen to. And the only reason was that I AM SINGLE. I had a similar experience with a travel agent. They spared me for a 2 hour hard-selling session because I am single. That I didn't mind. But who knows how many companies out there are crossing out "singles" from their desired customer list. Looks like the only ones who really really care for the singles are the dating companies, with a promise to move us to the more desired market section.

They are missing out, big time. I am the most traveled consultant in my team, Monday to Friday for months, because I'm single. I take at least two overseas trips every year, because I can simple pack up and go. I know I'm not alone among my single friends. But seriously, are we categorized as abandoned market?

Marriage benefits health more so for men than woman

I thought my last post on "Why it's NOT rubbish being single" was a strong statement and final answer to the question. Apparently, a research soon to be released by Hui Lu from Michigan State University with some interesting facts based on National Health Interview Survey data from a 30-year period from 1972 to 2002

Consider this:
Marriage tends to make people healthier, happier and richer, and that's especially true for men.

Hear that? Go get married, guys. It's for your own good.

Self-reported health status of never-married adults increased significantly over time. At the same time, the self-reported health status of married women also increased, so the gap between married and never-married women's health stayed about the same.

Still a long way to go, single girls.

However, never-married men narrowed the health gap between themselves and married men.

Hope this won't make the number of men who want to commit even smaller.

People who had been married in the past, including those widowed or divorced, reported declines in their overall health status.

I wonder if there is data comparing never married vs the divorced vs the re-married. Does that complicate things even more?

The conclusion: "Married people are still healthier than unmarried people, but the gap between the married and never-married is closing, especially for men." That said, one last thing to take away from the research is: “encouraging marriage in order to promote health may be misguided.” (oh, well.)

Why it's NOT rubbish being single

The shocking article (at least to me) is making a blunt statement that being single sucks!
Here are the reasons, and my rebuts:

No holiday in summer.
True. I actually had to work over the weekend to finish the half-done work on my plate left by people who took off for vacation. But I can take off some other time, when there are less tourists everywhere, when hotels and air tickets are cheaper, when everybody else is busy catching up.

Singles live in their heads.
As if it's a bad thing. It really depends on what is in your head. If you choose to fill it with horrific thoughts and painful memories, I doubt that you'll be happy with anyone else.

You can't admit to others that you hate your life.
Same thing applies to some of the married people, doesn't it? There are always problems. When you no longer deal with the trouble of cooking for one, you are trapped in the routine of cooking for everyone at the fixed time, 3 times a day.

Many single people are mad.
Oh, my! I'm not sure if my act of disagreeing with this point is proof enough that I'm insane myself. People who are mad usually do not see that themselves. Right?

"If only there was some service that would reliably predict when any period of non-voluntary solitude would end, it would cut out the anxiety and allow single people to enjoy the good things about their lives."
I agree. I'd like to use the same service to predict anything in the future, like tomorrow's lottery number or the next breakup. Before this service is available, I'll enjoy my life as it is, just like all the everybody else, singles or not.

Traveling alone? Myth and Truth

Summer trips, you planned to go alone assuming that it would be a great way to find your ideal partner, right? Not according to David McKechnie , whose spent a week free of charge at a five-star boutique hotel in Turkey on a singles holiday on assignment. Here are some of the mythes and truths revealed from his experience:

Myth: You appear independent and brave when traveling alone.

Truth: You may be conceived as someone who is such a loner that nobody else would want to go on a trip with.

Myth: You expect that you will meet the love of your life.

Truth: "You're more likely to have a fling with a waiter," according to a veteran of single holidays.

Myth: You can freely date with whoever you find attractive.

Truth: You can under such pressure as everyone is watching your attempt to make a move.

Myth: You will get to meet many eligible guys in one vacation.

Truth: There are usually double the number of women compared to men.

Myth: Nightshift which includes every body is the perfect place to check out the potential partner.

Truth: It can be painfully boring and superficial even with the ice-breakers.

Despite the disappointment, many single travelers are regulars. And occasionally, there are some romantic encounters during the trip. So, do you game?