# Thoughts on mail order brides? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893 "2011-10-26T19:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/21 "2011-10-27T05:56:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Hmm, sounds like you just hit the jackpot. I say: “Go for it.” Well, now that I’ve posted that number, there’s no stopping _anyone_ from calling and collecting that jackpot. So have at 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/22 "2011-10-27T06:55:35Z")
I will like the sound of that. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/23 "2011-10-27T07:32:55Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Well, now that I’ve posted that number, there’s no stopping _anyone_ from calling and collecting that jackpot. So have at 'em. Sometimes you make me like you. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/24 "2011-10-27T07:59:21Z")
Can someone explain what the “Fat Yuri” scam is? (No need to LMGTFY, I did already and there’s no specific definition.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/25 "2011-10-27T13:25:38Z")
> [@simster](#): > > make sure they put breathing holes in teh box and mark it “fragile, do not mutilate” - cause you don’t want to open the box if they don’t - trust me… The box typically says, “Some assembly required” too… ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/26 "2011-10-27T13:45:37Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Can someone explain what the “Fat Yuri” scam is? It takes lots of forms, but the common thread between them is that the victim falls in love with some nice photographs and seductive letters, while the person they are actually in contact with a fat guy named Yuri. Sometimes a hairy guy named Boris. Once they have their mark hooked, the lovely lady in the photographs will develop a need for money. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/27 "2011-10-27T13:51:05Z")
> [@simster](#): > > make sure they put breathing holes in teh box and mark it “fragile, do not mutilate” - cause you don’t want to open the box if they don’t - trust me… Oh goddamn! :smack: I just realized I’ve been forgetting the air holes when mailing them off. Oh well, no refunds anyway. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/28 "2011-10-27T14:09:21Z")
You must read [this epic thread from 2003-2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=212249) from our own **John Carter of Mars**. An instant classic. Also, rent [Birthday Girl](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0188453/) with Nicole Kidman and Ben Chaplin. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/29 "2011-10-27T14:29:31Z")
The mail order bride business has been working hard at cleaning up it’s previously shoddy reputation. These days, if you aren’t completely satisfied, you can place your bride into her original packaging and return her to her country of origin for a full refund. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/30 "2011-10-27T16:57:22Z")
In order (for a man) to get married you have to meet a woman. There are many ways to meet a woman. The Russian introduction services are just another way of meeting a potential mate. Of course, caveat emptor, and you have a few additional challenges about getting to know the person. But using due caution and common sense, it is possible to meet, fall in love, and marry this way. I’ve been married to a Russian woman I met in this manner for almost 12 years. I also know 2 other Russian / American couples who have been married longer than me. So it does work. There also are those who abuse or game the system and you have to be cautious about that. J. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/31 "2011-10-27T18:14:53Z")
> [@suckthesevols98](#): > > So I buy her a plane ticket and in return have a slave? Where do I sign up? Somehow I don’t think it’s going to pan out that way when you have Beta males who can’t get a date in their hometown pairing up with Alpha women who are proactive enough to market themselves to higher status males outside their country. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/32 "2011-10-28T06:49:36Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Sometimes you make me like you. Remain stoic man, I post a lot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/33 "2011-10-28T07:22:26Z")
My dad was on a Chinese chick kick for about 13 years and his current 30 year old gf is from the Philippines. But if he ever finds SDMB, it’ll be because of this thread. And I’m going to tell him to keep the receipt. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/34 "2011-10-28T13:19:29Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > …Instead, most women will tell you that the problem is with Russian men. Alcoholism is very widespread, and they also tend to be less respectful of women, and infidelity is also rampant. Russian men also tend to die earlier, so there aren’t as many to compete for. In comparison, Western men are perceived as being more respectful and faithful to their wives, as well as being more family oriented. These were my fiancee’s primary motivations, and she knew several other women who were happily married to Westerners… Just read an article about this point in the November issue of The Atlantic. Apparently life expectancy for Russian men is currently 59.8! And for Russian women, it’s something like 72. The article details the tendancy of teenage Russian boys to begin with the Vodka and just go berserk until they pass away from alcohol poisoning sometime in their 20s. The author said the Vodka culture is slowly changing, but in his apartment building, kids and young men were blotto all the time, and didn’t give a damn about anything – wives, girlfriends, other tenants, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/35 "2011-10-28T18:31:23Z")
**My thoughts on mail order brides:** I used to think the whole thing was funny, though I was sad that my prospects as a woman were not as numerous: [http://mailorderhusbands.net/order/](http://mailorderhusbands.net/order/). But hey, quality of over quantity? However, my opinion has changed as an Uncle of mine has a Ukrainian mail order bride. He became so lost in pursuit of her (or really, what she represented: hot, young trophy) that he lost all of his money, his house and his job. ---
**Author:** ![KarenAkaDimples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/779978/32.png) [@KarenAkaDimples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarenAkaDimples)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/36 "2011-10-28T19:16:56Z")
“Joey P” hooked up with a Mail Order Bride from Russia. She wore the pants in the relationship while He wore the panties. She even had a mustache. They lasted a good fourteen months. She then tossed his ass to the curb. He lost everything and had to start all over. He gave up on Russian Brides and went after a Russian Groom. Last I heard, they were pretty happy with each other. They both wear the panties! ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/37 "2011-10-28T19:31:45Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/38 "2011-10-28T19:57:40Z")
> [@KarenAkaDimples](#): > > “Joey P” hooked up with a Mail Order Bride from Russia. She wore the pants in the relationship while He wore the panties. She even had a mustache. They lasted a good fourteen months. She then tossed his ass to the curb. He lost everything and had to start all over. He gave up on Russian Brides and went after a Russian Groom. Last I heard, they were pretty happy with each other. They both wear the panties! Welcome to the SDMB, **KarenAkaDimples**. We have [a few rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=562482) around here, and I suggest you make yourself familiar with them. One of the rules is that if you have a problem with another poster, don’t take random potshots at them in other threads. You may open a new thread in the forum known at the BBQ Pit, where you should state what your issue is and provide evidence of your claims. Don’t do this again. No warning issued. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/39 "2011-10-28T20:02:53Z")
I got one of those once, but when we started, (you know, _doin’ it?_) I musta done something wrong at the “Y”, 'cause she farted and flew all over the room. I never got over that, really. And it was all because, when I complained to a friend I wasn’t “gettin’ any”, he told me to lower my standards.:D;) Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893/40 "2011-10-28T22:30:54Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > The wonderful, wonderful thing about this country is that once you get here after a while you realize how little people care. No one gossips at a divorce, your neighbors don’t care if you ditch your son-of-a-bitch husband (they’ll probably congratulate you!), your next husband doesn’t really find divorce important (so much as the reasons why). > > So you will get abandoned toot-sweet once she realizes there is no obligation here to stay with a less-than-stellar person. Heh. One of the techs at the pharmacy where I work is a mail-order bride from the Philippines. She’s worked her way up, has raised some surprisingly normal children (a miracle if you ever met her husband, a demented scrap-metal scavenger who looks like the offspring of Snuffy Smith and the Parson), and became a citizen recently. The _day_ she got her citizenship, pretty much everyone she knows began _encouraging_ her to get a divorce. I think the pharmacy will throw a party the day she announces that she’s retained a lawyer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mail-order-brides/600893.md?page=3)