Love? What's that? Almost nobody wants it.

I spent the last couple of months on dating sites. And found one or two sweet, genuine people, but they are rare. I did notice something interesting though: you can work out the cash value placed on love, and it's not very high.

Love is clearly less valuable then money. Try setting up a profile and saying "I have no money" and see how many hits you get. You can promise eternal fidelity and servitude, but it ain't cash, and that's what counts.

Love clearly has some value (people still ask for it) but how much? the typical dater will only look for someone within 50 miles of their home. I.e. within commuting distance. I mentioned to one person that I admired her profile, but lived a long way from her, and she literally laughed in my face.

It is inconceivable to most people that they, or a lover, would ever consider moving for love. Why? How much does it cost to change a job? You risk having to trade down to something less well paid  (but you might be lucky and get a similar or better job), but it probably costs something like ten percent of your income on average. And most love affairs are traded in after 5 years or so.

Paris and Helen?  Eloise and Abelard? Anthony and Cleopatra? Clearly idiots. They travelled too far, paid way too much. The true value of love is roughly equal to a second hand car, and just as disposable.