Reference no: EM133203865

Please analize the given essay

Identifying and labeling the sentences (circle and label) according to how they respond to the important essay parts (like a 'thesis statement', or 'mainpoints', etc)

Of Men and Machines in the 21st Century

Francine LaPlante

There has got to be a better way! The North American system of mate selection, dating, is so inefficient and fraught with embarrassing perils that I wonder why it works even as often as it does. If we were forced to select cars using the same methods we employ to choose a mate, few of us would bother driving. Imagine buying a vehicle you were allowed to test drive only under certain restrictions: no manual, no performance reviews, no information on reliability, maintenance costs, major repairs, or previous owners - what you see is what you get. Dates and cars have a few basic things in common: a body, an image, some kind of motive power, and, if you're lucky, insurance. Reflecting on these similarities got me thinking about further parallels, and I've concluded that cars and dates can be classified into three general types: the econo-box, the SUV, and the exotic sports model.

The econo-box is the least a car can be. It features a no-frills interior, bland exterior design, and a lack of power. Similarly, the econo-date lacks charm or personality, is undistinguished in appearance, and lacks anything resembling authority or charisma. The problem is not that he does not have lot of money to spend; it is that he does not use any imagination or creativity to compensate for his lack of cash. Even the old Beetle, the Citroen CV, even the original Mini were cheap, but they had imagination, personality, pizzazz! The econo-date's interests are comic books, computers, and Star Wars movies; he is quiet, unassertive, and about as much fun as an oil leak. Ironically, his ambition is often as lofty as it is futile; when he grows up, he would like to be an SUV.

The SUV is more than a car ought to be, at least on the outside. Its muscular skin, monstrous size, and ridiculously large engine suggest the rugged outdoors, but in reality it is a commuter vehicle for insecure drivers who are afraid of bumping onto something and getting hurt. So it is with SUV date. He is big, ruggedly handsome, loud, and aggressive, but he has the sensitivity of a bumper and the brains of a hubcap. He will buy you an expensive but ordinary meal, then tip lavishly for poor service, all the while confident that he is impressing you. He is showy, aggressive, and sure he is the best thing that could happen to you. Unfortunately, he cannot talk about anything except himself and (occasionally) sports. He aspires to a career in real estate so he can spend most of his time playing golf. The SUV date dwells on top of his world and feels inferior to nothing and no one - except an exotic sports type. 

The exotic sports car is expensive, sophisticated, smooth, gorgeous, fast, and temperamental. While there is an undeniable initial thrill to driving one, that thrill quickly wears off with the outrageous loan payments, the breathtakingly expensive (and frequent) repairs, and winter driving conditions. These are seasonal cars: good for six months of the year at most. The exotic date is also a showpiece. You will be the envy of all your friends for a while. But you will soon learn that your function in the relationship
is to be impressed, to stroke his vanity, to adore. He is so aware of his superiority that he treats most creatures who cross his path as dust beneath his wheels. He is also unreliable. As often as not, he has another commitment - perhaps to his club, his friends, or his travels abroad. There is nothing wrong with Jaguars, Porches, or Lamborghinis, but you had better have deep pockets, unlimited patience, and consummate driving skills to handle one. It has been heard from many mothers that, "Handsome is as handsome does," and the exotic sports model date is a prime example of what they meant.

If these comments sound pessimistic, perhaps they are. If only dates came with professional performance reviews, websites that outlined their merits and faults, and the observations of previous owners about their idiosyncrasies and upkeep! If only we could research a potential mate as thoroughly and carefully as we select a car! Given the randomness of our dating system, many fear that they will end up with something with the power of an econo-box, the maneuverability of an SUV, and the maintenance costs of a sports car.