I got this from minishorts, via Cowboy Caleb. I don’t feel good about copying what is basically the backbone of the post, so I’ll just comment my way down the list.

My mother has never given me such a list, I guess she knows I’d wouldn’t listen. Plus I left home at 17, before I started dating, so I pretty much figured the game out on my own.

I’ve only ever dated Chinese guys, but not because my mum expressly told me to do so. Although I suppose she and my dad would have conniptions if I brought back a non-Chinese, I don’t think they would have a very strong case because there are interracial marriages in our family. It’s always so much easier when you have precedents.

They don’t have a case for making me date older guys either, because a couple of my relatives are older women-younger man pairings. Not like Demi and Ashton la, a few years difference only. Age doesn’t matter all that much to me anyway, I know some perfectly wonderful younger guys, and there are guys my age who behave like secondary school boys, so.

I’m sure they’d love a university graduate for a son-in-law, but that’s practically a given. My peers, friends, and assorted acquaintances were, are, or will be university students, so you say leh? Even a hardcore gambler wouldn’t wager against the house on this one.

I know most Chinese parents, especially, have this fear of their child marrying a Muslim. Again, my parents have no leg to stand on regarding this one. But because of my own religious beliefs, it’s unlikely I’ll end up becoming Lynn Chan Abdullah. They might have to prepare themselves for a church wedding, though, because I really like Catholic boys, for some reason. Must have been the years spent in a convent school, right opposite a Catholic boys’ school. Muahaha.

Actually, they might not be too happy with a Christian boy either. Chinese people can get quite morbid at times, and it wouldn’t surprise me if my mum said “You can’t become a Christian, because who will offer me joss-sticks when I’m dead?” *touchwood-knockwood-knockhead-throwsalt-dribblesalivasayagain* Yeah, it’ll be at that point that the religious tensions start simmering. Doo doo doo.

A teetotaler would have no fun in my family, because we drink and we’re not ashamed to say it. Besides, I’m one for the tipple myself, so my parents might actually prefer someone who loves his bottles too, in the interests of compatibility. Of course no one wants a drunkard, but seriously, it’s weird if you’re Chinese and you don’t drink. Those tales about Chinese guys not being able to hold their liquor are false, ok!

As far as dialect groups go, my parents themselves broke the rule, so they can’t say anything. In this day of kentangs who speak excellent English and rubbish Mandarin, I have more in common with a Hokkien boy from another state than I do with my Cantonese cousins from KL. I really don’t see why dialect groups would matter any more, since few of us subscribe to clan associations. Globalisation, baby!

And of course, the good old bugbear of money. Frankly, as long as he earns enough to support himself and doesn’t do a K-Fed on me, I’m good. Actually, I don’t see why parents should have any say in this, beyond concern for their child’s welfare. If he earns enough, then fine. Why say that it’s good if he shares his money with me, while leaving my money alone? My mum inculcated in me a sense of being financially independent, so the money double standard actually irks me quite a bit. Besides, are there guys out there who actually, wholeheartedly, subscribe to that “what’s yours is yours, what’s mine is also yours” philosophy? I thought not.

All things considered, it might be easier to win over my parents than it is to actually win me over. Heh.