If I was drowning, I would hang on to any old and ugly boat as long as it saves my life. But I would never buy such a boat if I could afford a better one.
Sure, who wouldn't. But the Thai girls spoken of are not drowning, starving, or otherwise dieing.
Moreover if the right "old and ugly" boat came along, many ladies in your age bracket, or much younger, would jump at the chance to "hang on" to it, drowning or not.
And if you were 20 years old, instead of 50+, and born in Thailand, and Buddhist, where taking care of your family (mother/father, brothers/sisters, husband/babies, cousins, grandparents, etc) instead of yourself is all important, then you would probably think quite differently about life, and might qualify as one who an "old and ugly" farang there would prefer as a GF or wife.
Or even in the Western world, by a random birth and upbringing, you could have ended up as a sugarbabe or some such thing, of some old guy, however handsome, fat, charming, generous, or loving, or not, he may be, like those who go to Thailand.
"ACDC - Money Talks"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmyzFsYEdco&NR=1&feature=endscreen
"One day, this kid came home from school with a homework assignment. His
assignment: To tell the class the next day the difference between theory
and reality. He asked his father for help. "Dad, what's the difference
between theory and reality?" "That's easy, son." the father replied. He
gestured to his son to go ask his sister a question. "Go upstairs and ask
your sister if she would sleep with any guy for a million bucks." The kid
went upstairs and asked his sister, "Hey, Sis! Would you sleep with any guy
for a million dollars?" His sister gave a disgusted look and yelled,
"Pervert!" Then casually continued, "Of course I would, fool. Are you
stupid? It's a million bucks!" The kid quickly ran downstairs to tell his
dad. "Dad, dad, she said yes, yes she would sleep with any guy for a
million bucks." Then the dad said, "Now go ask your mother the same
question." The kid ran back upstairs and asked his mom, "Mom, would you
sleep with any guy for a million bucks?" The mom answered, "Of course!
That's alot of money!" The kid then ran back downstairs again to tell his
dad. "Dad dad, she said yes, yes she'll sleep with any guy for a million
bucks!" Then his dad mildly answered, "You see, son, that's the difference
between theory and reality. In theory, we're living on a gold mine. In
reality, we're living with two whores!"