Investment Manager's Embarrassing Email Lands On Reddit, Goes Viral

The Huffington Post   First Posted: 12/08/11 02:17 AM ET Updated: 12/09/11 02:33 PM ET

Stalking an ex is never attractive. No matter how much money you have.

But for one New York investment manager, he couldn't seem to take the hint.

It all started when Lauren met Mike at the New York Philharmonic.

After one "horrific date", according to Lauren, she never responded to his lingering texts and voicemail messages.

In return for going AWOL, a business-like email of over 1600 words landed in her inbox (yes, Mike Googled her email address).

Outlining every move of how she led him on, the email got posted on Reddit and is circulating the internet.

Check out the entertaining, yet somewhat insane email from Mike to Lauren. If only she hadn't twirled her hair and liked classical music.

Hi Lauren,

I'm disappointed in you. I'm disappointed that I haven't gotten a response to my voicemail and text messages.
FYI, I suggest that you keep in mind that emails sound more impersonal, harsher, and are easier to misinterpret than in-person or phone communication. After all, people can't see someone's body language or tone of voice in an email. I'm not trying to be harsh, patronizing, or insulting in this email. I'm honest and direct by nature, and I'm going to be that way in this email. By the way, I did a google search, so that's how I came across your email.

I assume that you no longer want to go out with me. (If you do want to go out with me, then you should let me know.) I suggest that you make a sincere apology to me for giving me mixed signals. I feel led on by you.

Things that happened during our date include, but are not limited to, the following:

-You played with your hair a lot. A woman playing with her hair is a common sign of flirtation. You can even do a google search on it. When a woman plays with her hair, she is preening. I've never had a date where a woman played with her hair as much as you did. In addition, it didn't look like you were playing with your hair out of nervousness.

-We had lots of eye contact during our date. On a per-minute basis, I've never had as much eye contact during a date as I did with you.

-You said, "It was nice to meet you." at the end of our date. A woman could say this statement as a way to show that she isn't interested in seeing a man again or she could mean what she said--that it was nice to meet you. The statement, by itself, is inconclusive.

-We had a nice conversation over dinner. I don't think I'm being delusional in saying this statement.

In my opinion, leading someone on (i.e., giving mixed signals) is impolite and immature. It's bad to do that.
Normally, I would not be asking for information if a woman and I don't go out again after a first date. However, in our case, I'm curious because I think our date went well and that there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship. Of course, it's difficult to predict what would happen, but I think there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship developing between us one day (or least there was before your non-response to my voicemail and text messages).

I think we should go out on a second date. In my opinion, our first date was good enough to lead to a second date.
Why am I writing you? Well, hopefully, we will go out again. Even if we don't, I gain utility from expressing my thoughts to you. In addition, even if you don't want to go out again, I would like to get feedback as to why you wouldn't want to go again. Normally, I wouldn't ask a woman for this type of feedback after a first date, but this is an exception given I think we have a lot of potential.

If you don't want to go again, then apparently you didn't think our first date was good enough to lead to a second date. Dating or a relationship is not a Hollywood movie. It's good to keep that in mind. In general, I thought the date went well and was expecting that we would go out on a second date.

If you're not interested in going out again, then I would have preferred if you hadn't given those mixed signals. I feel led on. We have a number of things in common. I'll name a few things: First, we’ve both very intelligent. Second, we both like classical music so much that we go to classical music performances by ourselves. In fact, the number one interest that I would want to have in common with a woman with whom I'm in a relationship is a liking of classical music. I wouldn't be seriously involved with a woman if she didn't like classical music. You said that you're planning to go the NY Philharmonic more often in the future.

As I said, I go to the NY Philharmonic often. You're very busy. It would be very convenient for you to date me because we have the same interests. We already go to classical music performances by ourselves. If we go to classical music performances together, it wouldn't take any significant additional time on your part. According to the internet, you're 33 or 32, so, at least from my point of view, we're a good match in terms of age. I could name more things that we have in common, but I'll stop here. I don't understand why you apparently don't want to go out with me again. We have numerous things in common. I assume that you find me physically attractive. If you didn't find me physically attractive, then it would have been irrational for you to go out with me in the first place. After all, our first date was not a blind date. You already knew what I looked like before our date. Perhaps, you're unimpressed that I manage my family’s investments and my own investments. Perhaps, you don’t think I have a "real" job. Well, I’ve done very well as an investment manager. I've made my parents several millions of dollars.

That's real money. That's not monopoly money. In my opinion, if I make real money, it's a real job. Donald Trump's children work for his company. Do they have "real" jobs? I think so. George Soros's sons help manage their family investments. Do they have "real" jobs? I think so. In addition, I’m both a right-brain and left-brain man, given that I’m both an investment manager and a philosopher/writer. That’s a unique characteristic; most people aren't like that. I've never been as disappointed and sad about having difficulty about getting a second date as I am with you. I've gone out with a lot of women in my life. (FYI, I'm not a serial dater. Sometimes, I've only gone out with a woman for one date.) People don’t grow on trees. I hope you appreciate the potential we have.

Am I sensitive person? Sure, I am. I think it's better to be sensitive than to be insensitive. There are too many impolite, insensitive people in the world.

I suggest that we continue to go out and see what happens. Needless to say, I find you less appealing now (given that you haven't returned my messages) than I did at our first date. However, I would be willing to go out with you again. I'm open minded and flexible and am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I wish you would give me the benefit of the doubt too. If you don't want to go out again, in my opinion, you would be making a big mistake, perhaps one of the biggest mistakes in your life. If you don’t want to go out again, then you should have called to tell me so. Even sending a text message would have been better than nothing. In my opinion, not responding to my messages is impolite, immature, passive aggressive, and cowardly. I spent time, effort, and money meeting you for dinner. Getting back to me in response to my messages would have been a reasonable thing for you to do. In addition, you arrived about 30 minutes late for our date. I'm sure you wouldn’t like it if a man showed up thirty minutes late for a first date with you.

If you're concerned that you will hurt my feelings by providing specific information about why you don't want to go with me again, well, my feeling are already hurt. I'm sad and disappointed about this situation. If you give information, at least I can understand the situation better. I might even learn something that is beneficial.

If you don't want to go out again, that I request that you call me and make a sincere apology for leading me on (i.e., giving me mixed signals). In my opinion, you shouldn't act that way toward a man and then not go out with him again. It's bad to play with your hair so much and make so much eye contact if you're not interested in going out with me again. I have tried to write this email well, but it's not perfect. Again, I'm not trying to be harsh, insulting, patronizing, etc. I'm disappointed, sad, etc. I would like to talk to you on the phone. I hope you will call me back at xxx-xxx-xxxx> (if it's inconvenient for you to talk on the phone when you read this email, you can let me know via email that you are willing to talk on the phone and I'll call you). If you get my voicemail, you can a leave a message and I can call you back. Even if you don't want to go out again, I would appreciate it if you give me the courtesy of calling me and talking to me. Yes, you might say things that hurt me, but my feelings are already hurt. Sending me an email response (instead of talking on the phone) would better than no response at all, but I think it would be better to talk on the phone. Email communication has too much potential for misinterpretation, etc.

Best, Mike

CORRECTION: A previous version of the story erroneously stated that Mike was an investment banker. In fact, he is an investment manager. The error has been corrected.

FOLLOW HUFFPOST NEW YORK

Stalking an ex is never attractive. No matter how much money you have. But for one New York investment manager, he couldn't seem to take the hint. It all started when Lauren met Mike at the Ne...
Stalking an ex is never attractive. No matter how much money you have. But for one New York investment manager, he couldn't seem to take the hint. It all started when Lauren met Mike at the Ne...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 2,275
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Bloggers
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (71 total)
25 minutes ago ( 8:25 AM)
After 16, I thought we all figured out the truth that being more persistent is the wrong way to deal with being rejected via silence. Just move on. Focusing on how you thought they were interested or getting hung up on why they might not like you is a fool's game. It only makes you look petty and maybe even crazy. Pretty soon, obsessed will beat rude rejection and the person who stayed quiet will look like the victim of a stalker.

We don't even know how rude she was. I recently met a guy that couldn't understand when I told him to his face that I found him creepy (my subtle hints throughout the evening, like saying "I would appreciate not talking about sexual positions on a first date" went seemingly unnoticed). In the end, ignoring him was my only option to prove I was serious in my lack of interest. Even a month later, I would still get a stray message here or there trying to ask me out again, but I just deleted them since any further contact just encouraged him to keep trying. So, when this man says the date went well and then she just ignored him right away for no reason, it's hard to say how objectively true that is. He still seems to be hoping she'll go out with him again despite sinking to stalker tactics to keep talking to her- clearly his idea of "going well" is different from the average person.
1 hour ago ( 7:33 AM)
I didn't even read the letter once I saw the size of it. My Dad gave me great advice after my first break up, I think i was 16 or so. After watching me mope around the house for days he asked me what was wrong. I told him, "Jennifer broke up with me", to which he replied, "She did you a favor". I didn't understand what he meant until years later. In the end, she was honest with me. She could've strung me along, thinking she was really in to me. In the end she would've left anyway. I would've more hurt the more time I invested. So, in the end my Pop was right. She did me a favor.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
williams74ra
Yeah, I'm a liberal. You got a problem with it
07:00 AM on 05/22/2012
Saying "No, thank you" is not all that hard, particularly via email, text or voice mail.
08:40 PM on 05/21/2012
Wow! Recognizing I'm grandma, this fellow is articulate and he applies what he does to what he wants. He's not a loser. He's actually impressive because he desires, not to simply be deleted from memory as if invisible, but provided the courtesy of a no.

One bright 28 year old girl in my building gave me this dating advice. Go twice. The first time I went out with my fellow he was nervous and I blew him off. My compatriots convinced me to give him a second chance. We were engaged in four months and married the following January. I'm happier than I've been.

To anyone, anywhere who thinks taking someone's intimate disclosures viral makes sense...think Tyler Clementi. And then pull up your bootstraps and try being a little nicer.
56 minutes ago ( 7:54 AM)
No. He is just a rich blowhard who doesn't understand that what he wants isn't always what he gets.

How many women have waited by the phone for the man who doesn't call after a date? It's so common it's the biggest cliche in bad dating experiences. This guy seems to have missed the memo that every girl got when she was 16- sometimes, people don't like you and they won't tell you why. Sometimes, all you can do is just shrug and move on. Being ignored sucks, but there is absolutely no way that further contact will convince a person to change their mind- all it does is make the jilted party look petty and obsessive.

If someone isn't interested, they will not become interested if you google them until you find their email and send them an essay on how they need to behave better. Writing clearly and having money are meaningless- Ted Bundy was handsome and smart and so charismatic that his old law school offered to pay for his defense when he was first charged with murder. Women are taught early to watch out for predators and I wouldn't be shocked if this guy gave his unfortunate date super creep vibes. This email could not have helped his case.
11:52 AM on 05/21/2012
Sounds autistic.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ronito6
05:13 PM on 05/18/2012
What could ever beat the phone messages by that Dimitry guy. Its on YouTube. here is a few choice lines from them (Yes he called this woman 3 times):

"I am single. I have no trouble meeting women; I mean, women approach me six or seven times a day. But I'm extremely particular about what I like. You're an extremely elegant woman. I couldn't take my eyes off you, and your friends were very jealous — even if they say they weren't, they were envious of the fact that I approached you"

After the callback deadline he gives her:
"I don't know… maybe you were abused in childhood?…Maybe your mother has cancer, and you're going to chemo…maybe you're just a person who's extremely frightened or has an anxiety disorder, maybe you're on some medication for that…I don't know, there could be another issue that I'm not aware of. But nobody says "Call me," hands a person a business card and then doesn't return calls. It's extremely passive aggressive. You should actually look that up, passive-aggressive personality disorder. You let me know, if you've got issues, psychological issues, if you're on any sort of medication for anxiety or depression, I'm not interested. But if you're psychologically normal, and you haven't called me because there's been some horrible thing that's happened in your life that's prevented you from returning my calls, that's fine. But otherwise? Don't call me. Okay, bye.."

Better heard than read.
04:16 PM on 05/18/2012
As someone with a lot of money, he should be able to hire some campanionship...some people who will have to hang out with him in exchange for renumeration
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ronito6
05:24 PM on 05/18/2012
HAH!

I guess he forgot he was supposed to be a job creator
12:29 PM on 05/18/2012
wow! dude are you serious. i would mos def not go out with him again, that ranting and raving email would make a little fearful that he may be slightly psychotic...smh
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
11:42 AM on 05/18/2012
OMG! That was exhausting, hell I wouldn't want to go out with him again either especially after that email.
11:14 AM on 05/18/2012
from his description, she sounds like a very classy, pleasant and polite woman who tried to leave him behind with his dignity. he analyzed and obsessed away his dignity. lust is a drug, and this is an addicts cry for help.
10:30 AM on 05/18/2012
American Psycho!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Harley 2
07:03 AM on 05/18/2012
Yikes, could be managing your money on walls street= psychopath.
Professor Wagstaff
My micro-bio is a lie
04:07 AM on 05/18/2012
Hip Tip: Sometimes women twirl their hair because they're bored stiff.
11:18 PM on 05/17/2012
What a creep! But, sadly, some men really cannot take a hint. If I had a dollar for every time I've experienced this. There really should be a "She's Just Not That Into You" for men. If a woman is interested, she really, really will make it clear to you (especially if you're rich). Unlike men, women tend to be more willing to jump head-first into serious dating if they genuinely like a guy, so if she isn't texting you back, that's a strong hint that she's not interested.

I currently have a co-worker who's texting me all the time, even though I don't reply. I used to reply in a friendly, casual manner, but then it got to the point where he was calling me from a blocked number and getting mad when I took a few minutes to text back. He's texted me every day for the past three days, none of which I've replied to. Then, I see him at work and he tries to make a point of giving me the silent treatment, shooting me dirty looks, etc. only to text me again as soon as I'm off work. It's annoying and weird. Thankfully he hasn't ever seemed aggressive or stalkerish, or else I'd be worried.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ronito6
05:22 PM on 05/18/2012
That's rather stressful

Cell phones and the internet are fertile ground for passive aggressive bullies
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
07:09 AM on 05/19/2012
Go to your HR dept. immediately on Monday morning and report this behavior, you should not be made to feel uncomfortable at work by a coworker. End of story.
10:46 PM on 05/17/2012
One very disturbed young man! He wouldn't get it if he was hit over the head with a hammer! There are men and women who act like this. What doesn't he get that " she is just not that into him"... Not at all!