People are the same way. You see someone on-line or in a bar, maybe some friends set you up on a blind date, and the package looks pretty good. But then as you get to know that person and start peeling away the paper it was better before you started opening it up.
Getting back to that present analogy, sometimes you can tell by the size of the box or by shaking it that you aren't going to like what you find inside. With people there are some obvious clues as to what's under the wrapper. If they seem angry early on, chances are you're getting an angry person. If they are late for that first date, maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe it's a sign they will always be late. If their clothes don't match and that bothers you, beware. If you are a conservative republican and their passions are Greenpeace and Global Warming maybe there's a sign there. If you are an intellectual, and the other person would need you to spot them 10 points to get their I.Q. up to 100, they might not be right for you. To be blunt, someone dumb rarely gets smarter. And if you are no rocket scientist and the other person acts like a card-carrying member of the Mensa society you could be wasting your time.
However, there's another side to this for those of you wandering through the shallow pool. Sometimes the box that looked like a dud has something pretty great inside.
I grew up watching Monty Hall and let's make a deal, and when someone won the box, they always wanted the bigger box, when they got that, the curtain was an easily accepted upgrade. The next thing always looked better. But quite often in the trade for the bigger box or curtain what they got wound up being a dud, the person should have kept what they originally had.
The reality at least from a most of the guys I know perspective is we all want the hottest babe in the bar, in our minds we probably think we have a shot at her, but we might be missing some great opportunities with all the others.
If the wrapped box appeared to be less than perfect, wouldn't you just kick yourself for throwing away a diamond?
