Hotness Delusion Syndrome

When I used to watch reality shows about Hugh Hefner and his ‘girlfriends’, Hef would often have parties and dinners and movie nights. The incongruity of the visuals made my eyes hurt. Lots of elderly men and lots of young girls. Really young girls. And I always wondered what all those men thought the women were there for.

Maybe they were enjoying their company. Very possible. I’ve met people of all ages who are really interesting to talk to, fun to be with and generally great to hang out with. But I didn’t want to sleep with them.

Do the old men know they’re not sexually attractive to the young girls? Do they? Or are some girls genuinely into that? Sexually, speaking.

In his new book, The Big Tilt: What Happens When Boomers Bust and Xers and Ys Inherit the Earth, KPMG demographer Bernard Salt has come up with a name for this: Hotness Delusion Syndrome.

And he says it’s not just Hef and his mates who are afflicted with it. Apparently, a lack of mid- 40s- single dudes (at 44, there are 15 per cent fewer available males than females) is messing with the natural order of things as women have to compete harder for their love and affection.

“An available male in his 40s receives a lot of attention because he’s the only thing going around,” Mr Salt said. “He can be balding and paunchy, but this is not what he sees in the mirror. He sees nothing less than trim, taut and, so he is told, terrific.”

Encouragingly, the “Hotness Delusion Syndrome” is reversed for the sexes in their mid-20s. According to Salt, at age 25, there are 23 percent MORE single men than single women because the blokes are competing with older men for the girls’ attention.

Who do you think has Hotness Delusion Syndrome? Can I nominate Charlie Sheen?

Have you – in work or love – ever been batting above your average? Ever found yourself feeling like a little tiny bit of a fraud? Ever dated someone who had tickets on themselves?