In finance you get to hear all sorts of odd things – it must be the type of people the industry attracts. However, some stick in the mind more than others. Some time ago LB and I had a meeting with a group and we discussed numerous ideas, none of which went anywhere, the reason for which will become apparent. As the meeting drew to a close a further idea was tabled this time for a charity which we are always up for particularity if it involves some mechanism of empowered for the individual that way the changes tend to be permanent.
The idea for this charity was thus – set up a trading academy in Thailand to teach transsexual prostitutes to intra-day trade FX as a means to escape poverty. Whenever I hear these sorts of things in meetings people think I am being pensive and reflective as a I gaze out the window. What is really happening is that I am avoiding either falling around laughing or simply blurting out are you f#$^&en mental?
I have no ides whether it got off the ground – I doubt it but it is yet another bizzaro feature of the people in markets
You just made that story up
Why would I do that?
Weirdly James… that story is 100% accurate. At the time, I couldn’t even make eye contact with CT because I thought we were both going to spontaneously combust with laughter.
I was in Thailand last year for a wedding and the transsexual prostitutes I saw seemed to be doing just fine on the business front. They seemed to totally understand that there are some really weird cats getting around out there with copious amounts of cash which they were more than happy to help them part with.
OK -I believe you. I also think altruism and education are important – but surely they could have come up with some more plausible ideas.
Matt, what were transsexual prostitutes doing at a wedding? – is that a normal practice?
Some more experienced travellers in the group that went over showed the rest of us the nightlife in the days/nights leading up to the wedding and it was interesting to say the least James. The particular street that the transexuals were located seemed just as busy if not more so than the rest of the place. We also spent time in the rural locations which is where there were some signs of poverty but no transexuals in sight there.
The locals I met seemed very money savvy, they understood the value of money very well and in that regard would make very good traders I suspect.
The wedding itself was a great night, they sure know how to party over there!