Comments on: Desperate Davos Wives

By: rKnox

rKnox — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:27:50 +0000

Sweet post.
I can’t imagine the hostility that is posted above.
Thanks for sharing

By: Coloradohigh

Coloradohigh — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:54:59 +0000

Excellent post.

I live in Aspen and have been invited both to speak at both Davos and the Aspen Ideas Festival. I now decline all the invitations. The treatment of ones spouse at these meetings is deplorable, as is the treatment of speakers. Schriffrin has it exactly right. The organizers are obsequious to the CEOs and the rich while treating those of us providing substances very badly. The idea that a noble prize winning economist has to find his way up an unlit icy path to a hotel off the main street is outrageous.

When you get past 60 you look for opportunities to have fun with your significant other while attending these meetings, especially since the organizers are generally cheep offering lousy hotel rooms, modest remuneration for air fare, and rarely paying for talks. Obviously the WEF is not worth the trouble. And believe me, the amounts they put out to bring Joe to the meeting would not go very far to feed the world’s poor.

By: kjf215

kjf215 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:21:09 +0000

Thanks for the light-hearted look at a what is often an overly serious event. What I enjoy about Reuters is that it combines serious events with real-life situations and perspectives. In this case, Davos is very much a clubby atmosphere and you have offered us a peek and a chuckle.

By: LuoBoTi

LuoBoTi — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:27:53 +0000

What a great post – I started on today’s post and clicked back to this. I really love the observations. I can’t believe the heavy negative comments and the crude sarcasm on what is a lovely colour piece – guys get a life.
Why do we read books, look at art, travel, if not to observe life in all it’s shapes and forms. As someone who would not get invited to Davos, being neither great nor rich (but not bitter about it either) this gives me as a reader, a view that would be similar to the observation point I’d like to adopt, casting a cold eye as the horsemen pass by.
Keep it up Anya – sod the begrudgers!

By: iflydaplanes

iflydaplanes — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:16:14 +0000

If you are so desperate not to have fondue lunches, drive Audis, or sit around in “yummy fur-lined blankets” then stay home. No need to whine to us about it.

Oh wait I get it, it’s a satire piece right?

By: kordo

kordo — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:33:13 +0000

Actually I do understand why “wives included”. Spouses are spouses and very often the support of a spouse is crucial factor.
Just that… this is a forum that tries to find means of solving world’s problem. This blog was inappropriate in this sense…

By: minipaws

minipaws — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:20:14 +0000

WOW Reuters, first the article advertising some lady’s 10 commandments book and now this. What a waste of my morning!

By: FirstAdvisor

FirstAdvisor — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:17:18 +0000

I find this scenario utterly baffling. I cannot for the life of me imagine why any man would take his wife (his wife!) to a business conference. As this woman describes, they are totally useless and worthless there, with absolutely nothing to do, and zero to contribute to the gathering but gossip with other wives. The one crucial thing to avoid in travel is excess baggage, and wives are definitely right up there at the top of the list of excess baggage on a business trip. I wager anyone could take a list of the attendees at Davos and draw a perfectly straight line between the group of fake successes-real losers, who take their wives, and the real winners, who manage to leave the barnacle at home.

By: kordo

kordo — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:46:37 +0000

Oh, feel so sorry for you. What trouble you have to endure, what pain you must feel, being DAVOS wife.
Dying third world children feel nothing compared to you…