In thinking men who work in finance all take Coke?

[breathedeepy]

OLD...

I met someone a while back who was a heavy Coke user, worked in finance. It's not for me, and not something I want around my child

A lot of the men who seem to message me on the dating site I use appear to work in financial services.

Obviously everyone is different but AIBU in assuming men who work in finance in the city are most likely Coke users or just being massively judgemental?

I was talking to someone who seemed nice online but honestly when I spoke on the phone he spoke at 100 miles an hour and I felt more like it was a job interview than social communication... which is why I'm thinking is he on Coke talking at 100 miles an hour? Or just very nervous?

My dad was in investment banking in the City. Far too much alcohol too.

I hope not! My husband works in finance.

Agree with OO that it was a ‘thing’ a decade ago. It’s really not done anymore. You might want to avoid for the long hours and stress (dependent which part their in) but not for coke!

The reality is, they are healthy motivated, bright people. The really ambitious ones in investment/private banking are up at 5 to go to the gym and in the office for seven, with a smoothie for breakfast.

I was a total cokehead in those days and had to keep it well hidden.

On the basis of probabilities alone, a rich successful man who needs OLD to find a partner is far more likely to have other "issues" than a man who doesnt.

So while not all men in finance are going to be cokeheads, I would be wondering why these men in particular are finding it hard to find a partner and would assume the worst.

Um, I first thought of "Coca Cola" (the soda) when you said "Coke"... :-(

It might be that it's more common in certain niches of the financial sector, like in all those films "Boiler room" or "The wolf of Wallstreet" (which I haven't seen) or "Inside job" (about the 2008 crash), "Rouge Trader", etc. Then there are other sectors within "the finance sector" where people are quite ordinary, and have more modest salaries too.

It depends what area you're talking about, it is a wide sector.

If you're talking about old Brian that works in accounts for a small/medium company then probably not (that was very stereotypical and obviously light hearted).

However if you are talking about those in the city where there is more money and more stress it will be more common but I wouldn't say all.

We work in financial services and I have known anyone or seen anyone take coke.

This is such a stereotype. Most people in banking are very serious, mostly academic and work long hours. It is a high pressure job so maybe the fast talking is common place because the trading floors are full on and dynamic.

If you are looking for someone else in a partner then perhaps join a book club or gardening club. I don't know why you are taking calls from men you don't like, and then judging them on one phone call. They may have been nervous or worried. Not all are confident alphas you know!

never known!

Deffo back in the nineties, lots of my friends worked in the city, most of them were massive coke heads!!!

My DH works in finance in the city and I’m 100% sure he’s never taken coke.

I used to work in finance in the city, and I’ve never taken coke or known any of my colleagues to take coke.

I wasn’t (and DH isn't) a banker though.

My DH is an investment banker and he's never even smoked a cigarette never mind snorted coke. He's very anti-drug.

DH is a fairly senior banker and has never touched a drug in his life, never even smoked a cigarette!
I used to work in finance (DH and I met on the same grad scheme. I’ve also never taken any drugs. I knew a group within the bank who did, frankly they were all absolute arrogant arseholes.

My dh is fairly senior at an investment bank and has never done coke (never even had an overdue library book). I can’t say for definite about his colleagues but they all seem far too nice and geeky to be doing coke.

Well, it’s a lot less prevalent since their coked-up bad judgement tanked the global economy! As are the attendant massive parties and strip joint trips etc.

Most of the big places have tried to manage their cultures a bit more better and also the sheer number of bankers from that pre crisis era has plummeted due to redundancies etc.

I think it depends on the department and what they do - traders are a different type to quants etc

I've known lots of city types and a grand total of 1 that does coke. Otherwise, just hard working professionals that barely have time to sleep and definitely not druggies.

YABVU to assume a guy you've never met but speaks quickly must be a druggie. Makes you sound like you've got issues.

Also take a look at your profile- if you're looking for a decent, successful guy, make sure you show them how you're the sort of girl they'd like to date. You'll be less likely to attract weirdos, druggies or other undesirable types.

My ex worked in the film industry and there was so much of the stuff around, you often viewed people through clouds. Haven't noticed it in finance folk....

The more junior trader types are keen on coke, I think. I think it's nigh on impossible to work your way up to a senior level if you keep at it, though. Coke in your late 30's-40s is highly correlated with bad judgement.

I work in financial services and can probably name a few around the office that use coke if I had to put my finger on it.

I don’t and never have, being female and drunk/off your face can lead to a lot of problems that my career doesn’t need when socialising with colleagues/clients/service providers (I am NOT victim blaming here! My male boss doesn’t drink to excess for very similar reasons).

My experience though is that City lawyers are a serious bunch of coke fiends - lawyering is a really brutal lifestyle and they tend to be very efficient at letting their hair down.

I work in an investment bank )but am not a banker). There are a few older (normally divorced) guys with a reputation for coke but they are very much the exception. Everyone else is way too boring these days. Banks aren’t as eclectic and alpha male as they’re were. Still very sexist (see the gender pay gap reports for banks 🙄) but it’s a different sort of sexism these days...

Some do, some don’t. I don’t think you can stereotype. Some are super fit, some are lazy. Don’t write them all off, I have nice colleagues as well as the ones that are what is a fairly typical view of financial services employees. It is high pressure so people deal with that in different ways.

I can barely count my loose change after a third pint, not sure I could cope with banking on coke.

My FWB used to work in finance in the City and he said one of the reasons he left was the prevalence of coke in the industry. He said many of them relied on it to keep them going through the long working hours.

I think a lot of people are recreational drug users. I barely know anybody who isn't - profiling a huge range of professions and lifestyles. It's pretty expected that if you're invited to a house party there will be stuff around. I'd imagine it may be even more prevalent amongst those who work in industries with a culture of high stress and long hours. I