To a SINGLE MAN, with zero baggage or attachments, pretty much the line, "Plenty of fish in the sea" holds true. It also holds true for the guy that is looking to get as much different pieces of A$$ as they can before the settle.
I know there are guys that fall into the later category then the previous one. While I don't, and don't fully understand that mentallity myself, it exists with friends and being a guy myself I've been aorund other guys with that attitude almost all my life. Since they are just about everywhere.
Now for me, the former, if you are looking for someone, anyone, that will be for a serious relationship think of it like grocery shopping or car buying. There are plenty of attractive on the outside and on the inside women out there. I find myself attracted to many different women for many different reasons. Many, have "baggage" that once I get to know them automatically turns me off. This baggage isn't just in the form of kids. It's usually this list.
1) already married
2) already has kids
3) already in a really serious and commited relationship with someone I know and I wouldn't want to go there out of friendship for all parties involved
4) in a relationsip with a psycho would kill me if he found out I was even looking at here (this happens more often then you think)
5) Has mental or physical issues that may be under control now, but can get out of control later (can be something a silly as despression or bi-polar, to being fat or handicap)
6) Has a "history" of being a little too permiscuous
7) drugs, smokes, excessive tats, excessive piercings
Those are what I usually find as baggage. Some guys may find more or less then that, but out of most guys I've known, from the super sleeze to the super snob, that list pretty much defines "baggage" for most guys once they start seriously looking for a female "partner" for something other then a one night stand. I also put it in order from top to bottom of what kills the deal more then others for me.
Could I get over any of those baggage issues? Perhap, but if I don't KNOW you, then your not really any other girl that is attractive to me both inside and out.
Think of it like filling a job application. If I have 2 highly qualified candidates to fulfill that role, and they are almost equal in everyway then I look more closely at what makes them not equal. If one of them has a "problem" I don't like over the other, then I'm hiring the one without the "problem." Now, don't get me wrong, that was a pure analogy and kids aren't a "problem" but are definately "baggage." It's something that given a choice between girl A and girl B where everything is equal and I don't really know either one but girl A has kids and girl B doesn't, I'm going to gravitate to girl B.
Could I or most guys find a girl, get to know them, get to love them, and find out the "baggage" with that person makes no difference in the end? Yep.
However, most girls need to realize, when you are getting to know the guy you don't have to tell them ALL the possible negatives about you before they get to know all the good things first. Let the other person get to like the good things about you first before you be "honest." Seriously, the first thing out of my mouth when I meet women isn't a negative about me. That's just insane and most people will think your a wierdo. What if I walked up to you as a girl as said, "Hi! my name is so and so. I think your cute, and would love to get to know you. How about I buy you a drink? Oh, before we go any further, I'd just like to let you know I've slept with over 200 women in my life time. I have a raging case of athletes foot right now so if you see me scratching them you know why. I also have a bad hemriod that is flaring up so I may scoot around in my seat some. Also, I have a bachelor's degree, and work at suchandsuch place. How about you?"
If any guy said that, you'd think they were a FREAK! Well, I hear women say the first thing out of their mouths, or damn near it when I'm getting to know them but don't know them yet, all the bad things or baggage they have. Guess what I'm going to do? Politely excuse myself, and when I get out of direct line of sight, run like mad for the hills!