Comments on: Online Daters are Shallow! And Water Is Wet!

By: Gabz

Gabz — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:11:16 +0000

Ya know…I can only speak from my own experience.
How did the last guy put it? “I’m very comfortable with you. You’re fun, attractive, interesting to talk to, and anyone who wouldn’t be into what you can do in bed is a fool! We have all this stuff in common–we’re friends and i love the work we do together. But I just don’t feel it romantically.”
He’s currently dating a girl very much like me, only 10 years younger than we are.
The fact is, people want what they want and will go for the best they can get. This guy commands the attention of pretty much any woman he wants.
Is he wealthy? Extra-handsome? Suave? Attentive? Young? No, not particularly. He’s short. He’s kind of goofy. He gets very wrapped up in his own thing and travels a lot so he isn’t around that much. He’s just a guy with a decent income, a passion for making music and a romantic-sounding profession. He isn’t bad looking but he’s no George Clooney.
But he’s nice, intelligent, funny. he’s genuine. Grounded. I never have to guess with him: he mean what he says and while he’s willing to explore, he knows who he is and he has great boundaries. Moreover, he doesnt have a lot of hangups baggage and he treats women with the same level of respect he treats men.
Is it so very surprising that he’s has his pick of women?
There are so very few single guys their 30′s and 40′s who are even close to decent.
Most of the ones I meet never made it past the emotional age of 25, are squirrely as hell and dragging a lot of unresolved baggage behind them. The ones brave enough to ask me out are either significantly younger or older than i am. Just not interested in playing fantasy date roulette.
And online? Pfft.
I have an online account I set up back when online dating was relatively new. The men in my age group who write are 1) separated 2) polyamorous 3) bored and shopping on the off-chance they can get a hot chat going. Invariably, the ones I write to are invariably 1) involved with someone but keeping their profile up “just in case” or 2) completely not who they portray themselves to be in their profiles.
If you guys are getting rejected by women you think are “4″s, perhaps it’s because we’ve learned to distrust the information put out online.
I’m not saying women aren’t just as guilty, but like I said in the beginning–I can only speak for my own experience.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:51:05 +0000

Man, talk about shallow people. I remember a “first call” when some chick says “I don’t want to sound shallow, but what kind of car do you drive.” And they quickly ask about your vacations too and such. Amazing how you can work this in to a brief call.

They should just cut to the chase and ask: “What is your yearly income and how much of it can I obtain?”

For all of these “call girls,” no call from me!!! It is sad that their mothers probably taught them to “trade” on “their looks.” And the prettier ones get the highest bidder. And when they lose those looks, they feel worthless and go crazy.

As in all of life, I will keep searching for a genuine human being. And hope that all the lost people find each other but not me.

By: Anita

Anita — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:15:25 +0000

Josh #4

Can I have your details? I know a number of great women who I can introduce you to. If I was younger, I would not say “no” to you. =o)

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:45:53 +0000

Really? Income offsets THAT MUCH for bad looks? Although I participate in online dating, I’m growing ever more disenchanted with it since there seems to be a lack of depth that develops. You meet someone and within the first 5 min you have to sell it right, or you’re gone. I personally, would like to take it slow and hang out a few times before getting into my stats.

Just for your info, I’m 27, make 100K+, am well educated, well presented (what I do for a living), in good physical shape, 6’1″, have excellent hygiene, and handsome. But I find myself getting rejected by women that I would consider a “4″ if we’d met in through other means. And no, it’s not my lack of humility that drives them away. It’s their demand for a “10.5″

I suspect that both men and women fall prey to this over-bloated self-esteem problem. “2″ men, think they’re entitled to have “9″ women, and “3″ women are offended if an “8.5″ like myself approaches them.

But seeing as there’s not much else I can do to meet my special lady, I’ll be surfing the profiles this evening again

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:11:31 +0000

Hysterically funny! Of course, these online dating guys who are a 2 and rate themselves a 9 would be crushed if they actually met women the old-fashioned way — face to face, and taking a chance to speak to someone.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:08:25 +0000

This article and Alison’s comment I concur with totally! I am so tired of getting winks and mails from men who would rate a 5 on their physical looks at the most and then reading their profiles which say “I only date women in their 30′s and 40′s” (he was 71), “I am athletic with a wrangler jeans build” (he was about 50lbs overweight and 61), “I am very attractive and so expect only women at least a 9 to contact me” (he was 51, balding, bad teeth). And Alison is also so right when she says that many have less than attractive incomes to assist them. I’ve pretty much given up as so many are losers with constant drama in the form of ex-wife sob stories, small children that they have sole custody of, or no sense of humour. It is so sad because they should be looking at the lovely ladies out there who would be interested in them and are an appropriate age rather than chasing what they can’t have and then complaining they don’t get responses.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I have a PhD, a great career, 5′ 2″, size 2, in my early 40′s – I joined because I was new to the area and I hoped that I would meet new friends! I get hits by at least 15 new guys A DAY and the above descriptions are a typical cross section not the unusual ones!

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:18:55 +0000

My experience with online dating, perusing ads and meeting or talking with many men supports this. Most (Even quite average or less so) men think quite well of themselves and hit on the most attractive women in droves. (Even if they also had less attractive incomes to help them succeed.) Self- esteem or delusion? Also – what can they lose with an wink or email.

The more attractive men were more picky (and probably more successful in their searches. They can afford to be especially if income is added to attractiveness. The women seemed more realistic and open to a range of men with varied levels of attractiveness and incomes- though in general looking for a man with more income, I’m not sure they really expect 143-183,000 more . The ones that ‘advertise’ seem more attractive relative to the men – women need to be in a dating market. Reading the study about BMI and proportions, I now understand why so many men seem attracted to me even when I thought myself less worthy (in terms of status, income, or other variables) Men, at least initially, do seem forgiving if a woman just visually turns them on. However for me that did not increase my odds- as I, in line with the study, have been picky (though about more aspects than just looks) In speed dating one generally operates on quick judgements- gut and programmed attractions – of course shallow. To truly assess someone’s potential compatability, and character takes time and experience.

It is interesting that I found men more comfortable with the quick, brief format to come their conclusion about potential – as so much is based on looks for them. (All admitted they decided in less than 1 minute). Women, especially older women, seemed to want more time to assess a man – to delve deeper than looks for potential longer term dating or relationship. Women do care about looks, as some of these studies show, but not as much as men. So how does this effec the success of any particular online search? I guess the more realistic, attractive and successful two people are the better chance to make a match?