That Internet dating thing

AaronSofaer · 2010-09-11T07:55:24.000Z

Ignore the Quickmatches, take the Quiver with a massive grain of salt, and have fun.

Scrax · 2010-09-11T10:24:41.000Z

Creole Ned:

However, he had never heard of The Alan Parsons Project.

???

45

Creole_Ned · 2010-09-11T10:34:06.000Z

You’re forgiven, Scrax, since you’re about a million years younger than my date was. He claimed he was too steeped in academia at that time to pay much attention to pop music.

The Alan Parsons Project

Scrax · 2010-09-11T10:38:00.000Z

Ooo black and white.

Creole_Ned · 2010-09-11T10:46:59.000Z

Yes, the world was a more primitive but groovy place back then.

seventimessix · 2010-09-11T11:07:30.000Z

“I think they were some sort of hovercraft.”

Demon_G_Sides · 2010-09-11T14:26:08.000Z

Did everyone see in Black and White?

Omniscia · 2010-09-11T21:45:21.000Z

Many more people have heard the Alan Parsons Project than realize they have, I reckon, given the frequency with which “Sirius” is played at sporting events.

Robert_Sharp · 2010-09-12T05:34:17.000Z

True. But outside of the UK (and maybe Canada), it’s not like they ever became a household name. I still think of Parsons as a record producer, not a musical act in his own right. Seems a bit like getting upset because someone doesn’t know who Hawkwind is.

hong · 2010-09-12T06:40:29.000Z

That’s the guy from Ultima, right?

AndrewMyers · 2010-09-12T07:36:58.000Z

Robert Sharp:

True. But outside of the UK (and maybe Canada), it’s not like they ever became a household name. I still think of Parsons as a record producer, not a musical act in his own right. Seems a bit like getting upset because someone doesn’t know who Hawkwind is.

They got plenty of airplay in the early 80’s (the APP, that is, not Hawkwind) – Eye in the Sky was pretty unavoidable in 82-83.

John_Many_Jars · 2010-09-12T08:05:07.000Z

Most gay men at the time “Eye in the Sky” charted were listening to Donna Summer and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. You’ve got to be more forgiving, Ned.

Bill_Dungsroman · 2010-09-12T08:58:58.000Z

Cosmic Hippo:

Okay, so due to the coolness of these OKTrends articles, I registered an account to check it out, even though I’m very skeptical of online dating in less urban areas. First, I just signed up and answered a bunch of questions to see what kinds of people it would suggest to me. The results were… interesting, but better (more people) than I expected. I answered some more questions, uploaded a couple photos, and went about my day

But what’s the deal with quick matches? I got an email saying somebody gave me a high rating and if I give her a high rating then our hearts will explode or something. But it wouldn’t tell me who it was, it gave me 9 people who will also see me rating them. Is this just a never-ending cycle of gambling by rating profiles, who then rate profiles, until you come up matched? I mean, I didn’t even intend to act on any of this stuff just yet and my profile is barely filled out.

Fill out your profile (read some other ones first, go with some neutral stuff, try not to sound like a clingy loser and you should be OK), upload some picks (the manlier you appear the better, like that sweet Indiana Jones pic), and ignore the stupid quickmatches. Use your quiver as a guide (you always get more matches similar to whoever you check out, plus a stream of other ones on your profile page). Message girls you like. Go nuts, who cares, they just won’t message back if they aren’t interested. However, most won’t make the first move (the cute ones, anyway, in my experience. Not always but you will get more action if you take the initiative).

Be prepared to get messaged a lot by hideous people. Ignore them. Big deal, you’ll get dissed too, so what. Don’t be coy if a girl messages you back. Ask her directly if she wants to meet, she will either say yes or maybe ask to IM a little bit or some BULLSHIT, WHATEVER.

Meet her in a public place so you can check each other for hockey masks and oversized cutlery. Be prepared to never hear from some of the girls after one date for who knows what reason. Girls often get insane perverse requests on these sites so being normal will work wonders for you.

Creole_Ned · 2010-09-12T09:40:37.000Z

Bill’s advice is sound, but do not place any faith in your quiver matches.

Remember:

I should have another look at my OKC profile because Older Guy kept referring to things from it that I didn’t remember putting in (like The Alan Parsons Project). It’s been awhile.

Zuwadza · 2010-09-12T10:36:07.000Z

Bill Dungsroman:

Be prepared to get messaged a lot by hideous people. Ignore them…

Ok, on the topic of being messaged by hideous people: I got messaged by one girl a little while ago. Checked out her profile, she only had one picture but she looked alright in it so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, looks-wise. We sent a few messages back and forth, IM’ed a little and everything seemed alright. Then I looked her up on facebook and some of her profile pictures were visible (because we were in the same “network”). Oh boy. It turns out that she’s, well, ugly.

How do I untangle myself from her now? Just stop talking to her and ignore her? Tell her I’m not interested?

Alan_Dunkin · 2010-09-12T10:37:57.000Z

I’d rather just be polite and message anyone that messages you, even if just to say thanks but I’m not interested. For Zuwadza’s gal you can say the same thing just say thanks but I don’t think we’re really compatible. Then you can ignore her.

— Alan

Omniscia · 2010-09-12T10:53:01.000Z

Zuwadza:

Ok, on the topic of being messaged by hideous people: I got messaged by one girl a little while ago. Checked out her profile, she only had one picture but she looked alright in it so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, looks-wise. We sent a few messages back and forth, IM’ed a little and everything seemed alright. Then I looked her up on facebook and some of her profile pictures were visible (because we were in the same “network”). Oh boy. It turns out that she’s, well, ugly.

How do I untangle myself from her now? Just stop talking to her and ignore her? Tell her I’m not interested?

You’re a Newfie, though, right? Don’t you guys kiss codfish for fun?

Demon_G_Sides · 2010-09-12T11:09:13.000Z

Zuwadza:

Ok, on the topic of being messaged by hideous people: I got messaged by one girl a little while ago. Checked out her profile, she only had one picture but she looked alright in it so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, looks-wise. We sent a few messages back and forth, IM’ed a little and everything seemed alright. Then I looked her up on facebook and some of her profile pictures were visible (because we were in the same “network”). Oh boy. It turns out that she’s, well, ugly.

How do I untangle myself from her now? Just stop talking to her and ignore her? Tell her I’m not interested?

Sever all communication. Or better yet, write “This was a mistake.” on her wall and then block her everywhere, make her feel really appreciated.

Zuwadza · 2010-09-12T11:16:33.000Z

Omniscia:

You’re a Newfie, though, right? Don’t you guys kiss codfish for fun?

Yeah, but that’s as far as it goes. Mostly.

Wobbo · 2010-09-12T16:03:24.000Z

beecubed:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/your-money/04money.html

That’s crazy. Anyone that racks up $170K in school debt while pursuing something that isn’t going to get them a six-figure salary is a dip.

What about Law School?

Most people who pass the bar will never actually make more than 90k per year, and yet it costs roughly 160k on average to pay for law school alone (not to mention undergraduate debt.). There are ways of getting the debt reduced/forgiven if you work in the public sector, but still, racking up 170k in school debt is a LOT more common than you might think.