On-line Dating Do's and Don'ts
 I have tried several dating sites and have most recently called Cupid.com my home. I never thought I would have to resort to online dating until my erratic work schedule put me on the "do not call" social life list. I remember being home and watching a marathon of like reality TV shows (yeah I said it!) and in between were TV commercials for EHarmony. I thought, ok I'll try it but when I logged on it took me 3 days to complete the profile and then it was like 50 bucks to activate my profile/membership!! I don't think I even spend 50 bucks on a night out with my gal pals let alone for a dating site. So, I said forget about it! A few days later, while driving home from work, I was listening to the local radio station and there it was... the "Don't be stupid, go to Cupid" jingle. I laughed because I thought "What a great advertisement"... it got me singing! So, later that night as I kept singing the song over and over to the point of like creating a little dance to go with it, I decided to log on. I put together this well written profile and posted a very professional photo and thought secretly... I am so gonna meet the man of my dreams in like a week. I know it sounds cheesy but I am a hopeful romantic.
I was so unaware of how this whole thing works. It was dating with a twist. I was able to get to know people at my speed while sitting home with my hair in a scrunchie and wearing sweat pants... SWEET! As I read through profiles I was amazed at how many men actually like long walks in the park (sure they do.) Also, there are a lot of men who just want to stay at home and watch a movie. How sweet; they fail to say that the movie will be of mindless, fembods destroying the world with their boob shields and that you will not be allowed to speak or joke while it's on. And who can say much for the pictures of the guys that look like they posted their mug shot taken of them at central booking. That's impressive. Then to be fair I looked at the ladies and saw the same thing. FYI ladies... lying on a faux fur rug, with a fire place in the background is sexy but not if you are wearing black spandex pants and a hotpink I heart Hucklebees Tshirt! Oh and the Courtney Love, bed head, smudged mascara eye after a night out binge drinking might not be a good top photo either.
What I saw and read made me go back to my own profile and write what I wanted people to know about me instead of how I wanted them to perceive me. I realized there was nothing worse than getting to know someone representative instead of who they really are. Then I added some viewer friendly pictures that actually showed me being me. After some months of chatting with people, messaging and even meeting some of them I decided that there are online Dating Do's and Don'ts that we all should be aware of. If you don't like to laugh, have zero sense of humor, you are bitter or have recently been fired from your job you may want to stop reading right now! I am not responsible for any outburst brought on by the thought provoking statements I am about to make.
Do |
Don't |
| post a photo that has been taken within the month you register. |
post your high school photo when you had hair and it was thin! |
give detail about yourself that is interesting and truthful.
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explain how you don’t play head games or have baggage! |
share your correct height and weight info. |
assume the word average secretly means one super size away from obese! |
| post at least one head shot and one full-length shot. |
have 10 headshots with no shirt flexing on your webcam! |
| include people dearest to you in the photos, yes even pets.
. |
put a picture of your dog in shades as your private pic! |
write information that can be shared in your profile
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be angry when your neighbor calls you Bobtheluvbuilder when he sees you! |
| wear something in your picture that is reflective of you. |
everyone wants to see the armature photo op you sent in for Jugs R Us! |
| have an eye catching title. |
let your title write a check you can’t cash! |
| pay for your membership. |
send 50 million eye contacts that say I think you’re hot! |
| be specific in the age range you would like a person to meet. |
just say any on everything and later be disappointed when people took your whole 18-80 age limit literally! |
| send many emails and eye contacts to people who interest you. |
be freaked out when the girl in the cubby next to you at work one day says “I saw that you viewed me.” The whole point is to connect with people near you right?! |
| be honest about your living arrangements. |
assume that being unemployed and living in your sister’s basement is a bad thing. There’s someone for everyone, you never know! |
Ms. Redding is a real user of Cupid.com writing a book about her dating experiences, online and off. The good, the bad, and the As If!!! If you are a publisher, contact her immediately! Don't steal her content or she'll kick your a**.
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