Srsly…

I simply don't know why people like this (username: Planetface) even bother…

"I don't take this site seriously, or srsly for that matter. I don't like jerks, but I'm an asshole. I'm a kickass walking contradiction. ----------- It said I needed to add to my self-summary to get more points and stuff. We all know this is about getting the high score, so rock on. I don't really know what to say here, but I'm hoping I can ramble on long enough to complete whatever length is needed. Somehow this reminds me of fluffing out my papers in high school to meet a quota. I ate a…"

I don't know what he ate, because that was all that showed up on my homepage and I had no desire to look at his whole profile. But really, why would you even join a dating site if you were going to approach it like this.

Debating politics: Turn-on or Turn-off?

After being IMed last night about politics (in part, I assume, because I have some political positions for this election on my profile), I have to say it was a bit of a turn-off. I mean, I guess it was flattering to receive an IM that was about something substantive, but at the same time, an in-depth debate about redistricting is not really what I'm on the site for.

For those of you currently in relationships (or who can remember past relationships in detail) what do you think about this? Are you turned on by a political debate with your partner?

And on a lighter note: Here's someone else who has some feelings about what he does and does not want to be IMed about (taken from his journal post):

"I would not like to get any messages from any users that are pro dog fights. Also, you can trick me into going to a dog fight if you create a poster that said, "Dawg Fights" but frankly I wouldn't like being tricked into it. What sort of person are you if you go around looking for love on [dating site] and then you organize dog fights? I wish dog fights involved two dogs in airplanes shooting down each other. I would never root for the Great Dane. Only if this was some sort of fantasyland can we ever see a great dane winning."

I suppose it is worth noting that this guy lives in Texas…

A shaman

"I am an artist, shaman, writer and inventor in life and relationships. I invite you to explore my on-line world at: www.DaneEasterRose.com."

I went to this website and it is a bit…scary? odd? ridiculous? You tell me. Oh, and if he's an "inventor in relationships" why is he on a dating site?

Just friends

After responding to his last message on Friday, I finally heard back from Richard today. He said that he's only just getting back into the dating scene and didn't really feel a romantic connection between us; he did, however, feel really comfortable with me and hopes he made a new friend. I think I've been single for such a long time that I was wanting things to work out with Richard (relationship-wise) so badly that I overlooked the fact that we will probably make great friends, because I actually feel the same way as he does. It just took reading his message to make me figure this out. I'm surprisingly happy with this, as hard as that may be for some of you to believe. He proposed meeting up again soon—especially if it involves board games (yay!)—so we'll likely see each other again this week.

And now, for today's, um, interesting, profile: "Intellectual-Adventurer seeking a Muse. Think Indiana Jones meets Ender Wiggin, looking for someone like Reese Witherspoon or perhaps Amelie. I am confident and outgoing. I seek adventures, particularly tests of the mind, body and will—the impossible ski run, the glacier-clad mountain, the unsolved theoretical problem. Even if I fail, I wil have learned something—and I don't take stupid risks. Yet, I also have a softer side. I'm not afraid of being creatively affectionate…"

Seriously? You think I'm going to message you?

While I was out and about today, I received the following message:

you're looking fine but you're looking better in victory secret and i'm a new on okcupid so not sure what i'm doing but happy late happy halloween. like to take u out to whitewater's on your mind - we can do it.

on my spare time i help the homeless for the community but most of the time i spend working.

msg me

WTF?

Halloween

After an exhausting week, I came home yesterday afternoon and collapsed in bed with some Thai take-out and "Paris, Je T'aime." At 9 o'clock, it was time for bed. However, when I put my computer away for the night, I left it running and with myself logged into the dating site. Therefore, around midnight, I received the following IM:

monkey1996: I like a women that begs:)

monkey1996: I'm scary but it is halloween right

monkey1996: what are you doin online here

Needless to say, I didn't respond and I've now blocked him. Who does he think he is?

Recap

The date the other night went really well. I met Richard at a nifty Ethiopian bar across the street from the concert hall and we hung out there for a couple of hours. We spent a little bit of time talking to his friend and her date, but mostly the two of us just talked about all sorts of things. Interesting things, I should add (given that most of my dates this year have been rather lacking in the interesting conversation department).

The concert was also fun. It was a crazy British band that plays J-pop-esque music. It wasn't something I ever would have found on my own, but I'd definitely listen to them again. We went back to the bar after the show and talked for another hour before I begged my leave. Given that I had to be up for work in six hours, I had to tear myself away. Richard walked me a ways to my bus stop, but as soon as I got to the stop I had to hop right on a bus, which led to a bit of an awkward goodbye. That said, it spared me from what might have been an even more awkward, first-date goodbye.

The best part of this whole saga is that I think we're going to see each other again. I sent him a message the day after to apologize for running away, tell him I had a really good time, and give him a link to some music we'd discussed. After waiting on tenterhooks for a day and a half, I heard back from him. He told me he'd burned me a copy of the album by the band we'd seen but had forgotten it at his friend's house and that he'd like to give it to me. So now the stage is set for a second date. Hmmm… Sunday?

Date!

Originally, this post was going to be called "Disappointment" and I was going to write about how every time I see a profile of a guy that seems really cool I freak out and decide not to e-mail him for fear that I'll never hear back. There are a couple of guys on the site who seem awesome, but I've not messaged them for this exact reason.

However, right as I started to title this post, I was IMed by one of these very guys (I'll call him Richard). Hurrah! We ended up chatting for a couple of hours and, towards the end, he asked me out—for a concert tomorrow! Yay! I'm really looking forward to this. I know next to nothing about the band, but it should be an adventure at the very least. Wish me luck!

Oh, and because I can't leave without giving you something bizarre: I'm expanded within my own finding that only being so trully compacted within myself. I dream lucidly in search of more why's and how's. A technicolor daydreamer of sorts. I am THE audiophile. My heart beats because music allows it to. I enjoy the world in depth. I am a lover and not a fighter. A good portion of my time is spent in search of truth and a better definition of subjective reality. I'm extremely passionate when inspired and completely destructive when not… (from the profile of AcidEtched)

News and Notes

Before I get to the salient portion of my post, here's today's silliness. I must preface this by saying that it's funny to me and likely will be for anyone who watched Gilmore Girls, but perhaps will not be for everyone. From a profile I encountered yesterday:

Dating Site: What's the most private thing you're willing to admit here?
Guy: I am special.

As soon as I encountered this I thought of Rory and Logan slow-dancing at Richard and Emily's vow renewal at the point where this exchange occurs:
Logan: I have thought about asking you out several times, I just don't think it's a good idea.
Rory: Why not?
Logan: Because you're special.
Rory: Special? Like, "Stop eating the paste," special?

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

So I actually do have something to write today that isn't snark: I IMed with a guy (let's call him Robert) last night for over three hours. He doesn't have the highest match percentage with me, so when his IM popped up, I was tempted to ignore it. However, he actually asked me an intelligent question about something on my profile, so I decided to respond. What followed was much discourse on personality tests (Myers-Briggs, Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, etc.), college a capella groups, and some personal history. Robert seems like a good guy and I would definitely talk to him again—or even go on a date, if he was so inclined. I'll keep you posted.

In other news, I've gotten a bunch of other messages in the last 24 hours—way more than I usually do—but no others that I've been inclined to respond to. There were some interesting usernames in that bunch too: CuriousCactus and ElvisPelvis, among others.

Finally, I've reached the 300 mark in the reject category; that is to say I've now blocked over 300 profiles. I blacklisted them for different reasons, including, but not limited to: age (way too old or young), inanity, disgusting messages, and—my favorite—bad username. 300 in 10 months. How long will it take me to get to 400?

No, no, no, no…

From a guy with a bad beard, long hair, and crazy tie-dye t-shirt who goes by jestingsorrow:

Hi! I am a student/poet going to a University. My passions include women, poetry, digital painting, 420, religious debates, philosophy, being a hippy, and trying to stay sane in this beautiful world. I love assertive women, women who can act feminine but not overly feminist. I like strong personalities and people who aren't obsessed with money. My attitude toward life is that of an artist and sometimes angelic in nature. I have visions and hallucinations. I think an honest approach is better...

An angelic 4/20-loving hippy…