Don't Get Lost in the Shuffle
- Monday, March 28 2011 @ 08:34 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,744
When you’re creating an online dating profile, the tough choices start at the very beginning. Before you’ve even reached the stage where you’re worrying about laundry lists, default pics, or even selecting your body type, you have to choose a user name. And a user name is far more than what you use to log in with; it sets the tone for your first impression, and if someone tries to go back and find you later, it can make or break the search.
Imagine you’re sitting at your computer, searching for potential matches. You’ve plugged in all the relevant information, and now you’re looking at a screen filled with tiny thumbnail pictures and user names. The pictures have been shrunk down so much they’re only minimally useful. You might go through them all, one by one, but first you do a scan to see if any happen to catch your eye. Would you be interested in someone named LovesToSurf, or IndianaJoe? What about CrazyWench, or FratBroTool?
Even without a picture, we quickly form impressions in our mind about the type of personality we’re about to encounter. A name can evoke a sense of adventure, or a sense of humor - but it can have negative associations, too.
However, some of the worst names are those that aren’t offensive at all - they’re simply generic. Picture this: you quickly look over one profile, late at night. At the time, it didn’t seem particularly special, but you find yourself thinking about that person all the next day. That evening, you settle down to give the profile a second look. Your previous searches weren’t saved, and you had taken a pretty circuitous route to get to the profile in the first place. The name was the poster’s first name, followed by a number. Was it 267? or 762? Maybe it was a 5 instead of a 2...
If your name is Mike431977 or Kate22819, you might not have the worst name in the history of online dating, but you might have a name that means you can never be found again. Your user name, like your profile, should be short, sweet, and memorable for all the right reasons. So as you sit down to construct your profile, try to think of a name that reflects the best aspects of your personality. It’s an easy way to make a good first impression.
Imagine you’re sitting at your computer, searching for potential matches. You’ve plugged in all the relevant information, and now you’re looking at a screen filled with tiny thumbnail pictures and user names. The pictures have been shrunk down so much they’re only minimally useful. You might go through them all, one by one, but first you do a scan to see if any happen to catch your eye. Would you be interested in someone named LovesToSurf, or IndianaJoe? What about CrazyWench, or FratBroTool?
Even without a picture, we quickly form impressions in our mind about the type of personality we’re about to encounter. A name can evoke a sense of adventure, or a sense of humor - but it can have negative associations, too.
However, some of the worst names are those that aren’t offensive at all - they’re simply generic. Picture this: you quickly look over one profile, late at night. At the time, it didn’t seem particularly special, but you find yourself thinking about that person all the next day. That evening, you settle down to give the profile a second look. Your previous searches weren’t saved, and you had taken a pretty circuitous route to get to the profile in the first place. The name was the poster’s first name, followed by a number. Was it 267? or 762? Maybe it was a 5 instead of a 2...
If your name is Mike431977 or Kate22819, you might not have the worst name in the history of online dating, but you might have a name that means you can never be found again. Your user name, like your profile, should be short, sweet, and memorable for all the right reasons. So as you sit down to construct your profile, try to think of a name that reflects the best aspects of your personality. It’s an easy way to make a good first impression.
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