Match.com Has The Hook-Up On The Rules Of Modern Dating, Part II

"Put aside what you used to think and get ready to have a very different view about the single people in your life. They're not who you think they are."

With that lofty pronouncement, Match.com set out to "separate fact from fiction with the first comprehensive study of singles in America." We covered some of their findings in the last post, and now it's time to move on to a little myth-busting so spectacular that it would make Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage a little jealous.

Myth #1: Women are clingier and more needy in relationships than men are.

Busted: Match.com found that women actually need more independence in relationships than men do. Women, across every age group, were more likely to report needing things like personal space, vacations without their partner, and nights out with the girls.

Myth #2: Men aren't interested in getting married and having children.

Busted: Men and women are equally inclined towards marriage - both 33% of women and 33% of men said that they want to get married. And as far as children go, among singles without kids, more men (24%) than women (15%) expressed interest in becoming parents.

Myth #3: Sex becomes less important with age.

Busted: Older men and women are in fact less likely to choose between love and sexual attractiveness in order to have a committed relationship. Older singles also reported finding sex within a committed relationship more satisfying than singles in other age groups.

Myth #4: Being a single parent ruins your love life.

Busted: In reality, single parents go on more dates than singles without children, and more single parents are currently dating someone (21%) than those without kids (16%).

Myth #5: Modern youth are promiscuous.

Busted: The 21-34 age group contains the largest percentage of people who said that they had never had sex. 24% of men and 23% of women in that age range claimed to be virgins, to be exact.

Myth #6: Saying "I love you" is a serious commitment.

Busted: Only 14% of singles think that "I love you" means "I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Another 31% believe it means "I want you in my life," 30% consider it to mean "I care about you," and 19% believe those infamous 3 words mean "I want to have a committed relationship with you."

Myth #7: Unemployment decreases your chances of finding love.

Busted: As long as you bring other things to the table, 50% of singles said that they would be open to dating someone unemployed if they found the person interesting.

Myth #8: Casual hookups never lead to relationships.

Busted: Advice columnist Dan Savage is fond of saying that most relationships are just "one night stands that stick" and, according to Match.com, he appears to have a point - 36% of singles said they are open to casual hookups, and 54% have had one night stands. All in all, 35% of singles claimed to have had one night stands that turned into long term relationships.

So next time you think you know what a new date is all about, think again - singles in 2011 are not who you think they are.

For more information on the dating site mentioned in this post, you can read our Match.com review.