Time to Find the Right Angle
- Wednesday, March 23 2011 @ 08:15 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,341
Creating an online dating profile can be nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s your first time. It’s not uncommon to put it off as long as possible, and then finally steamroll through it in one rush, to get it over with. As with most things, rushing through writing a profile is probably one of the worst things you can do.
Now, that’s not to say you can’t sit down and fill it out in one sitting. If you’re feeling creative or happy or “in the groove,” why not? But it’s simply not a good idea to post it the second you fill out all the blank areas. For one thing, there’s the issue of basic editing: when you’ve been staring at the same thing for an hour, and you still have your “voice” in your brain, your eyes might not notice that your spell-check automatically corrected and filled in the wrong word, or that one paragraph is actually only one sentence.
The next level of editing involves applying polish. Maybe you don’t technically have any errors, but it’s a bunch of laundry lists of your likes and dislikes. Maybe it has complete sentences, but it’s about as interesting as split pea soup. When you go over your profile, ask yourself: does it stand out at all? How can you grab positive attention? Look at profiles of people you’re interested in, and note what makes them stand out to you.
Finally, when you rush through creating your online profile you’re much more likely to rush through the picture selection - and that can be scary. Hastily snapped pictures with a cell phone or a web cam can resemble a lineup at the county jail more than an invitation to say hello. Posting a funny, and mildly obscene, picture might seem like a great idea at three in the morning, but not so hilarious in the harsh light of day. And let’s face it: some days we just don’t look our best. I’ve seen many people who take one or two self-portraits when they’re exhausted, get discouraged, and use the pictures anyway because they just want to get the profile out there. If you don’t feel well about how your pictures are turning out, try it another time - it might be something as simple as a bad mood. And your mood will definitely shine through in your photos.
There’s nothing wrong with a little patience, particularly when it comes to “meeting” someone for the very first time. If you had an option, you’d probably brush your hair and dress well before meeting someone in person, right? Why not take your time creating the best first impression you can?
Now, that’s not to say you can’t sit down and fill it out in one sitting. If you’re feeling creative or happy or “in the groove,” why not? But it’s simply not a good idea to post it the second you fill out all the blank areas. For one thing, there’s the issue of basic editing: when you’ve been staring at the same thing for an hour, and you still have your “voice” in your brain, your eyes might not notice that your spell-check automatically corrected and filled in the wrong word, or that one paragraph is actually only one sentence.
The next level of editing involves applying polish. Maybe you don’t technically have any errors, but it’s a bunch of laundry lists of your likes and dislikes. Maybe it has complete sentences, but it’s about as interesting as split pea soup. When you go over your profile, ask yourself: does it stand out at all? How can you grab positive attention? Look at profiles of people you’re interested in, and note what makes them stand out to you.
Finally, when you rush through creating your online profile you’re much more likely to rush through the picture selection - and that can be scary. Hastily snapped pictures with a cell phone or a web cam can resemble a lineup at the county jail more than an invitation to say hello. Posting a funny, and mildly obscene, picture might seem like a great idea at three in the morning, but not so hilarious in the harsh light of day. And let’s face it: some days we just don’t look our best. I’ve seen many people who take one or two self-portraits when they’re exhausted, get discouraged, and use the pictures anyway because they just want to get the profile out there. If you don’t feel well about how your pictures are turning out, try it another time - it might be something as simple as a bad mood. And your mood will definitely shine through in your photos.
There’s nothing wrong with a little patience, particularly when it comes to “meeting” someone for the very first time. If you had an option, you’d probably brush your hair and dress well before meeting someone in person, right? Why not take your time creating the best first impression you can?
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