Are You a Serial Online Dater?

Advice
  • Sunday, October 13 2013 @ 08:24 am
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  • Views: 1,804

Sometimes when there are seemingly endless options available to us, making a decision can be difficult. Having too many choices can work against us - the more we have to choose from, the more overwhelmed we feel and the less informed choices we make.

Such is the case with online dating. While it brings us constant opportunities to meet new people, it can also give us a "grass is greener" complex. Here's how it works: No matter how great the person is sitting across from you, you think there might be somebody else who's even better. So you don't pursue this woman you find so attractive simply because you want to keep your options open. Instead, you go back to your online search and look for more matches to contact, more dates to pursue. You've become a serial online dater.

While this might make dating more exciting, you're making a sacrifice - you're actively choosing not to pursue or cultivate a relationship. Until you decide to stop your endless search and focus on the person sitting across from you, you'll never get to the relationship part of dating.

It's pretty easy to go online and search for dates, so it's no wonder some of us use online dating to avoid any type of commitment. Especially if you're heart is broken. Maybe you feel like the people you love cheat or abandon you, so why would your date be any different? The problem is, if you don't give someone a real chance, then you'll never find out if it can be different.

If you're a serial dater, you also might be thinking that you just haven't met "the one" yet - the elusive woman or man who sweeps you off your feet, who is so much more beautiful, successful, adventurous, funny, etc. than anyone you've dated so far. It's just a matter of time, right? Not so much. The truth is, you're not giving the people you're meeting a real chance. You haven't taken the time to get to know them and see if there is a real connection. Instead, you're relying only on chemistry or infatuation or unrealistic expectations, which aren't great barometers of long-term relationship success.

And if you are constantly analyzing your dates, looking for faults? You'll never find that "perfect" person, because everyone comes with some sort of history or baggage or preconceived notions, including you. It's important to be honest with ourselves about who we are and what we bring to the table, faults, weaknesses, strengths and abilities. We are all wonderful in unique ways, and we are also human beings.

Instead of serial dating, try making a real effort with the next person you ask out. It could make all the difference.

It’s Shockingly Easy To Hack Your OkCupid Account

OkCupid
  • Friday, October 11 2013 @ 07:14 am
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  • Views: 20,338

In fact, it's so easy that I'm not sure it can be called hacking. It doesn't even have to be done intentionally - just one little oblivious click, and suddenly someone else is logged in under your username.

It works like this: when OkCupid sends you an email, any links included inside the email contain a unique identifier called a token. When you click the link, you are automatically logged into your OKCupid account without having to enter your password. The point is to make it as easy as possible to get into your account, but it also makes it worringly easy for someone else to do the same thing.

A writer at The Verge discovered the security hole after receiving a forwarded OkCupid email from a friend. After reading the funny message her friend had received from a prospective suitor, she clicked on the message to see the suitor in question.

"Suddenly," she writes, "I was in my friend's account, staring at all her read and unread messages. I could see her instant messages. I could edit her profile. Just because I had clicked on an email sent to her, OKCupid thought I was her."

Although your friends probably won't do anything unscrupulous if they land in that situation (you hope!), it might not be your friends who unexpectedly find themselves logged into your account. In another case, a woman blogged about an OKCupid user and included a link to his profile that she copied from her email. Unbeknownst to her, any reader who clicked on it would then be instantly logged in as her.

There may be a little karma involved here - because it doesn't seem very nice to publically blog about a user and include a link to their profile - but no one wants to give every stranger on the Internet access to their online dating profile. The token does expire eventually, but no one has yet determined how long it remains active.

Naturally, the OkCupid forums have exploded over this. In one discussion thread, a user writes "This totally defeats the purpose of having a password for the site. If anybody happens to be able to read my email, they are then able to see my full OkCupid account. Hello, what kind of account security is this?"

The thread has been active since 2009, so as incensed as OkCupid users may be, the site doesn't appear to be in a hurry to address the issue. Although "Login Instantly" is not a new feature, it is perhaps not the wisest choice for a social network, dating site, or other online destination that contains such personal information.

Think twice next time you're tempted to make fun of a fellow online dater by forwarding their hilarious message on to your friends. Stick to screencaps or - here's a really radical idea - just be nice and don't do it in the first place.

Clarity With Captions

Photos
  • Thursday, October 10 2013 @ 06:45 am
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  • Views: 1,618
A picture might be worth a thousand words - but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to add in a dozen more to explain the situation. And thus, the invention of the caption. Here’s a little bit about when you should make sure your online dating photos include captions, and why.

First, your default picture should probably be self-explanatory enough that you don’t really need a caption; after all, the main event is your face. Even if you’re going for an “attention-grabbing” default picture, it shouldn’t be so out there that it causes a reaction along the lines of “What in the world is that?” You might be skydiving, but it’s obvious you’re skydiving. In general, however, the default picture should have a nice, clear shot of your face, preferably smiling, so there’s no confusion over whether you’ve used a mugshot.

However, nice as those pictures may be, they can sometimes be lacking in character. That’s when you start pulling out other, more interesting photos; photos with a story behind them. But here’s the catch: you need to either explain the story behind them (in a succinct way) or make sure the photos are really as interesting as you think they are, even without the story. The picture of you dressed as a lobster might be funny, but it’s even funnier when you explain you stumbled into being an extra for the Ice Capades last year - and it might reveal a little something extra about your personality, too.

Then there are the photos that can be called Potentially Deliberately Misleading. For example, a picture where you’re casually posed with a celebrity. In reality, you stood in a convention line for an hour to get this photo; however, you might neglect to mention this because you’re okay with the assumption that you’re just friends with famous people. Even though you’re not actively trying to deceive, it might look that way to others. Or imagine a photo where you’re being swarmed by children. Are they yours? Are they your nieces and nephews? Do you work at a day care? The lack of a caption that clarifies the situation might make it seem like you’re actively hiding something. Thus, perhaps it’s best to be crystal clear from the beginning.

Finally, there are photos that just need a little clarification. Yes, once you’ve met in person it’ll be pretty easy to identify you in a crowd, but when you’ve only got one or two photos to go by, the reader might not be able to pick you out of a group shot of bridesmaids or fraternity brothers. If you’re going to include a group shot, make sure it’s obvious which one you are.

Captions are not meant to be additional profiles, but when used correctly, they can eliminate confusion and enhance the stories told by your photos. Do your photos need explaining?

10 More Things Millennials Need To Know About Online Dating (Part II)

Tips
  • Tuesday, October 08 2013 @ 06:44 am
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  • Views: 1,417

Good news! We no longer think online dating is reserved only for socially awkward guys who live in their parents' basements and desperate, lonely women who fear they're going to die with 75 cats. And now that it's safe to jump on the online dating bandwagon, the Millennial generation is hopping on in droves.

The Inquisitr sat down with Let's Date CEO Adam Huie to get his advice on dating for the under-30 set. I've already counted down the first 10 things they say 20 year olds need to know about online dating, so here's the second 10:

  1. Get your friends involved. We might be the most social generation ever, so why not get our friends involved in our online dating pursuits? Have them review your profile, help you choose dates, or join you on an adventure using a group dating or wingman dating service.
  2. This is not Snapchat. I love Snapchat, don't get me wrong, but it's always wise to think twice before sending a scandalous photo. Once it's out there, it's out there for good, and you have no idea where it might end up. If you're ok with that, snap away.
  3. Don't give out personal information. We grew up with the Internet, Millennials - we should be well aware of this one. Any identifying information (location, place of work, phone number) does not belong on your online dating profile, and it shouldn't be readily handed out in private messages with other online daters, either.
  4. Cheaters need not apply. If it's against the rules of your relationship to have an online dating profile, then don't do it. It's really simple.
  5. Be patient. We're used to getting everything instantly, but that's not how relationships work (even the ones that start online). You might find a date right away, but you might not. Online dating is an investment, and if you put the time into it the date will eventually come.
  6. Don't say "Hey." Please, for the love of God, do not say "Hey." I can't tell you how many messages I delete that seem to think one word will make me want them. I'll never understand it. You don't need to write a novel, but you definitely need to make some attempt at an actual conversation.
  7. Plan. I'm a fan of spontaneity, but one of the nifty things about online dating is that it gives you the chance to form a game plan. Take the opportunity to craft really great messages and creative date ideas.
  8. Don't be a "serial dater." You could go on multiple dates every day if you wanted to (especially now that location-based mobile dating is so popular), but please don't. Either you're fishing for free food and drinks, or you're dropping way too much cash buying other people food and drinks.
  9. It's not an excuse to be an asshole. We have a bad habit of being rude online because sitting behind a computer screen makes us feel invincible. Don't do it. You are not invincible, you are just a jerk.
  10. Delete the app. If you're in a serious, monogamous relationship, it's probably time to take your online dating profile down. Consider it a victory.

Related Article: 10 Things Millennials Need To Know About Online Dating

Facebook “Selfies” Hurting Relationships

Facebook
  • Monday, October 07 2013 @ 07:03 am
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  • Views: 1,649

We first saw them in online dating profiles - photos that people took of themselves while standing in front of bathroom mirrors. Now technology has advanced and the practice has spread. People can view themselves on their smartphone screens, then pose, shoot, and post pictures to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter within seconds.

Such pictures are called "selfies," and they've become a polarizing subject among social media users. According to a recent study out of the UK, posting selfies can have a negative impact on your relationships.

The UK research team evaluated people's posting habits, particularly in regard to self photographs, and if the practice could potentially affect how others view them. Since Facebook pages typically include a wide range of people - from friends to family to work colleagues to acquaintances and high school classmates - how they view profiles varies greatly. Selfies were considered the worst type of pictures to post in terms of what people prefer to see.

In addition, posting too many selfies were found to hurt romantic relationships, too. Researchers found that users who posted selfies were more likely to report feeling less supported by their relationship partners. In the majority of these cases, their partners tended to post pictures of families and family events. Researchers reasoned that the difference between the types of photos people posted could explain why one person in the relationship feels less supported than the other.

Based on the finding of the study, researchers agreed that it would be a good idea to talk about your social media practices before entering into a relationship. If you tend to take selfies and it turns your partner off, it could be a source of conflict as the relationship progresses.

Good communication is the foundation of a good relationship, even your online communication with your circle of friends and family. If you're posting a lot of selfies on Facebook and Instagram, others could conclude that you want a lot of attention and it turns them off. Your partner might feel that you'll dish about your relationship, the good and the bad, which is nobody else's business. Others might get annoyed at your posts clogging up their Facebook feeds.

Whatever the case, too many self photographs are a definite turn-off among users of social media according to the study, and often they can detract from a relationship. Instead of turning inward and posting on social media, talk to your partner if you're not getting what you need. Work on your relationship together, offline.

How Long Should You Message Before Asking Someone Out?

Communication
  • Sunday, October 06 2013 @ 01:35 pm
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  • Views: 2,572

Making a good online impression is really an art. Do you consider yourself an online Casanova? Are you able to email with matches endlessly, but are too intimidated to ask for a real date? Let's face it. You know that at some point, the online interaction needs to cease and you should meet face to face, because how else are you going to see if you're really a match?

Some people are talented wordsmiths while others might not feel so comfortable writing as they do speaking to someone in person or over the phone. When it comes to online dating, this shouldn't matter. Because the last thing you want to do is correspond with potential online dates for weeks or months at a time, when you should be meeting them as quickly as possible.

Many people have asked me how long they should email before asking somebody out over an online dating site. I recognize that you are strangers and it's good to feel comfortable with someone before agreeing to meet in person. However, if you wait too long, you are missing out on some great opportunities.

Technology has kicked online and mobile dating into high gear. You don't have to be at home in front of your computer in order to message or meet someone. Now, you can reach them in seconds via your phone - through instant chat, mobile apps, or even Facebook and Twitter. This means that people are meeting each other all the time. So what's to stop them from asking someone else out on a date?

It used to be acceptable for people to correspond over email for weeks at a time before actually meeting in person. But now, people don't have the patience or inclination. It's much better if you ask somebody out after one or two emails, three at the most. If you wait much longer, you risk that person meeting and dating someone else. You also risk forming an emotional attachment to somebody you might not have chemistry with in person.

I have met several men who were amazing over email - witty, charming, engaging - but then when I met them in person it was like they were complete strangers. We didn't banter, or they didn't appear to be interested in me, or they weren't the type of man I pictured as we were writing each other. In other words, I had high expectations based on a picture in my mind. If I would have met them sooner, before I became smitten with them over email, my disappointment over our real-life encounter wouldn't have been so devastating.

The bottom line: Ask him/her out, sooner rather than later. If you get on well in person, there's nothing stopping you from exchanging some amazing emails with each other later.

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