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The Freakonomics of Online Dating by Tyler on 14 Nov, 2007 21:44
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If you've read Freakonomics, then you've probably read the section (pages 80 to 84) on online dating. I recently found a summary of the section that I though I'd share with you guys.
Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner is a rather amazing book in which the
authors apply analytic techniques to all kinds of
questions that economists don't usually study. For
example, they show that Sumo wrestlers throw matches
to manipulate the standings. And that elementary
education teachers cheat for their students to raise
scores on standardized tests.
So, what does this have to do with Internet dating?
Well, Levitt and Dubner took data from a dating site
and answered the age-old question of what attracts
women to men and vice versa -- or at least what
features of an Internet dating ad attract the most
email in response.
Before reading on, try to guess what features in a
man's ad are most likely to attract women to respond.
Got your guess? OK, here is what they found:
1. Man is looking for a long term relationship.
2. Man is rich.
3. Man is tall.
So if you are Kareem Abdul Jabar looking to marry then
you're golden. But if you're short, poor, and looking
for casual sex then you may be lonely.
Now, what attracts a man to a woman. Got your guess?
OK, here is what Levitt and Dubner found:
1. Woman is looking for casual sex.
2. Woman is thin.
3. Woman is blond.
So, if you are Evilicious Blond looking for a
one-night stand then your going to see a lot of hits!
It's relatively easy to become blond. And it's
relatively easy to lie about your income and not get
caught (as long as you don't exaggerate too much). The
other variables are a bit harder to control...
Some other notes. For men weight was almost
irrelevant. For women, it was bad to be really poor or
really rich (presumably men find rich women
threatening). For men, being balding was bad but
having a shaved head was good.
Oh, and one last thing. You can't get away with not
including a picture. Levitt and Dubner write "A
low-income, poorly educated, unhappily employed,
not-very-attractive, slightly overweight, and balding
man who posts his photo stands a better chance of
gleaming some emails than a man who says he makes
$200,000 and is deadly handsome but doesn't post a photo." -
#1 by Tyler on 15 Nov, 2007 13:40
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Wow, I'm amazed that there hasn't been any comments on this.
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#2 by Marz on 15 Nov, 2007 13:57
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It is in fact amazing.
I have a friend that was on Match.com, he makes good money, is good looking and lists a long term relationship as an option.
He recently had to quit just because he got too many dates and 90% of them were totally insane. He said he had a couple of Glen Close from Fatal Attraction types getting weird on him.
Also, thin and blond are listed among what he is looking for.
internet dating seems really weird to me... -
#3 by warhawk on 15 Nov, 2007 15:49
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i'm married but if i was single i would definitely stay away from meeting women on the internet. besides....there R sooo many women here in florida that u don't need the internet. btw....marz... i like your comment on the glenn close analogy....that movie til this day still freaks me out.
WARHAWK
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#4 by Jdogs Better Half on 15 Nov, 2007 15:57
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Jdoggy and I met online! I don't think I'm to much of a freak
.....but then again it was a skateboarding chat site and not online dating!
An ex-friend of mine was a serial online dater, she would meet these weirdos online and and after 1 night of chatting ask them over to her house for casual sex - how stupid is that - they could have done anything to her - and from then on they new where she lived!?!?!?!?! -
#5 by Marz on 15 Nov, 2007 15:58
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All my married friends agree, seeing Fatal Attraction will keep a dog in his own yard (if ya know what I mean).
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#6 by andrew on 15 Nov, 2007 16:06
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Jdoggy and I met online! I don't think I'm to much of a freak
.....but then again it was a skateboarding chat site and not online dating!
An ex-friend of mine was a serial online dater, she would meet these weirdos online and and after 1 night of chatting ask them over to her house for casual sex - how stupid is that - they could have done anything to her - and from then on they new where she lived!?!?!?!?!
... and her name is??? Sorry, couldn't resist. -
#7 by METAPHOR on 16 Nov, 2007 10:00
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I met my lovely and vivacious fiance' on match.
I found it in general to be a good experience. I was married for 17 years previously and didn't really have alot of experience with dating even before then.
The bar scene was boring, costly, ineffective and made me drink too much.
Once I got the formula down on how to word my on-line profile things took off.
I made a very simple statement "wanting to wake up next to someone I was crazy about". Not much else. Then again I am tall, financially secure and not interested in being a player.
Truth is, I was surprised and disapointed in the number of women I encountered who told me outright that just wanted to have sex. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy an adventure, but even when I was younger it seemed completely hollow just going from one conquest to the other.
In the end your experiences, will refelect upon what you bring with you.
It's hard truth for many people to swallow but I have found that in life, you get what you deserve. (Aside from disease and accidents)
I also found out the ultimate truth about women: Once you go black... -
#8 by iBald on 16 Nov, 2007 12:35
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I've done the online thing, I hate bars and I'm in an area where most in my age range are already married. Last serious girlfriend I meet online and by the end, I was saying I would never do that again. Now I have psychodar and slutdar and easily avoid those types.
My problem is that I am not the greatest writer on the face of the earth (unless its comedy). Email communication is not my forte. Also, I'm foul mouth, agnostic, and a liberal. Add that all together and throw me in the Bible Belt, you get some odd moments. -
#9 by METAPHOR on 16 Nov, 2007 13:14
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I am in the buckle of the bible belt (Nashville)
As a Deist I have realized that I have lost more friends to Christianity than to car accidents, cancer and heart disease combined. Still, I make new friends and move on.
I've known several "Charizmanics" but most are pretty easy to avoid. Especially if you don't go looking for a fight.
Being foul mouthed is easy to control. I have been known to let loose a few colorful metaphors from time to time but I know that it makes me sound less than intelligent when I do. I therefore keep them to a minimum.
Writing is easy. Take time to look at some other guys profiles and see what works. Think about who you want to be with and gear your words in that direction. Funny is a plus!
Christ, I sound like dear Abby. -
#10 by Cam on 16 Nov, 2007 18:40
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I met Kori in person.... and she's psycho. It turns me on.
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#11 by bonanza50 on 30 Jan, 2008 15:20
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I've been dating online for 3 years. Been on dozens of dates and yes these women are a waste of time, except Shelly, who was incredible. I need to meet another "Shelly".
Rejoined Match to try out my new look
Not hoping for much, but what the hell.
Some you you older men will remember the days of personal adds. Now that was interesting.