Honestly, I think you sound like a fun guy from it. Of course, being as I’m too young, and nowhere near Florida, I’m not really your target audience. 
I dunno, furt. I think that sometimes pitching to the top percentile of the population (in terms of humour) tends to frighten off a lot of people. This is why Jay Leno beats the (Worldwide) pants off Letterman. Leno is safe and lowbrow; no danger that anyone won’t get the joke. Dave is prickly and weird and might make some viewers feel uncomfortable because they don’t “get it.”
Sorry, I went off on a bit of a tangent there. Still, I agree with the pre-screening thing in principle (and I liked your approach–though I’m a hetero guy, so not exactly your target group). Also understand your age strategy. I put up a Lavalife ad about a week ago, using a rather unorthodox approach, thinking that it would stand out from the other guys (who all seemed to be extreme bungee jumping, or naked snowboarding, or something). Not one stinkin’ response yet, nor any replies to the two “smiles” I sent out. But early days yet. The Lavalife weasels ruined my carefully-constructed paragraph breaks, so it’s a hunka hunka burnin’ text…
I ran it by some SDMB ladies before, and got good reviews for originality and sparking interest, but then, we are dealing with the creme de la creme here on the boards, right? I’m starting to think that clever just doesn’t sell very well.
If anyone wants to have a look, go to LavaLife, and hit “search by nickname” and type in “Oakbayboy”. (I can’t link directly to my ad for some reason).
Gee furt, looking at your new profile if it weren’t for that pesky Y chromosome and the fact that you live in Florida I’d date ya!
Y’know, I’m really flattered that people like my personal ad. Seriously. And I was raised to accept compliments with grace. But now it’s just getting weird.
Since everyone else is doing it - I could also use the critique
AMARINTH, I like your ad a lot, and I think you’re hot. And I’m local! Too bad we’re not lesbians. 
Well, the corporate jackboots weeded my email address out pretty quick, just a couple of hours later. And my pics still aren’t up, I’m half-tempted to upload them again. Hell, you wouldn’t think semi-nude would cause such a fuss, would you?? 
Sorry, Furt, I hope we didn’t make you too uncomfortable.
Your hot. 
This is a problem with attractive women such as yourself – the first thing people see is how hot you are, and they forget to look at anything else. (I’m being serious.) Your profile looks great. Perhaps more “good” men aren’t answering because 85% of all men don’t meet your height requirement (including, for instance, me). Cite (I also agree with the suggestion to increase your dating radius). I didn’t see a definitely on kids – did you change it? As a (ahem) 41 year old, “definitely wanting kids” would actually be a deal-maker.
So I guess talking about what a geek I am in a personal ad is a bad idea?
Man, and you seemed like such an interesting person…
- tsarina, proud bacteriologist.
Yes. Sun Solaris (does that count as *nix? I’m never quite sure), plus a couple versions of Linux (Mandrake, Redhat). I plan on installing BSD soon. (If I recall correctly, BSD cannot legally use the Unix name, but is largely the same thing.)
Well, no … but I know how to use Google to find out! (A few moments later … ) Ah, used to clean / protect firearms. Interesting.
Yes. I don’t camp much, but I grew up in a state park that had campgrounds. I used to walk around picking up trash for fun. Well, “fun” when there was nothing else to do. We didn’t have cable.
Sometimes I think the only languages I know are programming languages.
I’m a bit young for you though (just turned 23 this month), at least according to your age criteria.
I’ve always thought a great personal ad would be one written entirely in code.
Oh, you didn’t. But middle-aged men …
amarinth, I really liked your ad. The only things that gave me pause were that the “very” in “very liberal,” makes me picture someone who gets into angry arguments at Thanksgiving dinner, and that you probably make more money than a lot of guys. That can be an issue for them, even if it isn’t for you. Not that I’d suggest quitting your job as a way to pick up guys.
I don’t think there’s nothing “wrong” with most of these, if in fact you’re trying to find someone that you are seriously compatible with as opposed to just getting a date. When I read amarinth’s, my impression is of smart and clever woman who would challenge me to keep up with her mentally. Quite frankly, a lot of guys would be intimidated … but I’d bet those are guys she probably wouldn’t “fit” with anyway. I might answer her ad myself (alas, if I lived in Seattle), but if I went on a date, I’d sure as heck feel I was going to have to work a little bit to make an impression; but that’s probably what you want.
I’ve been using match.com off and on for a couple of years. I sometimes think my profile text is too weird, but then I’ll get a message that it’s way clever and why can’t more fellas be as witty and literate as me.
I think it’s funny women say things like “love to laugh,” “I like having fun,” “I like spending time with my friends.” Why, me too! I’m so tired of people who hate laughing, having fun, and spending time with their friends. It’s nice to meet someone who likes fun and likes their friends! :wally
I guess inevitably, anyone’s text will attract the right person… the boring will align with the boring, the insane with the insane, the ironic with ironic, and etc.
said:
I’m a bit young for you though (just turned 23 this month), at least according to your age criteria.
[/quote]
Actually there’s nothing really wrong with 23. I’m not opposed to anyone who’s >=21; but I usually bump it up a bit when I say that because I used to get a lot of ‘I’m 18. Is that OK wit u?’
Hmm. I managed to totally screw up the coding on that one.
Hey, catsix!
1 - Does Mac OS X count? Actually, I fooled with Linux a bit a while back.
2 - I think my dad used it to clean the bores of his rifles.
3 - Yup. Also, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”
4 - Do HTML, XHTML and CSS count?
What’s your box #?
Ooops, and I didn’t notice that there were two pages to this thread and a lot of posts sincecatsix’s…
Holy crap. You’re me in ten years.
I see (by going to her profile at Match.com and clicking “do we match”) amarinth and I are a perfect match except I’m too short and athiestic for her.
Amarinth, if only you lived around here and were into women!
Blinkie’s Third Law: “All the hot chicks on the Internet are far away.”