Question: is using Facebook as a place to meet new people a recent trend, or is it something that’s been going on for awhile but that I just haven’t noticed? I feel like when it was restricted to students there was less of that stuff going on, but maybe I just wasn’t paying attention.
My Facebook friends are mostly RL friends. The only exceptions are Dopers.
Exactly. I think most people don’t even look at that as an orientation question. It’s a “do you want to hook up with people and if so which gender” question.
It’s an If - Then statement.
Therefore, if there’s no “if”, there’s no “then”.
Yeah, that’s how it appears on Facebook. I think on MySpace it’s “Orientation” but I could be mistaken.
I don’t list anything either for the same reason. “Interested in…” suggests availability. My Facebook page is to keep in touch with people I know. It’s not like I’m self-advertising to meet more people. I don’t list my gender, why I’m there (“dating, friends, whateverthefuck”), or whether or not I’m in a relationship. Anyone who knows me, well enough to read my profile, already knows the significant stuff.
But I do list my birthday so my friends can send me presents. 
Hey, there’s a group for my boyfriend’s name too! I wonder if it’s the same one?
Other people looking for dating will search for you based off orientation, or what you are looking for - so that is why it makes sense if you are not looking to date to leave that blank.
I don’t put mine because hetero-bent is never one of the options.
Neither is “effeminate gay man trapped in a woman’s body.” Pfft.
Seriously though, it’s because people search out others of the appropriate gender and orientation for hooking up purposes. If your goal is not to hook up, why invite it? Only those who matter need to know my gender and orientation.
Since the OP’s complaint has been more or less answered, I’d like to make a tangential point if I may. There are people who join personals sites (Match, HotorNot, OkCupid, etc.), post attractive pictures of themselves, list all of their likes and dislikes, and then, in their profile, include a statement to the effect of “happily engaged, not looking for a relationship right now”.
WHY?!
That is all.
Well, my profile was on OK Cupid and I found a mate there. I still use the site and my login for the silly tests, so I put a note that says I found someone there and am no longer looking.
Well, to each their own, I guess. To me, it just seems like standing in line at Subway, getting to the front, and answering “What can I get for you?” with “Oh, nothing, why?”.
…and doubly so for the other patrons when you’re one of the things on the menu, so to speak.
I’ve never had a facebook friend who I hadnt met previously in my real life. I'm not sure how I would actually meet people *through* facebook unless I picked out friends of my (real) friends who Id like to claim for my own. Is there a way to search for people you don`t know?
I really like the relationship status on facebook. I like that if I meet someone new in real life she has an easy way to confirm I’m single. It’s efficient and I am all about efficiency! But I never considered a stranger would look at it before.
I suppose if my goal is to maximize the convenience of dating me I really ought to add “Interested in Females” to my profile but I think I just assume by default people are heterosexual. Have I been really insensitive? It’s never been a problem so far… 
Everyone here should read this, it brilliantly explains all the different types of Facebook orientations and in a light-hearted manner as well.
http://showmeyourwits.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/beginners-guide-to-facebook-sexuality/
I long for the simpler days of trying to determine the exact hue of a pocketed bandana.
I don’t really have an opinion on the matter I just wanted to end my post with this, lol.
No, no, no, ‘straight’ means ‘gay, but closeted.’ Duh.
I did it twice so far. Once for this same reason although there wasn’t a group for us (there’s probably only a couple dozen worldwide and this guy was also Canadian and virtually the same age). The other time was when our own **Idle Thoughts ** added those on the SDMB groups.
Regarding the OP, I answer all the profile questions even though since I’m married it’s irrelevant as well.
Edit: I just checked it looks like I didn’t answer the “Interested In” I answered Looking For: Friendships, Networking and noted Married. So as a far as anybody else is concerned if it wasn’t for the fact I live in Texas I could be straight or gay.
I don’t list mine because I’m not entirely sure of how to label myself, I’m insecure and mostly closeted, and I’m not looking for anyone.
I don’t think that putting your orientation necessarily means you’re looking for hook-ups, it’s just a characteristic of yourself like your age.
My only MySpace friend that isn’t a band (I have 2 bands) that I haven’t met IRL is Sampiro. Hehehe
My wife put down straight in her MySpace, even though it’s not entirely true. I think she’s hoping to avoid drama.
and a former Doper I know through LJ has an OkCupid page she meets people to just hang out with. It boggles her mind that even though it says “happily married” and is filled with references to her husband, she still gets cruised by guys all the time.
What do i owe you for this brilliant insight?