# Things you wish you saw more often in dating profiles **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576 "2015-09-01T04:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/1 "2015-09-01T04:13:19Z")
Speaking hypothetically, at least in my case. I was just looking at the Wiki article on Alexander the Great’s mom, [del]Angelina Jolie[/del] [Olympias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympias). Right off the bat, we learn that she: > [@](#): > > was a devout member of the orgiastic snake-worshiping cult of Dionysus, and it is suggested by the 1st century AD biographer, Plutarch, that she may have slept with snakes. I mean, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t see anymore. “Devout member of orgiastic snake-worshiping cult”. Yeah, I’d go for that. I mean, I have nothing against ladies who have a sense of humor and enjoy walks in the park. But a little more spice might be interesting, once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/2 "2015-09-01T04:18:16Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > I mean, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t see anymore. “Devout member of orgiastic snake-worshiping cult”. I think that’s what it means when they put “Religion: Other”. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/3 "2015-09-01T05:37:08Z")
This is why they added “it’s complicated” under Relationship Status ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/4 "2015-09-01T06:09:07Z")
[Laaaadies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore#Religion_and_magic)… too bad he’s taken. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/5 "2015-09-01T07:36:29Z")
**Things I wished I saw more often in dating profiles** : Females. (Back in the eldritch days of yore when I occasionally dabbled with those “Personals” ads, which go back for some years before there was such a thing as “on-line”.) Things I wished I saw **less** often in dating profiles: “Tall” (as used by the few females, in their descriptions of the males they were ISO). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/6 "2015-09-01T16:00:11Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Speaking hypothetically, at least in my case. > > I was just looking at the Wiki article on Alexander the Great’s mom, [del]Angelina Jolie[/del] [Olympias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympias). Right off the bat, we learn that she: > I mean, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t see anymore. “Devout member of orgiastic snake-worshiping cult”. Yeah, I’d go for that. I mean, I have nothing against ladies who have a sense of humor and enjoy walks in the park. But a little more spice might be interesting, once in a while. This doesn’t sound like my kind of girl, but I’m glad she told us that part up front, rather than on the first date. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/7 "2015-09-01T18:20:22Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > \*\*Things I wished I saw **less** often in dating profiles: > > “Tall” (as used by the few females, in their descriptions of the males they were ISO). I’m 6’1", it hasn’t helped. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/8 "2015-09-01T20:10:49Z")
Even if I am not into snake-play in bed, I do appreciate the specific-ness of it. So much better than filtering through the thousands that “are up for anything from a night on the town to a quiet night at home”. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/9 "2015-09-01T20:40:23Z")
I wish women’s profiles weren’t so fucking interchangeable and boring (I’m sure men’s are also terrible but I haven’t looked at any). I mean, granted, it doesn’t seem like men read them anyway, but can you blame us? You’re passionate about traveling. You do yoga. You have 1-2 cats. You love curling up with a book and a glass of wine. You like to go out sometimes and stay in and watch Netflix other times. Put up your skydiving photo and the one you took at Machu Picchu, and congratulations! You’re exactly like everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/10 "2015-09-01T20:50:52Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Put up your skydiving photo and the one you took at Machu Picchu, and congratulations! You’re exactly like everyone else. Someone pointed out somewhere that the message that most people try to get across in dating profiles is: “My life is fun and amazing, and I don’t particularly need any of you dumbasses for anything”. Well, fine. Why are you even here, then? Show me some loneliness and pain, and maybe I’ll reply. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/11 "2015-09-01T20:59:23Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > I wish women’s profiles weren’t so fucking interchangeable and boring (I’m sure men’s are also terrible but I haven’t looked at any). I mean, granted, it doesn’t seem like men read them anyway, but can you blame us? You’re passionate about traveling. You do yoga. You have 1-2 cats. You love curling up with a book and a glass of wine. You like to go out sometimes and stay in and watch Netflix other times. Put up your skydiving photo and the one you took at Machu Picchu, and congratulations! You’re exactly like everyone else. I think the problem is that most people aren’t all that interesting. They do lead ordinary lives and do ordinary things. That skydiving experience was probably the boldest, scariest, one-off thing they’ll ever do. To guys on dating sites - please don’t use language like “no fatties” or “no fat chicks” or the politically-correct disguise phrase “athletic build” in your profile. I’ve never had any kind of weight problem (thankfully), but in my dating days, I would never have responded to any person who used that type of phrase. It’s demeaning and cruel and says to me that you are probably pretty intolerant and insensitive in other areas as well. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/12 "2015-09-01T21:32:00Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Well, fine. Why are you even here, then? Show me some loneliness and pain, and maybe I’ll reply. Exactly. I’d really be impressed if someone showed some vulnerability. Dating sucks and we’re all scared of dying alone. It’s okay! The whole EVERYTHING IS AWESOME shtick is annoying. > [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > To guys on dating sites - please don’t use language like “no fatties” or “no fat chicks” or the politically-correct disguise phrase “athletic build” in your profile. I’ve never had any kind of weight problem (thankfully), but in my dating days, I would never have responded to any person who used that type of phrase. Yeah, sometimes I see women (rarely, thankfully) write things like “you have to own a car” or “no bald guys.” I own a car and I’m not bald, but I wouldn’t respond to someone who said that. ---
**Author:** ![Construct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Construct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Construct)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/13 "2015-09-01T22:06:29Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > To guys on dating sites - please don’t use language like “no fatties” or “no fat chicks” or the politically-correct disguise phrase “athletic build” in your profile. I’ve never had any kind of weight problem (thankfully), but in my dating days, I would never have responded to any person who used that type of phrase. It’s demeaning and cruel and says to me that you are probably pretty intolerant and insensitive in other areas as well. Yeah, God forbid men have any sort of biological impulse to prefer healthy, fertile women. And God forbid they make those preferences clear instead of being politically correct and wasting everyone’s time so as to not hurt someone’s feelings. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/14 "2015-09-01T22:56:52Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > To guys on dating sites - please don’t use language like “no fatties” or “no fat chicks” or the politically-correct disguise phrase “athletic build” in your profile. I’ve never had any kind of weight problem (thankfully), but in my dating days, I would never have responded to any person who used that type of phrase. It’s demeaning and cruel and says to me that you are probably pretty intolerant and insensitive in other areas as well. But aren’t they doing those of us who wouldn’t want a person like that a favor by letting us know right up front what kind of person they are? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/15 "2015-09-02T00:58:33Z")
ISTM there’s always a tension about the function of someone’s dating profile. Are you putting out a want-ad, describing the person you want to buy? Or are you putting out a for-sale ad, describing the person you’re trying to sell (i.e. you). I think a lot of people are reading for for-sale ads, while writing want-ads. That doesn’t seem to work. I’m not in the online dating game, so I can’t say for sure, but this sure seems to be the way the Dopers explain it in thread after thread. I wonder if there’s a difference in buy vs. sell ads as between men & women. Anybody have an impression? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/16 "2015-09-02T01:41:51Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > To guys on dating sites - please don’t use language like “no fatties” or “no fat chicks” or the politically-correct disguise phrase “athletic build” in your profile. I’ve never had any kind of weight problem (thankfully), but in my dating days, I would never have responded to any person who used that type of phrase. It’s demeaning and cruel and says to me that you are probably pretty intolerant and insensitive in other areas as well. But isn’t that exactly what you _should_ want them to do, so you know right away that the guys like that are not for you? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/17 "2015-09-02T02:55:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I wonder if there’s a difference in buy vs. sell ads as between men & women. Anybody have an impression? I wouldn’t think there are very many people who’ve read sufficient quantities of men’s and women’s ads to offer an opinion. **ReticulatingSplines** example of women’s ads was quite good. I don’t know if the same clichés apply for men, but I’m hoping to get all the pictures taken care of at once. I’m trying to arrange to take a selfie, shirtless, in my car, skydiving over Machu Picchu. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/18 "2015-09-02T16:16:22Z")
As a currently single woman, who has considered putting up a dating profile, thanks for the points of view from the other side. Are some dating site better than others? OKCupid?Plenty of Fish? [Match.com](http://Match.com)? or something else? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/19 "2015-09-02T17:02:42Z")
> [@dada2fish](#): > > As a currently single woman, who has considered putting up a dating profile, thanks for the points of view from the other side. > > Are some dating site better than others? OKCupid?Plenty of Fish? [Match.com](http://Match.com)? > or something else? I’m happily married and not looking. Just wasting some time on the SDMB. I wonder if it would be good to consult a friend to help write the profile. I think we tend to remember ourselves in our glory days. That’s ok. And is what makes us. I’m not a 6’4" athlete anymore. I have to remember that. At 55 years old, sometimes, I get reminded the hard way. Luckily, I have not seen the inside of an ambulance. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576/20 "2015-09-02T17:10:02Z")
In previous dating threads, people have said that when they look at a profile, they want to see (a) this person has friends (aka people to hang out with when they’re not hanging out with their date) and (b) this person has hobbies (aka things to go do when they’re not doing things with their date). Which is to say, they’re looking for people with lives, which pretty much leaves me out, so I don’t bother. That said, if someone were to admit to the occasional orgiastic snake-worshipping, I might well drop them a line just to talk, with no expectation of seeing the relationship through the point of snake-involvement. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-wish-you-saw-more-often-in-dating-profiles/729576.md?page=2)