Hi there-Velvet here!
So…I tried a fun little experiment the other day (not THAT kind! Get your mind out of the gutter) and I thought we could all learn a little something from it. I know that I certainly did!!
It all started with meeting a guy at an actual real life event, through real life friends. (I KNOW-weird, right???) Heck, not only did I meet him IRL, he has NEVER been on a dating website. Anyway, we’ve gone out a couple times, and yes, I told him that I do the whole online dating thing. Yes, he is in on the whole nose-licking story/nightmare. He did giggle at me a bit, and I did give him a dirty look, and then the conversation took a different course. The next time we were hanging out, however, he was bugging me to find out what my online profile is like. So, I figured what the hell?
Here’s the deal: he said that he NEVER would have dated me if he had only read my profile!!! Whaaaat? I am freaking adorable on there. Witty, charming, honest…what do you mean you wouldn’t date me???
I put on my big girl panties and asked him why. Well, the first thing that he pointed out was that he is 5 years older than my maximum age limit. Ok, smartass, other than THAT – why not?? After he told me to relax, he pointed out that he likes the fact that I am a bit of a, well, “big personality”, and he found that my profile downplayed that a lot.
So what the hell do I do about that?? Am I supposed to put on my profile that I strive to be the center of attention? That I’ve been known to jump into lakes in various stages of undress to raise money for cancer research? That the idea of going bowling in a tutu doesn’t even cause me to hesitate for a moment?
His answer? Well, yeah – it should!
Which I guess leads me to my closing thought, that I don’t really have an answer for. Ya’ll should discuss and let me know what YOU think. (CatLady doesn’t really know either…) Do I risk the wackos coming out in droves by putting some of your quirky weirdness in your profile? Or is that why I haven’t met my One True Love online–am I just too much of a freak to stuff into a few paragraphs on OKC?
And yes, I’ll keep you posted about the guy. We’ll call him Moonshine.
Soon2BeCatLady 
Online dating is just another avenue of trying to meet someone you normally wouldn’t meet. It’s very difficult to project your true personality through words on an online profile. As long as you’re up front on what you’re looking for and you’re able to provide a basic list of your interests that should be enough. As I said before, guys are very visual, if someone is attracted to you they will initiate conversation regardless your age requirement or what not, I don’t think your personality would even matter at that stage until the actual meeting. A lot of times the magic happens in person.
The question here is if he had an online profile, would you be attracted to him online? Would his online profile reflect who he is in person? It’s easy for him to talk about your profile. Have him put one up and see how good he’s at writing an online profile.
Cheers!
LikeLike
Velvet,
Definitely put your weirdness on your profile:) And I wouldn’t call it’s weirdness. It’s uniqueness. I would think the man you want would value you that. And if it attracts weirdos, so what. You seem sharp enough to weed them out and find solid guys.
Keep it real Velvet!
LikeLike
Yeah, Velv… Meow!
LikeLike
jumping into a lake, or bowling in a tutu doesn’t make you a freak. it makes you individual. calling yourself a freak might bring out the freaks though…
LikeLike
1) Don’t worry about the age thing. After my first few weeks on OKC, I tightened up my age parameters because of how many guys outside of them were contacting me. Clearly the guys on the site see them as suggestions, not requirements. My actual dating age range is much wider than what is listed on my profile, but it lessened the number of guys 15+ years older from contacting me.
2) I think the section “The most private thing I’m willing to admit” is a great place to express your quirky side. It’s obviously not a spot for emotional confessions, despite the “private” label. Share a funny story there.
LikeLike