Things you don't need to read

I am fascinated by the approach some men take to their profile composition.

Recently I came across a guy who's profile was hilarious - literally one comedy remark after another - nothing was taken seriously. Yes, his comments about tea amused me. Particularly:
"Why do we add extra letters onto the end of the word "tea" when just the first letter would create exactly the same sound? Is this the only instance of a silent "ea" in the English language?"

However, not being serious about anything at all in fact had me wondering whether he was a deranged psychopath to be avoided at all costs. 

Or what about the guys who manage to alternate between saying things that you love: "I'm looking for a girl who likes to be a bit girly and enjoys hugs, I like hugging"; and things that make you run to the hills: "I think women should fulfil their traditional role in the home"?

And then there's the "I've decided it's time I found a wife" men. I'm very glad that they've made such an important decision in their life and are being intentional about it, but really, on a dating site a woman's going to want a little more info on a potential husband other than that he reckons he's ready to settle down. After all, if my profile simply contained the phrase: "I've decided it's time I got married and I believe God has promised me a good husband" then I believe most men wouldn't give me a second look! 

Oh, and my personal favourite gem from a profile: "I'd like to live in a yurt in the country at some point" I'm still trying to compose an e-mail to that guy at the moment, maybe I should open with "I've always wanted to live in a yurt..."

Judgy Judgerson

There is nothing like online dating to reveal to yourself just how judging you are of others - and how, deep down, you're actually phenomenally shallow.

I'll only look at men who've bothered posting pictures. Within those, I'll only actually read the profiles of guys I find moderately attractive. Is this bad?

Actually, to make myself sound less bad, years ago when I dabbled in a free dating site, I went on a date with a guy whose photo I'd never seen. It was fine - he was perfectly nice, gentlemanly (took me to the opera) and not unattractive - but I didn't fancy him.

Oh, and I have the audacity to judge people on their names, despite the fact that no one can really do anything about what their parents name them! 'Glen'? Oh dear... [Although it's even worse when an anorak is included in the profile photo.]

And as for my photo? Oh, soooooo much thought had to go into that one! Thank goodness it gives you the opportunity to include three - allows you space for something showing your hair colour as well as a moody black and white shot.

You do need to think carefully about what your photo says about you:
Smiles - always good, as long as you don't look possessed.
Children - not good, tends to give the wrong impression. [As does that pic of you being a bridesmaid for the umpteenth time.]
Hair - choose photos that reflect your hairstyle of choice. If you flit between curly and straight include both so that potential suitors are aware of what you might look like should you meet.
Comedy - not good for your main photo, but excellent as an alternative. A friend joined the Christian site at the same time as me and included a picture of her rope swinging, which has already proved to be an excellent opener in e-mails from interested guys.

It's making me wonder if perhaps the Christian site is a little limited for my clearly judging nature. Can I really afford to be so picky?