Here's a thought...
Sep. 15th, 2003 08:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
msfledermausSomeone on my friend's list was talking about a personal ad he set up, feeling that he came across as much more of a true geek than he really is. It was an interesting topic to me, because I have this love-hate relationship with personals. I've never entered one, except as a joke. (Tentacled Lovecraftian monstrosity seeks same, must live in the Rhy'lah area code. No sushi freaks!)
I love them because they're like so many other horrible things I love, like b-movies and cheeze-whiz and bad reality tv shows. Th mix of vunerability, cataloging, wishful thinking and out-and out-scariness just fascinates me no end.
I hate them because they seem to go directly to distilling people into categories that may not be accurate, or often are a cover for people with terrible intentions.
9 out of 10 personals directly edit out people with different body shapes or interests or backgrounds, and the guys in their fifties trolling for trophy women are a little disturbing. Also the ones who need "discretion"--meaning they're married.
Granted, these are generalizations, but they're accurate enough over a wide spread that I've never wanted to do a personal of my own. I mean, what would I put?
Single White(ish) Female, Semi-pro painter, obsessive knitter,glitter fixation, non-prof dayjob,non-skinny Scary pagan with big squishy gargoyle in living room seeks someone who won't scream in abject terror and bolt when I pull out the accordion. Or the anime'. Or the two-part epoxy. Or the marshmallow peeps....
See? doesn't work. And probably a good thing, too:)
A while back someone on my friend's list had mock-up personals people made, just for fun. I'd be interested to see what people I know would put, just while we're on the subject.
On yer marks...get set....
I love them because they're like so many other horrible things I love, like b-movies and cheeze-whiz and bad reality tv shows. Th mix of vunerability, cataloging, wishful thinking and out-and out-scariness just fascinates me no end.
I hate them because they seem to go directly to distilling people into categories that may not be accurate, or often are a cover for people with terrible intentions.
9 out of 10 personals directly edit out people with different body shapes or interests or backgrounds, and the guys in their fifties trolling for trophy women are a little disturbing. Also the ones who need "discretion"--meaning they're married.
Granted, these are generalizations, but they're accurate enough over a wide spread that I've never wanted to do a personal of my own. I mean, what would I put?
Single White(ish) Female, Semi-pro painter, obsessive knitter,glitter fixation, non-prof dayjob,non-skinny Scary pagan with big squishy gargoyle in living room seeks someone who won't scream in abject terror and bolt when I pull out the accordion. Or the anime'. Or the two-part epoxy. Or the marshmallow peeps....
See? doesn't work. And probably a good thing, too:)
A while back someone on my friend's list had mock-up personals people made, just for fun. I'd be interested to see what people I know would put, just while we're on the subject.
On yer marks...get set....
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 06:35 am (UTC)Hey! I'd send a response in for that! But then I'd also send in a response for the Lovecraftian monstrosity too :)
I used Yahoo personals when they were free and met a few people off of it, but nothing lasting. But I do know a number of people that have had good luck with them.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:50 am (UTC)hmmmm...online personals freak me out a little. I'm not sure why...I know a friend of mine that had horriffic luck with them...but met his current boyfriend on them. Go fig.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:45 am (UTC)i'll have to glitter up a non-squishy gargoyle, methinks.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 07:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:42 am (UTC)*thinks of an art supply store that might have it, and rubs her happy happy hands*
no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 06:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-17 10:08 am (UTC)*gleee!*
no subject
Date: 2003-09-17 10:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-20 07:19 pm (UTC)Accordion?!
Date: 2003-09-15 07:30 am (UTC)Re: Accordion?!
Date: 2003-09-16 05:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:58 am (UTC)Here's mine about me
Date: 2003-09-15 10:26 am (UTC)Re: Here's mine about me
Date: 2003-09-16 05:35 am (UTC)*hides accordion behind back*
Re: Here's mine about me
Date: 2003-09-16 08:41 am (UTC)Ooh, that's a better personal:
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe, it ain't me you're lookin' for. babe.
Re: Here's mine about me
Date: 2003-09-17 10:04 am (UTC)that sounds like a good intro to a song!
Re: Here's mine about me
Date: 2003-09-18 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 05:29 am (UTC)"Woman with french-kissing parrot seeks guy with brave tongue. Bidrseed a plus"