Reason No. 45,637 why I don’t use Internet dating services … November 18, 2005
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Uncategorized.trackback
There are many reasons why I don’t do online personals, most notably, because I’m skeptical that I could meet someone based on checkboxes and drop-down menus. I’m also kind of morally opposed to people making money off of my misadventures in dating. If anyone’s going to do that, it is going to be me.
But every now and again, I wonder if it is worth giving online dating the old college try.
And then I read a story like this one:
Online daters sue matchmaking Web sites for fraud
By Martha Graybow
NEW YORK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - It’s not easy finding love in cyberspace, and now some frustrated online daters say they were victims of fraud by two top Internet matchmaking services and have taken their complaints to court.
Match.com, a unit of IAC/Interactive Corp. (IACI.O: Quote, Profile, Research), is accused in a federal lawsuit of goading members into renewing their subscriptions through bogus romantic e-mails sent out by company employees. In some instances, the suit contends, people on the Match payroll even went on sham dates with subscribers as a marketing ploy.
And suddenly, being dateless is not looking so bad.
Can you imagine finding out that someone you dated was literally paid to go out with you? I’m sure the Alleged Match.com Fake Dater went back to work and dished about the Fake Dates she went on, just like I’m sure teachers secretly gossip about their students in the teacher’s lounge.
This only makes me more skeptical of online dating services and their free personality tests. I can barely handle classic rejection, let alone manipulated Cutting Edge rejection by some money-hungry corporation who, in all honesty, has no reason to WANT you to be happy and meet someone. They want you to get enough physical attention to keep you happy and subscribed to their service, but not enough to where you don’t need them anymore or gain enough confidence to go out and seek dates offline on your own. They want you to be hungry and single instead of full and committed.
Of course, if this were a Cheesy Romantic Comedy, the plaintiff in this lawsuit would take the Alleged Match.com Fake Dater back and they’d get married, because even though they dated under false pretenses, she would repent and they’d be in love.
Blah blah blah.
Wow, I saw that on an episode of Love Inc. and just thought it was a comedy. Must have been based on a true tale. Match.com sucks ass. I’m cancelling my subscription NO matter what.
haha! i had to laugh at your cheesy romantic comedy twist in this… i’m sure match.com is gonna get less members now…
I took the personality profile test for 2 of those sites. Both of them said I’d be compatible with only 3% of men or something. Duh, like I needed their stupid tests to tell me information I’ve known for years???
I’m pretty sure that’s called prostitution in most states. Except Utah…they’re kinda weird there.
Thank you for reminding me why I don’t do the online thing anymore. As if the bad dates I had weren’t motivation enough.
Ugh. ugh. ugh.
Ugh! Just when I was on the verge of giving in to online dating….
…And the search get more difficult…. UGH!
Just discovered your blog…love it.
From the looks of your recent thoughts, we’re totally on the same page on a number of topics…
1) I heart Grey’s…that could be a conversational topic for hours…
2) I would totally buy your 50’s/brain t-shirt
3) I know of the perfect sidewalk grate down on Canal street in which to (oops!) “acidentally bump” Match.com Fake Dater into…
Would love to trade links if you’re interested…
I loved that post! You’re so funny…
Cheesy romantic comedy…
I’m sending Match.com my resume right now! I didn’t know I could get paid for dating social rejects!
Oh. My. God. I wouldn’t want to go there to find dates or work there. Great idea for a cheezy romantic comedy.
There’s no way that story is true. Think of the economics. A month’s sub to an internet dating service is $25-$30 (don’t ask me how I know). A date lasts about two hours. No way you would pay anyone less than about $20 an hour to go on a date with a stranger. (Fancy escorts cost a lot more than that…again don’t ask me how I know). Conclusion: you’d lose money paying people to go on dates in exchange for subscriptions.
Myself and a friend added profiles for a laugh one day. After un-subscribing to receiving e-mails and deleting my profile, I still get e-mails from “members”! Its a good marketing ploy to thick people….I mean why would someone 300 miles away pay to e-mail me to say “Hi sexy” - they wudn’t and anyone with two eyes can see that. Still funny though!