Unless your idea of a good first date is suffocating to death with a plastic bag tied around your head in some guy's closet with urine stains all over your clothes. Not that this ever happened to me (it didn't). But Shem's right. Just no.
Although I do know a couple who accidentally met on Craigslist who are now happily married. The guy was a musician who had put out an ad for a singer, and his future wife who is classically trained in opera responded.
But still, no.
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A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Not really amusing. Not the sort of amusing that would be fodder for a good barroom story, anyway. Just a creepy story of modern alienation and mental illness. A male acquaintance tried it a few times and all the women he found were either looking for a man to support their children or were crazy. The female friend who tried it fared worse; her first time out she wound up with an almost 40-year-old man who lied about his age and put a photo of someone else up. He started crying when she got ready to leave in order to guilt her into staying, which she did. Turned out that he lived at home, almost never went out, hated and loved his mother (who apparently had serious boundary issues and always had) never knew his father and wanted to get married. To her. He brought a ring. With him. To their first date. And proposed within 15 minutes of meeting her. She turned and left right after that. He began stalking her. A restraining order failed to deter him. Her brother and me beating him up when he showed up at her house with a knife and refused to leave, threatening to kill himself, then when it didn't cause pity, kill her, didn't deter him. He finally wound up in prison; turned out that she wasn't the only one he was after, and he beat up the other woman half to death. The mother accused him of doing the same to her, so he got more time added to his sentence. She didn't hear from him after that. Hopefully he's still there.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
I don't have any personal experience in this, but I don't need to have my leg cut off with a chainsaw to definitively state that's a bad idea either.
QFT.
I don't have any personal experience with Craigslist dating either, and the story Shem told was just crazy. I was just giving my opinion based on the personal ads I've read for amusement -- they are all so clearly crazy! Anyone who answers most of those ads is so clueless I'd say they almost deserve what they're getting, but I won't since now I have to take Shem's horrible story into consideration, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
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A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Anyone who answers most of those ads is so clueless I'd say they almost deserve what they're getting, but I won't since now I have to take Shem's horrible story into consideration, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
It actually wound up being one of the saddest stories I've seen, and I worked at a domestic violence shelter. She was really sheltered for most of her childhood, had no idea of how to date, and this was her first attempt at finding her own boyfriend. She stopped dating after that, and married who super-controlling ultra-right father chose for her. She was miserable, wound up with four kids in five years, and was abandoned by the guy, who apparently only wanted to get married because he could get more money out of the military if he had dependents. Really, really sad.
Jesus, now I'm depressed. Human beings really suck sometimes.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
mediageek - I'll play advocatus diaboli for a second and say "Why the hell not?" I found my roommate that way, and going through life thinking there are psychos around every corner is no way to live. Most people are good and decent.
Free advice:
- Get to know them through a few e-mails first (exchange photos too!)
- First few dates are ALWAYS in a public place, preferably in relatively crowded areas (downtown restaurants and bars)
- Tell someone (roommate, friend, etc.) where you're going and when you'll be back. Hell, you can post it on here and I will call the cops if you don't come back at the right time.
I think CL will be decent to find a few quick dates so you can see what's out there. Give it shot!
EDIT...for Latin misstep
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Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
The problem with Craigslist dating is that it has a reputation for crazy, so sane people stay away, so the crazy/sane ratio goes up, so the reputation gets worse, so more sane people stay away ... etc. I'm sure there are genuinely nice people there, but you're going to have to sift through a whole lot of batshit chaff to find those few grains of wheat. Is the time and trouble really worth it?
I personally recommend OkCupid a lot; it seems particularly easy to flag the looneys, and I've met a lot of REALLY cool people there.
And proposed within 15 minutes of meeting her. She turned and left right after that. He began stalking her. A restraining order failed to deter him. Her brother and me beating him up when he showed up at her house with a knife and refused to leave, threatening to kill himself, then when it didn't cause pity, kill her, didn't deter him. He finally wound up in prison; turned out that she wasn't the only one he was after, and he beat up the other woman half to death. The mother accused him of doing the same to her, so he got more time added to his sentence. She didn't hear from him after that. Hopefully he's still there.
Exactly why I teach my daughters to fight and shoot, and not pay attention to online ads.
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"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
I think Ellie has the right take. Craig's List is like the "I saw you" section of your local free alt-weekly personals, but on the internet. And free. I say read it for amusement and date elsewhere. My ex girlfriend tried some Yahoo Personals, they seemed to work out all right...although thinking back on it I probably shouldn't have bought, "I just wanted to meet some new people" when she offered it as the reason for signing up two months before she dumped my ass. Live and learn eh?
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Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Try The Onion's personals. I went out with four people, all of whom were sane,* and I'm still with the fourth a year and a third later. As a friend put it, "at least you know they have a sense of humor." Be warned that they share a backend with Salon, so you might end up with someone who thinks Joe Conason can write English.
* By DC standards and what was evident from 1-4 dates. Women in DC bitch about the number of men while rejecting everyone who isn't a senator and imagine that men are better looking elsewhere and that they're good looking enough to get such men. They also believe everywhere else is better than here and will spend the date talking about how they can't wait to get back. In that way, Ann Coulter is a very average DC female. But some, like her, are insane beyond the preceding. You can find these on Match.com.
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This is a personal problem. There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved through a suitable use of high explosives. This is not one of those exceptions.
I know of two people who are marrying people they met through eHarmony. I guess they are at least average height and heterosexual, which seem to be the hangups of that system, but still, that isn't bad.
I often tell my wife how glad I am not to have to be trying to find someone at this stage in my life. Good luck.
EDIT: I think there may be something to the idea of Onion personals. A common sense of humor and some common level of undertstading about the world around you to 'get' many of the jokes is a non trivial thing, I think.
Seriously, I do say "why not?" to the idea of Craigslist. Just have an idea of what you might be getting into and don't set your expectations too high. Have some fun with it.
And I second the idea about the Onion. A number of people of my acquaintance have said to me that if they see someone reading the Onion, they figure that person is probably pretty smart and has a good sense of humor.
Yeah, Match.com is just going to net you someone desperate to get married *now* And that's if they take you at all, which they probably won't if you're not looking to get married too.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Yeah, Match.com is just going to net you someone desperate to get married *now* And that's if they take you at all, which they probably won't if you're not looking to get married too.
Check you out. With your one sentence summary of my last relationship.
Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Have not looked at collarme---I'm still at work, but wanted to give a fourth (fifth? Xth? whatever) vote for the Onion's personals. I believe the Onion, Salon and Nerve all used the same company to run their personals ads. I used them after I got divorced, and found the filters the site provided to be worth the $20 or so it cost. I figured if my potential dates could compose rational text, and if we liked similar things, then they were doing a lot better than the average gal I was likely to meet in a bar or at the dog park. The hit/miss ratio was a lot better for me, and I ended up meeting my present girlfriend on that site. I recommend the service to all of my acquaintances whose speech usually does not [sound like] a character from "Idiocracy." [What can I say, it's late and I hate tax season...]
Craigslist, OTOH, is to be read for entertainment value only. My tolerance for novel experiences is probably a lot lower than yours though.
Love the porn written by Gunnels line. Now to purge that thought from my brain with several shots of Knob Creek...
One wasn't originally a dating thing. I met her through CL when I had to sell my Dead Can Dance tickets. She was an illegal immigrant from Peru and was totally gorgeous and fun. I ended up going on a couple of dates with her but nothing came of it.
The other girl was a interpreter for the deaf who had just moved here from San Francisco. Very intelligent and cool. We hit it right off. She was looking for someone to go see Minus The Bear with. Good show, good date. I gave her a call again a little while later but it turned out that the reason she was dating was because she had just broken up with her BF. They had gotten back together so I was s.o.l. No big deal though. I doubt we would have gotten together, but we definitely could have been friends.
It wasn't until later that I was informed how uncommon it was that I managed to meet 2 sane girls through CL. It was also a source of wonder that I had managed to get the dates with so little trouble. Usually the male\female ratio is way skewed towards the females. I haven't tried again.
my favorite craigslist personal...well, there's two. i can't post the image of this one because it's nsfw but basically it was a dude looking for another dude so they could tether themselves to a metal pole outside during a tornado and jerk off. during the tornado.
the other was when i moved to where i am now in brooklyn - a friend of mine sent me an ad for a guy who posted a m4m ad at like 11 something in the morning on a tuesday saying his wife was going out for milk and could anybody host.
people are overly complicated.
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"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
I've heard good things about collarme, if you're into the scene. It's slim pickings in Knoxville, though, so I can't give you my n=1.
But seriously, dude, OkCupid. Shem has it right, the quizzes attract a lot of girls who wouldn't otherwise bother with an internet dating site, and the matching algorithm seems to work well. (David and I have been each other's top matches since we joined, so, there you go.)
My favorite Craigslist ad is a wanted ad that a guy posted seeking a working pinball machine in exchange for crushing 100 beer cans against his crotch. I posted it on grylliade a long time ago, but I'm not sure if I ever saved the ad. I'm sure the link is long since expired.
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A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
EDIT: Especially the ones with the Goreans acting all philosophical about being Goreans. It's like porn as written by Gunnels.
Ok...still not going to look, but I kind of get a "Gorean", but what the hell is a "Gunnel" besides the side of a ship?
Uh . . . could one of you other guys field this question for me? I have to save this week's supply of righteous indignation for another "government's full of corrupt assholes" story.
Ok...still not going to look, but I kind of get a "Gorean", but what the hell is a "Gunnel" besides the side of a ship?
Uh . . . could one of you other guys field this question for me? I have to save this week's supply of righteous indignation for another "government's full of corrupt assholes" story.
Ok...still not going to look, but I kind of get a "Gorean", but what the hell is a "Gunnel" besides the side of a ship?
Uh . . . could one of you other guys field this question for me? I have to save this week's supply of righteous indignation for another "government's full of corrupt assholes" story.
You should really read the Grylliwiki before you embarrass yourself further.
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Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Matt: Sorry, that's one of our in-jokes around here. It's a thing Gunnels used to say all the time: "You should really read X before you embarrass yourself further." No offense meant! This is what you get for seemlessly integrating into the community, I forget you're new!
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Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Sorry, that's one of our in-jokes around here. It's a thing Gunnels used to say all the time:
Eric the .5b wrote:
This being a reference to a favorite remark of Gunnels'. :)
I just got this gam. Is called schmario twins. They're both the same! I would say to them, "you want ice cream cone?" Both of them say yes. How in de hell?
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See, if only we could drill in ANWR, we'd have enough energy for faster-than-light travel. - mediageek
Matt: Sorry, that's one of our in-jokes around here. It's a thing Gunnels used to say all the time: "You should really read X before you embarrass yourself further." No offense meant! This is what you get for seemlessly integrating into the community, I forget you're new!
My fairness impulse compels me to post: Gary once objected that he never actually said that, and a Google search seems to confirm that he never used those specific words. But somehow the meme came into being (it was already a running joke by October August 2005), probably because it was widely perceived as reflecting Gary's tone whenever he cited a book he had read, in support of an argument.
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"My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Using our own search engine to check the site for use of the phrase "before you embarrass" brings 11 threads, and this one hasn't even shown up yet. And on this thread, I start doing Gunnels impersonations at 09:16 on April 18. Pretty much every rude thing I say in the thread thereafter is a technique Gunnels used to use: making a vague statement and then insulting anyone who asks for clarification, insulting someone for being unfamiliar with a book I personally have read, "shrugging," informing the other commenter of what said commenter was really thinking when he said something, and other assholery. Ah, good times.
Matt: Sorry, that's one of our in-jokes around here. It's a thing Gunnels used to say all the time: "You should really read X before you embarrass yourself further." No offense meant! This is what you get for seemlessly integrating into the community, I forget you're new!
My fairness impulse compels me to post: Gary once objected that he never actually said that, and a Google search seems to confirm that he never used those specific words. But somehow the meme came into being (it was already a running joke by October August 2005), probably because it was widely perceived as reflecting Gary's tone whenever he cited a book he had read, in support of an argument.
Oh, dear. If August 2005 is the first typed appearance of the phrase, I think it might have originated here with me.
I'm not really sure who started using the phrase, but everyone recognized who was being parodied even if wasn't word-for-word. Therefore I rule it acceptable. I was just making a comment up above for the sake of ensuring the chronicle is accurate, for the sake of posterity.
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"My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
I still say give it a shot, but I have come across some doozies while looking. One woman said she was proportionate at 5', 198 lbs.
It's good you're confident and all, Sister Christian, but you're not proportionate. You're overweight.
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Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Let us be your Cyrano! Post their e-mails here and your proposed responses for our, um, editorial input. In no time at all, your cyber Roxane won't think of you as a total putz, she'll think of you as the biggest putz who ever walked the face of the earth!
Just to reiterate, because god-damned if I can say it too many times, Craigslist is no place for mentally-balanced men.
But what about the women? I am put in mind of Nelson Algren's rule that you should never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own...
That's the point I was trying to make; that way lies crazy women and the crazy men who would sleep with a crazy woman. Sane people of both genders need not apply.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
That's the point I was trying to make; that way lies crazy women and the crazy men who would sleep with a crazy woman. Sane people of both genders need not apply.
Hey, you mean I might have a chance after all?
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"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Shem - Everyone should date/sleep with one crazy person. Builds character.
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Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them. I forget where I heard that, but it sounded sensible.
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i find it hard to predict the future. i am generally fond of drinking and making broad pronouncements about the superstate - dhex
Just be wary of unintentional double entendres. DO NOT mention your love of big guns, nor your possession of same.
LOL.
That is, actually, kind of a sticking point. I don't feel completely comfortable stating on a dating website that I'm into firearms, but it's definitely something that needs to be stated up front, at least in the initial meeting.
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them.
Though if you can parse that in one read, you have a chance.
Sorry, just my reaction was "Wha?"
Hey, if nothing else, I know to go to OK Cupid or whatever if I ever should have need, so the thread is of some value.
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"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them. I forget where I heard that, but it sounded sensible.
You're leaving out the category of crazy that is seeking a sane person as a means of introducing stability into the crazy person's life. Those are the really entertaining ones.
Just be wary of unintentional double entendres. DO NOT mention your love of big guns, nor your possession of same.
LOL.
That is, actually, kind of a sticking point. I don't feel completely comfortable stating on a dating website that I'm into firearms, but it's definitely something that needs to be stated up front, at least in the initial meeting.
Does it? That soon? I dunno. I wouldn't hide it or anything, but it is an awfully unnatural topic to bring up unless you are smooth about it.
Maybe you can do it on a date while talking about hobbies and interests or something. Gawd, I'm glad I'm not dating. I don't know if I've ever said that before. It just seems so difficult.
That is, actually, kind of a sticking point. I don't feel completely comfortable stating on a dating website that I'm into firearms, but it's definitely something that needs to be stated up front, at least in the initial meeting.
I don't know if you have to bring it up in the initial meeting, unless it's your profession or a huge huge part of your life. I think it's just part of the general issue of "when do you bring up something that some people might be uncomfortable with?" Of course, you never know what that is. Some people might be uncomfortable dating a libertarian, but that doesn't mean you should go around with a sign on your forehead. It's a quandary, though. You don't want to hide something that's important to you, and you don't want the other person to feel like you were concealing something...on the other hand, you shouldn't give people an excuse to dismiss you as "another one of those XYZ people" out of hand.
I think she'll get the idea by the first time you undress in front of her and begin by removing the shoulder holster, the ankle holster, the derringer concealed behind the belt buckle, the butterfly knive up your sleeve and the ninja throwing stars in your pocket. If, while this is going on, she is producing a pair of handcuffs and similar implements either (1) you have found the girl of your dreams or (2) you are in big trouble!
Shem - Everyone should date/sleep with one crazy person. Builds character.
Sleep with a crazy person? Dude, that stuff doesn't wash off. Besides, if I wanted to wake up to find a chick writing about how she had found Jesus and Jesus was going to make her his bride on the wall with lipstick again, I'd just hire someone to do it. That way they'll go away after.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them. I forget where I heard that, but it sounded sensible.
Poor sweet naive Rachel. Of course crazy people go for sane people. Sane people submit to their bullshit in a way that a crazy person never would. Two crazies in a relationship would destroy each other; neither one would try to cover for the other's bullshit, and someone would wind up with their skin ripped off.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Sane people submit to their bullshit in a way that a crazy person never would. Two crazies in a relationship would destroy each other; neither one would try to cover for the other's bullshit, and someone would wind up with their skin ripped off.
So which one are you claiming to be sane: Bill or Hillary?
Bill. He's a soulless sex fiend, but he's sane. It's also a slightly different situation in that I suspect that Hillary went insane as a result of having to clean up after Bill's messes.
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I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them. I forget where I heard that, but it sounded sensible.
Poor sweet naive Rachel. Of course crazy people go for sane people. Sane people submit to their bullshit in a way that a crazy person never would. Two crazies in a relationship would destroy each other; neither one would try to cover for the other's bullshit, and someone would wind up with their skin ripped off.
So maybe, if you want to be the sane person in the relationship, you should date off of Craigslist, and if you want to be the crazy one in the relationship you should date off more traditional websites.
Or, you guarentee that both of you are crazy and date off the Atlasphere.
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i find it hard to predict the future. i am generally fond of drinking and making broad pronouncements about the superstate - dhex
Besides, if I wanted to wake up to find a chick writing about how she had found Jesus and Jesus was going to make her his bride on the wall with lipstick again, I'd just hire someone to do it.
the next step is to show up at her house at 1 am dressed like jesus, with a boombox playing the theme to chariots of fire.
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"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Or, you guarentee that both of you are crazy and date off the Atlasphere.
That would really just guarantee that you're both men.
Objectivism = total sausage party.
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Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
From what I have heard, there are something like 2 eligible women available for every single guy in this area and it is still a total sausage fest on every dating site around here.
It's enough to make me think that I'll have to actually go out and meet some of these females face to face.
*shudders*
I had pretty good luck finding dates when I used to take classes at the local Community College, but I've finally run out of classes to take. Also, most of the women I hooked up with were friends of my friends. Nowadays, an increasingly large number of my friends live in other areas of the country. That's right, I'm talking about you people. You are not setting me up with your single friends which is your obligation. I expect each of you to take actions to correct this immediately.
Shem - Everyone should date/sleep with one crazy person. Builds character.
Sleep with a crazy person? Dude, that stuff doesn't wash off. Besides, if I wanted to wake up to find a chick writing about how she had found Jesus and Jesus was going to make her his bride on the wall with lipstick again, I'd just hire someone to do it. That way they'll go away after.
You have obviously built character from that experience already.
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Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
“I did have to break up with one guy because he was very keen on Ayn Rand,” said Laura Miller, a book critic for Salon. “He was sweet and incredibly decent despite all the grandiosely heartless ‘philosophy’ he espoused, but it wasn’t even the ideology that did it. I just thought Rand was a hilariously bad writer, and past a certain point I couldn’t hide my amusement.”
ok that article sort of made my teeth hurt but this made me laugh.
also you can fix peoples' musical taste so anything is possible. when i met my wife she liked annie lenox.
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"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
For mediageek and any other dude interested, here is some advice for using OKCupid:
1) Do not include pictures of your penis in your profile page.
2) Do not e-mail pictures of your penis to women you are interested in, prior to meeting.
3) Do not describe your member as approximating "a can of Red Bull with a mini-muffin on top," prior to meeting.
I had some conversations with a girl who uses OK Cupid and apparently these are common and unwelcome gambits employed by many of the male participants there. EDIT: She has one of those programs that can assemble one large image out of many smaller images, and at one point she made an image of the Virgin Mary out of all the penis photos that various OKC guys had sent her.
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"My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
Shem - Everyone should date/sleep with one crazy person. Builds character.
Sleep with a crazy person? Dude, that stuff doesn't wash off. Besides, if I wanted to wake up to find a chick writing about how she had found Jesus and Jesus was going to make her his bride on the wall with lipstick again, I'd just hire someone to do it. That way they'll go away after.
I'm of the "don't stick it in the crazy" school myself, pardon my crassness. The travails of friends who didn't subscribe to that school have been excellent reinforcement.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
No. Just no.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Trust me, no.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Amusing story?
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
NO NO NO
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Unless your idea of a good first date is suffocating to death with a plastic bag tied around your head in some guy's closet with urine stains all over your clothes. Not that this ever happened to me (it didn't). But Shem's right. Just no.
Although I do know a couple who accidentally met on Craigslist who are now happily married. The guy was a musician who had put out an ad for a singer, and his future wife who is classically trained in opera responded.
But still, no.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Really, really, no.
Not really amusing. Not the sort of amusing that would be fodder for a good barroom story, anyway. Just a creepy story of modern alienation and mental illness. A male acquaintance tried it a few times and all the women he found were either looking for a man to support their children or were crazy. The female friend who tried it fared worse; her first time out she wound up with an almost 40-year-old man who lied about his age and put a photo of someone else up. He started crying when she got ready to leave in order to guilt her into staying, which she did. Turned out that he lived at home, almost never went out, hated and loved his mother (who apparently had serious boundary issues and always had) never knew his father and wanted to get married. To her. He brought a ring. With him. To their first date. And proposed within 15 minutes of meeting her. She turned and left right after that. He began stalking her. A restraining order failed to deter him. Her brother and me beating him up when he showed up at her house with a knife and refused to leave, threatening to kill himself, then when it didn't cause pity, kill her, didn't deter him. He finally wound up in prison; turned out that she wasn't the only one he was after, and he beat up the other woman half to death. The mother accused him of doing the same to her, so he got more time added to his sentence. She didn't hear from him after that. Hopefully he's still there.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
No.
No.
No no no.
I don't have any personal experience in this, but I don't need to have my leg cut off with a chainsaw to definitively state that's a bad idea either.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Aw, come on! Why not? What have you got to lose? other than maybe your life and your dignity?
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Fixed!
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Yeah, You still have your life left.
All I ask is a good horse and a fair day.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
QFT.
I don't have any personal experience with Craigslist dating either, and the story Shem told was just crazy. I was just giving my opinion based on the personal ads I've read for amusement -- they are all so clearly crazy! Anyone who answers most of those ads is so clueless I'd say they almost deserve what they're getting, but I won't since now I have to take Shem's horrible story into consideration, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
It actually wound up being one of the saddest stories I've seen, and I worked at a domestic violence shelter. She was really sheltered for most of her childhood, had no idea of how to date, and this was her first attempt at finding her own boyfriend. She stopped dating after that, and married who super-controlling ultra-right father chose for her. She was miserable, wound up with four kids in five years, and was abandoned by the guy, who apparently only wanted to get married because he could get more money out of the military if he had dependents. Really, really sad.
Jesus, now I'm depressed. Human beings really suck sometimes.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
That is really sad.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
mediageek - I'll play advocatus diaboli for a second and say "Why the hell not?" I found my roommate that way, and going through life thinking there are psychos around every corner is no way to live. Most people are good and decent.
Free advice:
- Get to know them through a few e-mails first (exchange photos too!)
- First few dates are ALWAYS in a public place, preferably in relatively crowded areas (downtown restaurants and bars)
- Tell someone (roommate, friend, etc.) where you're going and when you'll be back. Hell, you can post it on here and I will call the cops if you don't come back at the right time.
I think CL will be decent to find a few quick dates so you can see what's out there. Give it shot!
EDIT...for Latin misstep
Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
The problem with Craigslist dating is that it has a reputation for crazy, so sane people stay away, so the crazy/sane ratio goes up, so the reputation gets worse, so more sane people stay away ... etc. I'm sure there are genuinely nice people there, but you're going to have to sift through a whole lot of batshit chaff to find those few grains of wheat. Is the time and trouble really worth it?
I personally recommend OkCupid a lot; it seems particularly easy to flag the looneys, and I've met a lot of REALLY cool people there.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Yeah, OKCupid is good. The crazies stick out, and the quizzes attract a lot of women who might not otherwise register for a dating site.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Exactly why I teach my daughters to fight and shoot, and not pay attention to online ads.
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I think Ellie has the right take. Craig's List is like the "I saw you" section of your local free alt-weekly personals, but on the internet. And free. I say read it for amusement and date elsewhere. My ex girlfriend tried some Yahoo Personals, they seemed to work out all right...although thinking back on it I probably shouldn't have bought, "I just wanted to meet some new people" when she offered it as the reason for signing up two months before she dumped my ass. Live and learn eh?
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Try The Onion's personals. I went out with four people, all of whom were sane,* and I'm still with the fourth a year and a third later. As a friend put it, "at least you know they have a sense of humor." Be warned that they share a backend with Salon, so you might end up with someone who thinks Joe Conason can write English.
* By DC standards and what was evident from 1-4 dates. Women in DC bitch about the number of men while rejecting everyone who isn't a senator and imagine that men are better looking elsewhere and that they're good looking enough to get such men. They also believe everywhere else is better than here and will spend the date talking about how they can't wait to get back. In that way, Ann Coulter is a very average DC female. But some, like her, are insane beyond the preceding. You can find these on Match.com.
This is a personal problem. There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved through a suitable use of high explosives. This is not one of those exceptions.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I know of two people who are marrying people they met through eHarmony. I guess they are at least average height and heterosexual, which seem to be the hangups of that system, but still, that isn't bad.
I often tell my wife how glad I am not to have to be trying to find someone at this stage in my life. Good luck.
EDIT: I think there may be something to the idea of Onion personals. A common sense of humor and some common level of undertstading about the world around you to 'get' many of the jokes is a non trivial thing, I think.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Seriously, I do say "why not?" to the idea of Craigslist. Just have an idea of what you might be getting into and don't set your expectations too high. Have some fun with it.
And I second the idea about the Onion. A number of people of my acquaintance have said to me that if they see someone reading the Onion, they figure that person is probably pretty smart and has a good sense of humor.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
NO, NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
Just absolutely NO. In size 100 font and bold. Trust me. NO.
I know people who met online and wound up getting married, but not through personal ads, and certainly not through Craigslist.
i find it hard to predict the future. i am generally fond of drinking and making broad pronouncements about the superstate - dhex
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
If that ad was serious, that guy has been masturbating for so long that he literally wants to fuck himself. If not, the fake mustache part is genius.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
The Onion personals are real? I always thought they were some sort of elaborate joke.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Again, to reiterate, Craigslist personals=NO NO NO!
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I have a weird mutant ability to attract women who are less than balanced. So perhaps I should just go back to match.com?
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Dude, we already told you: The Onion or OkCupid. Anything else is bat country. ;)
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Yeah, Match.com is just going to net you someone desperate to get married *now* And that's if they take you at all, which they probably won't if you're not looking to get married too.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Check you out. With your one sentence summary of my last relationship.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I say go for it and if it turns out to be 100% full of crazies, there is always CollarMe.com
"Still, though, being fat isn't some kind of moral failing. Unless you're fat from, like, eating the people you murder...then it's probably a moral failing of one sort or another." -- Timothy
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I will not go look, I will not go look, I will not go look, I will not go look....
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I went to go look, and it has significantly changed my impression of Kwix.
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
collarme.com makes me *heart* America.
Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Not my thing, but if you're into it, by all means...
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Just checked it out. Interesting message boards.
EDIT: Especially the ones with the Goreans acting all philosophical about being Goreans. It's like porn as written by Gunnels.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Have not looked at collarme---I'm still at work, but wanted to give a fourth (fifth? Xth? whatever) vote for the Onion's personals. I believe the Onion, Salon and Nerve all used the same company to run their personals ads. I used them after I got divorced, and found the filters the site provided to be worth the $20 or so it cost. I figured if my potential dates could compose rational text, and if we liked similar things, then they were doing a lot better than the average gal I was likely to meet in a bar or at the dog park. The hit/miss ratio was a lot better for me, and I ended up meeting my present girlfriend on that site. I recommend the service to all of my acquaintances whose speech usually does not [sound like] a character from "Idiocracy." [What can I say, it's late and I hate tax season...]
Craigslist, OTOH, is to be read for entertainment value only. My tolerance for novel experiences is probably a lot lower than yours though.
Love the porn written by Gunnels line. Now to purge that thought from my brain with several shots of Knob Creek...
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I have heard good things about Nerve and knowing that the Onion's ads are run by the same company seems a good omen.
"Still, though, being fat isn't some kind of moral failing. Unless you're fat from, like, eating the people you murder...then it's probably a moral failing of one sort or another." -- Timothy
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I've had two dates through CL.
One wasn't originally a dating thing. I met her through CL when I had to sell my Dead Can Dance tickets. She was an illegal immigrant from Peru and was totally gorgeous and fun. I ended up going on a couple of dates with her but nothing came of it.
The other girl was a interpreter for the deaf who had just moved here from San Francisco. Very intelligent and cool. We hit it right off. She was looking for someone to go see Minus The Bear with. Good show, good date. I gave her a call again a little while later but it turned out that the reason she was dating was because she had just broken up with her BF. They had gotten back together so I was s.o.l. No big deal though. I doubt we would have gotten together, but we definitely could have been friends.
It wasn't until later that I was informed how uncommon it was that I managed to meet 2 sane girls through CL. It was also a source of wonder that I had managed to get the dates with so little trouble. Usually the male\female ratio is way skewed towards the females. I haven't tried again.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Ok...still not going to look, but I kind of get a "Gorean", but what the hell is a "Gunnel" besides the side of a ship?
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
my favorite craigslist personal...well, there's two. i can't post the image of this one because it's nsfw but basically it was a dude looking for another dude so they could tether themselves to a metal pole outside during a tornado and jerk off. during the tornado.
the other was when i moved to where i am now in brooklyn - a friend of mine sent me an ad for a guy who posted a m4m ad at like 11 something in the morning on a tuesday saying his wife was going out for milk and could anybody host.
people are overly complicated.
"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I've heard good things about collarme, if you're into the scene. It's slim pickings in Knoxville, though, so I can't give you my n=1.
But seriously, dude, OkCupid. Shem has it right, the quizzes attract a lot of girls who wouldn't otherwise bother with an internet dating site, and the matching algorithm seems to work well. (David and I have been each other's top matches since we joined, so, there you go.)
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
My favorite Craigslist ad is a wanted ad that a guy posted seeking a working pinball machine in exchange for crushing 100 beer cans against his crotch. I posted it on grylliade a long time ago, but I'm not sure if I ever saved the ad. I'm sure the link is long since expired.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having. - V
UNDERPANTS HAWK
DOES NOT DESIRE YOUR TOUCH
I long for the day that a chimp will ghost-ride someone's boomcar into a lake. - tymac
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Uh . . . could one of you other guys field this question for me? I have to save this week's supply of righteous indignation for another "government's full of corrupt assholes" story.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
A start would be here, the "Gary Gunnels" entry.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Thanks much. Sorry for my ignorance.
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
You should really read the Grylliwiki before you embarrass yourself further.
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I have been, but thanks. Nobody bothered to point out it's existance previously.
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Matt: Sorry, that's one of our in-jokes around here. It's a thing Gunnels used to say all the time: "You should really read X before you embarrass yourself further." No offense meant! This is what you get for seemlessly integrating into the community, I forget you're new!
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
This being a reference to a favorite remark of Gunnels'. :)
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I just got this gam. Is called schmario twins. They're both the same! I would say to them, "you want ice cream cone?" Both of them say yes. How in de hell?
See, if only we could drill in ANWR, we'd have enough energy for faster-than-light travel. - mediageek
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
*snickers*
I cross-posted, thus not seeing anything after that post of his, natch.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Ellie, I don't see why that's a point in OK Cupid's favor. We're nothing alike.
-- David
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
My fairness impulse compels me to post: Gary once objected that he never actually said that, and a Google search seems to confirm that he never used those specific words. But somehow the meme came into being (it was already a running joke by
OctoberAugust 2005), probably because it was widely perceived as reflecting Gary's tone whenever he cited a book he had read, in support of an argument."My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Yes, upon further review, Stevo is correct.
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
FWIW, I've registered. And I'm working on the essay things. For someone with quasi-egotistical tendencies, you'd think this shit would be cake.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
More Gunnels than Gunnels.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Using our own search engine to check the site for use of the phrase "before you embarrass" brings 11 threads, and this one hasn't even shown up yet. And on this thread, I start doing Gunnels impersonations at 09:16 on April 18. Pretty much every rude thing I say in the thread thereafter is a technique Gunnels used to use: making a vague statement and then insulting anyone who asks for clarification, insulting someone for being unfamiliar with a book I personally have read, "shrugging," informing the other commenter of what said commenter was really thinking when he said something, and other assholery. Ah, good times.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Oh, dear. If August 2005 is the first typed appearance of the phrase, I think it might have originated here with me.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I'm not really sure who started using the phrase, but everyone recognized who was being parodied even if wasn't word-for-word. Therefore I rule it acceptable. I was just making a comment up above for the sake of ensuring the chronicle is accurate, for the sake of posterity.
"My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Just to reiterate, because god-damned if I can say it too many times, Craigslist is no place for mentally-balanced men.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Oh. So you do go to Craigslist!
(ducks and runs)
All I ask is a good horse and a fair day.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I still say give it a shot, but I have come across some doozies while looking. One woman said she was proportionate at 5', 198 lbs.
It's good you're confident and all, Sister Christian, but you're not proportionate. You're overweight.
Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
But what about the women? I am put in mind of Nelson Algren's rule that you should never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own...
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Did she mention she was lying down?
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Doing the OK Cupid thing now. Decided not to do Craigslist because of the advice posted here.
Now comes the part where I beg the gods to allow me the ability to write emails to a complete stranger without coming off like a total putz.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Let us be your Cyrano! Post their e-mails here and your proposed responses for our, um, editorial input. In no time at all, your cyber Roxane won't think of you as a total putz, she'll think of you as the biggest putz who ever walked the face of the earth!
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Biggest putz who ever walked the face of the earth?!
How can I possibly lose!
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Just be wary of unintentional double entendres. DO NOT mention your love of big guns, nor your possession of same.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
That's the point I was trying to make; that way lies crazy women and the crazy men who would sleep with a crazy woman. Sane people of both genders need not apply.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Hey, you mean I might have a chance after all?
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Shem - Everyone should date/sleep with one crazy person. Builds character.
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Plus, if everyone on Craigslist is crazy, and you're sane, then you don't have a chance. Because if someone is crazy, they can't settle for sane, just because the sane person is crazy enough to like them. I forget where I heard that, but it sounded sensible.
i find it hard to predict the future. i am generally fond of drinking and making broad pronouncements about the superstate - dhex
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
LOL.
That is, actually, kind of a sticking point. I don't feel completely comfortable stating on a dating website that I'm into firearms, but it's definitely something that needs to be stated up front, at least in the initial meeting.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Though if you can parse that in one read, you have a chance.
Sorry, just my reaction was "Wha?"
Hey, if nothing else, I know to go to OK Cupid or whatever if I ever should have need, so the thread is of some value.
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."- William James
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
You're leaving out the category of crazy that is seeking a sane person as a means of introducing stability into the crazy person's life. Those are the really entertaining ones.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Does it? That soon? I dunno. I wouldn't hide it or anything, but it is an awfully unnatural topic to bring up unless you are smooth about it.
Maybe you can do it on a date while talking about hobbies and interests or something. Gawd, I'm glad I'm not dating. I don't know if I've ever said that before. It just seems so difficult.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I don't know if you have to bring it up in the initial meeting, unless it's your profession or a huge huge part of your life. I think it's just part of the general issue of "when do you bring up something that some people might be uncomfortable with?" Of course, you never know what that is. Some people might be uncomfortable dating a libertarian, but that doesn't mean you should go around with a sign on your forehead. It's a quandary, though. You don't want to hide something that's important to you, and you don't want the other person to feel like you were concealing something...on the other hand, you shouldn't give people an excuse to dismiss you as "another one of those XYZ people" out of hand.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I think she'll get the idea by the first time you undress in front of her and begin by removing the shoulder holster, the ankle holster, the derringer concealed behind the belt buckle, the butterfly knive up your sleeve and the ninja throwing stars in your pocket. If, while this is going on, she is producing a pair of handcuffs and similar implements either (1) you have found the girl of your dreams or (2) you are in big trouble!
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Sleep with a crazy person? Dude, that stuff doesn't wash off. Besides, if I wanted to wake up to find a chick writing about how she had found Jesus and Jesus was going to make her his bride on the wall with lipstick again, I'd just hire someone to do it. That way they'll go away after.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Poor sweet naive Rachel. Of course crazy people go for sane people. Sane people submit to their bullshit in a way that a crazy person never would. Two crazies in a relationship would destroy each other; neither one would try to cover for the other's bullshit, and someone would wind up with their skin ripped off.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
So which one are you claiming to be sane: Bill or Hillary?
All the world loves a clown.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Bill. He's a soulless sex fiend, but he's sane. It's also a slightly different situation in that I suspect that Hillary went insane as a result of having to clean up after Bill's messes.
I CAUTION YOU / IN DEFEATING ORCS WE MAY FIND THE ONLY VILLAIN LEFT TO FACE IS OUR OWN PREJUDICE--qwantz.com
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
In my 20s, I did that. She eventually turned out to be my first wife. I have loads of character now.
♫And the man at the back
said everyone attack
and it turned into a ballroom blitz♫
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
So maybe, if you want to be the sane person in the relationship, you should date off of Craigslist, and if you want to be the crazy one in the relationship you should date off more traditional websites.
Or, you guarentee that both of you are crazy and date off the Atlasphere.
i find it hard to predict the future. i am generally fond of drinking and making broad pronouncements about the superstate - dhex
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
the next step is to show up at her house at 1 am dressed like jesus, with a boombox playing the theme to chariots of fire.
"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Appropriately enough, here's a NY Times article about whether you can date someone who has the wrong taste in books. And they even mention Ayn Rand and theatlasphere.com!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/books/review/Donadio-t.html?em&ex=1207108800&en=3c42341da951f2dd&ei=5087%0A
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
That would really just guarantee that you're both men.
Objectivism = total sausage party.
Someday if Jennifer serves on a jury, I would like to see her rise up in the middle of the trial and yell, "No, you're out of water! And you're out of water! They're out of water! This whole trial is out of water!". - Stevo Darkly-
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
Ha, ha, ha! Fat people are fat! They have adipose tissue in excess of cultural standards of beauty! Those fatties!
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
From what I have heard, there are something like 2 eligible women available for every single guy in this area and it is still a total sausage fest on every dating site around here.
It's enough to make me think that I'll have to actually go out and meet some of these females face to face.
*shudders*
I had pretty good luck finding dates when I used to take classes at the local Community College, but I've finally run out of classes to take. Also, most of the women I hooked up with were friends of my friends. Nowadays, an increasingly large number of my friends live in other areas of the country. That's right, I'm talking about you people. You are not setting me up with your single friends which is your obligation. I expect each of you to take actions to correct this immediately.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
You have obviously built character from that experience already.
Whenever I catch so much as a glimpse of pr0n, I suddenly turn into a sex-crazed barbarian, slashing and clawing my way through whatever and whomever until I find something to put my weiner into. -- Taktix
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
ok that article sort of made my teeth hurt but this made me laugh.
also you can fix peoples' musical taste so anything is possible. when i met my wife she liked annie lenox.
"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
For mediageek and any other dude interested, here is some advice for using OKCupid:
1) Do not include pictures of your penis in your profile page.
2) Do not e-mail pictures of your penis to women you are interested in, prior to meeting.
3) Do not describe your member as approximating "a can of Red Bull with a mini-muffin on top," prior to meeting.
I had some conversations with a girl who uses OK Cupid and apparently these are common and unwelcome gambits employed by many of the male participants there. EDIT: She has one of those programs that can assemble one large image out of many smaller images, and at one point she made an image of the Virgin Mary out of all the penis photos that various OKC guys had sent her.
"My intellect is gigantic, monstrous, terrifying."
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I'm of the "don't stick it in the crazy" school myself, pardon my crassness. The travails of friends who didn't subscribe to that school have been excellent reinforcement.
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
see sending pictures of your dick works if you're gay because homosexual males are very business-oriented.
otherwise it is a null set.
"Yeah, but my character would be all swav and deboner." - Warren
Re: Craigslist for dating? Dare I even consider it?
I am very fond of Craigslist today, because I'm here at work, and my boss told me I had to find something to write a "news brief" about, so