While it does require less effort for women to get responses from the opposite sex, they’re not really in the best position, as they have to dig through a lot of junk before they find any substance.
Headlines are just as important as the content in your message.
Still, navigating the world of online dating can definitely be tricky—what kind of message is clever, but not creepy?
What the hell are you supposed to say about yourself in your profile? [pagebreak] OUT-OF-TOWN AND OUT OF TOUCH The scenario: “A guy sent me a message saying that he wanted to meet up for a drink, but when I asked when he was free, he said he was ‘going out of town’ for the next two weeks and that we should schedule something after.” — Andrea, 31 The problem..the solution: If you tell a girl you’re “going out of town,” she’s going to assume you’re busy dating other women.
And when 80% of the messages are either, you can’t really blame them for not responding to most messages—even if you personalize your mails.
The fact of the matter is that women receive far too much “unwanted” attention.
A good rule of thumb: if you aren’t available for a date within 7 days of sending the message, don’t send it.
NOT-SO-SMOOTH OPERATOR The scenario: “I recently received a message that said, ‘Damn you’re a pretty white girl, you into muscular black men?Very rarely was anything of substance shared there and more or less, everyone had the same opportunity to meet and connect with others.The interactions were unique because of the anonymity given by using My Space.’” — Kristen, 27 The problem..the solution: Aside from the obvious inappropriate nature of the comment to a complete stranger, men should never mention their physical characteristics or their own body parts in an introductory message.Women are easily scared away online, so you should avoid saying anything remotely controversial or predatory.“I'm going to catch myself a partner, and if I slip over in the shower and crack my skull open, at least someone will notice and/or care as my brain dribbles across the tiles.