New Yorker Piece on Internet Dating – Part Two
Part two of the New Yorker article by Nick Paumgarten continues his thorough coverage of the state of online dating today with an interesting take on the art of writing a profile, saying that the ability to write well in men is like showing up to a first date in a Mercedes, but that at the same time, “graceful prose does not a gentleman make” (boy oh boy if that’s not flowery New Yorker language).
The rest of the article had Paumgarten comparing three of the top dating sites in the business: OKCupid, eHarmony, and Chemistry.com. He notes that dating sites often exaggerate their claims as much as their members themselves, but that they each have pulling points that have made them powerful contenders in the online dating industry.
OKCupid - the dating site with the most talked about blog in the industry, this site is the nerdy but hip locale for young singles looking to hook up or start relationships with other like minded singles. Its fun use of mathematics and matching people with unusual standards has made this free site a powerhouse in the industry.
eHarmony - a serious dating site that looks to forge real relationships, it seeks to stop the idea of “opposites attract, and then attack,” by matching like-minded singles based on their values and beliefs. Also analyzes married couples in a controlled environment to determine which kinds of differences can be worked through, and which can not.
Chemistry - uses a similar method as eHarmony, but uses “4 personality dimensions” to pair people off using algorithms and equations.
The article closes with an astute assumption that believing you could be “made for someone” is absurd, but that if people will always believe its possible, they might as well find a platform to try it.
What do you think of Nick Paumgarten’s article? Is it good coverage of the dating industry and peoples’ use of it, or do you think he left anything out? Let us know in the comments!
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