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OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

bitchmagazine.org

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Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#31

Post by steveklabnik »

alexyim wrote: post #27
karzeem wrote: post #4

I'm not quite sure what the problem is. OkCupid's goal is to help its users find dates. People rarely date someone who's very significantly more or less attractive than they are. Directing people to users with whom they're much likelier to find success actually seems quite sensible, not "less than OK".

Yup, I think this is the main reason why they implemented it. To elaborate a little further on this point from a guy's perspective (this might sound controversial).. 1. You risk scaring off attractive girls if they are bombarded by mail from a wider range of less attractive guys 2. The less attractive girls will get less attention as the guys will try their chances with the hotter girls 3. And all the girls would hav…

Just as a note, OkCupid has a strong hookup culture going on as well. In terms of their userbase. So that plays into this, too.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#32

Post by timwiseman »

what wrote: post #28
reader5000 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

college

Uh, ugly people don't go to college?

Just thinking about the demographics, your average college student is between 18 and 24. While there are certainly exceptions, this is generally the age at which most people will be at or near their high for physical attractiveness.

Also, college students disproportionately grew up in middle and upper class households so they generally had access to good food, good healthcare, good dental care (including cosmetic dental care), not to mention better clothes and (where appropriate) makeup.

Furthermore, tying in to their age, college students tend to care more about their appearance than the average population. They often consider dating and even looking for a spouse to be a major activity of college. They often have more time to care about it than working professionals. They often have more social pressures to care about it. So, compared to the average population, they put more effort into looking good and that effort often has at least some results.

So, while there are certainly less physically attractive people in college, the student body of most colleges is on average noticeably more physically attractive than the average population.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#33

Post by karzeem »

hugh3 wrote: post #12
karzeem wrote: post #4

I'm not quite sure what the problem is. OkCupid's goal is to help its users find dates. People rarely date someone who's very significantly more or less attractive than they are. Directing people to users with whom they're much likelier to find success actually seems quite sensible, not "less than OK".

It might make sense behind the scenes, but was it a mistake for them to actually tell their users about it? They must have known the uglies would find out about it, so you've gotta balance out the fact that you've just flattered some of your users with the fact that you've insulted the rest. Besides, ugly users are probably a lot more profitable than good-looking ones.

Cutting the userbase sharply in half, with ugly on one side and attractive on the other, is probably a bad way for them to explain it to people. They'd be better off saying something like "we show you other users based on how much you have in common, including age, interests, attractiveness, personality, etc."

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#34

Post by steveklabnik »

wzdd wrote: post #29

If I were running that site I would be interested in sending that email to a randomly-selected half the userbase and then seeing if and how they behaved differently on the site. After all, the letter says both that you, personally, are more attractive, but also acts as kind of guarantee that the people you are being matched with are more attractive too. There may be some ethical considerations here of course.

This sounds like something that they'd do. Those guys are serious math nerds.

> There may be some ethical considerations here of course.

Reading OkTrends, I'm pretty sure they're not worried about it.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#35

Post by fgf »

alexyim wrote: post #27
karzeem wrote: post #4

I'm not quite sure what the problem is. OkCupid's goal is to help its users find dates. People rarely date someone who's very significantly more or less attractive than they are. Directing people to users with whom they're much likelier to find success actually seems quite sensible, not "less than OK".

Yup, I think this is the main reason why they implemented it. To elaborate a little further on this point from a guy's perspective (this might sound controversial).. 1. You risk scaring off attractive girls if they are bombarded by mail from a wider range of less attractive guys 2. The less attractive girls will get less attention as the guys will try their chances with the hotter girls 3. And all the girls would hav…

"How much should physical attractiveness play a role in relationships?"

It matters as much as nature intended it to. Regardless of what the womyn at Bitchmagazine think about it.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#36

Post by jrockway »

karzeem wrote: post #33
hugh3 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It might make sense behind the scenes, but was it a mistake for them to actually tell their users about it? They must have known the uglies would find out about it, so you've gotta balance out the fact that you've just flattered some of your users with the fact that you've insulted the rest. Besides, ugly users are probably a lot more profitable than good-looking ones.

Cutting the userbase sharply in half, with ugly on one side and attractive on the other, is probably a bad way for them to explain it to people. They'd be better off saying something like "we show you other users based on how much you have in common, including age, interests, attractiveness, personality, etc."

Who cares? I didn't get any mail saying I'm beautiful. But I still see plenty of pretty girls that are a good match. So whatever.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#37

Post by die_sekte »

jrockway wrote: post #13
qq66 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it offensive? Long-term relationships report the highest happiness levels when both partners are of roughly equal attractiveness.

But I rate myself above average in every category! Just like everyone else!

Congratulations! You are more attractive than 70% of the population! Just like everybody else.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#38

Post by w1ntermute »

karzeem wrote: post #4

I'm not quite sure what the problem is. OkCupid's goal is to help its users find dates. People rarely date someone who's very significantly more or less attractive than they are. Directing people to users with whom they're much likelier to find success actually seems quite sensible, not "less than OK".

People rarely date someone who's very significantly more or less attractive than they are.

People are also much more likely to date someone of their own race. Should OkCupid segregate by race as well? Oh wait, that's a social taboo, whereas discriminating against the ugly is considered perfectly acceptable.

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#39

Post by fgf »

"however, we've all got different preferences when it comes to physical attractiveness"

"this policy is a bunch of discriminatory, attractiveness-norm-reinforcing"

"why are they falling prey to the same arbitrary attractiveness standards as your local meat market-y douchebar?"

This is what reading too much sociology will do to you. I just spent a year with it as a major, it won't happen again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_attractiveness

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_attraction

Re: OkCupid has less-than-OK policies. Especially if you're "ugly."

#40

Post by Dunearhp »

wzdd wrote: post #29

If I were running that site I would be interested in sending that email to a randomly-selected half the userbase and then seeing if and how they behaved differently on the site. After all, the letter says both that you, personally, are more attractive, but also acts as kind of guarantee that the people you are being matched with are more attractive too. There may be some ethical considerations here of course.

This is what I think they are doing.
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