4 ms·

There is also, unfortunately, a moral hazard associated with not having pictures. Such a site will probably tend to attract people who would not be glad to be j

There is also, unfortunately, a moral hazard associated with not having pictures. Such a site will probably tend to attract people who would not be glad to be judged by their appearance, other things being equal. For many, this would decrease the average utility.

gnicholas 7y ago
I think you mean adverse selection, not moral hazard. Also, I would note that I know some very attractive women who do not put profile pictures on dating sites because they don't want to attract too much attention because of how they look. So this could mitigate the adverse selection problem. When I first heard that some women did this, I started messaging women who had no pictures (or pictures that did not show what they looked like). Not long after, I met my wife, who would have been mobbed with messages had she put up a photo that showed what she actually looks like. I was the first and only person she dated online.
- Lucadg 7y ago
  Amazing. I'm not sure "contrarian thinking" is the right expression but you both definitely proved that value is often where no one is looking. Your intuition was certainly good but her move was probably even smarter: she found an efficient way to attract the smart ones.
- DoreenMichele 7y ago
  Beautiful women face substantial barriers to establishing a real relationship. Much of the world is inclined to treat them as nothing but an object. It's absolutely not all upside (to be beautiful) and it's a problem one cannot complain about. No one will have any sympathy whatsoever.
  - sandoooo 7y ago
    You know what I don't get? Why oh why is it so hard to find any authentic food from <my ancestrial home> in <megacity>? They all seem to serve the same old boring 20 dishes. Last time I went it was so bad I didn't finish my plate. Yes I know there are starving children in Africa.
    - DoreenMichele 7y ago
      I was raped at the age of twelve and told it was my fault for being "too beautiful to resist." As a consequence, I attempted suicide. Yes, I know there are women who can't get a date at all because they are deemed too ugly ...
      - sandoooo 7y ago
        Well that went south quickly. And I just got suspended too. Fine, you win, I am now fully in agreement that beautiful women have it really rough. Mods pls don't hurt me.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 7y ago
  Adverse selection, precisely so. While I'm glad for you and your wife, I can only suspect that her approach is quite uncommon. If it were common it would quickly cease to work as it became general knowledge that all the folks without profile pics are hotties. I would offer to test and report back but I have been happily out of the dating pool for going on thirteen years with no intention of returning soon. Two advantages to meeting your spouse via IRL social networks: none of this faffing about with profile pictures -- face to face doesn't lie. And you never have to do witty text message banter.

gnicholas 7y ago

I think you mean adverse selection, not moral hazard. Also, I would note that I know some very attractive women who do not put profile pictures on dating sites because they don't want to attract too much attention because of how they look. So this could mitigate the adverse selection problem. When I first heard that some women did this, I started messaging women who had no pictures (or pictures that did not show what they looked like). Not long after, I met my wife, who would have been mobbed with messages had she put up a photo that showed what she actually looks like. I was the first and only person she dated online.

Lucadg 7y ago
Amazing. I'm not sure "contrarian thinking" is the right expression but you both definitely proved that value is often where no one is looking. Your intuition was certainly good but her move was probably even smarter: she found an efficient way to attract the smart ones.
DoreenMichele 7y ago
Beautiful women face substantial barriers to establishing a real relationship. Much of the world is inclined to treat them as nothing but an object. It's absolutely not all upside (to be beautiful) and it's a problem one cannot complain about. No one will have any sympathy whatsoever.
- sandoooo 7y ago
  You know what I don't get? Why oh why is it so hard to find any authentic food from <my ancestrial home> in <megacity>? They all seem to serve the same old boring 20 dishes. Last time I went it was so bad I didn't finish my plate. Yes I know there are starving children in Africa.
  - DoreenMichele 7y ago
    I was raped at the age of twelve and told it was my fault for being "too beautiful to resist." As a consequence, I attempted suicide. Yes, I know there are women who can't get a date at all because they are deemed too ugly ...
    - sandoooo 7y ago
      Well that went south quickly. And I just got suspended too. Fine, you win, I am now fully in agreement that beautiful women have it really rough. Mods pls don't hurt me.
asdfasgasdgasdg 7y ago
Adverse selection, precisely so. While I'm glad for you and your wife, I can only suspect that her approach is quite uncommon. If it were common it would quickly cease to work as it became general knowledge that all the folks without profile pics are hotties. I would offer to test and report back but I have been happily out of the dating pool for going on thirteen years with no intention of returning soon. Two advantages to meeting your spouse via IRL social networks: none of this faffing about with profile pictures -- face to face doesn't lie. And you never have to do witty text message banter.