4 ms·

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Spreadsheet

dctoedt 12y ago
The bit about the two graphs --- plotting the ages of women versus the ages of men who look best to them, and vice versa --- is a hoot. [EDIT: It's funny because of the juxtaposition -- it shows that what (many) women think about us men finds support in the OKCupid data.]
- cheez 12y ago
  As a man, it's hilarious. However, if I was a woman, it would give me a serious complex.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - bsder 12y ago
    I think it might give me a complex as a man, too, thanks. Remember, some other graphs show that "attractiveness" and "salary" are highly correlated for women ... aka ... rich is hot. That may explain the correlation a bit better ... basically 40 years old maximizes income relative to unattractiveness. In addition, men tend to separate "dateable" and "hot". That 20-year-old may be hot, but I probably want to shove something in her mouth to prevent her from talking.
    - alexmat 12y ago
      "That 20-year-old may be hot, but I probably want to shove something in her mouth to prevent her from talking." Go on...
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      New record for the worst comment on HN.
      - norswap 12y ago
        Why? The second paragraph just states a fact he knows from a graph (which admittedly, he doesn't link to). The third paragraph is just his personal opinion based on - I suppose - his personal experiences. It is a broad generalization, but then do you really not think that age is uncorrelated with the interest you have in a conversion with someone? EDIT: Ow, or was is it about the shoving in the mouth thing? I just pictured a ragged cloth personally :D
      - cheez 12y ago
        That is an impressive last sentence there...
    - dang 12y ago
      This comment and one reply to it below were killed by user flags. All: When you see a comment that is truly bad for HN, you can flag it by clicking "link" to go to the item page for the comment, then clicking "flag". We monitor those flags and take action based on them.
  - rjtavares 12y ago
    I showed my wife the graphs. She wasn't pleased.
- treerock 12y ago
  It kinda refutes some stereotypes about men. The graphs show that men find younger women more attractive. But most men end up dating/marrying women around the same age (I'd guess a few years younger on average). This suggests that attractiveness isn't that important (or at least there are other things that are more important) to men when choosing a mate.
  - jmnicolas 12y ago
    Not sure about that : it could be that young women don't want to date older guys then older guys go with women their ages.
kelukelugames 12y ago
Ever since the last OKCupid post, I have become cynical. Is he generating all of this news just to promote their upcoming book? EDIT: I say this because I wished OKTrends had been more consistent in publishing.
- jacques_chester 12y ago
  Well, yes. That's how book promotion works. You pluck a few juicy tidbits out, shop them around to the press, line up a few profile pieces and interviews and off you go.
cel1ne 12y ago
Regarding the two graphs: There might be a large selection bias involved. I mean I do think it somehow resembles "reality", but who knows, maybe most 40 year-old men who are on okCupid are there BECAUSE they find 20 year-olds the most attractive.
- 3rd3 12y ago
  That would be still an extreme skew, wouldn't it?

The bit about the two graphs --- plotting the ages of women versus the ages of men who look best to them, and vice versa --- is a hoot. [EDIT: It's funny because of the juxtaposition -- it shows that what (many) women think about us men finds support in the OKCupid data.]

cheez 12y ago
As a man, it's hilarious. However, if I was a woman, it would give me a serious complex.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- bsder 12y ago
  I think it might give me a complex as a man, too, thanks. Remember, some other graphs show that "attractiveness" and "salary" are highly correlated for women ... aka ... rich is hot. That may explain the correlation a bit better ... basically 40 years old maximizes income relative to unattractiveness. In addition, men tend to separate "dateable" and "hot". That 20-year-old may be hot, but I probably want to shove something in her mouth to prevent her from talking.
  - alexmat 12y ago
    "That 20-year-old may be hot, but I probably want to shove something in her mouth to prevent her from talking." Go on...
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    New record for the worst comment on HN.
    - norswap 12y ago
      Why? The second paragraph just states a fact he knows from a graph (which admittedly, he doesn't link to). The third paragraph is just his personal opinion based on - I suppose - his personal experiences. It is a broad generalization, but then do you really not think that age is uncorrelated with the interest you have in a conversion with someone? EDIT: Ow, or was is it about the shoving in the mouth thing? I just pictured a ragged cloth personally :D
    - cheez 12y ago
      That is an impressive last sentence there...
  - dang 12y ago
    This comment and one reply to it below were killed by user flags. All: When you see a comment that is truly bad for HN, you can flag it by clicking "link" to go to the item page for the comment, then clicking "flag". We monitor those flags and take action based on them.
- rjtavares 12y ago
  I showed my wife the graphs. She wasn't pleased.
treerock 12y ago
It kinda refutes some stereotypes about men. The graphs show that men find younger women more attractive. But most men end up dating/marrying women around the same age (I'd guess a few years younger on average). This suggests that attractiveness isn't that important (or at least there are other things that are more important) to men when choosing a mate.
- jmnicolas 12y ago
  Not sure about that : it could be that young women don't want to date older guys then older guys go with women their ages.

kelukelugames 12y ago

Ever since the last OKCupid post, I have become cynical. Is he generating all of this news just to promote their upcoming book? EDIT: I say this because I wished OKTrends had been more consistent in publishing.

jacques_chester 12y ago
Well, yes. That's how book promotion works. You pluck a few juicy tidbits out, shop them around to the press, line up a few profile pieces and interviews and off you go.

cel1ne 12y ago

Regarding the two graphs: There might be a large selection bias involved. I mean I do think it somehow resembles "reality", but who knows, maybe most 40 year-old men who are on okCupid are there BECAUSE they find 20 year-olds the most attractive.

3rd3 12y ago
That would be still an extreme skew, wouldn't it?