3 ms·

The problem with this is that every dating site out there looking to grow their user base might see that as a viable strategy. If it were to become more common

The problem with this is that every dating site out there looking to grow their user base might see that as a viable strategy. If it were to become more common (not sure how common it is actually...probably very), that could result in an overall poor experience for OKCupid users who would associate using the service with receiving spam that never netted out to anything. There is nothing wrong with OKCupid drawing the line on another service trying to get "free" marketing on its dime and at the expense of its user experience.

Meekro 12y ago
I agree with your last paragraph. If I were OkCupid, I would try to prevent people from doing this. If I were Dating Ring, I would try to do this. And if I were an OkCupid user, I would feel gratitude towards anyone who arranged a date for me, Terms of Service be damned. That said, if it never amounted to anything -- as in, I got Dating Ring spam promising dates that never materialized, I would be pretty pissed.
- shostack 12y ago
  If it did amount to something, sure, users would be happy. However my point was that it is not exclusively Dating Ring doing this. It is important to consider the overall signal to noise ratio when you factor in the messages from Dating Ring and any other company out there trying to use OKCupid's platform to promote themselves. OkCupid, barring the creation of a program/partnership specific to this case, has decided that overall, it is worth filtering out. If they thought it added value based on the data they had, they would try to partner with Dating Ring. Heck, it would likely have been fine if Dating Ring purchased ad inventory on their site. As it stands, it seems they view this approach as spam per the OP. If it is against their terms, Dating Ring doesn't have much leg to stand on as that would make it a pretty black and white situation. Part of me wonders if a Cease & Desist is en route to Dating Ring's office.
  - TeMPOraL 12y ago
    > However my point was that it is not exclusively Dating Ring doing this. It is important to consider the overall signal to noise ratio when you factor in the messages from Dating Ring and any other company out there trying to use OKCupid's platform to promote themselves. Such situations are exactly the kind where Kant's categorical imperative applies. If something is clearly wrong when everyone does it, it should not be OK for a particular company to do.

Meekro 12y ago

I agree with your last paragraph. If I were OkCupid, I would try to prevent people from doing this. If I were Dating Ring, I would try to do this. And if I were an OkCupid user, I would feel gratitude towards anyone who arranged a date for me, Terms of Service be damned. That said, if it never amounted to anything -- as in, I got Dating Ring spam promising dates that never materialized, I would be pretty pissed.

shostack 12y ago
If it did amount to something, sure, users would be happy. However my point was that it is not exclusively Dating Ring doing this. It is important to consider the overall signal to noise ratio when you factor in the messages from Dating Ring and any other company out there trying to use OKCupid's platform to promote themselves. OkCupid, barring the creation of a program/partnership specific to this case, has decided that overall, it is worth filtering out. If they thought it added value based on the data they had, they would try to partner with Dating Ring. Heck, it would likely have been fine if Dating Ring purchased ad inventory on their site. As it stands, it seems they view this approach as spam per the OP. If it is against their terms, Dating Ring doesn't have much leg to stand on as that would make it a pretty black and white situation. Part of me wonders if a Cease & Desist is en route to Dating Ring's office.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  > However my point was that it is not exclusively Dating Ring doing this. It is important to consider the overall signal to noise ratio when you factor in the messages from Dating Ring and any other company out there trying to use OKCupid's platform to promote themselves. Such situations are exactly the kind where Kant's categorical imperative applies. If something is clearly wrong when everyone does it, it should not be OK for a particular company to do.