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Judging physical attractiveness on dating sites isn't even a partially solved problem - I invite you to name the sites that you have found that are close, as a

by Chukwu 17y ago

Judging physical attractiveness on dating sites isn't even a partially solved problem - I invite you to name the sites that you have found that are close, as a counterexample. How does one go about making an EDUCATED guess with NO knowledge? To put it plainly - statistical information assimilated from meaningless data is also meaningless. I don't know what my perfect mate looks like - and no one does. If you accept that premise, you are then forced to accept that any data gathered from some person A about what their perfect mate P is like is MEANINGLESS. So statistical algorithms from any such information yield meaningless data as well; ergo okcupid cannot do what it hopes to do. QED

michaelkeenan 17y ago
> I don't know what my perfect mate looks like - and no one does. While I agree that one's guess at a perfect partner might not be 100% accurate, are you sure you have no information on this at all? Here are some OkCupid questions. Would you be equally willing to date someone regardless of how they answered these questions? -Is homosexuality a sin? -How important is religion/God in your life? -Are you happy with your life? -Is interracial marriage a bad idea?
- Chukwu 17y ago
  Interestingly, the universal answer set of these questions, from all of the women I've seriously dated, would be full! That is, every possible answer would be in the set. And I am certain I am not unique. Indeed, half of the enjoyment in getting to know someone is in the mutual effort expended in trying to understand how the other person was formed: thoughts, feelings, desires, etc - and this enjoyment is independent of the actual thoughts, feelings, etc themselves. As relationships grow, both parties discover the thoughts, feelings, desires, etc. that were perhaps, formed irrationally - and then adjust accordingly. This is called personal discovery - and is evidence enough that most people are too inconsistent and too nearsighted for an approach such as the one okcupid employs. That said - I wish them the best of luck.
  - philwelch 17y ago
    That's why OkCupid gives you aggregate percentages instead of ruling people out or anything. An aggregate percentage says you mostly agree with this person on the things you care about most. It doesn't mean you have perfect harmony, nothing means that, but it gives you an easier starting point.

by Chukwu 17y ago

michaelkeenan 17y ago

> I don't know what my perfect mate looks like - and no one does. While I agree that one's guess at a perfect partner might not be 100% accurate, are you sure you have no information on this at all? Here are some OkCupid questions. Would you be equally willing to date someone regardless of how they answered these questions? -Is homosexuality a sin? -How important is religion/God in your life? -Are you happy with your life? -Is interracial marriage a bad idea?

Chukwu 17y ago
Interestingly, the universal answer set of these questions, from all of the women I've seriously dated, would be full! That is, every possible answer would be in the set. And I am certain I am not unique. Indeed, half of the enjoyment in getting to know someone is in the mutual effort expended in trying to understand how the other person was formed: thoughts, feelings, desires, etc - and this enjoyment is independent of the actual thoughts, feelings, etc themselves. As relationships grow, both parties discover the thoughts, feelings, desires, etc. that were perhaps, formed irrationally - and then adjust accordingly. This is called personal discovery - and is evidence enough that most people are too inconsistent and too nearsighted for an approach such as the one okcupid employs. That said - I wish them the best of luck.
- philwelch 17y ago
  That's why OkCupid gives you aggregate percentages instead of ruling people out or anything. An aggregate percentage says you mostly agree with this person on the things you care about most. It doesn't mean you have perfect harmony, nothing means that, but it gives you an easier starting point.