This is the most useful graph ever plotted
Wow. Just wow. OkCupid crunches the numbers on first messages, correlating word usage with reply rates. Here’s just one of many—many—graphs they present:
My friends, we now have the data we need to construct, Serpentor-style, the perfect OkCupid profile. He will be a tattooed physics grad student who’s in a veg-metal band and is looking to date a smart, fun, attractive zombie. Right?
(I’m smiling at my screen in self-satisfaction right now, but the truth is, the OkCupid commenters have beat us to it. Once more: wow.)
#3 surprised me.
Not me! As a lifelong card-carrying vegetarian, I can say that the frequent discrepancy between the overall attractiveness and dietary attractiveness of this or that crush was the source of noticeable strain, at least internally. I’ve dated omnivorously, and happily enough, but there is something relaxingly appealing about just not having to think about it. It would definitely increase the reply rate for me, everything else being equal.