retroremakes
February 10th, 2010, 23:20
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/02/500x_online-dating-tips.jpgBrain chemistry questionnaires, genetic testing: online dating sites (http://gizmodo.com/tag/datingsites/) are going to pretty extreme lengths (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?src=tptw) to prove that their methodology is the most advanced. Because hey, then they can justify higher rates! But does any of it actually work?
The NY Times gives a rundown (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?src=tptw) of a few sites that embrace Cupid's geekier side. For a $2000 lifetime membership, for example, ScientificMatch.com (http://www.ScientificMatch.com) uses a DNA sample—from a cheek swab, sicko—to test for genetic markers in your immune system that may indicate compatibility. Chemistry.com (http://www.Chemistry.com) employs a questionnaire developed by a biological anthropologist to match up temperaments for $50/month. And eHarmony (http://www.eHarmony.com), the granddaddy of them all, uses sociological variables to filter and sort its members for up to $46/month.
Online dating (http://gizmodo.com/tag/onlinedating/) is a $976 million a year industry, so it's either working for some people or singles are very persistent/wealthy these days. But success rates are hard to measure, even for dating sites with a scientific slant. And whatever successes are found may not stem from fancy questionnaires as much as the self-selecting, pre-screened pool of people ready to find that special someone:
The sites attract cohorts of people interested in slowing down the online dating and mating process, in finding out more information about potential partners - or in ruling out unlikely suitors - before they graduate to the meet-and-greet stage.
And while $50 a month might sound expensive for meeting someone, the Times also points out that it's a heck of a lot less than a monthly tab at a single's bar. [NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?src=tptw)]
http://ads.pheedo.com/img.phdo?p=1 (http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?p=1)http://a.rfihub.com/eus.gif?eui=2226http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=H0mrP-F8Qgo</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:H0mrP-F8Qgo) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=yIl2AUoC8zA</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:yIl2AUoC8zA) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:D7DqB2pKExk</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:D7DqB2pKExk) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:V_sGLiPBpWU</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:V_sGLiPBpWU)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/4NbunLstgwE
More... (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4NbunLstgwE/online-dating-meets-the-scientific-method)
The NY Times gives a rundown (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?src=tptw) of a few sites that embrace Cupid's geekier side. For a $2000 lifetime membership, for example, ScientificMatch.com (http://www.ScientificMatch.com) uses a DNA sample—from a cheek swab, sicko—to test for genetic markers in your immune system that may indicate compatibility. Chemistry.com (http://www.Chemistry.com) employs a questionnaire developed by a biological anthropologist to match up temperaments for $50/month. And eHarmony (http://www.eHarmony.com), the granddaddy of them all, uses sociological variables to filter and sort its members for up to $46/month.
Online dating (http://gizmodo.com/tag/onlinedating/) is a $976 million a year industry, so it's either working for some people or singles are very persistent/wealthy these days. But success rates are hard to measure, even for dating sites with a scientific slant. And whatever successes are found may not stem from fancy questionnaires as much as the self-selecting, pre-screened pool of people ready to find that special someone:
The sites attract cohorts of people interested in slowing down the online dating and mating process, in finding out more information about potential partners - or in ruling out unlikely suitors - before they graduate to the meet-and-greet stage.
And while $50 a month might sound expensive for meeting someone, the Times also points out that it's a heck of a lot less than a monthly tab at a single's bar. [NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?src=tptw)]
http://ads.pheedo.com/img.phdo?p=1 (http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?p=1)http://a.rfihub.com/eus.gif?eui=2226http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=H0mrP-F8Qgo</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:H0mrP-F8Qgo) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?d=yIl2AUoC8zA</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:yIl2AUoC8zA) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:D7DqB2pKExk</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:D7DqB2pKExk) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?i=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:V_sGLiPBpWU</img> (http://feeds.gawker.com/~ff/gizmodo/full?a=4NbunLstgwE:48AzEd4vmWQ:V_sGLiPBpWU)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/4NbunLstgwE
More... (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4NbunLstgwE/online-dating-meets-the-scientific-method)