OKCupid Online Dating Chart Depicts Blogger's Hellish Dating Cycle (PHOTO)

For singletons of the fairer sex, sometimes online dating can closely resemble a hellish merry-go-round where one sifts through batches of duds disguised as studs and armed with equally bad grammar and breath.

The ups; the downs. The fleeting moments of connection with a prospective suitor; the avoidance of that awkward kiss goodbye. Then for a moment, it becomes apparent that flying solo can be fabulous -- until it's not.

At that point, there's no other choice but return to the inevitable: The profile gets reactivated, most flattering pictures posted next to a witty self-description and yes, the cycle begins, again.

If you're not nodding in agreement, it's because you're attached and have no single friends forced down into society's deep dark bowels of what is called online dating. But if you are nodding, read on.

Now, one blogger has managed to capture that very accurate singleton account in a rather entertaining illustration.

LOOK:

First posted on the Tumblr blog I Love Charts, the genius home-made graphic is the work of blogger Meghan Mess.

Meghan writes on her blog:

... I was feeling good and made a little illustration about my internet dating cycle. Notice that at no point does it say “Relationship!” or “successfully land a boyfriend.” Obviously I haven’t figured out how to do that.

Of course, this experience is something that might resonate with a number of online daters -- male and female. But if men have such a tough time, why would they be making Excel spreadsheets to manage their numerous liaisons.

What do you think, ladies? Is this graphic an accurate depiction of Internet dating? Or did you meet your partner in a way that not even a hit romantic-comedy could compete with?

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Comments

[Allan Browning]

10:29 PM on 04/23/2013

What Your Profile Picture Says About You...

Let's face it, attraction is important. The reason you put up a picture in the first place is to "attract" someone to your profile. Those daters that don't post a picture are sending out some very counter-productive vibes. No picture usually means the person can't work a camera, or worse, they have something to hide. Craig's List is swamped with posters posting messages without a picture, because they know they're hiding something. Don't do that on a real dating site. Especially one you're paying for. More often than not, not having a profile picture can also signify you're already in a relationship and/or married, looking for something on the side.

My biggest beef with people's profiles is that they upload their four or five "favorite" pictures from a decade ago. Relationships are based on a foundation of trust. If you show up on that initial "meet and greet" looking nothing like your profile pictures, that trust is gone before it can even begin. It's common knowledge that people fudge a little here and a little there...women usually subtract 5 years from their age while men routinely add 3 inches to their height. But once you finally meet the person you've been emailing and texting and chatting with on the phone, and they look nothing like their pictures, you feel cheated and bamboozled. Not a great start.

Signed,

The GURU of Online Dating

[Peter Bean]

09:29 PM on 04/20/2013

True it's not easy to have success online with all amounts of fakes and scams. But I do believe there are still true people who just like me are looking for a soul mate or partner. I think success depends mostly on how real you are yourself, and how positive you are about others. I've tried recently globogirls.com and didn't regret it. Those girls who I met were normal and adequate. Plus on this site they have video chat which is really helpful. Because I don't like sharing my personal contacts till I am sure about someone. So I am having good experience over there.

[jkessel27]

08:19 PM on 04/12/2013

see some funny online dating messages at http://www.CreepyCupid.com

[Nancy Lorenz]

01:51 AM on 01/08/2013

I was lucky enough to meet the right fella eventually. On OKCupid, of ALL places. Bizarre. He doesn't even LIKE the internet very much. Anyway, it's not a never-ending cycle of no, sometimes you do get lucky. I've been with my fella for two and a half years now and I've been very happy. You just got to a) keep trying and b) keep your dating pool fresh. Also establish some dating "filters". Like, when I met men, I always met them in a group situation first. If they didn't like that, and they didn't understand my issues, I didn't date them at all. Plus I'm up-front with my feminism. Best. Filter. Ever.

[rob8829]

02:23 PM on 11/11/2012

I found www.meet4dates.com to be a really good site for online dating. I liked that they had not only the standard email and search features that you see on so many other sites but they also had facebook like features of being able to add friends and post updates and comment on your friend's updates. It is a really fun site to meet and get to know people on.

[latinaangels]

04:10 PM on 11/08/2012

I am single, well was single.. Divorced... I found my love of my life here with this agency.. We are very happy. She treats me like a king.. If you are lonely, please go to this web-site or contact them directly.. An honest dating agency with honest women. I met over 500 in one weekend. Good luck.. WWW.Latinaangels.com

[fanofjan]

07:40 AM on 07/01/2012

I was noted as 'one of the more attractive' on okcupid (voting by members). This was a couple years ago and though I have ALOT of pics showing me clearly in both facial shots and
full-body pics, (I am 64) I am usually contacted by boys in their 20's-30's. The MEN I am looking for and around my age more or less are looking for 30's to 50's, not women their own age. I hate online dating, only go on dates when I really feel there is a connection (after talking on the phone). Thus, I have been on O N E date since March 2012 and its July!!! I am pretty well off, own a home & a vaca home, like to dance, drink, barbecue, hike, etc.
but I'm pretty resigned to this is the way it will be because men are (in my age range) just
CLUELESS!!!

[hedah]

01:49 AM on 07/01/2012

Men are more 'visual' than women; if they like what they see, they try to have it, then go...next...next...(traditionally) Women need (want) to feel "secure & protected" by men. There's no worse feeling than as if walking on 'quick sand' terrain ! ( RESPECT has become just a word, nowadays !)

[suman12]

11:02 PM on 06/22/2012

One of the most critical factors to ensure a successful Online Dating experience is self-confidence. You can be almost guaranteed that your fellow online members can sense a lack of confidence from a mile away. If you show any signs of a lack of confidence it's likely that you will find it difficult to make connections.(Online dating) If your profile is in any way disparaging and details your faults and indiscretions your inbox will be a baron place indeed.

[Jess Randall23]

06:12 PM on 05/16/2012

The graphic is a good illustration of the internet dating cycle. I tried it a couple of times, the first time the man decided to strip down naked, lets just say whoever dished out the family jewels didn't give him an adequate share, thankfully I made a quick exit. The second guy, well our relationship lasted 18 months altogether and I could write a book about all his issues suffice to say I am happily single and will never ever internet date again! I'll take my chances with meeting a guy in a bar instead, just the way it used to be!

[Precious Mensah]

08:40 AM on 05/18/2012

hiiiiiiiii

[Stevie Ware]

03:24 PM on 05/16/2012

And the male graphic of the internet dating cycle would feature the generic site at the top, followed by "multiple women with undisclosed kids from multiple fathers looking for multiple income", followed by "realize that everyone's bio is fiction", followed by "new found love of drama free existence, free time to existentially reflect and exercise", followed by "dating amnesia and eternal optimism that seduces into venturing out into the make believe world of online dating in a valiant search for a true and mutual unconditional love..."

[lensamy]

09:02 AM on 05/16/2012

Love the graphic! so true!

[bynddrvn5]

09:02 PM on 05/15/2012

Well of course finding a mate is tough for everyone! Women are told that they must be thin and pretty and men must be superheroes (preferably with a cape) and wealthy.

To fill the black hole caused by living someone else's dream - we are supposed to buy tons of crap. Buy more books/magazines on what we should be and what we should expect from our partners - all of it pretty much worthless.

How about we find someone who is more of a friend and will act like a partner on the journey through life? Someone to cheer success when things go right and to commiserate with you went things go wrong.

[shdrew]

05:12 PM on 05/15/2012

This graphic is 100% accurate!

[jf12]

10:00 PM on 05/14/2012

"How to Outwit Online Dating"
http://glo.msn.com/beauty/tech-savvy-1534620.story
The algorithms kept matching Caitlin with nice men who had a lot in common with her. "I fear a world where all my dates look like Darryl: smart, shy, appropriately well-read—and, in the end, all too familiar."
She feared, *feared* mind you, she would get stuck with nice men, so she changed her preferences to try to get bad boys instead.