Dating site: No ugly people

[vivfox]

Dating website Darwindating.com vows to weed out the unattractive people from its dating pool, forcing them to swim somewhere else. Touting that they're "online dating for beautiful people only," they use Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection as their justification, but they point out that, because Charles Darwin was "very ugly," he wouldn't be able to join the site. From there, they proclaim the plight of the good-looking people everywhere.

"Attractive people are at a disadvantage on normal internet dating sites. They have to wade through a plethora of ugly people and ugly people pretending to be attractive in order to find someone who matches their own attractiveness. Our strict rules and natural selection process makes Darwin Dating the perfect medium for attractive people to find other people of their own kind."
Indeed, the ugly need not apply. So what constitutes ugly? Well, they have a full list, including: acne, mullets, bald patches, large gaps between teeth, too many freckles, and bizarrely enough, "anyone with a middle part." There's even a "chimp calculator" to see if you make the cut.

Initially, the whole thing sounds like a gimmicky marketing ploy, a harmless half-joke to entice anyone to join the site. But nope. Last year, the site went under fire when it said that Irish men were the ugliest in the world. Um, what?

And the controversy didn't stop there. Darwin Dating then eliminated 30,000 new members for being what managing director Greg Hodge deemed, "ugly people."

And Hodge stood by the decision, which cost the site more than $100,000.

"We have to stick to our founding principles of only accepting beautiful people—that's what our members have paid for. We can't just sweep 30,000 ugly people under the carpet."
Unfortunately, the axing meant that Rachel Godfrey, a 31 year-old Australian nanny, lost touch with a match she met on the site.

"I was getting on really well with this American guy and we were going to go on a date and then they said I'd been chucked off and they locked me out of the site," she said. "Now I can't get in touch with him."

While Darwin Dating seeks to evolve our world into one where only the hot survive, it seems like discriminating against people based on looks is devolution. But hey, maybe that's just the ugly talking.

http://living.msn.com/love-relations...&ocid=OTD_0416

[wild-heart]

Who actually determines who is ugly? In fact what is the definition of ugly? What one person deems as ugly one person might find incredibly beautiful.
What a stupid website.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by wild-heart

What a stupid website.

They lost themselves one hundred thousand dollars in business deleting the ugly people from the site. Did you read that? I know I would never make the cut.

[wild-heart]

Originally Posted by vivfox

They lost themselves one hundred thousand dollars in business deleting the ugly people from the site. Did you read that? I know I would never make the cut.

Well then they might have beauty but they most certainly do not have brains. Would you really want to be a part of such a superficial egotistical website anyway? Nope you are much smarter than that.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by wild-heart

Well then they might have beauty but they most certainly do not have brains. Would you really want to be a part of such a superficial egotistical website anyway? Nope you are much smarter than that.

Everyone wants to feel beautiful though. I know Vivica Fox is beautiful and that's why I (pretend, if that's the right word) to be her. Whenever I post a pic of myself in the post a pic thread, no one comes on raving about my beauty and I don't expect them to. I often get compliments about my eyes.
I have a complex I will never be able to shake because when I was a teen I got abused for my looks on a regular basis. I learned at a very young age that beauty would sail us through life a heck of a lot better than ugly. I have days where I look in the mirror and I see cute. I know I look younger than my age. Those are some good points. I love my personality and sense of humor. Others have discussed this in another thread how us Gay men are so shallow(myself included) that we know if another guy ain't a hottie there is very little interest in pursuing him. Rant over.

[Silver Springs]

If you only judge prospective dates by how they look and refuse to "mix with the ugly people", then chances are you're a wee bit of a douche canoe. Let them all stick together and they'll soon realise that there's far more to people than "beauty". They'll soon be pining for intelligent conversation and substance.

[wild-heart]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Everyone wants to feel beautiful though. I know Vivica Fox is beautiful and that's why I (pretend, if that's the right word) to be her. Whenever I post a pic of myself in the post a pic thread, no one comes on raving about my beauty and I don't expect them to. I often get compliments about my eyes.
I have a complex I will never be able to shake because when I was a teen I got abused for my looks on a regular basis. I learned at a very young age that beauty would sail us through life a heck of a lot better than ugly. I have days where I look in the mirror and I see cute. I know I look younger than my age. Those are some good points. I love my personality and sense of humor. Others have discussed this in another thread how us Gay men are so shallow(myself included) that we know if another guy ain't a hottie there is very little interest in pursuing him. Rant over.

I agree with you that we all want to look/feel pretty and to be told we're attractive. I would be lying if I said I didn't do things to myself to make myself look more "attractive" (make up) but at the same time I despise the fact that people are judged solely on their looks, like how they look define them. It doesn't and never should. I honestly believe that everyone has features that are beautiful. Some in the conventional idea of pretty others have that quirky kind of beautiful. I also believe that your personality shines in your face. As cliche as it sounds, it does. I know I would rather be around people who have a good sense of humour and a kind nature than people who are all beauty and no brains.

I guess that I am trying to get at is, you may aswell be kind to the face you have because there ain't a lot you can do to change it (without drastic measures) so make the most of what you've got, and if that don't get the guys then make them laugh. As Judge Judy once said (LOL) "beauty fades, dumb is forever"

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by wild-heart

"beauty fades, dumb is forever"

I have never understood this old adage. What does being beautiful have to do with being dumb? Are beauty and brains mutually exclusive? Aren't people allowed to have both?

Although I think this is a douchey concept on its face (pun intended), I think there is a certain practicality about this approach. I think we can all agree that more attractive people are the most likely to garner attention, wanted or not, on a dating website. That's just the nature of the game. Accordingly, an exceptionally attractive person will probably have many, many replies- mostly from people who are probably aspiring out of their own leagues physically. Not that I would know what it's like personally, but I would imagine that it's rather stressful being in a position of rejecting so many perfectly decent people because they are physically incompatible. Just because someone is attractive, it doesn't automatically mean he/she is also callous and indifferent to the feelings of others. And anyone who claims that they have never rejected someone on the basis of physical appearance is an out and out LIAR. A website like this helps to narrow the field and increases the ratio of hits (i.e., physical compatibility) vs. misses, which thereby reduces the stress level associated with rejecting people.

[TrueFaith77]

I wish I were goodlooking enough to be on that site.

[Silver Springs]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

I wish I were goodlooking enough to be on that site.

Bugger the website. I just wish I was attractive enough for anybody to be interested. Nobody ever has...

[wild-heart]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I have never understood this old adage. What does being beautiful have to do with being dumb? Are beauty and brains mutually exclusive? Aren't people allowed to have both?

Although I think this is a douchey concept on its face (pun intended), I think there is a certain practicality about this approach. I think we can all agree that more attractive people are the most likely to garner attention, wanted or not, on a dating website. That's just the nature of the game. Accordingly, an exceptionally attractive person will probably have many, many replies- mostly from people who are probably aspiring out of their own leagues physically. Not that I would know what it's like personally, but I would imagine that it's rather stressful being in a position of rejecting so many perfectly decent people because they are physically incompatible. Just because someone is attractive, it doesn't automatically mean he/she is also callous and indifferent to the feelings of others. And anyone who claims that they have never rejected someone on the basis of physical appearance is an out and out LIAR. A website like this helps to narrow the field and increases the ratio of hits (i.e., physical compatibility) vs. misses, which thereby reduces the stress level associated with rejecting people.

Well I always take it to mean that at the end of the day it doesn't matter how beautiful you are if you have nothing to back it up with then there is only so far you will get. And when you become old, and you probably don't look as good as you used to, people won't care about how you used to look where as people do usually keep intelligence. Oh dear I haven't explained what I mean very well tonight.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by wild-heart

Well I always take it to mean that at the end of the day it doesn't matter how beautiful you are if you have nothing to back it up with then there is only so far you will get. And when you become old, and you probably don't look as good as you used to, people won't care about how you used to look where as people do usually keep intelligence. Oh dear I haven't explained what I mean very well tonight.

I agree completely. And I've always said, I'd rather date a 7 or an 8, any day, over a 10. I'm not saying there aren't great 10's out there, but just in general, that 1o usually knows that they can have their pick of whomever they desire....and who needs that pressure!

Looks ARE important, but personality is too!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I agree completely. And I've always said, I'd rather date a 7 or an 8, any day, over a 10. I'm not saying there aren't great 10's out there, but just in general, that 1o usually knows that they can have their pick of whomever they desire....and who needs that pressure!

Looks ARE important, but personality is too!

But why do you automatically assume that the 7 or 8 is necessarily a nicer/smarter/funnier person than the 10? A haughty 10 is not nearly as obnoxious as a haughty 7 or 8 with the self-image of a 10. I think it's interesting that people are willing to assume the worst about attractive people- as if we are trying to find something, anything, that shatters this illusion of perfection.

I hate to admit this, but if I had to choose between 1) being exceptionally physically attractive AND stupid, or 2) being exceptionally brilliant intellectually AND hideous (by most objective criteria), I would choose to be pretty and stupid. Sure, being intellectually superior is a great, admirable thing. But at the end of the day, who has the easier/happier life? The person with the looks usually wins in the end. I would rather be adored/worshipped and oblivious to my own stupidity than being acutely self-aware and shunned/ridiculed by people who are beneath me mentally. It's sad but true.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

But why do you automatically assume that the 7 or 8 is necessarily a nicer/smarter/funnier person than the 10? A haughty 10 is not nearly as obnoxious as a haughty 7 or 8 with the self-image of a 10. I think it's interesting that people are willing to assume the worst about attractive people- as if we are trying to find something, anything, that shatters this illusion of perfection.

I hate to admit this, but if I had to choose between 1) being exceptionally physically attractive AND stupid, or 2) being exceptionally brilliant intellectually AND hideous (by most objective criteria), I would choose to be pretty and stupid. Sure, being intellectually superior is a great, admirable thing. But at the end of the day, who has the easier/happier life? The person with the looks usually wins in the end. I would rather be adored/worshipped and oblivious to my own stupidity than being acutely self-aware and shunned/ridiculed by people who are beneath me mentally. It's sad but true.

Maybe it's just paranoia, that I see that EVERYONE is always staring at/propositioning the 10, and I assume that the temptation to "trade up" might be too great... But an 8, who thinks I'm an 8, might be more content...


You make a helluva point!!!
Here's to gorgeous and stupid!!!

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

But why do you automatically assume that the 7 or 8 is necessarily a nicer/smarter/funnier person than the 10? A haughty 10 is not nearly as obnoxious as a haughty 7 or 8 with the self-image of a 10. I think it's interesting that people are willing to assume the worst about attractive people- as if we are trying to find something, anything, that shatters this illusion of perfection.

I hate to admit this, but if I had to choose between 1) being exceptionally physically attractive AND stupid, or 2) being exceptionally brilliant intellectually AND hideous (by most objective criteria), I would choose to be pretty and stupid. Sure, being intellectually superior is a great, admirable thing. But at the end of the day, who has the easier/happier life? The person with the looks usually wins in the end. I would rather be adored/worshipped and oblivious to my own stupidity than being acutely self-aware and shunned/ridiculed by people who are beneath me mentally. It's sad but true.

I guess the flip side of that coin though is would you rather date someone who is gorgeous and stupid or intelligent and hideous. In a long term situation I think I'd go for the intelligent person, because I couldn't handle spending my life with someone who was empty headed.