Questionable Dates

The online personals adventure continues. In the first week, my profile has garnered many a long look, several winks, and the addition to several "hot lists." I have to say, there seem to be a lot of cute, intelligent, creative men in Chicago. And of course, lots of lonely weirdos. I was immediately winked at (twice) by a 55 year old man in Evanston, despite capping my age limit for potential suitors well below the 55 mark. What the hey?

A few observations:

It is recommended that you share several recent close-up photos of your face, to give people an idea of what you look like in a current everyday situation. Why, then, so many pictures of people on cruise boats, or with with Kodiak National Park in the background? Are we going to hike with grizzly bears after meeting for coffee? I'm sure you want people to know that you're outdoorsy, and active, but come on. This isn't a travel brochure.

More puzzling than that: photos of multiple people. One guy offered a photo of him and his friends in a limo. First of all, you're not fooling anyone with the pimped out limo stuff. You were going to your cousin Tina's wedding. Also, crop that picture, dude. Or am I going on a date with you and two of your friends? That could get a little complicated if things end up getting steamy. Unless we go in the limo, as is kind of implied by your photo choice.

Other photo silliness: in some cases, people offer more than one photo, one of which is so much older than the other that it looks like two different people. Is that you and your dad? Do I get to choose between you? Oh...no. The young guy and the old guy are both you. But I only get the old version.

Also, sideways and upside down photos. One guy said he was a graphic artist, but his picture urgently needed to be rotated 90 degrees. This does not bode well for potential romantic encounters. Unless he can make out at a 90 degree angle.