Internet Dating: Is this really YOUR photo?

PREVIEW
Read these three true stories. Were these people wise or foolish? Discuss your answers.
Andre: I met my wife on the Internet. I liked her immediately because she was honest
about her opinions. We talked online for more than a year. Then I drove 2,000 miles to meet
her. We had a wonderful time. I moved across the country to be near her and we got married
six months later.
Christie: My husband and I met through an Internet dating service. The first time we
spoke, we talked online from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Then we talked on the phone until I had to leave
for work. Two days later he came to visit. Two weeks later, we were married. He said, "Do you
want to get married tonight?" I said, “No . . . but I’m off Tuesday.” We were married that day in
Alabama, just the two of us and the judge.
Elisa: I met a man on the Internet. He seemed great. We fell in love right away. He told me
that he was 32 and a bachelor. Six months after we met, his wife called me. He was actually
42 and married with three kids!
Predict
Skim the two readings and make predictions.
1. Which article is probably more important to women than to men?
2. Skim Reading 1. Describe the kind of photograph that got the most replies.
3. Think of three possible rules for Internet dating that might be included in Reading
4. Write a question for each article.
R E A D I N G 1 Reporter Discovers That Sex Sells
(What a Surprise . ..)
As you probably know, every Internet dating service asks you to fill out a profile about
yourself, often including your job, hobbies, interests, and age. You can also put a picture next
to your profile. Internet profiles with pictures get many more replies. Reporter Janice Walker
decided to find out if people would pay more attention to her picture or to her profile. She sent
the following profile to six different Internet dating sites:
My name is Kate, I am 35, work in the media and have a great sense of humor.
I enjoy travel and the arts. I am happy with my l i f e , but I am missing that special someone.
Then she sent each one a different photograph of herself.
1. Sexy Lady 108 replies
Janice put on a sexy dress and a lot of makeup She didn’t smile. This photo was the
runaway favorite. Unfortunately, many of the replies were quite impolite. Almost all of the men
only talked about her appearance.
2. Happy and Healthy 72 replies
For this picture, Janice wore jeans and a T-shirt. 1 his was the real her, so she was happy
to get so many replies. Many men talked about the information in her profile. These men
seemed like people she might go out with.
3. Star Athlete 41 replies
Janice is not athletic,but she put on a tracksuit and stood next to a bicycle. She got a lot
of responses from attractive, athletic men.
4. All Business 36 replies
To look like a successful businesswoman, Janice wore a business suit and put on glasses.
Few men of her age were interested. Most of the respondents talked about their salaries, their
cars, and their successful careers.
5. Sophisticated Lady 20 replies
For this photo, Janice wore her best dress and put her hair up. She wanted to look high-
class. However, not many men were interested.
The youngest was 39 and the oldest was 55.
6. Little Girl 4 replies
In this photograph, Janice wore a pink sweater and held a stuffed bear. There were almost
no responses. Two of the men who replied were in their fifties. Both said she looked sweet, and
one even said she reminded him of his daughter.
Janice was disappointed that the results were very predictable. Though her profile showed
that she was an intelligent woman, most of the men responded to the pictures—not to the
words.
 READING 2 Rules for Internet Dating
Every time that you meet someone new, you take a risk. If you meet in a grocery store, in a
museum, or in an Internet chat room, you have to protect yourself.
The following rules apply to Internet dating.
1. Use Common Sense
Don't give out personal information such as your name, telephone number, or address
until you are comfortable. You may want to use your first name only or use a fictitious name
until you feel safe. When you feel safe enough to talk on the telephone, don’t give out your
home number. Get his or her number, or give them your work number, or your cellular phone
number. Get together in a public place for the first date. Tell people where you are going or
bring along some friends.
2. __________________________
Tell the truth. If you send a photograph, make sure it’s up-to-date. Telling the truth will
avoid anger and disappointment later.
3.____________________________
Get to know someone before getting romantic. Send e-mail messages for a while before you
talk on the telephone or meet face-to-face. If he or she won’t wait until you’re comfortable, you
should wonder why.
4. __________________________
You can meet liars and cheaters on the Internet just like you can in real life. Look for the
signs. Beware of Internet friends who try to persuade you to do something or make a lot of
promises. Save your messages. If you think someone’s lying, you can look back at what they
said before. Previous messages may give you a clue.
5. __________________________
Before getting close to someone online, find out if the person is real. Ask for his or her
home phone number, work number, and even references. It’s easy to create a fake identity in
cyberspace.
6 .__________________________
Internet dating can be as exciting as dating in person. Enjoy yourself but move slowly.
Don’t jump right into romance.
Reading Comprehension Check Your Predictions
1. Look back at your questions in the Predict section. How good were your predictions?
2. If you found the answers to your questions from Item 4, what were they?
Check the Facts
Check (/) the questions you can answer after reading once. Then go back and look for the
answers that you are unsure of.
READING 1
1. What did Janice Walker want to find out?
2. What did she send to each Internet dating service?
3. How was each one different?
4. Which picture was the most popular?
5. Was she surprised at the results? Why or why not?
READING 2
_1. Where should you meet an Internet date inperson for the first time?
_2. Why is it important to tell the truth?
_3. What should you do with the messages youreceive? Why?
_4. How can you find out if a person is real?
Analyze
How does the writer of Reading 1 feel about online dating services?
What other rules might the writer of Reading 2 add to the list?
Discussion
1. Do you think online dating is a good way to meet people? Why or why not?
2. Do you know anyone who has met someone online? What happened?