Great article. Thanks, Ms Summers!

Thanks, CG!!!

Unfortunately many of these people have their free profiles online, and we waste our time responding to them and yahoo makes a killing.

Whoa, many men do not reply to hi. Is your glass half full or empty? Just face it if you are on the internet you will have to met many people and wade through them until you find someone who may be right for you. It sounds to me that some people have a sour outlook to start with. Your attitude probably flows on out, right into your words. If your photo did not help, you probably should try a different picture. The dishonest are only fooling themselves in the end and the rest of us will just have to have faith that we will come across the right person. Have you read the help articles and the books on relationships? Remember men seem to be from Mars and women from Venus. Talking with more than one person is the way to up your odds on finding the right person. People have to know when to stop thinking "just the next person". Are you going to try to control someone before you have dated them several times? Two people have to decide to give the relationship a chance and focus on that relationship. Guys are just as bad as the gals. Internet dating can't be for everyone...can you imagine that? Good luck in your search.

Any words of "wisdom" for people who do online dating the way they're SUPPOSED to but are still getting bupkiss? James and Perri are both absolutely right. Attractive women only have online profiles so they can feel good about how many hits they're getting. They don't actually WANT any contact from strangers on the internet since they've got a line of guys forming behind them in real life.

The problem is...all the men I have had contact with get very personal and sexual, before we get to know each other. And photos? Yeah, looks count, but not as much as character. Enuff said.

online dating has its ups and downs like anything else. i've done it with both successes and failures. i feel that if the person has a negative outlook in general, it comes across online and they won't get requests for meeting in person. as for profiles, show the world that you are interesting. obviously, don't lie! but put some originality into it. Example: instead of saying you like to watch movies, put down that you like anything with Jack Black or you are fascinated by World War II documentary films. i also agree that if your photo isn't getting a good reaction, change it. take some fun, flattering pictures. include pictures that show you doing a favorite activity or with your pet. if lack of dates is getting you down, please don't let it spill over into your profile. then you'll come across as bitter, desperate and cynical. put down things you'd like to do among the things you already do. there could be someone out there who wants to try the same thing. i agree with guys about the height issue, but for every girl that wants someone over 6 feet, there is another girl who doesn't care whether the guy is 5'4" or 6'4". Case in point: I'm five feet nothing and i have dated guys between 5'3" and 6'2". It was all about the man, not the height. Granted, kissing a shorter man goodnight is much easier! ;) Good luck, everyone. I've stayed anonymous because I'm not looking and the profile set-up doesn't allow me to choose that option.

Posting my picture would make the guys run in the other direction. I'm not very attractive. No, not obese, just not very pretty, and never have been. If I was good looking, I wouldn't be having a problem getting dates, and then I wouldn't have ended up on some on-line dating site, now would I?

I was just browsing (being nosey) and came across this article. I have no picture at the time to post but, in all fairness, I don't believe in having a picture at first is all that important of an impact. It may give you a hint to who you are talking to, but words and the way they are expressed in writing tells alot...to me anyway. I am shy in person around women because I am affraid I will say and and do something really stupid. I flub my words up, I can't think of anything to say and I feel like I'm an A-1 idiot. On the ol' laptop here, I can hide behind the screen and speek genuinely, honest, sincere and stutter free. When I warm up to a person while I am behind the computer, it makes it easier for me to meet them in person.(but that's only me of course) Looks and cleanliness has a percentage,but the personallity and character makes up the chart.

i agree perri. A guy is better off going too a bar and go home with a bar maid at least ya know she'll show up .