World's Worst OkCupid Message

Since my recent breakup, my online dating escapades have resumed and I've been attacked by streams of dissappointing men. And while it usually takes at least one terrible date to be featured on INOTL, this fellow earned his spot with just one message. Before reading his well thought out note, I did a once over of his profile. Could a man who used the following phrase be my next boyfriend: "I absolutely love cats!!!! They are the 4-legged version of a female to me...meeooow :)" Yikes! What in God's name are you doing with those cats?!

And could my potential new boyfriend be a guy who listed that he is good at "giving up his seat for the elderly" and "cunnulingus"...it's a language he apparently speaks fluently, "bowling" and "tetris". The juxtaposition of these items are just too much for me to handle. And at this point I'm guessing he's never actually seen a woman naked, but I push on through his profile and make it back to the note he has sent me. 

Here, for your reading pleasure, is his note (in gray) with my commentary (not gray)...

Hey there! I wanted to meet you via okcupid on my iPod touch 4. [Am I supposed to be impressed that you have an iPod Touch 4? For the record, I'm not.] I won't take up much of your time and I hope this message finds you well. You have probably been hit with one liners that says..."hey sexy", "Sup baby!!" or "damn u r hawt". [In fact, I have been hit with such eloquent one liners. And thank you for simutaneously hitting me with three at one time and not saying one at all] That's not going to happen here. I wanted to be original and be the first to try something new from the normal and yet annoying messages you probably receive on a regular basis. I wanted to write you an appropriate message and hope you appreciate it! I looked through your profile and it has piqued my interest and I’d like to know more about you. You like The Animal Collective?!?! Wow nice! I only have their Strawberry Jam Album and the song that I keep playing is "peacebone". Such an addictive song and even more addictive yet very wired video. [I appreciate you Googling the band and mentioning the first video that appears on YouTube. Noted, you know how to peruse the Interwebs.]

Now for the "sit-down-I-have-to-tell-you-something..."part of this message. [HALLELUJAH, a man who wants to be open] While you are attractive [Thank you, but I hear a but coming] I do have to be honest with you on 2 things: 

1) The fact that you reply "selectively" made me even more apprehensive in messaging you. So I’m not expecting you to reply back to me. Maybe you will surprise me. [What, is there a problem with knowing what I want? After a comment like that I probably won't be responding, but I'll at least entertain the rest of your message. Maybe YOU'LL surprise ME...]

2) Currently I'm not looking to jump into anything serious as of yet. I would love to have a long-term relationship of ongoing casual sex with you. [Wait, I'm going to have to read that again. "a long-term relationship of ongoing casual sex." So you want to have a committed, uncommitted sexual relationship with me. You're kidding right? I mean, and to follow in your counting footsteps: 1. You've never met me and 2. has this ever worked for you before? What a knob!] I know you are not looking for that but I just wanted to be upfront with you. [Oh, well at least you're acknowledging that a "long-term relationship of ongoing casual sex" was not my checked off box of what I'm looking for on this site. That makes everything okay, right? WRONG!]

Okay now that I got it out in the open and you know where I'm coming from. I hope this message at least put a smile on your face and I didn't scare you away. [No worries it didn't scare me, but it did earn you a place on our blog! Welcome to the start of your 15 minutes of online fame!] Let's chat, meet up and see where things go. [Not a chance buckeroo] Have a good one. [No, YOU have a good one.]

Think you have a message that can top this one? Send us your creepy messages.

If your favorite team is playing in the NLDS, perhaps you shouldn't have scheduled our first date during the game. Shouting, clapping, and high-fiving strangers does not a meaningful connection make.

Hooking-up: Sometimes it's more like masturbating using another human as a prop.

When dating, the amount I like you is directly proportional to the amount of time I make you wait before I sleep with you.

Life lessons: Just because he's drinking a beer, doesn't mean he's over 21.

Whimsy Sucks

Or, reasons online dating profiles gives me hives. Or, why I judge your personality based on the width of your shoulders. Or, no, I didn't read FreedomANovelByJonathanFranzen.

Friend of INTOL, Julianne Smolinski, known to the internet as @boobsradley, wrote her second piece for GQ (ohhaycongratsandstuffgirl!) in her "Don't Be The Worst" series. She had us in stitches (laughing) and stitches (self-inflicted wounds) because every word she says is hilariously -- and depressingly -- true.

We finally, thankfully, are reaching a point where fewer men seem to be confusing having a personality with having a moustache.

I could quote the whole thing, but that would take all the fun out of you clicking below to read it all. And then keep reading everything else she posts on the internet. Ever.

(Don't be the Worst: The Fight Against Whimsy)

Anyone else lacking the gene that predisposes outrageous excitement in the presence of babies and puppies?

Though it may kill me, I'm going to take the high road... this time.

Being single means never having to make the other half of your queen-sized bed.

The Ones That Got Away

We've all been on one end of this scenario or the other: Boy meets girl. Boy takes girl out. Boy never calls again. Cut to hours, days, weeks of wondering WHYYYYYY? It's a slippery slope that can really drive a girl out of her mind with neurosis.

I've come up with the Top 5 Reasons Your Date Didn't Call, based on my own experiences as both the rejector and the rejectee.

1. He Just Wanted Sex. And You Didn't Offer it Up Fast Enough.

Some dudes use dating sites as the ice-fishing hole to the chilly lake of the desperate and horny ladyfish. As one of my exes so eloquently put it: "I could go on OkCupid and clean up." While I was slightly grossed out by his... what shall we call it... industrious spirit, I realized that this is the approach of So Many Dudes. Even though his profile says that he's seeking a "relationship" or he's chatting you up in the bar about how much he loves spending time with his nephews,

remember Dr. House: EVERYBODY LIES.

He didn't get what he wanted in enough time, so he moved on to the next one.

2. He Just Wanted Sex. And He Got It.

I have totally had the pants -- and logic -- charmed right off of me. (Seriously. His nephew was really cute.) As I tumble into bed with these Mr. Smooths (EVERYBODY LIES!), my thought process is usually something like, "He'll still totally respect me in the morning, right?" Ehh... not always so much. Frenetic first date boinking does not a relationship foundation make.*

*Though there are exceptions to the rule, ain't there, CECILE? ;)

3. That Embarrassing/Offensive Thing That Happened? It Was As Bad As You/He Thought.

Maybe you accidentally insulted the noble profession of bus driving (his mom's life-long career) or maybe when you came back from the bathroom with your skirt tucked into your underwear he failed to find it rom-com charming. Maybe he doesn't like the fact you write a dating blog! Do we say, "Oops? My bad?" NO! HIS LOSS! (See: Cecile's curbside tumble) I once had a date trip while carrying our two beers back from the bar, thus soaking a portion of his shirt. I was totally willing to laugh it off and pay for the next round, but he just couldn't get over it. It totally messed with his chi and he could barely carry on a conversation long after the suds had dried. He was all angry and dristracted, revealing a total lack of self-confidence and ability to roll with the punches. "That Embarrassing/Offensive Thing" can be about the accident itself, but it can be even more about whether or not you can take it all in stride. (Yes, I totally radio-silenced The Tripper after that date.)

4. He Met Someone Else/Got Back With His Ex/Switched Teams/Moved to Bahrain.

When you simply can't pinpoint any particular reason for the lack of date #2, I like to engage in some healthy fantasizing of possible scenarios that remove all blame from myself. While the reality of the situation may not be even remotely as elaborate as some of the post-first-date melodramas I've conjured (comas, blimp accidents, federal investigations) there may actually be things out of his (and your!) control that resulted in a no call, no show. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I completely fell off the radar with a dude I'd been dating, no explanation. How do you call someone you've only been seeing for a little while and say, "Hey, you interested in supporting me through my mom's cancer treatments?" Exactly. I cut and run.

5. He's Just Not That Into You.

Yeah, yeah, F U, Ginnifer Goodwin and your stealing of my name and your effortless shashaying into a happy ending where he is just that into you. (Justin Long, call me.) But this is probably The Most Common Reason why he never called. There wasn't a connection. You're not what he's looking for. Something didn't click. He's just not interested. I am still working on being able to swallow this excuse -- because who wouldn't be into me, DUH -- but it's probably the simplest and most realistic explanation. The main reason I don't call a guy back is because I'm just not attracted to him. So chasing him around or waiting for his call is probably not the most effective use of your time.

Sometimes you just need a little closure, and its hard when the other person can't provide it for you. But that's where your girlfriends, some cosmos, a dartboard, and a picture of his sorry face come in... AMIRIGHT, LADIES???

I checked my Facebook feed this morning and was convinced I had logged in to someone else's account. Then I remembered: It's wedding season and everyone is changing their last names.

He's Not Santa, Ladies. Get Off His Lap.

I just recently upgraded to an iPhone (which means I'm going to have more sex, according to these encouraging statistics!), but LUCKY FOR YOU I saved some stalker celly pics of gross couples doing gross couple things from my old phone! All Coupled! pics, going forward, shall be in Hipstamatic format only. Think how much better these'll look with tilt shift, y'all!

(Clearly, the above couple hadn't read our open letter.)

This particular Public Service Announcement is part of our continued efforts to raise awareness about the egregious couples-on-single-bystanders hate crimes going on every day. Be a part of the solution, not the problem, America.

I really, really hate paying for all of my meals and drinks myself.

Do guys really hate red lipstick that much?

Nude Body Suit as Therapy

First of all, a big congrats to the awesome ladies of xo Jane for their launch. HOORAY!!

We got a huge kick out of Liz's experimentation with a nude body suit. Girl, you are smokin' hot, but you wouldn't catch me dead in that thing!

While getting constantly ogled and cat-called, Liz had a realization that really hit home for me:

This is what I do in life when it comes to me as a physical being: I block out the attention, and then tell myself that no one ever notices me, that I'm alone.

YOU NAILED IT, LIZ. Why is it so much easier to believe the negative things we say to ourselves instead of the crazy homeless guy who's willing to sell his last cigarette for another look at our sweet asses?

Our asses ARE that sweet! That still does not mean, however, that I will be showcasing it in a onesie any time soon.

Browsing OkCupid is as addictive as playing Angry Birds, only far less satisfying.

Yes, your adorable Irish accent is reason enough for a second date.

The Pitfalls of Being a Ladybro

No one tells you HOW EASY IT IS TO HAVE SEX WITH GUYS. HOT guys. They are SO down. Almost ALL THE TIME. On WEEKDAYS, even.

So here's your update, ladies, in case no one told you, either: IT. IS. SO. EASY. Here's another update, though: PROCEED WITH CAUTION. I can Julia-Roberts-in-Pretty-Woman-no-kissing-on-the-mouth compartmentalize all I want, but I am SUCH a girl. Such a wussy, wussy girly-girl.

Don't disappear so far down the hookup rabbit hole that you forget what it's like to lead with something other than your vagina.

You guyssssss, I want to be a stone cold bitch SO BAD, but my hard candy coating of cynicism, comical misandry, and a devil-may-care attitude is slowly melting to reveal a sappy, hopelessly romantic nougat center.

And there ain't nothing like wrecking a friendship or the fear of a great guy becoming a one night stand because you done gone and led with your vagina. Believe me.

This is the major pitfall of being a ladybro: I am not, in actuality, wired like a dude. Can you believe that no one told me that either?

Anyone else suddenly realizing that bangs result in the worst mid- and post-coital hairdos?

Overheard in Bed

Yes ma'am.