I'm prepared to give the "have-not" people credit for having the courage and pluck to send messages to the "haves" - especially seeing as I'm likely a "have-not". If you don't at least try, you're never going to get anywhere.

As far as receiving messages from people whom I would judge to be less attractive than myself (or at least the standards I have for myself)... I don't see what's wrong with being friendly. We're likely to have several things in common, otherwise they probably wouldn't try. You'd just have to make things clear enough early on that they don't start getting the wrong idea and telling everybody that you're their boyfriend/girlfriend.

I don't think in terms of a ratings system but I do find some inquries very strange and I'll look through my profile to see what made them think we would connect.
I get a lot of men over 60, Bikers, Mormans and men looking for a third partner.
Yikes!

Ok.. maybe the rating system was not the best example..lol.. but apparently most of you got what I was saying..

.. I was just curious because I get a lot of messages.. from both women and men... that I probably would not look twice at.... not being rude its just the way it is.... so do you think being online... just makes it easier... you know if you get rejected no big deal...

.. but also it did make me go look through my profile.... wondering why do they think we would be a match...hmm.... I'm still left with the just shooting in the dark .. scenario..

and of course number ratings are silly.. but I still think I'm a solid 6..lol

Aim to please

That is with the toilet seat up, right?

I'll leave the numbers to the penal system until they start rating personalities.

I have always found the whole contest in dating really offensive. I come from the background that while I passed for the "privileged class " when it most mattered ( while I assure you the reality was very different) I often saw how that sword sliced two ways when people are most vunerable.

I don't know about others but I make my choices of the people I would consider to date first from the field that presents and second but not really the ranking of priority second from the risks that I think that person brings to the table for a good relationship.

It is easier to be all romantic and idealistic when you are young and mistakes don't have the consequence they do when you add family and get shall I say longer in the tooth and recovering from one takes more out of you.

Is it fair to people to hold their past "sins" or things beyond their circumstances such as physical markers against them: probably not but I am a realist and I know the field makes me live with mine so it is what it is now that I have choices and options to pick who I feel makes a tolerable risk.

Personally I would like to find a good guy , not perfect (I am not), but doesn't mean I am going to cut my own throat stacking the deck against my self with someone with a laundry list of red flags that are painfully obvious in many of the profiles I read/exchanges I have with people.

I tend to think of my "league" as just being my type. Looks don't have much to do with it. I know what sort of women I get on with and I just tend to think of the women that think that they're too good for me as snobs or gold diggers. There are dating sites where you have to put yourself in an income bracket and it's like that. Women undoubtably reject a lot of men purely on that and it says on my profile that I'm a student.

The thing is though that people may have false notions about what league they're in, or think that it's realistic or unrealistic to try for a certain type. When I started doing internet dating at forty I didn't think that I could get dates with women in their twenties, so I may sometimes have messaged them but I never asked them out and it was more that I would just message practically everybody and didn't really expect more than just a chat with them if they did reply. But I've had women that I didn't think would be interested in me asking me out and even making the first move.

Sure though, it was an ego boost when I did actually get lucky with younger women and I'm more likely to contact them now because it turned out that some of them are interested in me and when I'm not getting any action, or nobody that nice wants to talk to me I start to feel less confident about what I can get.

A solid 6? Are we talking about your looks or your... ahem, cough cough... shoe size?

They all better be a solid 9 or 10. Otherwise, they don't excite me. Those are so hard to come by on dating sites. If someone who is under 5 contacts me, I just consider them delusional. But everyone thinks they have a shot. Let them think what they want. I know what I want and what I can get. I RULE!!!

Daddy, please. You know you're a solid 11 and a half.

Do I have a shot? Probably not. Too ugly.

My mindset is this.....if I want her, I will have her....and.....oh look a shiny!

I very disagree - with that rating

For me, there is no scale 1-10, I either like someone - or don�t. Only two levels. But with time it can change in both ways - as I get to know their personality.

And no way I would rate myself, if it has to be, it�s up to others lol

Yeah not too into rating systems either. However at my age I do have a "type" looks-wise that always grabs my attention: facial features, body frame, hair, eyes, smile...but there's room for leeway and variations in the formula too. An awesome, positive personality can make up for a lot and how we vibe together (or not).

Some women, when I see them all I can think about is fun the bedroom. With some others I feel more of a relationship-type thing for...someone I'd want in my life everyday. Once I find a woman that gives off both to me, I'm done. She won't get away now that old enough (and hopefully wise enough too, lol) to realize what a woman like that is worth. My rod&reels, nets and spear gun can be hung up and retired. Finito.