Match.com is conducting its third annual survey on singles’ views and lifestyles, but this time they’ve included married people in their survey pool. The survey results will be released in a week. In the meantime, there is a video posted at the Match.com blog which has a sampling of the questions that were asked of respondents, and predictions by staff and randoms. Watch the vid and make your own predictions for how people responded to the survey questions. I’ve included my predictions below (based not on survey data but on personal experience socializing with both single and married friends and acquaintances, and on my talent for reading between the pretty lies people say in polite company).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HMy2koWPPKoCH predictions for how men and women, singles and married people, responded to survey questions
“What’s the number one feature both men and women judge most on the first date?”
Men: Kindness.
Women: Confidence. (Or some similar variant thereof.)
(This question is interesting, because they are asking what people *judge*, not what people *check out*. Men judge women’s bodies and faces the most, but that judgment occurs before the first date, when the man first sees the woman. A first date usually means the man has deemed the woman’s body acceptable, so he is free to judge other things about her. Kindness happens to be that specific female trait that men value because it is a signal that she will be open to sex in the near future.)
“Who goes out more, singles or married people?”
Single men: Singles.
Single women: Married people.
Married men: Married people.
Married women: Singles.
“Who thinks about sex more, singles or married people?”
Single men: Singles.
Single women: Singles.
Married men: Married people.
Married women: Singles.
“What percent of single women would never date someone shorter?”
Men: 75% (average of answers).
Women: 40% (average of answers).
“How many times has the average single been in love?”
Single men: 1.5 times. (average)
Single women: 2.5 times. (average)
“Who does more pre-date “research” on Facebook, single men or women?”
Single men: Women.
Single women: Women.
“Who are singles less likely to friend on Facebook, their boss or an ex?”
Men: Boss.
Women: Boss.
“Who fantasizes more about co-workers, single women or men?”
Men: Single men.
Women: Single women.
“What do married people miss the most about single life?”
Married men: Freedom.
Married women: Excitement.
***
The usual caveat to take self-reporting surveys, especially answers from women, with a flat of salt applies. Remember, what women think and what their vaginas actually compel them to feel are two totally separate things. Nevertheless, it’s interesting in its own right to read how people perceive others conduct their love lives, or even how they perceive themselves in the conduct of their own love lives. Perceptions are the tuneful melodies people hum over the jackhammer rhythms of reality to soften the cacophony.