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14 THE MtDANIEL FREE PRIS5 FEBRUARY 14 2008 Commentary Online dating: scam, or salvation? One reporter embarks on anthropological: project to discover the secrets 'of Eharmony.com • 'I By Mel.illnte Chupeln, thing and everything, ranging from is the guys who put up pktures of Af~ glj!.nc:e eHarmony' Co-EdHor In Chief wanting children, to smoking, to rhem with old girlfriends. . Intrigued by this cultural phenom- how far I'm willing to travel for a Plus, some people are way toQ • .' el+armcny is America's #1 trusted relationship enon that JUSt seemed too good relationship, to how religious I am honest about themselves. In theii service. [Q be true, I decided [0 take the to details about the spectrum of my profiles they include information ,. At eHarmony our comprehensive, 436-question plunge and engage in a strictly sci- personality. saying that they are often misun- Relationship Questionnaire is just one of the key ways we ennfic investigation of the world of Once you complete the ques- derstood because of their sarcasm screen singles for deep compatibility with you on as many as online dating through eHarmony. tionnaire, a repon about your or they remain cryptic by making 29 dimensions. personality is available. It describes you request to see a photo and In 2000, backed by over 35 years of clinical and what type of person you are and only include a limited amount of empirical research, Dr. Warren transformed the way singles Some people are how others perceive you in both personal information. Still others are-introduced online when he launched eHarmony - the first way too honest negative and positive ways. After have a terrible rime spelling things relationship .servlce on the. Web to use a scientific approach they list oxygen correctly about themselves. reading your report. you have the something and they can't live without as to match highly compatible singles. ability to take a look at the matches at the American In fact, recent research presented In their profiles they that the site deemed most cpmpat- (Insightful, righe) . Psycnologlcal Society found that e+larmony married couples ~As Iwas perusing 'my matches include information ible. Unfortunately, [he benefits of one day, senior Maria Larhroum are significantly happier than couples married for a similar saying that they are filling out the free personality pro- walked in the room and being the length of time who met by·other means. '"'.. - • Over 90 people a day are being married through often misunderstood file end here. You can browse the English major that she is made an eHarmony.com because of thei r profiles of rhe matches that come analogy between online dating and up but you can't see their pictures. I couldn't online shopping. agree sarcasm or they And let's face it; despite our best more. Using an online dating ser- wasn't compatible with enough a1ist as I like to call it) in me tells remain cryptic by intentions of not being superficial vice like eHarmony allows you to people to let her through. The me that eHarmony isn't the best and repeatedly insisting that a good look at matches and read all about website quotes· Newsweek as say- way to make some fairy tale come making you request to personality is the most important them before deciding whether to ing, "No Company Screens Its true. I believe that if you want see a photo. qcaliry, seeing a photograph of make contact, which is very similar Members More. Rigorously" And something to happen, you have to your match is necessary. to the process of buying something it's true. So not only have you had make it happen yourself. So this So Igor OUt my credit card and online. to .ger the courage to sign up for Valentine's Day if you find yourself I have had family use the set- paid the $59.95 for a one-month I showed my friends my pro-- online dating. which still has a bit single and lonely, surround your- vice, and the commercials are ev- subscription to eHarmony. This file and matches, which el-larrnony . of stigma, but> now you're being self with friends and JUSt be thank- erywhere, boasting that eHarmony gave me the key to a whole other emails me practically every day told that there's no one out there ful that you don't have to break the really works. According to its web- dimension of online dating. with new guys who are suppos-" for you. Comforting. righc1 bank for a significant other. And if sire. on average 90 eHarmony And I'm not going to lie to edly the perfect match. So' each In my experience I have found that doesn't do it for you, venture members get married every single you, rhls brought om a little bit of day I am bombarded with possible that the key to achieving success on onto .eHarmony or any other on- day. Wim odds like that, why not the shallow side of my personality. Mr. Rights. who are waiting to be. eHarmony is to fit the mold of be- line daring sire like March.corru'cr try it our and rake the first step by The marches I gOt fell in the age judged and conracred. ing a heterosexual, white Christian. Chemistry. com, fill our your feee filling our·your personality profile. range of2L-30, whtch I had speer- Despite,alLthe hype a~d Ha.v.insmarkc:d. ....~lfasno~bdog p...,filc and cxplo"", your optio ..... a $40 value that the site offers for lied in the quesrlcnnaire. But I just. the credibility and reputation of affiliated with a religion and nor putklpate In the dlKulllon free. died laughing at some of them who eHarmony. there is a down side. I spiritual, I haven't found many po- .iIIt McD.iIIIIleifree.-..e.l.co" I spent a good chunk of rime claimed to be one age but dearly had one friend, who shall remain tenrial guys since the vast majority filling out the Relanonship Ques- looked 40 or older. Also. the pic- nameless, who filled out the free of them call themselves Christian. rionnalre, which consisted of 436 [tires people put up of themselves questionnaire and was rejected I haven't exactly found Prince questions. I was asked abom any- . are often laughable. My favorite because eHarmony said that she Charming bur the pessimist (or re- 'Sleep' through this, and you'll miss out are about raising rhem. Some of of Danny Riley." Riley, Johnson's the songs arc about the world that cousin, died in October 2007 from these children will grow up in; a a brain tumor, according to a press world of war and love, and hate, release from Daily Nexus. Before and time and space. Some of the his passing, Riley helped collabo- songs are about saying goodbye to rated with Johnson by providing people I love and will miss." backup vocals on "If I Had Eyes", These themes are evident from the first single off of the album. rhe start. Johnson's music-it's not ex- "All At Once," the album's actly what one might find on main- opening track is a slow song rhar stream radio today, but that only questions the state of the world we adds to rhe goodness of this album. live in today. As he sings in "They Do They "Sleep Through the Static," Don't", "To listen is to learn." the album's title track, is a more upbeat song that also questions the state of the world today, though in a more direct fashion than "All At Once." "Angel," one of the shortest songs on the album corning in at just over two minutes, is also the By St.illce, Ey;er, Commmentary Co-Editor piano with a hint of the drums. sappiest song on the album. And I These same melodies are reminis- mean sappy in a good way. With "Jack Johnson, why is your music cent of summertime and tropical, lyrics like "You're so busy changing so populat?" well, anything-living in Hawaii the world I Just one smile and That's (he question I found has obviously had an influence on you could change all of mine" myself asking before inserting Johnson's music. combined with the gentle Johnson's n~est album stu; Don't be fooled, though. The strumming of the guitar. it's 1hrough tIN StIIt;c into my stereo. music is soft and light but the lyr- hard fO resist the sweetness of And luckily, if didn't take long to ics are anything but. A5 the prod- this song. figure OUf the answer. uct description-a message written One of the sweetest and Released on February 5, 2008, by Johnson himself-provided by most touching aspects of this al- 1hrough th~ Sl4tic is full of soft Amazon.com said, "Some of the bum comes not from the music and simple melodies, ptominenrly songs on this album are about but from the inscription found in- featuring the use of the guitar and making babies. Some of the songs side the cover. "In loving memory