From TheGabe: Pointers to keep from going stark raving mad

sonica7 wrote:

I’m regretting the day i PAID MONEY to sign up for this crap!

Sonica,

Allow me to offer my opinion…eH is a paid subscription for pain and disappointment. I’ve been hacking away on and off for almost two years without even a glimmer of a prospect, but I keep at it because I work nights in a small town and have no other viable options. Here are some pointers to keep from going stark raving mad:

eHarmony is, first and foremost, a business. The longer you stay on, the more money they make, so it’s in their best interest to convince you to renew your subscription. Every aspect of their service, their advertising, and their customer support serves the business need.
eH is nothing more than a numbers game. The goal is to meet as many people as possible and maybe accidentally click with one of them.
Ignore introduction pages at least until you get to 2nd questions, when you might need the information. 75% of my matches never respond so learning about them is pointless.
Frighteningly ugly matches get closed immediately. I’m open-minded but there MUST be some dim physical appeal, no matter how slight.
All others, including those without photos, get 1st questions. Seven days later, they get Nudged. Seven more days and they’re closed. Two weeks is plenty of time to finish a vacation or swipe a credit card and load a picture.
On the off-chance you do get to Open Communications with somebody, ask about any remaining show-stopping issues then get digits and set up a call and meeting. Don’t drag out e-mailing because it doesn’t help you gage chemistry, it builds expectations, and it makes the likely break-off more painful.
Don’t view every match as the potential “One.” View them as one current, possible selection in a line of people stretching all the way to the horizon. Flick one aside and another takes its place.
Invest ZERO emotions in the matches or the eHarmony process. See #1, #2, and #6 for clarification. Logging into eHarmony should inspire as much hope and excitement as checking your credit card balance.

I hope this helps a little. It probably won’t get you any closer to finding eHarmony’s oft-touted “Love of Your Life ™,” but perhaps you’ll salvage some remnants of sanity when your paid subscription mercifully expires.

All the best,
Gabe