Comments on: How Races and Religions Match in Online Dating http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/ The Official Blog of OkCupid.com Sat, 22 May 2010 04:30:59 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Currey http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-11457 Robert Currey Sat, 15 May 2010 13:43:06 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-11457 Your astrological data shows a surprising lack of deviation. According to sceptics there should be a variation on this type of survey (no matter how large the database) due to people's knowledge of astrology and their preference for partners of certain signs and other factors like seasonal adjustments. However, since there are no such 'artefacts' I can only see two possible conclusions: 1. That the Mayo-Eysenck Zodiac Zig-Zag experiment really does show a correlation between sun signs and extraversion (Mayo, White and Eysenck 1978; Smithers and Cooper 1978). Sceptics claim that this effect disappeared when the subjects had no prior knowledge of astrology, which showed that prior knowledge can nudge a person's self-image in the direction of astrology (Eysenck and Nias 1982:50-60, Dean 1983c, van Rooij 1999). I tend to agree with the sceptics on this one. 2. Or that someone has tinkered with your data or it is a complete invention to serve your or someone's world-view. Either you are the culprit or you have been duped and need to go back to check the figures or have them checked by an independent sceptical third party. Personally, I would not expect a significant deviation on a Sun Sign survey of this kind that supports astrology after adjustment for artefacts. The reason is that while some newspaper astrologers claim that that certain Sun Signs relate better to others primarily to entertain readers who want quick solutions, professional astrologers always assess the success of a relationship on the basis of the entire horoscope which includes the interactions of the Moon sign and the planets. ~Robert Currey Your astrological data shows a surprising lack of deviation. According to sceptics there should be a variation on this type of survey (no matter how large the database) due to people’s knowledge of astrology and their preference for partners of certain signs and other factors like seasonal adjustments. However, since there are no such ‘artefacts’ I can only see two possible conclusions:
1. That the Mayo-Eysenck Zodiac Zig-Zag experiment really does show a correlation between sun signs and extraversion (Mayo, White and Eysenck 1978; Smithers and Cooper 1978). Sceptics claim that this effect disappeared when the subjects had no prior knowledge of astrology, which showed that prior knowledge can nudge a person’s self-image in the direction of astrology (Eysenck and Nias 1982:50-60, Dean 1983c, van Rooij 1999). I tend to agree with the sceptics on this one.
2. Or that someone has tinkered with your data or it is a complete invention to serve your or someone’s world-view. Either you are the culprit or you have been duped and need to go back to check the figures or have them checked by an independent sceptical third party.

Personally, I would not expect a significant deviation on a Sun Sign survey of this kind that supports astrology after adjustment for artefacts. The reason is that while some newspaper astrologers claim that that certain Sun Signs relate better to others primarily to entertain readers who want quick solutions, professional astrologers always assess the success of a relationship on the basis of the entire horoscope which includes the interactions of the Moon sign and the planets.

~Robert Currey

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By: Regina29 http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-9182 Regina29 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:23:00 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-9182 Hi, Yet another fascinating Oktrend posting! Thanks again for all of your number crunching! I just wanted to point out that you did not include "other" religions in your analysis. I'm sure you had a perfectly good reason for doing this. I wanted to say that I'm a Unitarian-Universalist. I realize that Unitarians are a very small percentage of the world's population, totaling maybe 200,000 worldwide. Yet we are a pretty interesting crowd. The SAT organization in Princeton, NJ did some research awhile back and found that the kids with the highest SAT scores were Unitarian-Universalist teens. In second place were Jewish teens. Unitarians are also the most highly educated of all religions per capita. As I'm sure you Harvard fellows are aware, Boston is the Rome of Unitarianism. Boston was where it all happened, going back to when the Unitarians, led by the Concord crowd (Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Channing, etc), broke away from the Congregationalists over the Trinity. Due to not having a Unitarian-Universalist option on your site, I was forced to select other. I'm sure many other religions do as well from Taoists to Native Americans who practice their traditional spiritual paths. The funny thing about being a Unitarian-Universalist and "extremely" committed to it is that it actually, by definition, means that I am open to all world religions. Unitarians represent a very wide range of belief systems from atheists to Christians to Jews to Buddhists to Earth based religions to etc. Indeed, I am just fascinated by World Religions and pick core truths from many of them that I incorporate into my personal belief system. I thought I would point out that some "extremely" religious people, such as myself, actually are more open to other religions by definition. A devout Unitarian is a very different kind of animal than say a devout fundamentalist Protestant or devout Muslim. Thanks for all of your great work! Peace, Regina Hi, Yet another fascinating Oktrend posting! Thanks again for all of your number crunching! I just wanted to point out that you did not include “other” religions in your analysis. I’m sure you had a perfectly good reason for doing this.

I wanted to say that I’m a Unitarian-Universalist. I realize that Unitarians are a very small percentage of the world’s population, totaling maybe 200,000 worldwide. Yet we are a pretty interesting crowd. The SAT organization in Princeton, NJ did some research awhile back and found that the kids with the highest SAT scores were Unitarian-Universalist teens. In second place were Jewish teens. Unitarians are also the most highly educated of all religions per capita. As I’m sure you Harvard fellows are aware, Boston is the Rome of Unitarianism. Boston was where it all happened, going back to when the Unitarians, led by the Concord crowd (Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Channing, etc), broke away from the Congregationalists over the Trinity.

Due to not having a Unitarian-Universalist option on your site, I was forced to select other. I’m sure many other religions do as well from Taoists to Native Americans who practice their traditional spiritual paths.

The funny thing about being a Unitarian-Universalist and “extremely” committed to it is that it actually, by definition, means that I am open to all world religions. Unitarians represent a very wide range of belief systems from atheists to Christians to Jews to Buddhists to Earth based religions to etc. Indeed, I am just fascinated by World Religions and pick core truths from many of them that I incorporate into my personal belief system.

I thought I would point out that some “extremely” religious people, such as myself, actually are more open to other religions by definition. A devout Unitarian is a very different kind of animal than say a devout fundamentalist Protestant or devout Muslim.

Thanks for all of your great work!

Peace, Regina

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By: Hindu Guy http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-8092 Hindu Guy Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:22:15 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-8092 Actually, the match rate on OkCupid for hindu men is low because anyone serious about finding a hindu man is prob on shaadi.com (j-date for indians) or hitting up family friends... Indian americans are actually among the most endogamous groups in American society, with Indian women as THE most endogamous female group. http://www.asian-nation.org/interracial.shtml Indian girls on OkCupid are, therefore, more likely to be interested in interracial dating. If they wanted Indian dating only, they'd be at indian dating.com. For the culturally confused indian girl who posted above. If you don't like indian men because you have issues with your heritage, that is your business. Please do not project those views onto other indian girls who have found modern indian men who are not saddled with the baggage of antiquated views (which are or were found in all cultures). If you just so happen to find love outside of your culture--well and good, it's a free country and we live in the modern era--but just as one should not cast value judgments against exogamy, the same applies to endogamy. Actually, the match rate on OkCupid for hindu men is low because anyone serious about finding a hindu man is prob on shaadi.com (j-date for indians) or hitting up family friends…

Indian americans are actually among the most endogamous groups in American society, with Indian women as THE most endogamous female group.

http://www.asian-nation.org/interracial.shtml

Indian girls on OkCupid are, therefore, more likely to be interested in interracial dating. If they wanted Indian dating only, they’d be at indian dating.com.

For the culturally confused indian girl who posted above. If you don’t like indian men because you have issues with your heritage, that is your business. Please do not project those views onto other indian girls who have found modern indian men who are not saddled with the baggage of antiquated views (which are or were found in all cultures). If you just so happen to find love outside of your culture–well and good, it’s a free country and we live in the modern era–but just as one should not cast value judgments against exogamy, the same applies to endogamy.

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By: jeff abcdefg http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-7747 jeff abcdefg Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:31:58 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-7747 As a 'extremely serious' Jewish male, I would say the reason we supposedly get along better with other faiths is that Judaism doesn't claim you must be Jewish to 'go to heaven.' Everyone can 'go up' and be loved by G-d. Most everyone else in different religions insists you be one of them and that's bound to cause problems. As a ‘extremely serious’ Jewish male, I would say the reason we supposedly get along better with other faiths is that Judaism doesn’t claim you must be Jewish to ‘go to heaven.’ Everyone can ‘go up’ and be loved by G-d. Most everyone else in different religions insists you be one of them and that’s bound to cause problems.

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By: Timmy http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-7737 Timmy Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:14:43 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-7737 Regarding Pagans and Pastafarians. Request have been made to add tot he religion options on OkCupid. These request should be considered in light of OKC's favorite thing, numbers. Based on the most recent and accurate numbers available, Pastafarians outnumber Pagans 10:1. Pastafarianism is the 13th most common religion on the world while Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is 20th. At the moment, 9 options exist for religion on OKC. Because African, indigenous, and Chinese religions are uncommon amongst the user base, it would not be unreasonable to add Pastafarianism and those other religions with a significant following. Neo-Paganism however accounts for 0.0016% of the world population. This probably means that fewer than 50 OKC users are Pagan, a very verbal minority. Regarding Pagans and Pastafarians.

Request have been made to add tot he religion options on OkCupid. These request should be considered in light of OKC’s favorite thing, numbers.

Based on the most recent and accurate numbers available, Pastafarians outnumber Pagans 10:1. Pastafarianism is the 13th most common religion on the world while Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is 20th. At the moment, 9 options exist for religion on OKC. Because African, indigenous, and Chinese religions are uncommon amongst the user base, it would not be unreasonable to add Pastafarianism and those other religions with a significant following. Neo-Paganism however accounts for 0.0016% of the world population. This probably means that fewer than 50 OKC users are Pagan, a very verbal minority.

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By: FSM http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-7106 FSM Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:39:24 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-7106 When will the much persecuted Pastafarians be given a slot? When will the much persecuted Pastafarians be given a slot?

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By: Indian Girl http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-6490 Indian Girl Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:13:20 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-6490 Hindu Indian girls may not like Hindu Indian boys as much - because they do tend to be mama's boys and spoilt. You have female infanticide in parts of India( Sivakami) and because of the dowry system that existed and still exists -- families weclomed the birth of a son and detested the birth of a daughter. I have seen several ads on tv where the govt encouraged families to send their girls to school - not just favoring their sons. All that care to son alone -- as a culture has now translated to hindu indian girls finding their counterparts just plain babies. Hindu Indian girls may not like Hindu Indian boys as much – because they do tend to be mama’s boys and spoilt. You have female infanticide in parts of India( Sivakami) and because of the dowry system that existed and still exists — families weclomed the birth of a son and detested the birth of a daughter. I have seen several ads on tv where the govt encouraged families to send their girls to school – not just favoring their sons.

All that care to son alone — as a culture has now translated to hindu indian girls finding their counterparts just plain babies.

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By: Mike http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-6252 Mike Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:05:38 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-6252 This post and the race one have led me to think about how (if at all) physical appearance factors into match questions. What about a set of questions that show photos of similar looking people. "Which one do you think is more attractive" being the main question. Instead of a "how should your match respond", have a different set of 4 photos with "which do you most closely resemble?" This post and the race one have led me to think about how (if at all) physical appearance factors into match questions. What about a set of questions that show photos of similar looking people. “Which one do you think is more attractive” being the main question. Instead of a “how should your match respond”, have a different set of 4 photos with “which do you most closely resemble?”

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By: Samuel http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-6196 Samuel Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:32:33 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-6196 "Now is a good time to stress that just because a group has low match percentages, even across the board, that does not mean they are bad people." Progressives are so spineless. JUST WRITE THE MUSLIM CONCLUSION LIKE YOU DID ALL THE OTHER ONES COWARDS. I don't understand why progressives hate domestic conservatives with such aggressive passion but when it comes to middle eastern conservatives, who tend to be 100x further to the right of center than the average American conservative(Women are treated like cattle. Homosexuality is punishable by death. No porn. No drugs or alcohol. No sex. No fun. etc.) they are on their hands and knees catering to their every wish. They need to grow a spine or a brain or both. Jesus H. W. Christ! “Now is a good time to stress that just because a group has low match percentages, even across the board, that does not mean they are bad people.”

Progressives are so spineless. JUST WRITE THE MUSLIM CONCLUSION LIKE YOU DID ALL THE OTHER ONES COWARDS.

I don’t understand why progressives hate domestic conservatives with such aggressive passion but when it comes to middle eastern conservatives, who tend to be 100x further to the right of center than the average American conservative(Women are treated like cattle. Homosexuality is punishable by death. No porn. No drugs or alcohol. No sex. No fun. etc.) they are on their hands and knees catering to their every wish.

They need to grow a spine or a brain or both. Jesus H. W. Christ!

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By: spiffynoodle http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-races-and-religions-match-in-online-dating/comment-page-3/#comment-5839 spiffynoodle Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:28:38 +0000 http://blog.okcupid.com/?p=39#comment-5839 “Guest” provides a perfect example of why the “serious Christians” are hard to get along with. 1) Totally missed the point of the article, 2) overly defensive and judgmental, 3) can’t spell. Lighten up, take some community college classes, and read the article again. I am a Serious Christian as well, and I do agree with the above points regarding "Guest". But doesn't this statement reveal that you too are judgemental? Stop generalizing. And I know plenty Serious Christians who are friendly, intelligent, and excellent spellers. “Guest” provides a perfect example of why the “serious Christians” are hard to get along with. 1) Totally missed the point of the article, 2) overly defensive and judgmental, 3) can’t spell. Lighten up, take some community college classes, and read the article again.

I am a Serious Christian as well, and I do agree with the above points regarding “Guest”. But doesn’t this statement reveal that you too are judgemental? Stop generalizing. And I know plenty Serious Christians who are friendly, intelligent, and excellent spellers.

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