This one’s for the ladies.
Blogger Andy Baio uncovered Dave Winer’s 13-year-old personal ad from The Well:
From: Dave Winer (dwiner)
Date: 1994-08-17 17:52:00
Conference: singles
Topic: Personal Ad experiencesWell, here goes — my first message on The Well. I’ve just been lurking for the last few days, trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s pretty daunting, but maybe I’m getting the hang of it… You all seem like VERY nice people.
Anyway, I wrote a personal ad last week, and sent it via email to a bunch of friends, most of them women, for their reaction. Here’s the ad:
SWM 39, 6’2″, athletic build, Bay Area, software entrepreneur turned massage therapist, gentle hands, romantic, emotionally developed, born-again hippie. Loves gardening, road trips, walking, skiing, writing. Looking for a great gal who’s ready to create a safe space for love and lots and lots of play. Send email to: mailbox12@aol.com.
One of my friends had a pretty animated response:
“You’re going to find a nurse or a chiropractor. Why? The self-description sounds too needy, as if you’re looking for succor. Anyway, i never describe you that way to anyone i know. Your description entirely omits your shining INTELLIGENCE — you’re a genius; you assimilate new ideas like most people consume their morning cereal. You see shapes when there are only nebulae. You’re also kinetic, always soul-searching. grounded and yet ready to leap. You’re body’s pretty irrelevant, but obviously you want to be of athletic build (for what sport, exactly, would your body be considered athletic? no offense, but REALLY). As long as you’ve got some hair left and your sexual organs, your body’s functioning, or do you really want to be a combination of Yogi Berra and Albert Einstein? — Love, Sylvia”
Of course I liked Sylvia’s version of the ad better. ;->
Dave
PS: I’m a great skier. Definitely athletic.