Saturday, October 31, 2009

There is a Moral to this Story

A long time ago, when the world was new and Celine Dion was still big at school dances, I was up late at night with the guys, watching infomercials. There really is no adequate excuse for this, but it had been a long day of hitting things with swords and suggesting that John's mother was less than choosy about her sexual partners. Also nothing else was on.

So.

Nad's, man. Yeah, the hair removal stuff that sounds like it's named after a pair of balls. No, I'm not sure why we decided to order some, but between us all it was only $5 per person, so horrible decision or not, it was at least thrifty.

Seriously, I still do not recall what train of thought dropped us off at the Hair Removal Gel station. Maybe Kurt thought he could attract more girls with a smooth, hairless back. Maybe it sounded like more fun than Everquest to John. Maybe, just maybe, $5 a head was worth the price of admission to watch Nate scream like a girl and bleed.

My money's on that last one.

Friday, October 23, 2009

I'm Drunk and Your OkCupid Sucks: Poo Biscuit? What?

A plea for help from a man who calls himself Poobiscuit. What the hell, man:
Well, I've uploaded some new pictures (including those with other people!), so break open your booze and tell me what you think.


Pictures:
Immediate impression:
Your pictures are fucking TINY. Like, smaller than the profile page thumbnailed version. What the fuck, dude. My cellphone takes pictures bigger and clearer than those. Rectify that, asap. I can't even tell what your fuckin' face looks like. Also, I'm not sure most girls will respond well to The Shocker, once that picture is big enough that someone can actually recognize it. For the record, I love costume party pictures. It's nearly impossible to take a boring picture at a costume party, so fuckin' kudos on those.
I am the best, relaxed, and weird.

"Weird" is probably not an adjective you want to apply to yourself. "Weird" is the guy in the corner who eats paste, or the pudgy guy who insists on wearing an Indiana Jones hat everywhere. Don't ever be that fuckin' dude. Be something else.
My Self-Summary:
I just graduated from Northern Illinois University. Some of my favorite activities include sitting around, drinking, watching movies and/or TV, and playing the not study game. I also partake in sarcastically ripping on stuff, but in a joking and jovial manner. I get along with people with a great sense of humor.

I enjoy going to see rock shows, generally of the "small place featuring band no one's heard of" variety; any mosh pits are a plus. I'm a fan of going to some bars, though nothing that would be considered "upscale." Hell, what most would call "dives," I would call "Places of Interest." I prefer smaller, more intimate venues, where conversation can flow without the need to yell. I also like staying in, and enjoying beer and a movie, especially when it's cold out.

I'm looking for someone who enjoys hanging out, whether it be at home or out at a show. Also, it helps if they like beer; beer is awesome.

"Hanging out", isn't an activity. It's literally a lack of activity. Quadriplegics do it constantly. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's basically the most boring activity you could talk about engaging in. Ditto for "sitting around". "Watching tv/movies" isn't much better, as it's a passive activity rather than something that could tell us something about you. Might as well tell us about how much you like breathing and sleeping for all the good those will be doing you. Tell us all about your hobbies of maintaining your body's temperature and being subject to gravity.

Rock shows, on the other hand, are awesome and everyone who doesn't suck knows it. That middle paragraph is great. If you can expand on that, maybe with a few specifics, go crazy. Anyone who doesn't like live music is a stupid bitch and you don't need her anyway.
What I’m doing with my life:
Searching for jobs in an interactive marketing field. I'm sending out applications more or less daily, and hoping the economy stops sucking so I get hired.

I'm also trying not to have let the Cubs give me a heart attack, but I'm not optimistic on that front.

What I read: "Boo hoo, the economy is in the shitter and my favorite baseball team is a bunch of useless dildos."
Make the first bit a little less negative: "sending out applications daily to score a job in my field despite the economy", or some such. Make the shit job market an opportunity to show that you can be upbeat and ambitious despite difficult conditions. Everyone loves the plucky, hustling underdog, because he's got heart, and he's got balls.

Sorry your team fucking sucks. I'm sure she can sympathize on that front, so go ahead and leave it. Bond with her over your shared sports tragedy.

I’m really good at:
-making witty remarks; I love to pop a good zinger following good set-ups.

-remembering random sports trivia. I don't know why I'm good at this, but I am.

-kicking ass. Because someone has to be.

Everyone loves a witty son of a bitch, but it's a lot like telling people you're funny: show me, don't tell me, that you're a witty mofo. The rest is not particularly stand-out, but it isn't going to send anyone running. For the record, in person, on a date with a non-sports-fan, sports trivia is the dullest fuckin' thing you could possibly talk about. I figure you know that, but I'm just making sure, because, well, Internet.
The first things people usually notice about me
From a personality standpoint: my sarcastic replies, and my "high-falutin'" way of talking.

From a physical standpoint: my gangliness.

high-falutin'? Really? I'm not 100% sure what you're saying here, but if you ever try to chat up a girl and say something that brings to mind a top-hat and monocle, I will find out and I will slap you, because that is some goony, chick repellent bullshit. Insisting on using ten-dollar SAT words is just as bad. You're witty, right? Remember, brevity is the soul of wit, so be brief.

If that's not what you meant by "high-falutin'", for the love of God, keep it that way.

Also, there has to be a better adjective for your body than "gangly". Are you tall? Say that. Find something positive to say about your Ichabod Crane physique.
My favorite books, movies, music, and food:
Books: Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Good Omens, Batman comics, Pearls Before Swine

Movies: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, V For Vendetta, Hot Fuzz, Superbad, Slingblade, Blazing Saddles, Alien, Aliens, Predator, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs

Music: Metallica, Pantera, System Of A Down, Rage Against The Machine, Megadeth, Dethklok

TV: Arrested Development, The Venture Bros., Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, Scrubs, South Park

Good. A few items per category, no wall of text, Dethklok rules.


The six things I could never do without:
1. Comedy; 2. Robots; 3. Beer; 4. Sweets; 5. Video Games; 6. The Devil's music

Good, varied list. Probably true without being boring, not the same stupid shit everyone else lists. I am angry that I can't find something angry to say about this, so fuck you.
On a typical Friday night I am
inviting the gang over for a night of drinks and video games (Mario Kart and Smash Bros. being the usual games of choice). Sometimes I mix it up by heading to another's place for the same stuff at a different venue. I'm also up for concerts, bars, and movies.

"at home playing video games" probably isn't the sexiest thing you could have answered with, but you've got it sounding like a social activity, with friends and drinking. "Demented and sad, but social", as the late John Hughes put it. I'd probably have less details about exactly what games were getting played, but that's because I'm 30 years old guy and slightly ashamed of sometimes liking video games, so that's entirely your choice. It's no biggie either way.
The most private thing I’m willing to admit here
I have no qualms about watching children's cartoons.

Not a bad confession. Anyone who seriously gives you shit for liking cartoons is probably a stupid ho, and you can tell her Nate said so.
You should message me if:
you're cool, and want to meet someone like yourself.

Pretty standard, not really all that interesting. If she's gotten this far and likes what she sees, it's not going to dissuade her, but I think it's a sqaundered opportunity to actually give her a reason to talk to you. Here are a bunch of the things I have suggested for this section, in the past. Most of them probably don't apply to you, but you get the idea:

You should message me if:
If you want to pit your robots against mine in a battle to the death.
If you wanna talk about space and shit.
If you wanna let me perform a 1-man raid on your dungeon.
if you change your mind, I'm the first in line. Honey I'm still free; take a chance on me.
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around.
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down.
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown.

If you think you can beat me at drunken Scrabble
If you're a terrible bowler, like me, but you don't care, like me.
If you don't think a man in a cowboy hat can make a baked ziti.
If you believe in fairies.
If you kick ass, figuratively or otherwise.

You can do anything with it. Suggest date activities, tell the reader what kind of lady you're looking for, quote ABBA. Sky's the limit.




How about you, jerkoff? Got an OKCupid profile? Want me to tell you that it sucks, with a BAC well over the legal limit? Post a link to it in the comments or shoot me an email, and I'll get to it.

And here's all of my collected drunken love advice so far.

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Monday, October 05, 2009

I'm Drunk and Your OkCupid Sucks: Benny B is Fuckin' Funny

A man known as Benny B emails, asking for advice:

Your liver is going to be left in shambles after all these, Nate.

http://www.okcupid.com/profile/RodFunmuscle/

Do mine first, you owe me after begrudgingly I teamed up with you to help defeat the Joker and Lex Luthor.

Little inside joke there from Benny, as my own OKCupid profile repeatedly claims that I'm actually Batman.

So.

Pictures: Good choice for the first one, I think. It's blurry and whatnot, but you look pimp as hell in that getup. Wear that shit more often, 'cause it's awesome. I'd say you could definitely use more pictures of you with friends, ideally ones where you aren't making kind of a retarded face, like you are in that last one. Unless you're actually retarded, in which case you have done an excellent job hiding it in those first 3 pics.

Self-summary:
Not bad starting out, I guess. It's probably good that you explain your username, because it sounded like some sort of reference to your dick, and it was making me a little uncomfortable.
I don't lie to friends.

I'm not sure that really belongs. People could misconstrue it as some kind of weird bitterness over someone else, like if your profile said "I'm not a dirty lying whore who accidentally sleeps with entire football teams, and also has turbo syphilis." or some such thing. Either way, it sounds kind of negative, so I'd toss it.
I like to think I'm a funny guy, though every dude who fills out one of these things probably thinks they are too. I have a couple credentials to back me up, though-- I've played at Acme Comedy Club and The Triple Rock Social Club. Plus all my friends totally tell me I'm, like, hilarious.

I think, considering that you've actually played at comedy clubs, that you can actually state that you're fuckin' hilarious without any wishy-washy bullshit like "I like to think", or "my friends tell me". I'd shorten it to something shorter and bolder, like:
I'm funny as hell. Every dude says that, I know, but for the record I've actually played at comedy clubs.
That's right ladies, I'm professionally funny.

...or whatever. My usual advice on saying that you're funny, though, is don't. It's like saying you're smart, or good looking: if you are, it will be immediately evident anyway, and if you're not, then saying so isn't going to fool anyone.

Also, for a guy who claims to be funny, your profile isn't funny at all. Not even a little. The best way to convince someone that you're funny is to be funny. If you claim in your self-summary that you're funny and then basically fail to even attempt humor in your profile, it comes off as a big ol' lie, and not even a good one. So in the end, I'd ditch any mention of being funny, and concentrate on actually being funny instead.

What I’m doing with my life:
I'm a graphic design student at Art Institutes International Minnesota. I'm going for my Bachelor's and have about 2 years left. It's going a bit slowly because I'm also working at a liquor store in Minnetonka. When I get the chance on Tuesday nights, I like to play guitar and sing at the open mic night at The Depot Coffee House. Open Mic at Acme Comedy Club on Mondays is another thing I like to go to, but I haven't played there lately.

It's a little dry. Not funny at all, but you knew that. Ditch the mention of how your job at a liquor store is making your bachelor's go slowly, unless there's some actual reason why you'd want to mention that (there isn't). You can leave the mention of open mic night at the comedy club in this part, because you're just mentioning it offhand, and not spending an entire paragraph pointlessly trying to convince us that you're funny.

I’m really good at:
Cheering people up, particularly those I care about. Also, I'm pretty damn good at making new people laugh. I don't know what it is, but when I meet a new group of people, I almost always get a good belly-laugh out of the whole lot.

I've also been told I give great hugs and greater back-rubs.

Can you please stop telling us that you're funny? I'd basically ditch this entire section, and replace it with something funny. And talking about how you give awesome backrubs comes off a little creepy.

The first things people usually notice about me:
My size. I'm a pretty big guy, and people have never been shy about asking me if I ever played football, or wrestled.

It's true, you're a big dude. That's fine and totally approp--
my sense of humor
FUCK.

My favorite books, movies, music, and food:
Books: John Dies at the End, 300 Pages of Crap,The Hitchhiker's Guide books, The Hawkline Monster, Holes, Born Standing Up, John Dies at the End 2: John and Dave and the Temple of X'al'naa''thuthuthu.

Movies: In Bruges, The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Boondock Saints, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The Dark Knight and tons more.

Music: Tom Waits, Tenacious D, Louis Armstrong, Mos Def, Johnny Cash, Charlie Parker, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Ween and dozens more.

Food: Sesame Beef from Dragon Jade, Grape Slushies from Sonic, Deep Dish Pepperoni from Davanni's.

This section is pretty much filler crap on everyone's profile, so, fuckin' whatever. I would, however, maybe replace some of those books with titles that normal people might recognize. If you can figure out some way to make this section funny, please do so.

The six things I could never do without:
My Friends
My Guitar
Music
A good pair of jeans
Some solid shoes
My wits

Pretty standard crap. Guitar is good, since as far as I know girls like musical dudes. The rest is pretty boring. Which is fine, unless you want to demonstrate some humor, which would be excellent.

The rest of it is all right. Not great, not funny, but inoffensive and not super painfully dull. Probably a lot of squandered chances to be funny, which you should rectify.

Awesome but irrelevant: under Similar Users, you have a dude named Butt_Reynolds, which is a sweet as hell name.




How about you, jerkoff? Got an OKCupid profile? Want me to tell you that it sucks, with a BAC well over the legal limit? Post a link to it in the comments or shoot me an email, and I'll get to it.

And here's all of my collected drunken love advice so far.

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