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| Yes | 50% | 115 votes | Total: 228 votes | |
| No | 50% | 113 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesListing your skill in role-playing games is equivalent to advertising that you are good at misrepresenting yourself on dates. By definition, role-playing is pretendng to be someone other than yourself. While most people who meet others through online dating postings are probably expecting misrepresentaton to a point, there should be limits to the stretch.
Actually, however, creating a totally fabricated identity can be recommended in several instances. First, if a sense of humor and liking fun are a big part of you, then the playful fabrication of a personna which is presented as such can be an outstanding intro. Similarly, if your actual personality is so hideous that the truth would result in an arrest warrent being served, then you may choose to g the fantasy roue for that reason as well.
If people don't understand role-playing, they can get really freaked by the use of words that have negative meaning in real life. Playing roles in games too much can really mess with your ability to make distinctions between fantasy and real life, though. Like, if when I pick her up I scream off running stop-signs and traffic lights, and when she asks why I say something about "Grand Theft Auto", I find that dates are usually really short and second dates are rare at best. Even a simple reference of "too close for missiles; switching to guns" has to be interjected lightly to not be misunderstood.
Anothe r one I recommend being careful with is asking your date if she wants to go to your dungeon instead of your apartment. Watch this one really carefully especially if you listed a torture-related game in your profile - it seems to make them turn really pale really fast. I also have learned through hard experience that when you talk about your friends (if you really have any) it is good to throw in some human names once in a while, even if you have to make them up. Dwelling too much on intersteller post-apocolyptic demigod names can have a tendency to make one appear too aloof and superior to mere mortals; and she might just be one.
Then again, you can't be too careful with checking out the ones that seem to really dig murder and dungeons, too. Like, if she asks you if self-mutilation is a fantasy or a hobby, you might want to check her arms for scars or bandages. Wearing long sleeves when it is really hot out can be a clue, too. Oh yeah, if she asks to drive your car, and then screams off running stop-signs and traffic lights muttering something about Grand Theft Auto - you may have just found your perfect match!
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No
The entire point of having an online dating profile is to find someone with whom you share common interests. If you leave out hobbies for which you have a strong passion, then the likelihood of finding a person who shares your interests goes down dramatically.
I know several people who have met people online and eventually married them. All of them are avid role-playing game fans. In fact, role-playing games (RPGs) are an effective way to meet people in and of themselves. Most online RPGs encourage players to form small groups in order to overcome larger obstacles. Within these groups there is often some chatting. People who get along will set times to play again, and one thing leads to another, and BAM - somebody's getting married.
Role-playing lets people be who they'd like to be and shows off their inner character. If you're shy or introverted, that may be more difficult in "real-life." It's a completely non-threatening environment in which to meet people. You can reveal as much or as little about yourself as you'd like. Until and unless you feel very comfortable with someone, there is no need offer anything of your true self if you don't want to.
Traditional meeting places like nightclubs are a much more intimidating environment in which to meet new people and actually offer much fewer options. At any given time there may be thousands of people online in any particular RPG. People who like to chat and meet new people will often congregate in specific locations in the virtual world, so it's easy to just walk up and say hello.
But again, coming back to the main question, if you are filling out an online dating profile, the entire point is to let prospective partners know who you are and what they can expect if they decide to meet you. Hiding key aspects of your personality is a recipe for a failed relationship whether online or not. It's deceptive and misleading.
There's no need to be self-conscious or afraid to show your true self. There are enough people out there that you don't need to pretend to be something you're not. There is someone just like you looking through the dating profiles hoping to find someone with similar interests. If you leave it out, they'll skip right over you and move on to another RPG geek.
Online dating is like regular dating, the best relationships are founded on honesty, common interests, and spending time together doing thins that you both like.
Learn more about this author, Brad Sylvester.
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