💖💖💖 English for dating online - 6 Minute English

Summary

In this episode of '6 Minute English', Sam and Roy discuss the world of online dating, focusing on how people create dating profiles to attract potential partners. They explore the history of online dating and the evolution of terms like 'GSOH' (Good Sense of Humor), and delve into modern deceptive practices like 'catfishing' (creating false profiles) and 'wokefishing' (pretending to hold more liberal views). Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton, a cyber-psychologist, explains how online daters often exaggerate or deceive to appear more attractive. The episode also highlights the challenges and dangers of finding love online.

Takeaways

• 😀 Online dating apps are widely used to find love and romance, involving creating a dating profile to attract potential partners.
• 😀 Dating profiles in the past were written in brief due to the cost per word in newspapers, often using abbreviations like 'GSOH' (Good Sense of Humor).
• 😀 The concept of exaggeration in online dating profiles has evolved from the traditional newspaper ads to include more modern terms and behaviors.
• 😀 Exaggerating details in a dating profile (e.g., spending time with friends) is common, but there is a fine line between exaggeration and deception.
• 😀 Deception in dating profiles can involve lying about key personal details, such as interests or lifestyle, creating a false image of oneself.
• 😀 'Catfishing' refers to creating a completely false persona to attract someone online, while 'wokefishing' involves pretending to hold more liberal political views than one actually does.
• 😀 Men commonly lie about their height, while women are more likely to lie about their weight in dating profiles, according to research by Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton.
• 😀 'Hanging out' is a casual term for spending time with friends or others, often used in dating profiles to suggest a fun and social lifestyle.
• 😀 The phrase 'walking a fine line' refers to balancing two opposing ideas or behaviors, especially in online dating where one might exaggerate without outright lying.
• 😀 The rise of online dating has created new vocabulary, such as 'catfishing' and 'wokefishing', reflecting the ways people modify their identities to attract potential partners.
• 😀 It's important to be honest in online dating profiles to avoid the risks of deception, which can lead to disappointment and misunderstandings in relationships.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the '6 Minute English' episode?

The main topic is online dating, focusing on dating profiles, exaggerations and deceptions, and new terms like 'catfishing' and 'wokefishing'.

How did online dating start, and how is it similar to traditional methods of finding love?

Online dating began with the internet but has roots in traditional dating methods, such as placing personal ads in newspapers. Both methods involve creating a profile to attract potential partners.

What is a dating profile, and why is it important in online dating?

A dating profile is a brief description of yourself that you create on dating apps to attract potential partners. It is important because it helps others form an initial impression of you.

What does the abbreviation 'GSOH' mean, and how did it become part of everyday English?

'GSOH' stands for 'Good Sense Of Humour.' It was initially used in newspaper personal ads due to the cost of each word and became a part of everyday English as a result.

What is the difference between exaggeration and deception in online dating profiles?

Exaggeration involves stretching the truth to make oneself appear more attractive, such as claiming to love spending time with friends when it's only occasional. Deception, on the other hand, involves telling outright lies to make someone believe things that aren't true.

According to Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton, what do people tend to exaggerate in their dating profiles?

People often exaggerate their social activities, such as spending time with friends, to make themselves appear more social and attractive.

What is the meaning of the phrase 'walking a fine line' as used in the transcript?

'Walking a fine line' refers to balancing two opposing attitudes or actions without crossing over into either extreme, such as trying to be attractive without being dishonest.

What is 'catfishing' in the context of online dating?

'Catfishing' is when someone creates a false profile, pretending to be someone else, typically to deceive others into romantic relationships.

What does 'wokefishing' mean, and how does it relate to online dating?

'Wokefishing' is when a person pretends to have more liberal or progressive political and social values than they actually hold, often to attract someone with similar beliefs.

According to Dr. Fox Hamilton's research, what do men and women typically lie about in their dating profiles?

According to Dr. Fox Hamilton, men tend to lie about their height, while women tend to lie about their weight in their dating profiles.