Re:The Pornography Paradox
by LorenPechtel on Monday April 10, 2023 @02:03PM
(#35515281)
I don't think porn is the cause here, but rather the number of people the internet allows you to meet. The more prospects someone has the higher they will set their sights--and those who don't those standards get left behind.
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From a first principles standpoint that makes no sense.
There are the same number of people and the same number of desirable people, with or without the Internet.
By your logic, both sides of the relationship will get 'left behind,' but isn't the implication that they should date each other then?
Before the internet, your access was limited to the people you met and interacted with in real life. Now, an attractive person has access to hundreds of people messaging them.
Sure, but it's still zero sum...
Re:The Pornography Paradox
by LorenPechtel on Tuesday April 11, 2023 @01:01PM
(#35527916)
In the long run the resolution would be the same--but we don't have infinite time. Years spent chasing prospects above one's level are years not with someone at your level. It happens because both sides are aiming high.
In the old days you would see your dating pool get depleted and realize you needed to aim lower. Now, in any reasonably large city your dating pool is close enough to infinite that this won't happen.
Sure, but I wouldn't characterize that as 'being left behind.'
Just 'being delusional.'
And if we agree there, then yes I agree that people are less self-critical and more delusional now than ever before (since we have a much bigger toolkit to manicure our image, both internally and externally).
I believe the conclusion many draw is that online apps make it easier for the more attractive men to have multiple partners, and that this doesn't happen nearly as much with the more attractive women.