Tao of Bachelorhood

Now this...THIS is humiliation. (Photo by TenSafeFrogs)

A fitting end to National Singles Week is the news (actually a couple of weeks old, mostly because the media kind of whispered it) that Sean McGinn has dropped his lawsuit against Match.com. Citing the “amount of ridicule” he received from “sensationalized media coverage,” McGinn has chosen to recede into the background, presumably with the woman his lawyer says he met on the service.

The problem here is not entirely with McGinn himself. No doubt he became frustrated and maybe even angry because he wasn’t getting the online responses he thought he deserved. (Sean, if you’re reading this, save this link and use it next time you try online dating.) But my guess is that the words “humiliation,” “fear of rejection” and “anxiety” weren’t his own. Furthermore, his lawyer had rounded up 15 more “ignored and rejected” singles in order to achieve class-action status for the suit. No one involved seemed to anticipate the sad humor involved in portraying a man as racked with emotion over LuvToTrvl1818 not responding to his winks.

That’s not to say this couldn’t have been avoided. In my previous post on the matter I said about all that needs to be said: you’re in charge of how you deal with dating, not the site nor the women. But I’ll add one more thing: the minute you look for public sympathy, you can also expect some public ridicule. This rule applies whether “going public” means suing Match.com, breaking up by changing your Facebook status, or Tweeting about your moldy apartment.

But basic manly skills can help you with even this. Build your confidence and apply critical thinking to what you’re hoping to accomplish and the risks involved, then either go in with your eyes wide open or maybe take a different approach.

Like perhaps just asking Match.com for a refund.

Dater loses the ‘Match’ [NY Post]