Women who use craigslist to find dates

Ladies, when you write a CL online dating profile...

You're posting on craigslist looking for a man (or two). As one who found his true love on CL 4 years ago (via her CE ad late on Sat night), I'd like to share a few things that might improve your search results. My advice is free but from a man's perspective these are the kinds of things that will probably improve your odds and increase your chances.

First of all you're running an "ad" not an "add". While we're on the subject, run your CL post through a spell checker please. Some of us notice sh*t like that. Ignorance ain't sexy. In fact it's a real turn off. If you can't spell or use proper grammer, you're more likely too fuck ignorant men. You're choice. That may be your goal. Or maybe some men like taking advantage of dumb chicks.

CAPITAL LETTERS ARE THE ONLINE EQUIVALENT OF SHOUTING. PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME! WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER YET SO WHY SCREAM AT A STRANGER. YOUR TYPING LOUD ENOUGH AS IT IS.

Good men come in all shapes and sizes therefore not all good men are 5'10" or taller. In fact, the man of your dreams may turn out to be shorter than you. I'm not height challenged but I still think the taller-than-me-or-else requirement is incredibly shallow. Besides, who cares how tall you are in heels? Are you so insecure you need a Tall Man to protect you? If so, you're not the one for me. I guess the "be this tall" requirement helps one weed out the bozos.

Be honest. If you're not HWP, don't lie. It's obvious the first time someone sees you. Any hope you have of proving you're greater than the sum of your parts is lost when a man discovers you began by lying. You're free to avoid those who demand Barbie dolls just as others are free to demand the truth.

BBW seeks HWP I don't get this one. You admit you're large but you want your dream date be fit, trim, toned, athletic, ripped, etc. What gives here? I may be flawed but you need to be perfect. Do you see the disconnect here?

Pictures Men what to see you just like you want to see men. Don't fool yourself, looks are important. Otherwise women wouldn't hunt cute guys. Please post a current picture that accurately represents you look like today. I'll never forget meeting someone for the first time and being shocked how little she resembled the photos in her ad. No man wants to see you next to an unidentified male in a picture. We can tell when you've chopped off half of a photo. Part of his arm is around you. And no we don't want to guess which woman you are in a crowd scene. In fact, we may be more attracted to the cutie to your left. Digital cameras are everywhere. Find one and use it. And no, I don't want to click on an ad expecting a photograph only to discover it's your cat, a sunset, or some cheesy animated GIF.

Cats Speaking of cats. Most guys can overlook one cat, if it's not named something stupid like Mr. Wiggles, Bugsy, or Auntie Em. Post a photo with multiple cats and/or pose with them like they're your overindulged children and you deserve the kind of responses you get. And trust me, the responses will be weird, like you. Pssst... the smell of cat urine in your house isn't an aphrodisiac.

False advertising "I put a picture of myself online showing off my ample cleavage but all the men who responded just want to have sex." Duh. Be upfront, stop playing games, maybe just maybe you'll find what you really want. Online or off.

We all have reasons to be bitter. People date in an effort to be happy, or at least happier than they are now. I'll make you a deal: keep your negativity to yourself and I won't burden you with mine. I'll do you one better: make me laugh and I'll respond in kind. We all have laundry lists of yes's and no's. Project a positive vision and you just might find what you're looking for.

Fact: as a woman you're going to get flooded with responses to any halfway reasonable ad you post. I'm sure most of your responses can be dismissed out of hand. Incorporate some of the above suggestions and the one you're looking for may well rise up to meet you.

Good luck!