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Comment by JacksonGariety | Hacker News Reader

There is a dating problem?

> The problem concerns two agents Alice and Bob (or Alex and Bob, or Alice and Beatrice), each of whom may or may not have a crush on the other. Each is initially unaware of the other’s feelings, and if they have a crush, they would like to know whether the other does as well; however, each would like to reveal their crush only if the other shares the interest.

This does not just apply to crushes but also more specific sexual interests. Unfortunately, the fact that you want your partner to use a service such as this already leaks that your interest is unusual or socially frowned upon.

That is not necessarily a problem. I would not mind leaking the fact that there exists a sexual interest I have that is embarrassing, as long as I do not leak what that interest is. In fact, I have publicly said that I have sexual preferences that I do not want to be known on multiple occasions.

Incidently, an MFP like service already exists for this usecase [0].

[0] http://mojoupgrade.com/

What percentage of people have an interest like that though? If I had to pull a number from nowhere I would say at least 50%, so using the service shouldn't be particularly damning.

I thought Tinder had it solved...

Tinder is Trent in this protocol. As long as both Alice and Bob trust Trent, that works. But Trent can cheat.

And then the Russians might control our love lives!

I'm prepared to give them a go at this point, they can't do a worse job of it than me.

See Ashley Madison?

What is this dating thing everyone seems to be talking about?

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