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Comment by bdr | Hacker News Reader

OkCupid isn't a representative sample, either. Even more, you have to take into account the site mechanics: a mutual 4 or 5 star rating results in a "match event", but any other combination doesn't. So rating someone 1-3 is equivalent ("I don't want to talk to them") as is 4-5, and men and women's responses to this mechanic may influence their ratings in differing ways.

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This is the case. Rating someone a 4 or 5 generates an e-mail to that person. So the only reason you rate someone a 4 or 5 is if you want them to come check you out.

Yep, which might also explain why the women are apparently so harsh on their ratings compared to men - they already get more messages than the guys, and don't want to be contacted even more.

Really? And he didn't mention that in his post? Seems like that completely explains away the difference in attractiveness ratings then.

I don't understand how the QuickMatch/profile rating mechanic can be the ratings cited in the article. IIRC, The QuickMatch/profile ratings are from 1 to 5 stars. The cited ratings are from 0 to 5.

Not sure, but I know you can click "Can't Tell" aside rating them 1-5 which might equal a rating of zero.

Indeed. 4 stars for a guy could mean "this person is average looking, but I think I might get to fuck them" rather than "this person is in the top 80% of beauty".

"... top 40% of beauty."

No, it's only a 5 point scale.

1: bottom 20%; 2: 20% - 40%; 3: 40% - 60%; 4: 60% - 80%; 5: top 20%

Am I missing something?

Well, men (but not women) apparently give grades on a bell curve, so you'd expect 40% three stars, but only 5% 5 stars.

No, it looks like I was wrong but there's no link to delete it.

Two people mutually rating each other 1 star supposedly generates a burn message.

It sure does. Followed, in both cases of my experience, by the woman involved insisting that she just slipped, really, because she would never rate anyone 1 star, even if they were really ugly, which isn't even the case here anyway... ;)

I guess I should be flattered that none of the 2403 people I've one stared didn't return the flavor though truthfully I think I'd get really interested in whoever rated me back. :)

I believe the 4 or 5 star match event only happens if you are using Quick Match, not just browsing your matches. I could be wrong though. Also, I don't know what portion of ratings are done in Quick Match instead of just browsing profiles.

You are wrong, it has no connection to quick-match, just rating. I rate a lot of people globaly that never show up on quick match. :)

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