Politics

Study: People Will Reveal Their Weight Quicker Than Their Politics When Dating

Here’s a new twist to the dating game: dating couples are more likely to reveal their weight before their political beliefs according to one study.

Study: People Will Reveal Their Weight Quicker Than Their Politics When Dating

Researchers at Brown University and the University of Miami sampled more than 2,900 online dating profiles and found that only 14 percent of online daters revealed even an interest in politics. Of those, about half said they were “middle of the road.”

LiveScience has more:

“Because we know that long-term mates are more politically similar than random attachment might predict, we were interested to see how people seeking a mate end up with people who share their political values,” study researcher and political scientist Rose McDermott of Brown University said in a statement. “This is particularly important because political ideology appears to be in part heritable, and so mates pass their ideology on to their children.”

[...]

Politics was so unpopular that it ranked 23 out of 27 among the provided interest categories — just below “video games“ and above ”business networking“ and ”book club.”

When asked about their body type, a larger proportion of participants voluntarily described themselves as either “heavy set,“ having ”a few extra pounds,“ or ”stocky“ than listed ”politics” as one of their interests.

Those who were older or had received more education were more confident in describing detailed political leanings, like “very liberal” or “ultraconservative.”

At this point researchers are taking their best guess as to why so many singles keep politics secret. Researcher Casey Klofstad of the University of Miami said he assumes they are just casting a wide net early on and at some point “we somehow filter out people who do not share our political preferences.”

Comments (32)

  • Steev
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 10:49pm

    Political affiliations don‘t bother me unless it involves hatred or violence at which point i’m gonna find i have no respect for the person anyway – politics shouldn’t b an integral part of a relationship anyway. Why lie about your weight or anything for that matter – it’s all going to come to the surface, be who you are, A lie is not a very good foot to start something with.

    Report Post » Steev  
  • Centralsville
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:00pm

    I couldn’t live 5 minutes with a liberal woman, would rather be single. It’s bad enough that my parents and siblings are all liberals. At family get-togethers we can’t bring up politics or religion. You have to guard what you say and walk on egg shells. My wife and our children along with their spouses are all conservative and Christian. It is so much better and easier when we all get together. Hopefully we won’t have any communist grandchildren.

    Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on September 22, 2011 at 8:07am

      Exactly,
      I dated a liberal for two months and when it became appearant that common sense could not pass her ideology I stopped taking her calls,avoided her like she had the plague,and dropped the friends we shared like a hot rock. When ever I ran into her I’ld make excuses just to get out of a conversation.
      Got some of the freinds back but till this day I cring when I think of her.

      Report Post »  
  • OKC08GT500
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 11:32am

    2 Corinthians 6:14

    New International Version (NIV)

    14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

    Report Post » OKC08GT500  
  • katpatriot
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 5:26am

    I will not date a liberal – so I usually weed them out before the first date. No one knows my weight not even the carny that kept guessing wrong.

    Report Post »  
    • the hawk
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 9:57am

      Not me I asked my wife about the death sentence the first night we met !
      And that abortion was murder…..ect ….been maried 20 years now !
      To many people get in way to deep before they really know the other person.Sometimes even kids !
      If I would have had the political conversation right away,would of skipped my first two marriages !

      Report Post »  
  • rdietz7
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 5:17am

    I remember when I was 25 on a date (2005) I expressed support for our President and troops fighting in Iraq. She said to me sarcastically “you must love FOX news”. Back then I was to busy getting laid, didn’t even own a TV or know what FOX news was. I still went home with her cause I knew to just smile when a girl called me out on something that went over my head.

    Report Post » rdietz7  
    • rdietz7
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 5:22am

      S.E. Cupp give me a chance to convert you to Christianity. God is love baby.

      Report Post » rdietz7  
  • LibertarianRight
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:36am

    Weight is an obvious physical characteristic. You will see this, and choose BEFORE ASKING whether to date someone within certain ranges of weight. Thus, it isn’t that big of a deal to discuss it while dating.

    On the other hand, political differences are – excepting outspoken activists – somewhat beneath the surface – even further below than religion. Thus, bringing it up, as a significant unknown, can risk rejection and ending the relationship.

    Really, why do we need studies to “prove” what all of 30 seconds of logical thinking would make obvious?

    Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:16pm

      I’m with you. This story is actually a no-brainer. The date can see the person’s weight so it is pretty difficult to hide it. No one can see a person’s politics. They can see it through their actions but that can be hidden somewhat as well.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
  • DallyWama
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 3:30am

    Most men dont give a fok about revealing their weight; however, it has been deemed not appropriate to ask a lady her weight in the past. I doubt couples who are in the honeymoon phase will be eager to discuss weight, but politics, maybe.

    TL;DR: It is bad to woo a lady with the weight question. I’d rather discuss politics because chatting about weight is bound to cause things to go awry. Although I would like to know Chris Christie’s weight!

    Report Post »  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 2:27am

    The first thing i do when i met anyone is tell them my view on politcs that way i don’t waste time be friends with a idiot.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
  • Erabin
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:21am

    I prefer Republican women because they usually grew up religious and repressed so they do all the kinky stuff in bed when they’re finally set free.

     
  • Cosmos102
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 12:37am

    I can‘t even stand to sit through an interview with Alan Combs on the O’Reilly factor. I sure don’t want to have to listen to that kind of Liberal/Progressive delusional, misguided bologna in person. At least when it’s on tv, I can leave the room or mute the sound.

    Report Post » Cosmos102  
  • Herc11254
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 12:35am

    That is because we have a society of people who will not take responsibility and stand for the beliefs they claim.

    Report Post »  
  • Kangana
    Posted on September 21, 2011 at 12:08am

    As someone who doesn’t fit into either political category, I’ve met conservatives and progressives who are total a-holes. I’ve dated the spectrum. I don’t tell people purely because the people who are bigoted jerks more often are by far the progressives. If someone can‘t tolerate an opinion that differs from his own then more often than not he’s a progressive. Of course, I may not discuss my beliefs but I also won’t see him again either. I’m not out to convert people. I want to have fun, and bigoted progressives are the opposite of fun.

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:53pm

    Not me .. I will tell them and screen out progressives BEFORE the first date!

    Report Post »  
  • GOPblazer
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:47pm

    “we somehow filter out people who do not share our political preferences.”

    Hahaha Somehow?

    We just do. It’s that simple. A person’s political beliefs speak to where that person stands morally, ethically and just about everything else you can imagine.

    Honestly, if a person’s a Democrat, Liberal, Progressive, I’ve got nothing to say to them. Who cares if we root for the same football team or like the same movies? All of that becomes irrelevant if you don’t match up politically.

    Another “study” based on the completely obvious.

    Report Post »  
  • Pyrat
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:45pm

    I’ve lost 200 pounds and am a Republican, after losing that much weight I can sit through and listen to anyone’s garbage, I’ll date a Democrat woman. ;)

    Report Post » Pyrat  
  • stumblemouth
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:42pm

    Isn’t your weight range kind of obvious? But trying to pigeonhole people by their appearance isn’t the best way to do things, of course. I’ve known people that looked like punk rockers but were evangelical Christians.

    Report Post » stumblemouth  
  • AMERICA4EVER
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:24pm

    Here’s both: I weigh 189 lbs. and I’m a staunch conservative. Married for 43 years to the same great gal. There!

    Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 12:54am

      wow! That sure would be a lot to tell on a first date.

      Report Post »  
  • TumbleBumble
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:23pm

    The older I get, the less worried I am about what people think.

    I have friends who are liberal, but at this point, when I meet someone new (whether it be a male or female), I don’t hide the fact that I am very conservative. Let the chips fall where they may. No time to worry about whether or not they will ‘like’ me.

    Report Post » TumbleBumble  
  • dnorton
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:22pm

    I am married now, but while dating online I have to say politics and religion were big with me. I couldn’t sit through a dinner let alone married life with a liberal or atheist.

    Report Post »  
  • mattwakulik
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:21pm

    im a libertarian . and i weigh 215 lbs. and my full name is my user name! there it is!!!

    Report Post » mattwakulik  
  • 1casawizard
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:21pm

    This little research musta been done at a school for the blind. It don’t matter what each other weighs, it’s the small talk which leads to other talk and then you can tell what politics each have. In order for the small talk to continue, some attraction has occured unless you’re blind.

    Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • Cherynn
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 10:59pm

    Well this girl never tells her weight, lol. But I try to avoid even talking to democrats much less dating one. Politics is the first thing I find out about. I have learned, its hard to have a decent conversation with a complete idiot !!!

    Report Post » Cherynn  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 10:56pm

    Its like they say, you wish to start a heated debate or a war, involve politics or religion, or both in the same breath and then watch out…few other things bother to set us off more than these ideals we all hold onto in some way or form.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • kraphtsman
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 10:55pm

    I really don’t buy into some political “scientist”’s assertion that political leaning is an inherited trait. But if I did, this could partially explain why so many liberals are so darned stupid !

    Report Post »  
    • TumbleBumble
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:35pm

      They don’t mean inherited genetically, but rather as though it ‘rubbed off’ from parents to children.

      And that I have to say I have seen quite often. First person I noted was my mother. I had asked her, when I was a child, why she voted Democratic. She told me because her father did. Which led me to ask her if that meant I was going to vote that way and she responded with a smile, ‘Yes’.

      Maybe that is part of the ‘Chicago Way’. Too many people who don’t think for themselves.

      Report Post » TumbleBumble  
  • thepatriotdave
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 10:52pm

    “…we somehow filter out people who do not share our political preferences.”
    =======================================================
    THIS IS NEWS?

    Report Post » thepatriotdave  

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