I have to see something interesting written in a profile. No matter how attractive the person is, if there isn't something more behind the picture, it's not going to work.

To me it would be combination of both.

hey all...do correct me if i am wrong..to me the pictures and profile represent the basic sketch of a person we see..if u like it, go ahead and try figuring out the entire painting..if u don't, feel free to watch another sketch..... isn't it a case that most of us first see the trailer and then decide to go for the movie, rather than just selecting it baselessly...(except of course, those profiles where even without any information we decide to try out on our gut feeling just for the heck of a nice looking face)

i think this is a good answer

eh....somtimes they matter - sometimes not so much - I take more stock in how I get along with someone

there does have to be an attraction but an attraction is more complicated & involved than a photograph

unless ur totally naieve

But' The bad thing is, People for the most part do not use the forums. It's that way on many dating sites. I am a member @ POF to. There are way more people on POF than there are here.

I said that to say this, Even with all those people in the seven yrs I've been there I have never seen anyone within 100 miles of me on the forums. I've noticed the same here. I've been here a little over six months. I've never seen anyone local enough to me, sign in here.

I've also noticed that no dating site ever really advertise their forums or in any way try to get their members to use them. I haven't seen it here. But on POF I have had several to tell me that they didn't even know the forums existed.

Picture...its about first impression.
Next....thought....follow5ed by demeanor. : )

being attracted to someones looks are not everything but important if you find someone that you feel is not good looking could you ever have a relationship with them?

Hehe,
this is a good thread.

I can't help thinking of the film "Shallow hal" when I am looking at profiles on here and on plenty of fish or okcupid or wherever I end up.

Whilst I'm looking, I am thinking "eye candy".

It really is terrible, is it not?
This is meant to be a typical male thing, ie more visually driven, but I'm not so sure as there are plenty of image guides that show that women respond to ab pics etc.

This is the problem with eyes as we can't deny the fact that those of us that can see, are clearly going to be driven more by visual appeal initially. However, my dealings with people in the past, remind me that voice, but mainly attitude, can easily break the idyllic thinking behind the looks as I am very easily distanced by bad attitude.
Meh.

It takes more than a pretty face to get my attention, but a pretty face helps.

I agree with the user who said the Picture makes them look at the profile. Some people use bad pictures and disturbing names on their profiles. I'm like whoa! But a nice pic and maybe what the person is doing in the pic (like reading, dancing, surfing, etc) may pique my interest to look further into them.
Good Looking Pic + Thoughtful & Informative Profile = Friend Request =)

I think the picture is the first thing like 42 black bbw has avery electric smile. It made me interested in the profile

Something must be wrong with me. Seriously, In all the years I've been using dating sites I have never been attracted to a picture. I fail to see how anyone can. Most pictures are just a "likeness" of the given person at a certain angle. When you change angles or distance the "likeness" changes.

I've noticed it several times with lots of different people. So for me it's hard to base any attraction on a picture. The writing is a start in attracting me. But the real attraction either comes or it doesn't after I meet the person. See what they look like in person. Hear the persons voice. How they talk and carry themselves.

Have you ever met someone, Man or woman in person. They were not what you would say very good-looking, But there was just something about him/her that drew you to her/him like a magnet? Their was something about this person that just made you want to be near?

I think that is one of the things that dating sites are missing. When you walk in that door and spot that person and feel that draw towards them, Nothing like it in the world. I've gotten that many times in my life. But never by looking at a picture.

ummmmm

I DO like pretty pictures