am I being way too picky?

[shadowplay]

Signed up for OKCupid a few days ago, and I've looked at hundreds of matches. So far only a handful (maybe 5) have at all piqued my interest. And even among those, I see potential problems with all except one.

 

things I usually pick on:

this one is too arrogant, too narcissistic, too critical, not smart enough, too pretentious, not attractive, too boring, too much of a space shot, too cold, too new age-y and weird.

 

Because I'm an unlikely mix of traits, I feel like a guy needs an almost impossible balance of qualities to be compatible with me. And I don't even know what it is. I just know what doesn't work. Maybe if I'm being honest it's just that while I have a lot to offer, I'm also a sort of "difficult" person. By difficult I mean that I have trouble relating to a lot of people, and I'm socially awkward and more sensitive than average...so I need someone who will accept that about me. I know I'll probably get a lot of flak from bitter men for writing this. The thing is it's not about me feeling entitled to some dream list. It's about knowing what will cause problems for me in a relationship based on past experience.

 

As far as I can tell he needs to be warm and kind but not a pushover, very smart, at least vaguely attractive, fairly traditional in terms of sex/dating preferences, sane, commitment-ready, discerning but not bitter or overly cynical, a bit vulnerable beneath the surface without being weak. Blah. I don't think he exists, and if he does he's probably taken.

 

Here's an example of me being really picky. A guy I've been talking to a bunch asked me out on a date. In many respects he seems great: he's really cute, very intelligent, he's a bit introverted like me but also has a lot of friends, we seem to share similar values. But I'm getting this hunch that something about him is off. It's nothing specific I can point to, but I get this vibe that he might be anal, rigid, overly critical and a bit cold. I really can't say why. It's just this subtle, yet consistent thread throughout our conversations. Is it worth meeting him in person despite this?

 

Then there's another guy who is very good looking, smart (a PhD student in the sciences in a tough program), and seems pretty nice. But I'm also getting some off-putting vibes. He seems a bit boring, and maybe a tad critical.

 

Another example. A guy who seems pretty cool messaged me, but I closed his profile when I read: "Being feminist is one of my highest priorities." I don't know why this really put me off, but it did. I guess I immediately think overly PC, beta male.

 

That leaves me with one guy whom I feel good about.

 

Thing is I almost never have false negatives when it comes to people. Almost every single time in my life I've had doubts about somebody and given them a chance, I've regretted it later. If anything I've been way too generous in the past, ignoring glaring incompatibilities.

Edited August 11, 2010 by shadowplay

[Cracker Jack]

I dunno. Seems like you have an unrealistic POV in regards to what you want, tho. However, if you're "difficult" like you think, perhaps you would also have trouble keeping their interest, too.

 

Don't see why you can't give some of these guys a legit chance before jumping to conclusions. Even if you've had issues with guys you've gave chances to in the past that gave off that vibe, it certainly doesn't mean your guard needs to be this tight towards everyone now.

[USMCHokie]

That leaves me with one guy whom I feel good about.

 

So what's the problem...? It'd be great if I could narrow it down to one person I have a good feeling about. That's the point of dating...whether it's the initial email stages or going on a second or third date...it's basically weeding out those who you don't feel would be good partners...if you have a bad feeling about a guy, then LAUNCH...there's plenty more to choose from...

 

And I personally hate multidating after having recently tried it...so if I could narrow down someone just from emails, then so be it...

 

On the other hand, they are just emails...prose...text...there's no flesh and blood...no person to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste...hahah...things can be significantly different when you meet someone in person...both for better or for worse...it's up to you to decide whether you're willing to take the chance...

 

But as you spend more time with the online dating and start meeting some guys, you'll be more comfortable with it and hopefully more willing to give guys a chance...even if it's just one date...it's not like you're going to marry them or anything, you know...?

[SadandConfusedWA]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

 

I am also rarely wrong. With the guy who ended up having a GF, I got a vibe that something is off even before I met him. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something just didn't add up there. I even stopped responding to his messages for a few weeks because I decided to trust my gut.

 

Of course, he ended up being soooo persistant with wanting to talk to me and meet that I decided to give him a chance..I should have listened to my gut.

 

I still think that you should meet a few of them for practice if nothing else. Also, you can then trust your gut even more if you have read the guy correctly.

[spookie]

 

Thing is I almost never have false negatives when it comes to people. Almost every single time in my life I've had doubts about somebody and given them a chance, I've regretted it later. If anything I've been way too generous in the past, ignoring glaring incompatibilities.

 

It's a good idea not to ignore "glaring incompatibilities" but your logic that you shouldn't give people chances because you regretted giving people chances in the past is flawed.

 

That's like saying, there is a probability of 1 that I won't fall down the stairs, because I've never fallen down the stairs in the past.

 

Not to mention, what about all the "negatives" that you didn't pursue? You have no way of knowing how it would have worked out with all the guys you didn't date.

 

If you're down to 5 possible's, what's wrong with having coffee with them all just to get a better feel for their vibes?

 

I don't understand how it's possible to have a very accurate read about someone over the internet, anyway.

 

Just playing devil's advocate here.

[callingyouuu]

things I usually pick on:

this one is too arrogant, too narcissistic, too critical, not smart enough, too pretentious, not attractive, too boring, too much of a space shot, too cold, too new age-y and weird.

 

Wow. That's a LOT of information you're able to glean about someone just from an online profile.

 

While I don't want to question your powers of understanding the human mind, I have trouble believing that one can actually paint such a clear picture of someone's flaws from an online profile.

 

If there's an obvious flaw that will make you incompatible, by all means, listen to your gut. However, to some extent, your post reminds me a bit of Jerry Seinfeld on his television show, where he'll just find random things that are wrong with his significant other and bail rather than sticking around to make sure.

[shadowplay]

Wow. That's a LOT of information you're able to glean about someone just from an online profile.

 

While I don't want to question your powers of understanding the human mind, I have trouble believing that one can actually paint such a clear picture of someone's flaws from an online profile.

 

If there's an obvious flaw that will make you incompatible, by all means, listen to your gut. However, to some extent, your post reminds me a bit of Jerry Seinfeld on his television show, where he'll just find random things that are wrong with his significant other and bail rather than sticking around to make sure.

 

I don't know. More and more I'm starting to think I have a scary ability to read people based on small bits of information, especially pictures. Consider these totally unscientific tests for what they're worth (possibly very little). OK Cupid has a gaydar test where they give you 20 pairs of photos and you have to pick the person in each who is gay. I scored 100%, better than 98% of test takers. There's a psychology game on the site, where you are also given photos/profiles and have to match the dirty secret with the person in each pair. (People volunteer their profiles and their secrets.) I got a streak of 50 correct guesses in a row. I took a more legit test online once where you had to distinguish the fake smiles from the real smiles and scored 100%. I think I really just have a knack for reading people based on small amounts of info. That's not to say I'm perfect at it, obviously. But I think you can tell a lot from somebody's pictures and how they choose to represent themselves in their profile (assuming they put in some effort). That said I do have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to romantic partners, so maybe all this doesn't apply. Then again, I think my choices in partners in the past were more motivated by insecurity and fear of eing alone than objective judgment.

Edited August 11, 2010 by shadowplay

[callingyouuu]

There's a psychology game on the site, where you are also given photos/profiles and have to match the dirty secret with the person in each pair.

 

I remember that one! I think my streak was about 30 after I got the hang of it. Not quite as good as yours, but I think that's pretty respectable for a guy. I just took the gaydar one and did really poorly, although I blame that on only having met like 4 gay people in my life. Oh, conservative Christian upbringing...

 

Anyway, I know what you mean. I'm sort of the same way with reading people, though instead pictures I'm most effective in sort of a speed-dating 30 second session kind of thing where I can use my charm to get down to the bottom of things. I'm also ridiculously picky with romantic partners... maybe it just comes with the package?

 

Still, if you really think you're right about someone, trust yourself.

[zengirl]

Signed up for OKCupid a few days ago, and I've looked at hundreds of matches. So far only a handful (maybe 5) have at all piqued my interest. And even among those, I see potential problems with all except one.

 

Okay, the first part doesn't sound worrisome. It's fine if only a handful pique your interest. You don't have to go out with everyone.

 

The second part seems silly. For one, there are "potential problems" with everyone. If you're waiting for a person with whom you will never have a problem. . . then you're going to be waiting forever. For another, look for problems, and you will almost always find them. With anything or anyone. And, really, going in looking for them is a surefire way to either (a) alienate people and make them want to stay the heck away from you, or (b) find people who enjoy problems and/or are terribly fearful of them too. What happens to the healthy people in life is they find they can deal with most problems, so problems aren't scary. And they wait for them to actually appear or send clear signs before fussing about them.

 

Because I'm an unlikely mix of traits, I feel like a guy needs an almost impossible balance of qualities to be compatible with me. And I don't even know what it is. I just know what doesn't work. Maybe if I'm being honest it's just that while I have a lot to offer, I'm also a sort of "difficult" person. By difficult I mean that I have trouble relating to a lot of people, and I'm socially awkward and more sensitive than average...so I need someone who will accept that about me. I know I'll probably get a lot of flak from bitter men for writing this. The thing is it's not about me feeling entitled to some dream list. It's about knowing what will cause problems for me in a relationship based on past experience.

 

As far as I can tell he needs to be warm and kind but not a pushover, very smart, at least vaguely attractive, fairly traditional in terms of sex/dating preferences, sane, commitment-ready, discerning but not bitter or overly cynical, a bit vulnerable beneath the surface without being weak. Blah. I don't think he exists, and if he does he's probably taken.

I think you're over thinking all of this.

 

Also, are you working on these negatives you list about yourself? While I think it's lovely to find someone to embrace the worst parts of us, I also think it's important to be seeking constant self-improvement, rather than resting on that.

 

Here's what going out with someone comes down to: Spending a few hours with someone ONCE. That's it. Now, take the required precautions to make sure you don't get chopped up into little pieces, of course. Maybe even take a few precautions to make sure you don't get sucked into some major drama (like a cheater). But don't be obsessive about it. Most dates aren't going to lead to relationships. Plenty of dates aren't even going to lead to other dates. Take the pressure off.

 

I don't date guys whom I get bad vibes about, but I'm not you and I don't know how good your people-picker or intuition is. I also don't know what constitutes a bad vibe to you, or how you can be interested in someone but have bad vibes about them. I don't go out with guys because they're "good on paper" (or refuse to date them because they're "bad on paper"), if that's the kind of interest you're talking about, but if someone seems interesting to you, why are you looking for problems?

 

When I've met someone, I tend to have good intuition about them, but I don't look for problems. So, when I see them, I'm more sure they exist. Looking for problems (just as hoping about the great future you'll have with someone) clouds your judgment. Hopes and fears will both kick your intuition in the teeth. If you have these kinds of strong prejudgments about everyone, it's no wonder that people have disappointed you. People usually get what they expect in life. That's a lame platitude, but it also has proven to be true in my experience and observation (of expecting the worst and best and nothing from people; I tend to expect somewhere between the best and nothing from people these days, and that works for me; not sure for others).

 

I honestly never see the harm in getting to know someone. I mean, if you get even a whiff of potential danger or something major, then, No, of course not. However, what is the harm in going out with someone and then finding out they were too arrogant or cold for you? There's no need to leap into anything. You're committing to very little when you agree to a date. That's not to say date everybody, but I say: Go out with the people you like enough to spend a few hours with (and are also attracted to). Then, build from there. If there are very few people in the world you like enough to spend a few hours with ONCE, then, yes, you are picky. You're only too picky, if it doesn't work out for you.

 

That leaves me with one guy whom I feel good about.

Well, follow up with him first.

 

Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

 

I am also rarely wrong. With the guy who ended up having a GF, I got a vibe that something is off even before I met him. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something just didn't add up there. I even stopped responding to his messages for a few weeks because I decided to trust my gut.

 

Of course, he ended up being soooo persistant with wanting to talk to me and meet that I decided to give him a chance..I should have listened to my gut.

 

I still think that you should meet a few of them for practice if nothing else. Also, you can then trust your gut even more if you have read the guy correctly.

 

Okay, but you also made a thread about how awesome the guy was when you first went out! I don't think it's going to help your people-picker to whitewash it and say you were right about the whole situation all the time. This is a tangent, but I've seen you talk about it a bit, and it is a bit worrisome. People are always all like, "I had a feeling about that!" but only looking at the feelings that validate what actually happened. Really, most people who do this have mixed feelings---different feelings at different times that cause them emotional turbulence and cognitive dissonance. I have pretty good intuition when I meet people, but it was honed by looking at all the ways I went wrong in assessing people and why those mistakes happened. Just some thoughts. (In your case, I suppose it's potentially clouded by "rare" -- for you -- physical attraction? And potentially liking persistence in a fellow.)

Edited August 11, 2010 by zengirl

[SadandConfusedWA]

Zengirl, I kind of agree with you. In my case, a part of me doesn't regret spending time with that guy. I had fun while it lasted and enjoyed every moment with him. Sure, it didn't end well but I am not terribly heart- broken either. He provided me with some much needed excitment.

 

Maybe the lesson for shadow is to lighten up and realize that not every meeting has to end with a LTR. Less thinking, more meeting

[Scottdmw]

Here's my simple rule for Internet dating success. Every week or two, look over the prospects you have available that are willing to go out with you, pick the best of the lot, and go on a date with that person even if you're not sure it will work, even if you're pretty sure it won't as long as there are no danger indications.

 

I really don't believe that people are that good at discerning attraction from profiles. Men, when they are writing profiles, have a lot of things in their minds, if they put any effort in. They have probably received all kinds of conflicting advice from many sources. They are trying to put their best foot forward but not quite sure how. They are trying hard to appear confident even if they don't feel it. It seems completely understandable that under those circumstances it's hard for a person to be themselves and they may send off weird vibes without meaning to.

 

I don't think you have anything to lose by going on one-hour coffee dates once every week or two, it doesn't take up much time and you may even learn something from the people even if you don't end up dating. You will never find someone if you don't open yourself up to the possibility at least though.

 

Scott

[Ariadne]

looking at all the ways I went wrong in assessing people and why those mistakes happened. Just some thoughts.

 

In this case the only thing that went wrong was that she broke up with me after I wrote to the guy.

 

She didn't like that and crossed me, without realizing that she was crossing the relationship at the same time.

[zengirl]

In this case the only thing that went wrong was that she broke up with me after I wrote to the guy.

 

She didn't like that and crossed me, without realizing that she was crossing the relationship at the same time.

 

I am confused. Did you quote the wrong line or something? . . . What does this have to do with what I said above? I was talking about times when I misjudged someone and WHAT prompted me to misjudge them (as better or worse or just different than they were). Usually, it was my hopes or fears.

 

What guy? Who's she? Crossed what?

[Ariadne]

........................................

Edited August 11, 2010 by Ariadne

[Knittress]

I've often wondered what you're like in real life Shadow, as from what I can tell we seem to have fairly similar personalities. So, heh - can't really help you out any, but perhaps you ought to consider ignoring the nagging feelings of imperfection over the guys, and instead of looking at them as potential mates/friends see it as a chance to practice your stranger-interaction skills?

[shadowplay]

Okay, the first part doesn't sound worrisome. It's fine if only a handful pique your interest. You don't have to go out with everyone.

 

The second part seems silly. For one, there are "potential problems" with everyone. If you're waiting for a person with whom you will never have a problem. . . then you're going to be waiting forever. For another, look for problems, and you will almost always find them. With anything or anyone. And, really, going in looking for them is a surefire way to either (a) alienate people and make them want to stay the heck away from you, or (b) find people who enjoy problems and/or are terribly fearful of them too. What happens to the healthy people in life is they find they can deal with most problems, so problems aren't scary. And they wait for them to actually appear or send clear signs before fussing about them.

 

 

It's probably some sort of overzealous defense mechanism. You're right that everyone has potential problems, but some are acceptable while others are actual incompatibilities, you know? I'm having trouble making that distinction.

 

 

I think you're over thinking all of this.

 

Also, are you working on these negatives you list about yourself? While I think it's lovely to find someone to embrace the worst parts of us, I also think it's important to be seeking constant self-improvement, rather than resting on that.

 

 

Of course I'm working on it, but I also realize that this is where I am now and I'm not selling myself to someone based on potential.

 

 

Here's what going out with someone comes down to: Spending a few hours with someone ONCE. That's it. Now, take the required precautions to make sure you don't get chopped up into little pieces, of course. Maybe even take a few precautions to make sure you don't get sucked into some major drama (like a cheater). But don't be obsessive about it. Most dates aren't going to lead to relationships. Plenty of dates aren't even going to lead to other dates. Take the pressure off.

 

 

Part of the problem is dates kind of terrify me, so I'm trying to avoid bad ones at all costs. But maybe I just need more exposure to get over that fear.

[zengirl]

Part of the problem is dates kind of terrify me, so I'm trying to avoid bad ones at all costs. But maybe I just need more exposure to get over that fear.

 

This is the whole problem.

 

I used to be terrified of getting fired/laid off. I don't know why. I'd never come close to getting fired or laid off. Then, one day, I got laid off. And the world didn't end! I found another job, a better job, in 3 days. Now, I've absolutely no fear of getting laid off or fired. I'm not saying it'd be fun. . . but I'm saying that what you need is likely a really, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad date that is so bad it makes you laugh and gives you a great bad date story and everything is totally, completely okay. Or something. Anything that makes you okay with the inevitability of bad dates, which is way more likely to happen than getting laid off!

[dispatch3d]

 

As far as I can tell he needs to be warm and kind but not a pushover, very smart, at least vaguely attractive, fairly traditional in terms of sex/dating preferences, sane, commitment-ready, discerning but not bitter or overly cynical, a bit vulnerable beneath the surface without being weak. Blah. I don't think he exists, and if he does he's probably taken.

 

So you are looking for:

(1) Warm and kind

(2) Very Smart (Why is this so important?)

(3) Vaguely Attractive

(4) Traditional dating/sex preference (not sure what this means)

(5) Wants a relationship

(6) Discernable

(7) A bit vulnerable beneath the surface but not weak

 

I feel like you are just pulling things you did and didn't like about previous ex-boyfriends? Most of these things aren't materialistic and you'd actually have to get to know the guy a bit before judging him.

 

Here's an example of me being really picky. A guy I've been talking to a bunch asked me out on a date. In many respects he seems great: he's really cute, very intelligent, he's a bit introverted like me but also has a lot of friends, we seem to share similar values. But I'm getting this hunch that something about him is off. It's nothing specific I can point to, but I get this vibe that he might be anal, rigid, overly critical and a bit cold. I really can't say why. It's just this subtle, yet consistent thread throughout our conversations. Is it worth meeting him in person despite this?

 

I think you aren't spending enough time with people to totally get what they are like. Also, for some reason you are deciding to figure out ALL the negatives instead of seeing everyones positives and judging them on that. I would assume you are slightly insecure because you really want a very intelligent boyfriend. Why is this so important? I could only guess you want to appear smart so therefore you would like your bf to do that job for you. Guys do similar things with hot women, the most insecure guys want the hottest girls to make them feel more attractive/appealing to others.

 

Thing is I almost never have false negatives when it comes to people. Almost every single time in my life I've had doubts about somebody and given them a chance, I've regretted it later. If anything I've been way too generous in the past, ignoring glaring incompatibilities.

 

Yeah, right, when you figure out something negative about everyone and then are "correct" in your read it's easy to think this. I play a lot of poker and this is actually more of a psychological fallacy.

 

Basically, what can happen is you are constantly thinking "man, this guy has me beat. I have an awesome hand but I'm certain he just has me crushed". Then when the cards are flipped you are right or wrong, doesn't matter. What happens is when you are wrong and your hand is best you don't give a **** because you've won. You also don't remember the hand because you have good emotions associated with it. You were supposed to win the hand so whats the difference.

 

However if you are right and they do have a better hand you get pissed! The nerve of the guy yadayada. Not surprisingly your brain recalls these negative experiences MUCH easier than the positive ones. You therefore conclude (wrongly) that you are always beat there or whatever.

 

You are basically "freerolling" on your "intuitive guess". If you guess x is wrong with the guy, then find something wrong with him then you further validate your ability. If you are wrong, well I mean he COULD still screw up, and its not like you are keeping track. There's NO EMOTION associated with being wrong in this case, so you discard the evidence.

 

Being self-aware that your brain will have a tendency to do this should allow you to realize you aren't thinking analytically/making conclusions based on actual evidence.

[dispatch3d]

This is the whole problem.

 

I used to be terrified of getting fired/laid off. I don't know why. I'd never come close to getting fired or laid off. Then, one day, I got laid off. And the world didn't end! I found another job, a better job, in 3 days. Now, I've absolutely no fear of getting laid off or fired. I'm not saying it'd be fun. . . but I'm saying that what you need is likely a really, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad date that is so bad it makes you laugh and gives you a great bad date story and everything is totally, completely okay. Or something. Anything that makes you okay with the inevitability of bad dates, which is way more likely to happen than getting laid off!

 

the best way to be totally secure in your job is to do such a good job that they would have literally ****ed up to fire you. What I mean is you should be SO CONFIDENT in the job you do for them is above+beyond what they would ever expect, that if they gave you a bad reference/fired you/whatever you would know they are wrong to do so. Most people just go to work do their job and go home. Wrong attitude.

[shadowplay]

 

 

I think you aren't spending enough time with people to totally get what they are like. Also, for some reason you are deciding to figure out ALL the negatives instead of seeing everyones positives and judging them on that. I would assume you are slightly insecure because you really want a very intelligent boyfriend. Why is this so important? I could only guess you want to appear smart so therefore you would like your bf to do that job for you. Guys do similar things with hot women, the most insecure guys want the hottest girls to make them feel more attractive/appealing to others.

 

 

That's a ridiculous assumption. I want an intelligent boyfriend not to impress others, but so I don't get bored. And yes, I've dated guys who aren't that bright, and I get bored around them because we have less in common and because they can't hold an interesting conversation.

 

Intelligence is much deeper trait than physical attractiveness. It affects all aspects of a relationship, and there's nothing wrong with giving it high value.

[dispatch3d]

That's a ridiculous assumption. I want an intelligent boyfriend not to impress others, but so I don't get bored. And yes, I've dated guys who aren't that bright, and I get bored around them because we have less in common and because they can't hold an interesting conversation.

 

Intelligence is much deeper trait than physical attractiveness. It affects all aspects of a relationship, and there's nothing wrong with giving it high value.

 

Ah so you actually value interesting guys, not so much the intelligence. "Don't get bored". You phrased it in the negative and not the positive - unsurprisingly from the tone so far - so its difficult for me to deduce your true value here. A better to question to ask yourself would be, "what is it about intelligent guys that I find interesting?"

 

I would also say some of the most entertaining people I've met are also the dumbest/not exactly the smartest. I know LOTS of smart people who just aren't that fun.

 

This is why the intelligence thing seems like a red flag. There's some quality you preceive intelligent guys to have, and this quality is what you are actually looking for.

[Shakz]

I don't know. More and more I'm starting to think I have a scary ability to read people based on small bits of information, especially pictures. Consider these totally unscientific tests for what they're worth (possibly very little). OK Cupid has a gaydar test where they give you 20 pairs of photos and you have to pick the person in each who is gay. I scored 100%, better than 98% of test takers. There's a psychology game on the site, where you are also given photos/profiles and have to match the dirty secret with the person in each pair. (People volunteer their profiles and their secrets.) I got a streak of 50 correct guesses in a row. I took a more legit test online once where you had to distinguish the fake smiles from the real smiles and scored 100%. I think I really just have a knack for reading people based on small amounts of info. That's not to say I'm perfect at it, obviously. But I think you can tell a lot from somebody's pictures and how they choose to represent themselves in their profile (assuming they put in some effort). That said I do have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to romantic partners, so maybe all this doesn't apply. Then again, I think my choices in partners in the past were more motivated by insecurity and fear of eing alone than objective judgment.

 

All of that is statistically improbable regardless of the legitimacy of the test. 100% is perfect. 50 correct guesses in a row is in Ken Jennings range. You are either some kind of intuitive genius or.............

[SadandConfusedWA]

In this case the only thing that went wrong was that she broke up with me after I wrote to the guy.

 

She didn't like that and crossed me, without realizing that she was crossing the relationship at the same time.

 

What do you mean? Even I don't understand? How was I crossing you and crossing the relationship at the same time? Please expand.

[Ariadne]

What do you mean? Even I don't understand? How was I crossing you and crossing the relationship at the same time? Please expand.

 

Well, I tried to help you (maybe I blew it, etc) but you had a bad reaction to me.

 

So that would have a bad impact in the relationship unfortunately.

 

I don't know, is like bad chi.

[shadowplay]

All of that is statistically improbable regardless of the legitimacy of the test. 100% is perfect. 50 correct guesses in a row is in Ken Jennings range. You are either some kind of intuitive genius or.............

 

Why is that statistically so improbable? Somebody else on this thread said they got 30 guesses in a row correct. Also, it was on my third try, not my first. I've always done well on tests.

Edited August 11, 2010 by shadowplay