What the f**k is a Renaissance Man? And do I really want to go out with one?

[MakeYerOwnDamnDinner]

Sigh. I'm on Guardian Soulmates and the level of pretentiousness is starting to do my head in. Surely it can't just be me who finds online dating completely pants. Come share your tales of virtual woe with me.

a renaissance man is probably someone who studied graphic design adn now working in marketing, he is v. bitter about not really being an artist but consoles himself by listening to clever music and reading obscure articles about japanese architects. he sits on an eames chair. is below average height

avoid

"Happy independent man, easy-going, likes jazz & soul"
Was a moody sod who loved to criticise, only liked one sexual position, and owned a vast collection of obscure 'experimental' jazz. I don't think he had a soul - he certainly couldn't dance to it!

Renaissance Man is an 80s/90s shorthand for a man who's very good at lots of different things

yes garlic but someone who refers to themselvs as a renaissance man is likely to be a bit of a cunt

What like a multi-tasker? But I suppose then he would have to be very good at lots of different things all at the same time.

There's a Proustian Hero too. Kill me now.

@ these! Gotta love GSM - I'm on there atm and having a good time with it but some of the profiles are beyond parody.

There are a lot of moody conceptual artists. I also tend to avoid the ones who simply write a list of obscure bands/artists/films... I mean, I can geek out with the best of them but...

And the 'spiritual, Tantric' ones.

And the bearded, humourless vegans with permanent saddle-soreness, who sneer at anyone who's ever sat behind the wheel of a car.

And the professional holidayers whose profile is packed with pictures of them halfway up a mountain and who talk about sunsets and Far Eastern beaches a lot.

That doesn't leave a whole lot, though

And what about all the men in flat caps?

Trying to pull off some kind of working class hero look from their semis in Surrey.

A Proustian Hero???!!!
Fuck me.
On second thoughts, don't.

I've just been reading GS ... I think I'm going to be sick.

garlicnutter

It's a terrible shame really - he's gorgeous. But I can't get past that username.

I'm going to look him up

He's changed his name now SpareOhs - to Blackie_Addison. He's got an incontinent dog too.

Oh dear, is this really unethical?

Oh, HIM! Yes, he's vv goodlooking but... sigh... WHY are they such knobbers?

Whilst searching for his original name I found a 'lapsed post-structuralist in Kentish Town' :rolls eyes x10000:

Ha. They are all so smug, e.g.:

'I would rather be in the mountains on my snowboard and to get there I make sure I am fit, yoga has become part of my life to make sure I bounce of the rocks.'

And they all go on about how 'passionate' they are. I'm never sure if this is code for 'I go on for hours about my tedious job' or 'I like kinky sex'. Or both.

Jack of all trades, master of shit? And no, i wouldn't go out with anyone contemplating their own navel long enough to put their personality into "types".

Or is he perhaps referring to himself as a Lord Byron type? If so then i would steer well away, his spoon stirred far too much porridge.

Actually, his profile isn't quite as bad as his original name would imply... But he is off-puttingly handsome.

I bet he will be surprised by the number of views he's suddenly received Fortunately not my type.

He also referred to me as a "cute girl". I'm thirty bloody five!

I'm just working up the energy/enthusiasm to reply to a bloke who is not even mildly attractive to my mind but who wrote me a mahooosive email the other day, so I kinda feel bad if I don't at least acknowledge it...

There are lots of men on there who've been there for YEARS (how would I know this?)

Is Renaissance Man his username or is that just how he describes himself?

Don't worry SpareOhs. I knew it was bad when I started getting e-mails saying, "I thought you would have been snapped up by now".

It's his username. Or perhaps his subheader.

Just tell him you have a severe allergy to dag slam, but if he is happy to put the dog down before you're first date you'd definitely consider him.

If you don't like him that is.

A very offputting scenario with the majority of prospective beaus is to talk about your need for marriage and commitment in the first mail. Oh and all your cats, lots of cats.....

Sorry that was meant to be dog slam. My boob got in the way.

Make sure you know which type of Renaissance man he is - some burned unbelievers and fought to keep the world flat :o