Almost all of us have been dumped and done some dumping in our dating histories. Don't even bring up past relationships, unless by way of mentioning your kids. Your prospective partner doesn't want to think of you having been dumped (in other words, being a sucky boyfriend or spouse) or having dumped someone (in other words, possibly dumping her someday). If you gush about your ex, your date will think she can't measure up. If you put your ex down, your date will wonder if you'll chew her up and spit her out as well.
Your Biological Clock, if Female.
If you don't have kids but want to someday, certainly say that, but don't sound too eager or talk about being in a hurry. That's going to turn partners right off, even the ones who want kids too.
Your Medical Issues.
Of course, if you have some kind of significant disability, that bears mention. But there's no need to go into the details. If you have an STD, you should definitely clue your date in, but don't put it in your profile. Wait until s/he has gotten to know you first. Your prospect wants to read a fun biography of you, not a medical chart.
Anything That You'd Throw in Just to Be Impressive.
Your income, number of houses, type of car, etcetera. Bragging is just tacky.
Internet Lingo.
Not everyone who reads your profile is a seasoned user-they may not have any idea what you're talking about. Even those of us who know all the acronyms and emoticons often get irritated by their overuse. Try to convey what you want to say in actual words. People did it for thousands of years before the Internet.
Overly Personal Information.
Anything you post on the Net is potentially available to be read by everyone. Think of the person you would least want to know anything about you (I use my ex-mother-in-law), and make sure that you'd feel okay with that person reading your profile. For your own safety, don't include your phone number, or last name. If the site has its own email system, don't include your personal email address; that's usually a site regulation no-no. You can always give it to individuals in emails, if you feel comfortable doing so.
Too Much or Too Little.
About a paragraph or two per essay is sufficient. If you just say a word or two, you seem boring or secretive. If you tell your life's story, your reader may think that you won't shut up in person. Some sites require a certain minimum of characters. You may be tempted to fill up the space with gobbledygook. But really, that just makes you look like a lame-ass. If you can't think of anything at all to say in your profile, how interesting of a date will folks think you'll be?
Overtly Sexual Content.
Coming on super-strong with sex talk may not scare everyone away, but you'll have better chances with more people if you keep your ad tame, or at most, slightly flirtatious. Of course, if you're posting a profile on an adult site, you have more leeway with this. But it will still make you stand out from the crowd if you hold back a bit. Mystery is good. Don't give it all away; make them come looking for more.
