There was an article published online last month in which Alan Lim discussed what he believes are the three biggest misrepresentations people give online: marital status, actual weight and race. I'd have to say that he's probably correct about these things since my own online dating experience turned up people who fibbed (or outright lied) about each of the three. The question that it left me with each time was, "what's the point of this type of lie?"

Obviously, as soon as you meet someone in person, they are going to see your race and weight. While many people find it perfectly fine to lie about these things online, it seems to me that it causes more trouble than it's worth. I tend to be a straight-up kind of gal and would rather know from the get-go if someone has qualities that I'm not going to be keen on. I don't want to start liking someone's personality and then find out that the looks just don't do it for me.

As for the marriage thing, it's not going to stay a secret forever. If you're really trying to get some on the side, there are plenty of websites to go on where people know right up front that you're married and cheating. Why lie when you can say right up front what you're seeking and try to get it? Misrepresenting yourself online just leads you to problems later on. Believe me, there's going to be someone out there who likes you just for the way you are so just let everyone know who that is. And save the rest of us the trouble of screening out the lies!