GeekSugar

Study Shows More Women Than Men Online

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:00:58 PDT

Just when men thought they were more techie then women, CBC news reports that internet usage among women has been ahead of male usage for some time. The eMarketer says that "female usage of the internet in the U.S. has risen 12.4 per cent since 2000, compared with 3.2 percent for males."

Demographics show that young females tend to spend more time on social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and of course, Teamsugar. Unlike their male counterparts, who are apparently more apt to pursue the net for videos.

Don't expect these stats to change anytime soon - eMarketer estimates that by 2011, 109.7 million US females will be going online, amounting to 51.9 percent of the total online population. That calls for a - you go girl!

"I Like Much Older Guys"

Tres Community — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:05:00 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I am 26 and since I can remember I've always had a thing for older guys. My first big celebrity crush was Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient and Jeremy Irons in The Mission - which is pretty weird but those actors/movies are pretty awesome and I'm sure many women have felt the same. Difference was, I was 9. When I was in early primary school and everyone was obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio, I was doodling Alan Rickman's name on the back of my lever arch file.

I have dated guys that are my age and I have enjoyed their personalities and had (somewhat) successful relationships and although I was attracted to them, I never felt myself get gooey on the inside - if that makes sense. I just find older guys physically appealing. I get really turned on by grey hair and male pattern baldness. And dare I even say the slight paunch that men get when they are older. I have not found a man in his 20s or 30s attractive in a few years now. This is pretty weird, because I am definitely a young looking 26 year old (still get carded) and I am quite fit, dress for my age, often get approached by guys my age etc. I would not say I am craving the security and stability that comes with being older or dating someone who is older, although those are things most people who would like a relationship would logically desire . . . including me.

By the way, this is definitely not "Daddy Issues." My parents have a long, healthy, happy marriage and I come from a very close knit loving family. In fact, my Dad who is 55 is a fitness junkie like me and often passes for 44-45ish.

It's also definitely not financial. I am pretty successful and independent (have lived by myself and paid my own way since 18), and do not want someone to take care of me or buy me things in order to feel appreciated. Nor do I feel at this stage that I want to be nurtured and treated in a juvenile manner. I feel this is a sort of sexual awakening.

I am currently dating a man who is 41. We started dating about 3 years ago and I originally lied to him and said I was a young-looking 30 year old for our first three dates so he would take me seriously - we met through online dating. Although I love him dearly and think he is very attractive, I still find men that are much older than him more appealing. Like around 60 would be ideal for me.

I've tried talking to my best and closest girl friends about this, and they usually just say . . . "ewww that's gross!" and laugh it off as a joke. But I'm being serious. I am considering leaving my current relationship because these feelings are causing me to feel a bit distracted. I think I should try pursue this. I am worried about what my family and friends will think.

Everyone knows I have always liked older men, but I'm afraid that dating anyone older might cause my parents to have . . . um . . . heart attacks.

Do I need help? Is this a weird fetish, considering I am thinking purely with my loins? AM I CRAZY?!

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

11 Things Hiring Managers Won’t Tell You

LearnVest — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:15:24 PDT

Ever want to read your interviewer's mind? LearnVest shares a couple of secrets hiring managers don't want you to know.

The next time you walk into an interview, consider the following:

Your wedding or engagement ring? Can and may be used against you.

Those photos of kids on a hiring manager's desk? They may not actually be the manager's children - but the photo is designed to get you talking about your kids or whether you plan to have some eventually.

And then there's the trick that can land some applicants $20,000 more when they start negotiating their salary.

In fact, LearnVest got the inside scoop from hiring managers across the country. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because their methods were so controversial - and not what you'd find in any company manual.

New research out of the United States Census Bureau shows that women still earn less than their male counterparts at every education level. Although women are outearning men in terms of college degrees and doctorates, our wages aren't keeping up. In fact, the gap only worsens at higher levels of education.

RELATED: The 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs

But armed with this insider knowledge - straight from the mouths of those who hire you - you can help improve both these statistics and your bottom line.

I leave pictures of kids on my desk. They’re not even my kids.

Legally, hiring managers aren’t allowed to ask if you have kids, just as they’re not supposed to discriminate against you on the hunch that your child might occasionally have a soccer game. But we spoke to one hiring manager who leaves pictures of her niece and nephew to find out (legally) who has kids. “I’m not allowed to ask about family situations, but if they bring it up, it’s fair game. Kids are a distraction to this job, which requires long hours and weekends. I won’t hire someone who has other priorities.”

How to handle this: it’s very easy to get nervous and resort to small talk. (“Oh, are those your kids? How old? Mine are 6 and 10 . . . ”) Commenting on kids’ photos is easy bait, especially if you’re a parent yourself, but avoid it if you can. Talk about the weather or find something to compliment your interviewer on instead.

I check for wedding bands.

One hiring manager told us: “This is an entry-level job, and the people we hire are usually fresh out of college. If I see a wedding band, there’s a good probability that candidate is going to start a family soon. If I hire her and she goes on maternity leave, I can’t legally fire her, but I still have to find someone else to replace her while she’s gone. When she comes back, I can’t fire her either, so now I’m stuck with two employees when all I needed was one. No thanks.”

This one is an easy fix: leave your wedding ring at home. You're not obligated to share any information about your relationship status, so try to avoid doing so.

Read on for more.

Link Time - Opening Up About a Miscarriage

Annie Scudder — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:25:07 PDT

Girl talk: I had a miscarriage - The Frisky
The fanny pack is back - CollegeCandy
10 fun facts about online dating - YourTango
7 ways to turn yourself on - Em & Lo
"Stuff I wish my boyfriend would wear" - theBERRY
The real reason women do more housework than men - Huffington Post
John Edwards named in prostitution sting - The Jane Dough
Online gaming is the new place to meet guys - GeekSugar
Americans arrested for gay sex in Caribbean - Newser

Proof That Twitter Users Are Sexier Than Facebook Users?

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:03:13 PST

Now you have a reason to love Twitter just a little bit more this Valentine's Day - a new study shows that Twitter users might be sexier than Facebook users. Well, at least they think so, anyway. The study, which polled 1,000 US men and women over 18, found that 40 percent of Twitter users would call themselves sexy vs. 28 percent of Facebook users. But let's face it - it's not just all about looks. Do those sexy Twitter users have actions to back up their claims? The study says yes, with 42 percent of Twitter users calling themselves "sexually adventurous" and 33 percent being a "skilled lover," while only 33 and 28 percent of Facebook users say the same, respectively. What's interesting, though, is that the study shows that 55 percent of sexy Twitter fanatics get it on at least once a week vs. 46 percent of Facebook users. That's not that big of a percentage gap, which means it's possible that Twitter users are just a bit more confident in calling themselves sexy than those that stick to Facebook.

But if you're single and ready to mingle this Valentine's Day, you'll have better odds if you start with Twitter - 53 percent of them have engaged in online flirtations vs. 46 percent of Facebook users. Happy hunting!

Tips For Building an Effective Online Dating Profile

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:02:33 PST

In this digital age, men and women aren't just hitting bars and coffee shops to snag a date. More and more, they're heading to the Internet. In fact, 50 percent of men have met a woman online according to a recent survey. It's obvious that online dating has become the norm, and for good reason - the Internet gives you more options because you can cover a wider area of partner possibilities (as in, the entire globe). And while your chances are better of finding a compatible mate on the worldwide web than, say, your small town of 13,000 people, the Internet can't help you if you don't give off the right signals. First impressions are everything - even virtual ones. Beef up your online dating profile with these tips, and snag yourself one of those "many fish" your mother is always talking about.

Make sure you're fishing in the right pool -You wouldn't go to Craigslist's Casual Encounters to look for a serious relationship, so don't go to Match.com if you're just looking for a little fun on a Friday night. Sites like eHarmony and Chemistry have had a lot of success by getting scientific about the dating process (taking your likes and dislikes and matching you up with someone who's compatible), so make sure you're ready to commit before diving in!
Lose the negativity - No one wants to meet up with a Debbie Downer, so if your online dating profile is riddled with sarcasm, negativity, and pessimism, you can be sure that you won't be getting many date requests any time soon. This doesn't mean you have to be fake, just keep the "I'm too cool for school" attitude to a minimum.

See a few more tips, including some important dos and don'ts for your profile photos, when you read more

Republicans Have More Orgasms, and More Fun Facts From Match.com's Singles Survey

Annie Scudder — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:45:03 PST

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to climax every time they have sex. Or at least that's what they reported in a new and expansive survey conducted by Match.com. In its second annual comprehensive Singles in America Study, the online dating site surveyed 5,000 singles across various demographics. Match wanted to know what men and women are looking for in sex, dating, and relationships. Here are five fun facts from the results.

Marriage Rates at Record Low: Bad News For Economy

LearnVest — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:15:56 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Bride Wars. Bridezillas. Bridalplasty. Shedding for the Wedding. Platinum Weddings. Say Yes to the Dress.

If you flip through the channels, it looks like all of America is altar-bound.

But in fact, the Pew Research Center found that American marriage rates are at an all-time low: Only 51% of Americans over age 18 are married. Marriage rates have declined by 5% between 2009 and 2010 and 21 percentage points since 1960, when 72% of adults were married.

Are We Aging Out of Marriage?

It’s no surprise that things are very different today from only a few short years ago - see cell phones, laptops, tablets and the Facebook timeline. The big things are changing, too.

Half of men getting married for the first time are 29 years or older and half of women marrying for the first time are 27 or older, which means that many Americans are tying the knot well past age 30. Of course, the big 3-0 is getting younger and younger, so the news isn’t revelatory, but for reference, remember that Marie Antoinette married at age 14. In more recent history, Elizabeth Taylor’s first marriage took place when she was only 18.

Marriage and Money

So, what does all this have to do with money? A lot, it turns out.

First, married people tend to accumulate money. As Pew researcher and senior writer D’Vera Cohn explains in The Huffington Post, "Some of that might have to do with who chooses to get married, that is, people who are educated have less of a decline in their marriage rates than people who are less educated. We also know that the kind of partnership marriage encourages is one in which you plan for the future, share your assets, build wealth together. There isn’t that evidence yet for people who live together."

Second, beyond the married couple’s individual finances, their marriage affects the wider economy. Married people wait to make big purchases and investments until they’ve "settled down." Those purchases include houses, children, property . . . the big things that keep our economy spinning in a way that rent checks and vodka sodas can’t manage.

We're not saying that marriage will make you rich, or that opting out of the contract keeps you from being so. But research shows that marriage is good for our finances and good for the economy at large, so it follows that a decline in marriage rates isn’t exactly helping us climb out of the recession crater.

There goes the bride.

More From LearnVest
There’s a way to get $1,600 in free food, but it involves online dating and spreadsheets.
When it comes to getting what you want, are wish lists practical or tacky?
We know they’re wobbly, but how do high heels indicate economic instability?

Another Reason to Play Online Games: More Sex, More Often

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:05:56 PST

Video games may make you happy, but did you know that women who play online games have more sex than those who don't? This, according to new research by the Harris Interactive firm, which also says that online gamers are predominately women (55 percent vs. 45 percent of men) and are more active (inside and outside the boudoir) than non-online gamers.

Though the differences are slim, 38 percent of female online gamers say they have sex at least once per week, while 34 percent of non-online gamers partake in "business time" one or more times per week. This could be related to the fact that 61 percent of women play online games to relieve stress, and a relaxed gal is more likely to enjoy herself in the bedroom.

Do One Thing: Unsubscribe From Everything

Bundle — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:15:20 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Bundle story here on Savvy!

Of the mail you receive-both electronic and otherwise-how much is legit, and how much is junk? That’s what we thought. According to various sources, something like 90 percent of all email is spam, and direct-marketing mail makes up more than half of U.S. Post Office volume. Then there are telemarketers. (Remember them?) Here’s how to lighten the load.

This is for you: If you’re overwhelmed by junk mail, junk email, and unwanted telephone calls.

Cost: Varies, depending on the services you use and whether you’d like to donate to the services that are free. (But probably $20 or less.)

Hands-on time: Varies, depending on how many services you decide to unsubscribe from

Total time: Same

What you’ll need:

An Internet-connected computer
Some idea of the catalogs and junk mail senders you’d like to block

What to do:

1. Put all of your phone numbers on the Do Not Call Registry to prevent telemarketers from contacting you. Note: If you’ve done business with or donated to an organization, they still have permission to contact you unless you expressly ask the company to take you off its calling list.

2. Consider a service like CatalogChoice.org to remove your name from catalog and other direct mailing lists. Remove yourself from specific catalogs for free, and remove yourself from all direct mail marketing lists for a $20 annual fee.

Read on for more.