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| | Despite many users admitting to deceptive information in their profiles, users were more critical of misleading profiles. | | Despite many users admitting to deceptive information in their profiles, users were more critical of misleading profiles. |
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| − | As it spread throughout the neighbouring colonies, the news of Teach and Vane's impromptu party worried the Governor of Pennsylvania enough to send out two sloops to capture the pirates.[56] They were unsuccessful, but Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood was also concerned that the supposedly retired freebooter and his crew were living in nearby North Carolina. Some of Teach's former crew had already moved into several Virginian seaport towns, prompting Spotswood to issue a proclamation on 10 July, requiring all former pirates to make themselves known to the authorities, to give up their arms and to not travel in groups larger than three. As head of a Crown colony, Spotswood viewed the proprietary colony of North Carolina with contempt; he had little faith in the ability of the Carolinians to control the pirates, who he suspected would be back to their old ways, disrupting Virginian commerce, as soon as their money ran out.[57]
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| − | Spotswood learnt that William Howard, the former quartermaster of Queen Anne's Revenge, was in the area, and believing that he might know of Teach's whereabouts had the pirate and his two slaves arrested. Spotswood had no legal authority to have pirates tried,[nb 7] and as a result, Howard's attorney, John Holloway, brought charges against Captain Brand of HMS Lyme, where Howard was imprisoned. He also sued on Howard's behalf for damages of £500, claiming wrongful arrest.[58]
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| − | Spotswood's council claimed that Teach's presence was a crisis and that under a statute of William III, the governor was entitled to try Howard without a jury. The charges referred to several acts of piracy supposedly committed after the pardon's cut-off date, in "a sloop belonging to ye subjects of the King of Spain", but ignored the fact that they took place outside Spotswood's jurisdiction and in a vessel then legally owned. Another charge cited two attacks, one of which was the capture of a slave ship off Charleston Bar, from which one of Howard's slaves was presumed to have come. Howard was sent to await trial before a Court of Vice-Admiralty, on the charge of piracy, but Brand and his colleague, Captain Gordon (of HMS Pearl) refused to serve with Holloway present.[nb 8] Incensed, Holloway had no option but to stand down, and was replaced by the Attorney General of Virginia, John Clayton, who Spotswood described as "an honester man [than Holloway]".[59] Howard was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, but was saved by a commission from London, which directed Spotswood to pardon all acts of piracy committed by surrendering pirates before 23 July 1718.[60][61]
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| − | Meanwhile, Spotswood had obtained from Howard valuable information on Teach's whereabouts,[62] and he planned to send his forces across the border into North Carolina to capture him.[63] He gained the support of two men keen to discredit North Carolina's Governor—Edward Moseley and Colonel Maurice Moore. He also wrote to the Lords of Trade, suggesting that the Crown might benefit financially from Teach's capture. Spotswood personally financed the operation, possibly believing that Teach had fabulous treasures hidden away. He ordered Captains Gordon and Brand of HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme to travel overland to Bath. Lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl was given command of two commandeered sloops, to approach the town from the sea.[nb 9] An extra incentive for Teach's capture was the offer of a reward from the Assembly of Virginia, over and above any that might be received from the Crown.[65]
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| − | Maynard took command of the two armed sloops on 17 November. He was given 57 men—33 from HMS Pearl and 24 from HMS Lyme. Maynard and the detachment from HMS Pearl took the larger of the two vessels and named her Jane; the rest took Ranger, commanded by one of Maynard's officers, a Mister Hyde. Some from the two ships' civilian crews remained aboard. They sailed from Kecoughtan, along the James River, on 17 November.[66] The two sloops moved slowly, giving Brand's force time to reach Bath. Brand set out for North Carolina six days later, arriving within three miles of Bath on 23 November. Included in Brand's force were a number of North Carolinians, including Colonel Moore and Captain Jeremiah Vail, sent to put down any local objection to the presence of foreign soldiers. Moore went into the town to see if Teach was there, reporting back that he was not, but that the pirate was expected at "every minute." Brand then went to Governor Eden's home and informed him of his purpose. The next day, Brand sent two canoes down Pamlico River to Ocracoke Inlet, to see if Teach could be seen. They returned two days later and reported on what eventually transpiredAs it spread throughout the neighbouring colonies, the news of Teach and Vane's impromptu party worried the Governor of Pennsylvania enough to send out two sloops to capture the pirates.[56] They were unsuccessful, but Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood was also concerned that the supposedly retired freebooter and his crew were living in nearby North Carolina. Some of Teach's former crew had already moved into several Virginian seaport towns, prompting Spotswood to issue a proclamation on 10 July, requiring all former pirates to make themselves known to the authorities, to give up their arms and to not travel in groups larger than three. As head of a Crown colony, Spotswood viewed the proprietary colony of North Carolina with contempt; he had little faith in the ability of the Carolinians to control the pirates, who he suspected would be back to their old ways, disrupting Virginian commerce, as soon as their money ran out.[57]
| + | |
| − | Spotswood learnt that William Howard, the former quartermaster of Queen Anne's Revenge, was in the area, and believing that he might know of Teach's whereabouts had the pirate and his two slaves arrested. Spotswood had no legal authority to have pirates tried,[nb 7] and as a result, Howard's attorney, John Holloway, brought charges against Captain Brand of HMS Lyme, where Howard was imprisoned. He also sued on Howard's behalf for damages of £500, claiming wrongful arrest.[58]
| + | |
| − | Spotswood's council claimed that Teach's presence was a crisis and that under a statute of William III, the governor was entitled to try Howard without a jury. The charges referred to several acts of piracy supposedly committed after the pardon's cut-off date, in "a sloop belonging to ye subjects of the King of Spain", but ignored the fact that they took place outside Spotswood's jurisdiction and in a vessel then legally owned. Another charge cited two attacks, one of which was the capture of a slave ship off Charleston Bar, from which one of Howard's slaves was presumed to have come. Howard was sent to await trial before a Court of Vice-Admiralty, on the charge of piracy, but Brand and his colleague, Captain Gordon (of HMS Pearl) refused to serve with Holloway present.[nb 8] Incensed, Holloway had no option but to stand down, and was replaced by the Attorney General of Virginia, John Clayton, who Spotswood described as "an honester man [than Holloway]".[59] Howard was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, but was saved by a commission from London, which directed Spotswood to pardon all acts of piracy committed by surrendering pirates before 23 July 1718.[60][61]
| + | |
| − | Meanwhile, Spotswood had obtained from Howard valuable information on Teach's whereabouts,[62] and he planned to send his forces across the border into North Carolina to capture him.[63] He gained the support of two men keen to discredit North Carolina's Governor—Edward Moseley and Colonel Maurice Moore. He also wrote to the Lords of Trade, suggesting that the Crown might benefit financially from Teach's capture. Spotswood personally financed the operation, possibly believing that Teach had fabulous treasures hidden away. He ordered Captains Gordon and Brand of HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme to travel overland to Bath. Lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl was given command of two commandeered sloops, to approach the town from the sea.[nb 9] An extra incentive for Teach's capture was the offer of a reward from the Assembly of Virginia, over and above any that might be received from the Crown.[65]
| + | |
| − | Maynard took command of the two armed sloops on 17 November. He was given 57 men—33 from HMS Pearl and 24 from HMS Lyme. Maynard and the detachment from HMS Pearl took the larger of the two vessels and named her Jane; the rest took Ranger, commanded by one of Maynard's officers, a Mister Hyde. Some from the two ships' civilian crews remained aboard. They sailed from Kecoughtan, along the James River, on 17 November.[66] The two sloops moved slowly, giving Brand's force time to reach Bath. Brand set out for North Carolina six days later, arriving within three miles of Bath on 23 November. Included in Brand's force were a number of North Carolinians, including Colonel Moore and Captain Jeremiah Vail, sent to put down any local objection to the presence of foreign soldiers. Moore went into the town to see if Teach was there, reporting back that he was not, but that the pirate was expected at "every minute." Brand then went to Governor Eden's home and informed him of his purpose. The next day, Brand sent two canoes down Pamlico River to Ocracoke Inlet, to see if Teach could be seen. They returned two days later and reported on what eventually transpired
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| | == Recommender systems == | | == Recommender systems == |
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Revision as of 03:47, 22 November 2011
Online dating is the "use of websites that provide a database of potential partners--typically in close geographical proximity--that one can browse and contact, generally for a fee." [1] Popular examples of online dating websites include Match.com, eHarmony.com, okCupid.com, and plentyoffish.com.
The online dating industry is currently experiencing strong growth, making it one of the most profitable Internet businesses.
Online dating sites are characterized by detailed user profiles and recommender systems.
OkCupid's iPhone user interface
Popular Use
Despite the economic recession, online dating websites have reported increased traffic to their sites that may be due to the unemployed having more time. Likewise, online dating is an inexpensive alternative in meeting people for relationships, contributing to its popularity. It has been found that 1 in 5 relationships now start online. []
Relationships formed through online dating sites do not always constitute a romantic one, and if so, do not always progress solely through virtual processes. It is found that many users choose to arrange a physical encounter rather quickly instead of taking the time to get to know their "partner" user exclusively online. Most users meet physically in order to get to know each other better, thus altering the web service as only a tool for facilitating the initial meeting.[2]
The stigma of utilizing online dating services has greatly diminished as a result of the ubiquity of social networking sites and the commonality of sharing information and interacting with others online. Furthermore, many users of online dating sites have had prior experience with social networking sites.
Niche online dating sites have become popular, some focusing on specific demographics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and age. With the new addition of sites like ChristianMatch.com or JustHookUp.com, people are able to find people with similar interests and traits. Prior to online dating, singles were forced to seek out others in places they frequent from churches to bars. However, the invention of these websites have allowed people an easy way to find similar people. People have begun to eliminate people from the dating pool because they do not subscribe to these niche websites. Baby boomers have increasingly turned to online dating with people fifty-five and older visiting American dating sites more than other age blocks. []
Profiles
Users interact with each other through the use of profiles. Users tend to make their profiles more favorable to others, the most common exaggerations in appearance, marital status, and career.
There is a complex interaction when a user builds a profile. Two personalities, the "true self" or the "traits or characteristics individuals possess and would like to but are not usually able to express" and the "actual self" or "traits or characteristics that individuals possess and express in social settings," are utilized. [] Users tend to emphasize the "true self" than the "actual self," because the user can display the favorable qualities of one's self that is not apparent in physical social situations.
The interactions on an online dating site are a "highly reflexive process" in which users must "contend with a perpetual cycle of self-disclosure opportunities," such as revealing personal data and feelings. [] Many users are hesitant about the reality of profiles and the anonymous nature of the Internet, participating in the cycle of self-disclosure to reduce skepticism in potential partners. The building of trust through the process of sharing information such as feelings, mimics the progression of trust in relationships formed offline. []
The process of creating a profile is a continuous one. Many users frequently edit their profiles to appear more attractive to other users. In certain cases, users even tailor their profile information to target specific users.
Users of online dating sites tend to be more discriminatory toward other users, emphasizing attractiveness in profile pictures more often online than in offline environments. This competition amongst users leads to exaggeration of physical appearance as many believe that other users are more likely to be directed toward attractive profiles. []
Despite many users admitting to deceptive information in their profiles, users were more critical of misleading profiles.
Recommender systems
Many online dating sites offer a recommender system in potential matches based on one's profile information. For example, the recommender system sees that two people have many common interests, so it recommends the each of the users to one another based in the logic that the common interests of the two users will lead to a successful relationship.
Ethical implications
In 2010, Carole Markin sued Match.com, an online dating site, for failing to have background check on its users. On a date arranged through the site, she was sexually assaulted by a registered sex offender, Alan Paul Wurtzel. [3] The court case brought up issues of relationships facilitated through online interactions, specifically about the anonymity and deceitful techniques of users.
Various critics, including modern Luddites, have focused on online dating sites as evidence of the deteriorating morals of human relationships caused by technology. Some arguments include that online dating sites seek to commodify human intimacy, and reduce the sanctity of love to something that can be advertised, bought and found through a search engine. [1]
The free dating sites set up the possibility for pedophile breeding grounds where anyone can sign up for free (although there are age requirements, only a fake year of birth need be submitted for access). Some users have taken it into their own hands to set up fake children's accounts and "troll the pedo's" as youtube user BlueGenitalWarts did. He would pose as an underage girl and set up times to meet men from plentyoffish.com and confront these men dressed as Batman (often accompanied by Flash) and a video camera. His films have since been removed from Youtube.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sautter, 2010, p. 555
- ↑ Whitty, 2008, p. 1715
- ↑ Williams, 2011, Los Angeles Times, "Match.com agrees to screen for sex offenders to settle lawsuit"
1. Sautter, 2010, p. 555
2. Williams, 2011, Los Angeles Times, "Match.com agrees to screen for sex offenders to settle lawsuit"
3. "The recession: Isn't it romantic?" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/fashion/12dating.html
4. Whitty, 2008, p. 1715
5. Gibbs, 2011, p. 72
6. "Second love at first click" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/fashion/for-those-55-and-over-love-at-first-click.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=general&src=me
See Also
