Good Grief!

Aha! John Allen Paulos, in his book I Think, Therefore I Laugh, sums up the problem of internet dating. From page 56 of the second edition:

George goes to the You-Bet-Your-Life computer dating service to register his requirements (axioms). He wants someone who is white, not very talkative, comfortable in fur, yet disdainful of city life. The computer sends him a polar bear.

This joke illustrates a discussion about analytic and synthetic truths which, frankly, is a little over my head. But based on some recent internet guy encounters, I’m pretty sure the computer doesn’t get it either.