Someone.Wrote.Back.

Hard to believe, eh?   I mean, it’s not that implausible.  Let’s do some math for a minute…

Posit 1: A woman of “appropriate dating age” is 25-29.  Keeping it simple for ya.

Posit 2: Google’s amazing Public Data tool allows you to have a reasonably accurate source of population data that you can break down by specifics, explicitly created for nerdy bloggers.

x = number of women of appropriate dating age

d = percentage of women who potentially find me dateable

aj = x  * d, or the number of women who potentially find me dateable

Maybe you’re thinking: “Well, how do we derive x?  No voodoo math Mr. Johnson.”

I definitely would have done better on my SATs for her

Posit 3: x is derived from dividing the number of 25-29 year-old women in the Philly metro area to the total population.  It’s a bit simplistic, but this isn’t rocket science either.

Therefore, x = about 3.53% of the total population.

“Um, Mr. Johnson, what about d?  It’s seems awfully subjective.  How can you possibly define a value for something you possibly can’t quantify?” asks the overachieving troll in the front row.

Easily. 

c = 1.71% (about the same as the percentage of the Jewish population in the US, what a coincidence…Actually, it has nothing to do with dating only Jews, I don’t discriminate based on religion.  It’s just funny, ok.  Leave me alone.)

~

Let’s say I lived in Dawson’s Creekville, Oklandiana (pop. 20,000)

x = 706

c = .0171

aj = 12.0726

Twelve freakin’ people!?  I’d probably do better if I were gay.

~

IMPORTANT SIDEBAR: I am fervent and ardent supporter of gay rights, marriage, and total equality.  If you haven’t figured out how to take my musings with a grain of salt by now, you should be ashamed.  Now for the funny apropos image!

JVB wants to work your garden

~

Posit 4: The Philadelphia Metropolitan Area includes the city proper and the five largest surrounding counties, population of approximately 4,527,500.

x = 160,241

c = .0171

aj = 2,740

That’s a whole lot better.  If we rule out half of them, even for reasons as shallow as attractiveness, we still have over 1,300 potential mates.

I’m no Wilt Chamberlain, so I’d be thrilled if I ended up in bed with 1% (13) of them.  Speaking of Wilt, check this out excellent breakdown of his mythical quest for booty. 

Q.E.D. – It’s no shock that a woman on OkCupid would find me interesting enough to go on a date.  No voodoo involved, it’s mathematically proven.  Just ask this guy:

Glad someone's got my back

Although I obviously got myself worked up about someone messaging me back, I made sure to respond with some friendly banter.  Plans are forthcoming!  First online-organized date this week?  I'll let you know!