With online dating, sometimes people seem a little off. Part of it is the medium, which presents information that might have been intended by the sender in one way, and is reinterpreted in another by the recipient.

For instance, this article intersperses personal reflections with real emails and ads from online daters, so you get exposure to word art like this:

“Come hither and yon most resplendent daughter of Zeus so we might cavort (with body, mind and spirit) NOT in that heavenly vault of royal blue, but rather here upon the terrestrial (i.e. terra firma) tarmac! Prithee tell this faux Dionysus that which harkens deep within the psyche and quickens the pulse! I could attempt to summon forth that animal, diurnal and seminal splendor that springs from latent mental and physical powers!”

OK, I admit it. I like it when a guy can speak English, knows the difference between “its” and “it’s,” and illustrates that he has a large (ahem) vocabulary. But this is too much.

A friend of mine sent me this email, received by the notorious “friend of a friend” that makes it impossible to track–it would be impossible to believe, but the truth is that we’ve all received propositions like this one…(spellings and punctuation preserved for full effect):

I have a picture to send, provided you are still interested after reading this email. If you are not open minded and get offended …please do not continue to read. Lets face it conventional marriage does NOT work. How many friends do you have who are married and miserable ? or divorced ? or cheating on their spouses ? There is a reason Carrers – kids – life in general take over and passion, love and sex go out the door. I would like to think i’m an enlightened jewish male. I want to have a life partner and or wife with a beautiful family life and children with one twist… I’m not seeking an open marriage (thats just two people who cheat on eachother) I am seeking a woman who is interested in the “Lifestyle”. If you are not familiar – Think Swinging…… I’m seeking a woman who wants a strong relationship …but is open to meeting other couples and women along the way……keeping the passion and the sex HOT for ever… I know you may be completely offended reading this…and i’m sorry if you are…i’m seeking an enlightened woman to meet… This is not an email to just get laid….I’m seeking a partner in crime to enjoy this with…erotic parties, hedonism and fun times… to the outside world we are a very normal cute couple….we have our little secret…..

Everyone has secrets. And some people like their relationships a little on the dangerous side. And I get the whole “let’s not be exclusive because it’s more fun and more natural than monogamy” thing. But trolling JDate for this kind of thing? Really? Do people do that? Because I know many women who have received such an email on JDate, and no men who have (admitted to having) sent such an email…isn’t it interesting how that works?