I Prefer Mine Literate

The following post was my response to the OK Cupid question: Does your partner have to be an active reader?

YES
No

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Once upon a time, I filled out the free profile at eHarmony. I'd heard that so many people had actually had success meeting someone through them that I figured, "What the hell? What do I have to lose?" Two hours of my life that I never got back, that's what!

Out of 40 PAGES of questions, they had exactly ONE question about reading, literature, or anything whatsoever related to written words. Now, they claim their matching system is unsurpassed. Yet who do they pair me with? Six of the 11 matches my first time out were guys who had answered THE question, "What do you like to read?" with genius responses like:

"I never read."
"The last book I read was a comic book."
"I only read Car & Driver magazine."
"I'm not much of a reader."
"I can't remember the last book I read."
"What's a book?"

Puh-leeze!!!

I have no doubt the fact that I am a writer/freelance editor has a bit to do with my penchant for dating literate men. But reading, to me, indicates someone who is likely connected to the rest of the word: art, politics, philosphy, current events . . . the world beyond their immediate purview. I dated a guy for a long time who never read anything besides MacWorld, gaming magazines, and theOnion.com. He was still able to kick my ass at Scrabble every time we played — and carry on intelligent conversation. I'm not looking for a perfect speller or a grammarian — but if a guy never reads anything, I'm just not interested.