What You Like, Not What You're Like

In the John Cusack movie "High Fidelity" he goes on a date and has a great time. He and his date spend most of it talking about their mutual likes and dislikes. He then goes on to say, "It's not what you're like, but what you like." I wish that eHarmony had a way whereby which you could choose matches based on mutual interests such as artistry, music, sports, politics, community events, medical, etc. I'm not saying that you'd hit the bullseye every time with a match, but I think it would increase the chances of successful communication.

I'm a creative and artistic person and I'm drawn to people like that. It's not a requirement, but it's nice to date someone who "gets" you and what you're into, you know? Some people on here might like comic books and if they meet someone who's into comic books, too, they'll probably click with that person on a friendship level first and then it could lead to romance. Because, after all, most successful long-term relationships start out as friendships before they evolve into something romantic/sexual.

Communication is vital IMHO. I matched up with someone on eHarmony a few months ago who is in the arts and our first phone conversation lasted 5 hours. We could talk about music, arts, movies, etc. But we could also talk about family, dating, etc. Yet it was that artistic bond that helped make the communication go smoothly and we both enjoyed talking to someone who "got" what they do.

Has anyone else experienced this, too?

I'm not so sure more data would really be a good thing, too much can just bog you down in minutiae. Personally i prefer to just get the highlights from a profile and let the rest come out in conversation. Sure it's possible i might pass over someone i'd really get on with but then the only real way to avoid that is to not filter at all.

Relationships do not hinge on common interests. What matters are common values and life goals and the capacity to accommodate each other and compromise.

Also, most relationships do not start as either friends or sex, they start as dating. It's that fun process of going out with a person and getting to know them from which friendship and intimacy and all other things grow simultaneously assuming your basic personalities genuinely mesh. Naturally, through that dating process you may discover that you are not right for each other after all.