Are there really only 20 active people on advice.eHarmony?

There are 21.

Even though a few people have met someone from eHarmony Advice and gotten married, that's not the purpose of this site.

Then why does advice.eHarmony give us the option of profiles if our advice is to be annonymous and they don't encourage actual friendships that may lead to something more?

Just about every message board I've been to has a section to fill out a profile. eHA does allow a more detailed profile than some, but I don't interpret that to mean they're hoping people get together, though that can certainly be a benefit.

Exactly. Plus, it would be a conflict with the paid site (and their entire business model) for this to be designed as a free-for-all type free dating site. There is nothing specific about eHA that encourages matching up and dating. Given that there are many, many more women than men here, and that most people don't include a photo on their profile, the structure just isn't here to make this an effective dating site. The matches that do occur are in spite of those limitations (just as they take place on other non-dating sites where people interact).

With respect to the questions asked by posters.... Please keep in mind that all kinds of people come here to use this site, many of whom are hurting and confused. Some are young or inexperienced; others are stepping back into dating after the end of a long marriage or as single parents whose children have now grown. Some are well-educated and others are not. Some are sophisticated and others naive. Some are emotionally healthy and others are suffering from depression or another mental illness. Some have friends and family upon whom they can rely for support and others are more isolated or don't have someone to whom they feel they can turn for help or they don't want to disclose their problem to loved ones. Some are very bright and others not so much...

Although some of the questions that people ask may seem like "duh" to others, and repeats of questions that have been asked by countless others who came here before them, for that poster the question is a real one that is about their life and about which they are seeking input (or, sometimes, validation...). It costs us nothing to view them with respect and respond to them.

If you do find that you are reacting to people's posts with disdain or irritation, and don't feel that you can respond respectfully, then simply resist the urge to post and move on to another thread.

Well, personally, I do not feel the need to adhere to anyone else's business model. And I fail to see how it would be a conflict. My suspicion is that part of eHarmony's business model is luring people from this free site over to the paid side - its a marketing tool.

As far as the the paid part of eHarmony being effective an effective dating tool...I am stumped on almost a daily basis why most matches are sent to me - I have checked, rechecked, and redone my settings and with few exception found very few points of compatability with my matches.

Thus, I migrated here. And I will not apologize for seeming harsh with some of my opinions - I do believe in self reliance and truly feel that the answers to so many questions are self-evident - if people would only stand up for themselves.

I know I scare off potential dates/mates with this attitude - but would rather wait for the one that can truly hang with me rather than settle.

I've seen some of your posts to people who have posted what you deem to be "duh" posts. What you claim to be oh-so-obvious is anything but obvious to some people who are confused and hurting when their heart was involved. When in doubt, I prefer to err on the side of treating the poster with respect and dignity rather than a "you can't be serious" remark. There is a real person on the other end of that post... why go out of your way to belittle them?

Besides, there's LOTS of topics on here and you're free to skip over the ones you find too stupid for your consideration.

Well, personally, I do not feel the need to adhere to anyone else's business model. And I fail to see how it would be a conflict. My suspicion is that part of eHarmony's business model is luring people from this free site over to the paid side - its a marketing tool.

As far as the the paid part of eHarmony being effective an effective dating tool...I am stumped on almost a daily basis why most matches are sent to me - I have checked, rechecked, and redone my settings and with few exception found very few points of compatability with my matches.

Thus, I migrated here. And I will not apologize for seeming harsh with some of my opinions - I do believe in self reliance and truly feel that the answers to so many questions are self-evident - if people would only stand up for themselves.

I know I scare off potential dates/mates with this attitude - but would rather wait for the one that can truly hang with me rather than settle.