Gin & Tonic for the Soul: Safety is Sexy

Interesting Discussion Topics for Happy Hour

Back to gender studies, this week, we visit the "Safety is Sexy" photo phenomenon, found most commonly in the on-line dating world, but also on various social networking sites.

We could wax poetic for hours about on-line dating, but have chosen this week to narrow down the field to a strange subgroup of young men who post self-portraits of themselves driving cars. Often wearing seatbelts, hey Safety is Sexy! Cheesy car photos might make a little sense if these guys were driving fancy, sporty, or old-timey cars, but they’re not. They're in non-descript cars, unidentifiable from the often unflattering angles the self-portrait artist employs while driving.

We get that we all have our self-portrait quirks. JB has a curious addiction to taking self-portraits in public restrooms (of her face, gutter-minds!), but she would never make these photos her main profile pic on any dating website. Not even on Adult Friend-Finder and Craigslist Casual Encounters, where other users might appreciate such bathroom humor.

So, why are these guys posting these driving pictures? Did someone tell them that ladies love this? Do they honestly think these pics are going to moisten the pantaloons of the internet babes of the world? Are they proving they have cars? We just don't get it!

It's been hard to explain this strange issue to people, but as we like to say, the proof is in the pictures. Take a gander at these main profile pics we found in a single night perusing one free dating site.

Classic "Safety is Sexy" Shot:

This repeat offender had 4 "safety is sexy" shots in his profile!

Straight on “Safety is Sexy:"

“Safety is Sexy” side-view (aka pretending you didn’t take the picture yourself)

“Safety is Sexy” Variation – from behind:

“Safety is Sexy” Variation – the “Passenger:"

“Safety is Sexy” Variation – drinking Starbucks:

“Safety is Sexy” Done Right: Show off your (test-driving) Benz, JB!

California has a law making it illegal to text or talk on the phone without a headset while driving. We think they should also enact legislation to illegalize taking bad self-portraits while driving and posting them for prospective dates. Please sir, leave the camera in the car. At the very least, can we issue a citation for those who post these pictures?

And guys, we’re not hatin’, some of our own good friends and even former beaus are guilty of this vehicular crime. But hey, that doesn’t mean we can’t think this is weird and downright silly!

Guys, what drives you bonkers in a prospective date's profile pic? We want to know!