In surfing randomly around the web, and one thing leading to another in ways I couldn't guess when I started, I ran into a post that finally explains something about online dating that I could feel but not figure out how to put into words. Essentially it's the idea that in looking at people's profiles you already know the things you'd use in a "getting to know you" conversation. If you already know those things, how do you go to the next step of having a conversation without sounding like a stalker (by fixating on something in the profile that you have in common), or without sounding stupid in general.