I did a job interview with CNN Live about Leonora Epstein's article, \”Automatic Internet dating Dealbreakers.\” (You can watch it after the jump, if you are like doing so, but please know the style department is going to be doing much more about my hideous under-eye circles and lighting the next time around.) That same day, Julia Allison, blogging \”sexpert,\” was on MTV's \”It's On With Alexa Chung\” discussing the similar, but broader topic of dating within the arena of new media – texting, Facebook, internet dating, etc. You can view the segment above. She'd five tips prepared for Alexa after which provided two others prompted by viewer questions. Some of her tips I could fall behind, while the others type of blew my mind. I'll give it to you straight, after the jump-

Julia's tips are definitely targeted at women, though I think \”It's Up with Alexa Chung\” is for a large audience, therefore it was unfortunate they weren't a lil' more coed. Julia says the idea of these pointers is to hide the truth that you-i.e. tha ladiez – are crazy, to trick the man you're dating into thinking you're, well, sane, after which once he's fallen in love with you, enable your crazy flag fly. I know she's joking, theoretically, however i really hate to see anyone propagate the parable that women are crazy. Lots of men's magazines do this already.

Moving on. So how will we manage dating in the technological age without men finding out we're bats**t nuts? Here are Miss Allison's tips:

1. Use your real name for your web dating profile. I agree with Julia – just like Leo does in her own piece – that you can go very, very wrong having a screen name. But just because \”IHeartChuckBass\” is lame that doesn't mean using your real name is the approach to take. Believe me, I (accidentally) made it happen. After i signed up for my OKCupid account – that has since been deleted – I made use of my first and middle names for my username, without thinking about it. (I believe I was drinking white wine at the time.) Suddenly, a lot of people, who continue reading The Frisky which i was online dating on OKCupid, were able to find me and message me. My privacy was blown.

ALTERNATIVE TIP: As Leo wrote, Magnum anything is a terrible way for a dude to provide himself online, but creating a screen name that reflects what you are inside a positive way is difficult. I suggest you choose a subject or thing you actually love and make up a screen name according to that. Mine could be \”PeonyMacNCheese.\” How about yours?

2. Do not Facebook-friend him immediately. Generally speaking, I agree with Allison about this tip, although not for the same reason – Julia says doing so could make you seem like a psycho and, remember, you don't want him to know that yet. I don't think it necessarily makes you crazy, but perhaps a tad overeager. Facebook profiles reveal enough detailed information online in regards to a person, tidbits it's much nicer to understand on, you realize, dates. If his profile isn't private you likely can't resist a looksie, but when it's, I would advise against Facebook-friending him JUST to find out what his favorite band is. That is what Bing is for.

The real reason, though, that you ought to not friend someone you've just started dating is growing rapidly when things don't work out, you are suddenly stuck reading the boring updates of the individual who you had been never really friends with after which need to decide whether or not to unfriend him. I currently am Facebook friends with three dudes I've gone out on dates with. It's irritating.

ALTERNATE TIP: Facebook-friend him when you genuinely consider him a buddy. I realize this is not always typical of Facebook-friending, as I am Facebook pals with everyone from that guy inside it from my last job whose name I can't make sure to my ex-boyfriend's boss. Wait to friend him until you seem like regardless of what happens between the two individuals, you with thankful to see his status updates and take a peek at his vacation photos.

3. Don't respond immediately to his texts. Allison advises waiting approximately 43 minutes to text him back. This really is game-playing, and juvenile, amateur game-playing at this. Don't be rude. Text him back when you have a response and the time for you to types out on your little cellphone keypad. Jesus.

4.Lock your phone. So he can't read the sext messages you're sending to other guys I suppose? Or so he doesn't observe that you have Miley Cyrus on your morning commute playlist? Look, you should lock your phone so no one can dig through your private info, but when you're that concerned about the man you're dating having access to your Blackberry, you're likely as much as not good and I ain't givin' your cheatin' ass no tips!

ALTERNATIVE TIP: OK, here's one. If you have something to hide, don't hide it on your phone, dimwit.

5. Don't send him nude photos. Agreed with Julia about this one. This is how Vanessa Hudgens' nudie pic wound up on the internet! Even if you trust him not to distribute that photo of the ta-tas covered in whip cream, do you trust him to be smart and cautious enough to hide it from prying eyes?

ALTERNATIVE TIP: Take naked photos of him, of course.

6. Don't provide a guy your Facebook password. Julia says that if you do this, whenever you split up, he will print all of your messages and distribute them on campus. Wow, you had been dating a real psychopath weren't you? Most ex-boyfriends aren't this pathological, however, if he does somehow have your password and you do split up, just change it. Duh. And remember to change the passwords to all your other accounts – email, iChat, etc. – because chances are he knows those too. Just sayin'.

7. Your Facebook profile photo shouldn't have the man you're dating inside it. Allison says this sends the message – To him? Towards the universe?-that you think him to become \”one half of your whole\” and dudes just aren't into that. I don't think Facebook photos send that deep of a message, if they do, mine is telling the universe that I am an enormous wino. Oh. Wait.

Just kidding. It's your Facebook profile photo and most normal people like to use photos where they think they appear super cute or funny or hawt – when the photo that does that happens to have your man in it too, so be it.

ALTERNATIVE TIP: If you actually want to make sure that he doesn't leap to the conclusion that the photo of the two of you together indicates you, ICK, like him, factors to consider he looks like crap in it and that you look Much better. That'll show him!