I agree on the code of honor.  What the hell and who am I anyway?  Cary Grant?  In for a tuppence and all that.  If someone turns out to be not who you've set yourself up to believe they might be, whether looking different... older, shorter, fatter, hairier or whatever... just be cool.  

I haven't had the inaccurate photo thing... but the odd surprise here and there.  The few people I've met actually looked much better than their photos, a couple shockingly so.  The age thing... yes, I've had people show up who were definitely older than they claimed, and that's not cool at all.  Part of being kind is being honest, I think.  Why start out what could at least be a good friendship with a fib?  My biggest disappointments in online dating (and otherwise) have come from ME building up in my head whom I thought the other person might be... through flirtatious letters, e-mails, phone banter etc, and then meeting face to face and finding no chemistry.  That's my own fault though.  

I never really got into the X files, but the whole "Trust No One" motto makes sense for Internet dating.  It is not like people out there are lying (hopefully not most of them!) but dating seems to be nothing else than a good marketing campaign.  Most people try to "sell" themselves and obviously the easiest way to sell is thru a picture.  I heard the term "myspace voodoo" which basically means that everybody looks good (even hot!) from a certain angle or by cropping the picture in a particular way.  The way I see it, that is false advertisement only if the description doesn't match what the picture is not showing.  A beautiful face attached to a 200 pound body when she checks the "shapely toned" box is nothing more than a lie.  I understand why people do it but it is a very bad way to start any relationship (if she lied about something that I can clearly see, why wouldn't she lie about stuff that I cannot see...yet?)

As for the way to react, definitely try to have a good time, there's a good chance that you are in a public place and unless she is looking like a crack whore you should suck it up and enjoy a drink.

Kick ass song, not my favorite Doors tune but Doors nevertheless

I can forgive a flattering picture, but when you show up expecting "athletic" and getting a 200 pounder who complains about a 10k charity walk, that is a different story.

A "blind" first date should always be low cost in terms of money, time and commitment. My friday nights are too valuable to gamble on an internet date. Most importantly, I always make sure that I'll have some fun, regardless of the company.  Live shows at coffee houses are perfect for this.

Have to say, Z... I just played both versions of I'm Free back to back.  The original sounds nothing like Peace Frog.  That lick in the Soup Dragons cover though is almost directly lifted.  About the only resemblance between the original and the cover is the lyrics.  

And to the other guy--I don't mind dropping a few dollars on any date, even a blind date.  It's not a question of having anybody to impress.  I just like a good meal and I like meeting new people.  It's not a big deal to go someplace I generally would go with my friends.  

AHG--The world is too small for cruelty and I've long since used up my mean, petty quota so I'm in the red but trying to do better.  

I have a hard time discussing music with most people, but especially under 40.  That's weird because I like more different kinds of music than most people I've ever met.  Then again, growing up in the pre-MTV generation, music is still about enjoyment and not identity.  

Zeit--could you tell me whatever became of Bram Tchaikovsky of the Motors fame after a couple very good solo albums???  I couldn't find any information.  Also... whatever became of The Fabulous Poodles???

The Fabulous Poodles had two albums that I know of and a minor radio hit with a single called Mirror Star.  I saw them at the old Peppermint Lounge.  One of the guys did a really cheesy western swing thing in the 90s but I haven't heard from the rest.  Bram Tchaikovsky seemed to drop off the map after an album called Funland.  The single Model Girl was killer but...

i had a date who, for some inexplicable reason, expected me to be taller, even though i'm quite clear that i'm 5'3".  you look like your pics, or an amalgam of your pics.  same with me.  lucky boys who date us.

I once met up for a first date, only to have the second question come out of her mouth be "So where did your profile pic come from?", with a distinct edge in her voice. Now I admit I wanted a cracker of a pic for my main photo - who doesn't want to look their best for that first glance? But I made sure to include several other pics that gave a fuller of view of me. So I can only deduce that she hadn't bothered to check them out.