An ad once appeared in the personals column of a newsletter. It read like this: "Married, professional man, 47, with problems in home, seeks dalliance with a married/unmarried, intelligent woman." The ad had been written by some researchers. They were curious about who would respond to such an ad. Much to their astonishment, they were deluged by responses.

For example, here's one: "I am a 34-year-old female, pretty, rubenesque, brown hair, dark blue eyes. I work as a nurse in large urban hospital. My friends consider me bright, honest, interesting, conservatively bohemian and sensual. I have the usual vices."

Here is another: "I am interested in the same things you are. I am 36, married. Discretion is very important to me. Please call only between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m."

Or this one: "Wel…