One New Yorker, who calls himself BigBigBigBoy in one of his online accounts, has a technique called "triangulation" that he has shared with friends. First he meets someone online, gets her in a chat room and finds out all her likes (say, Shakespeare and horses) and dislikes (football). Then he abruptly breaks off contact. Later he logs on using a different name and starts up a new conversation, assuming all the traits she favors ("I love reading 'Hamlet' while riding my Shetland pony when my friends are watching the Super Bowl").

Newsweek > February 19, 2001, U.S. Edition