Sarah E. Ludwig, who works in publishing in New York, said she wanted new clothes. More specifically, "a new three-quarters-length coat from the Gap (in black) and a pair of caramel-colored, knee-high leather boots."

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Francesca Gomes, who works in an auction house and went to Williams with another woman who received the message, wrote out a stream of consciousness dissertation of what she thought about in an average day.

A group of three women instructed Hulsey on where to shop for holiday presents for women; another woman wanted to find a bookstore with the right atmosphere.

One particularly bold respondent declared: "I want to see a guy wear one of those men's thongs I see so prominently displayed at my local department store. THEN I want to ask him how it feels to be seamless."

Hulsey has not responded to any of these women and does not plan on it.

"I don't think I'm going to until a cold, lonely night in February," he said. But if he were to contact any of them, it would be the one who explained, "Basically, I'm just looking for someone who doesn't mind talking about Heidegger in bed."

At press time, Hulsey did not know his friend was behind the phenomenon.