News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

OkCupid has come under fire after asking singletons if "the world be a better place if people with low IQs were not allowed to reproduce".

Campaigners from the charity MenCap slammed the dating site and accused it of being "offensive towards people with a learning disability".

The charity called for the controversial question to be immediately removed from OkCupid's website.

Amy Clarke, a Mencap spokesperson who also has a learning difficulty, said: "I am very upset that OkCupid could ask a question about whether people with a disability should be allowed to have children.

"This is not OK. It is shocking and offensive. As by asking the question, they are making it seem like it is OK to say yes, which it is not.

"If they had asked the same question about people of different races or sexuality there would be outrage and it should be the same for people with a learning disability."

The dating site asks loveseekers this hugely controversial question as part of its personality profiling scheme.

Users are invited to respond to a number of queries which explore a variety of issues ranging from their "relationship with marijuana" to whether they prefer cuddling in the "big spoon" or "little spoon" position.

However, men and women are also asked a series of highly inflammatory questions designed to expose their attitudes to abortion, homosexuality, gun ownership and even whether it's acceptable to burn their country's flag.

Read more :

But Amy said OkCupid had gone too far with its question about people with low IQ, who often find it tough to use modern internet dating services.

"I am not sure if I want to have children, but I do want to find someone to settle down with," she continued.

"I am single and I know dating can be difficult, so it does not help when dating websites ask offensive questions. It makes me worried to use them. I think OkCupid should apologise immediately for this and remove it from their website. ”

Ciara Lawrence, a Mencap campaigner who also has a learning disability, has started a petition to persuade OkCupid boss Mike Maxim to remove the question.

“As someone with a learning disability who is married and thinking about maybe having children in the future I find this question inappropriate, offensive and discriminatory," she said.

"It should not matter who you are when you have children just that you will love them and do everything you can to raise them in the right way."

(Image: Getty)

Read more :

Ciara was first diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of 10 and was repeatedly told she "would never achieve anything I dreamed of".

"Now I am married, have a great job working at Mencap, and live an independent and happy life.

"I know how important it is for people with a learning disability to have positive role models in their life, and be encouraged to fulfil our dreams.

“I think what OkCupid should immediately remove the question and apologise for any offence it has caused.”

The question system is designed to help users work out who to date - and who to avoid.

An OKCupid spokesman said: "Our question system is designed to help potential matches understand the interests and values of other users.

"Questions range from mundane to provocative and they specifically allow you to determine your potential compatibility with someone else and to avoid people whose viewpoints you strongly disagree with."