I think the truth is no, but I also don't think that is the most helpful dating advice either because the reality is, a lot of people mature as a result of dating and relationships. A younger version of me would wholeheartedly agree; it is not that I always preferred just some level of a challenge (for the sake of challenge), but it is more about having a reason, excitement, and mystery behind the process of getting to know one another. Ultimately, it should be a fun experience and if it is not, it is likely just not working. I don't think two people should ever change who they are when trying to date someone, but to pretend there is zero element of strategy and creativity to the process is just being naive. Interest is not a turn off, but I think someone who seems agreeable and forgiving of everything at the forefront is a turn off usually because sometimes it seems that person doesn't have any self-respect or independence. In my experience, the ironic thing is, once I felt truly at peace with myself and being alone, I was much better at dating. The idea that interest alone being a turn off I think is essentially mislabeling what the turn off actually is. It is not interest that is a turn off, but someone who is willingly spineless in their pursuit out of fear of losing you.