Using Online Dating Sites

If there's one thing the Internet has introduced us to that we love, it's online dating. If you stop to ponder it a bit, you will understand that it makes the whole process of meeting someone to date just way too easy. It is totally possible to browse profiles in your own time and short list a full array of interesting people that you may want to open communications with before wasting a lot of time talking to people who would not interest you in the long run. You already know if you have mutual interests before even initiating any contact. No awkward conversation at bars, no “trying to get out of it”, nothing. No more worries about that creepy guy in the corner approaching you just before last call. Better yet, if your potential hunk or babe du jour is secretly dissing you behind your back, you are unlikely to ever know.

One of the more interesting aspects of online dating is how up front people are when describing themselves on their profiles; information that is often only found out later when dating in the real world. You will find that many people who join an online dating site will give you a full discourse on their personal lives and desires. Many people on online dating sites just do not get the fact that they are trying to market themselves in a positive light. Being up front about fetishes, all the sins of past partners, and health issues come across very negatively, and as such end up working at cross purposes to what you are trying to do, and that is find a partner to date.

Then there's the aspect of comfort. How comfortable are you, meeting people you've never met in person? I guess it depends on the person. When it comes to me, I tend to be paranoid and trusting at the same time. As in, I'll go and meet them, but I'll keep my distance.  A good tip for those of you who want to go ahead with online dating, but are worried about that: tell a friend of yours where you'll be, who you'll be with and keep your cellphone on. Just pretend you are your parents and you are going out for your first date. What kinds of things did they expect you to do? Just take similar precautions and you should be okay. To be doubly sure, stay away from totally free dating sites like OKcupid or Plentyoffish. Not that they are bad in themselves, but if you stick to sites where people have to pay to join, there is less chance of running into a molester. Paying just leaves an easy financial footprint for police to follow, so predators tend to avoid paid sites

Other than these simple precautions, I only have good things to say about online dating sites. Meeting people in person for the first time is always a bit of a rush. I mean, you think you know them pretty good by this point, but you can always be surprised. I met someone once with a distinctive body odour that I could not get past. Not hold your nose BO, but rather some subtle scent that may have been genetic or something that they ate regularly. Either way, it was a turn off for me even though I liked them? I am also always nervous as to how I will measure up in turn. Other than that, like I said, I have nothing but good things to say about it.

Most of my friends feel that meeting someone online is just a better forum for exploring a new relationship. Dating sites tend to be less about looks and more about compatibility of interests and thinking. The length of time that people will communicate online before making the decision to meet in person varies widely. I have found however that people who wait too long will often find the other party either lose interest or else they get involved with someone else while they are chatting you up for weeks. There is a middle place where you are safe, but not seen as boringly cautious. Personally, I love the conversation bits. Starting off with a few topics (music, TV, movies etc.) and growing into a full blown conversation frenzy about all kinds of things like work, friends, funny stories etc. Some people worry that if you start off that way, you'll run out of things to talk about – I think it's quite the opposite. When I get started with people, I can't run out of things to talk about...all the e-mails back and forth have done is put ideas in each others heads and told us all we need to know to keep things going.

Sometimes meeting an interesting person face to face for the first time ends up in disappointment. No spark! Often though, these people end up being really good friends because there is just so many other things that you have in common. No matter what sex, sexuality, race, religion or age range that you may be targeting when you first join up, you will likely find your match on an online dating site.

Dating sites are just a natural offshoot of what it is that the Internet does best, and that is to connect people and keep people connected, even at a distance. The Internet is not going away any time soon, and as a consequence, neither are dating sites. Just go for it!

If you are interested in online dating sites, but are not sure where to start, then check out this link:

Online Dating