If there's one thing the Internet has introduced us to that we love, it's online dating. When you reflect on the entire concept of meeting someone on an Online Dating Site, you just have to admire how much it totally simplifies the entire process of meeting people. We can browse pictures before we even talk to them, centre on the cuties and ignore the rest. No more lame openers to try to avoid, no more embarrassment when it turns out that the person bats for the other team, nothing like that at all. No more worries about that creepy guy in the corner approaching you just before last call. Even better is the fact that if you have a bad reaction to them you do not have to take pains to hide your feelings from showing on your face.
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. Honesty is good in any relationship, but many people in online dating sites give you their life history in their profiles. They are likely doing themselves a disservice in this regard. 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.
There is another aspect that you need to consider, and that is your personal comfort with meeting people in person for the first time. Thousands of people meet through dating sites every day with no issues, but it is still best to take precautions. Take your cell phone and leave it on. Put 911 on speed dial. Tell friends and family where you will be and for what reason. Make sure you meet in a public place, and do not go anywhere alone with them the first time out. Best to be just meeting over a coffee rather than for a full blown date the first time you get together with someone. The same thing your parents would have insisted still works, folks. I am stressing here to meet in a public place the whole time, like a restaurant, a movie theatre, and a crowded street, whatever. If it's appropriate, I'll even bring a friend along and encourage them to do the same. 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
Aside from this normal "Mom" precautions, Online Dating Sites are likely the safest way that you will find to meet new people. 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'm always super-nervous at first, myself, but it tends to wear off within a few minutes. From my perspective though, this is nothing more than I experience when walking up to a hot somebody in a bar and introducing myself.
Most of my friends feel that meeting someone online is just a better forum for exploring a new relationship. Aside of the initial pre-contact screening where you filter out people with three eyes and stuff, people using online dating sites tend to focus on the intellect and communication first and foremost. This may be largely because you cannot be influenced by pheromones, ambiance, or clothing which might draw you into a relationship with someone that you are just not intellectually compatible with. Most people will meet someone for the first time within a window of 2 to 6 weeks or so. Going to fast is dangerous, and waiting too long will likely result in never meeting them at all. 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.
I have met a lot of people on dating sites that ended up just being friends. We had tons in common, but when we met in person, nothing clicked. Kinda like a sibling reaction. Love them to death, but not in a sexual way. 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:
Dating Online
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