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Why Try Internet Dating?

Internet personals still have that stigma as being a haven for losers, geeks, and perverts, and that no one normal would ever look to the internet for friendship or romance. Let me tell you, it's not true!

Let's talk about "real life" dating... Once you're past the "college age," you have a total of four places to meet singles:

Through Friends
At Work
At Nightclub/Bars
In "Everyday Life"

Friends - We're a pretty tight circle, so we already know all the same people! But let's just say your friends do manage to set you up on a date. What a great way to find out what your friends really think of you! Then, what happens if things go wrong? It could possibly cause a major rift in your friendship.

Co-Workers - Well... maybe if you work for a really really big company, but most companies frown on inner-office romances. Personally, I don't want my co-workers knowing every facet of my life. And, as with dating through friends, what happens when it ends? You're stuck dealing with this person day after day after day.

Nightclubs/Bars - Yeah, I love going out, catching a band, grabbing a few drinks, but let's take a closer look at what's often called The Bar Scene: For starters, most clubs are packed with baby-faced 21 year olds. I swear, it's like Fetus Night Out sometimes! While I'm not much older than these boys, and there's enough Mrs. Robinson in me to appreciate the eye candy, I just don't have much in common with people whose only objective is to get drunk and get laid.

Another thing, guys are chickens at clubs! It's worse than a high-school dance: All the guys on one side of the room, all the girls on the other. I don't know how many times a guy would be giving me the eye, and not sat a word until either a) closing or b) I'd approach him. And don't give me that bull about "fearing rejection" either! When someone makes eye contact and smiles at you, that's a pretty clear indication that it's safe to say "HI" to her!!!

Everyday Life - Perhaps some people like leaving things to chance, and hope that someday the person of your dreams will just waltz into your life, but I prefer to make my life happen rather than wait for it to happen. And I don't want someone hitting on me when I'm at the Wal-mart buying tampons.

Another problem with just "bumping into" someone, which also applies to bars & clubs... You don't know the status of the other person. They might be married, they might just be out for a Guy's Night Out. They might be so intoxicated they don't know what's going on.

Then there's the actual men themselves. Guys in their 30s who live with Mom, guys in Stone Cold Steve Austin talking t-shirts, and guys like my sister's "friend" The Tongue, who wanted to get laid, that night, and that's all. Since my sis didn't "put out" the guy didn't call her back. No big loss. When she ran into him a week or so later, this slimeball actually had the nerve to say, "I didn't call you cuz I don't want a relationship." Who the hell said ANYTHING about a relationship? So, then there's the internet....

The internet might be a haven for losers, geeks, and perverts, but so is the real world!

A few benefits of meeting online...

• You get to know people who share your interests, values, and goals.
• You know whether or not they are literate -- at least they are smart enough to operate a computer!
• You know they are looking for some kind of relationship.
• There's no swapping of personal information until you're comfortable with it.
• If you get too many warning signs, you can call it off and apply mailblock.
• You get to meet people you otherwise might not have met -- you're not limited to those in your zip code who happen to go to the same places you go.
• You don't have to be "smooth" - you have every advantage to make a great first impression; you have time, backspace, and spellcheck on your side.
• No rush - take your time before going out with someone.
• You can have a great time without having to worry about if your hair is a mess, if your place smells like litter box, or that your typing wearing just your underwear.
  

Why Try Internet Dating by Lorina

Lorina is the webmaster and administrator of Way Too Personal, Dating Review, Moonlit Walks, and Dating Advice Forums . She met her husband via an online personal ad in 1999.