I've got a date this weekend / online dating

[Droopy]

For those of you thinking about online dating, here are a few tips. I've run across several people who do not put up recent pics of themselves. I don't know what the reasoning is behind that. I've had a couple of really crappy dates because of it. One was about 80 pounds heavier than her pics and another looked to be about twenty years older than her's. In a perfect world, looks wouldn't really matter, but I'd be lying to you if I told they didn't- most people would.

If you are a woman, be prepared to be hounded by a bunch of guys who only want sex from you. The honest ones will tell you that they are just looking for casual sex. But a lot of them will sweet talk you and tell you they are looking for something long term, and then after they get into your pants they are suddenly unavailable. It makes things really difficult for guys like me who really are looking for something long term.

If you are a man, be prepared to write 50 e-mails before you get anyone to respond to you. And unless you are a cute, little, 20 year old hardbody, you will not get any unsolicited messages. The women basically just wait for you to come to them. The really attractive women get so many e-mails that a lot of them don't even read them all.

Those rules of thumb apply to heterosexual people. I don't know how the gay, dating game works.

I've been on a dating site since February of this year. There have been 7 potential mates in that period of time, but I have yet to go on a second date with someone. In a way it has been really good for me. I'm a socially awkward kind of guy and it has been much easier for me to approach women online than in the real world. It has also helped me improve my social skills.

I'll be going out on a date Saturday night. She seems cute, smart, and sweet. I'm just hoping that she's honest.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Droopy!

I hope she's honest too! You deserve someone really nice...

Good luck!

:hug:

[malta blue]

2. Enjoy your date Droopy.

And thanks for the tips ;)

I have been trying to get up the courage to do the online dating thing.

[Roon]

3. I met my boyfriend online

We hit it off pretty good from the get go. What is wild is I liked him before I saw his picture. Him being cute was a nice bonus though! DING! DING! DING!

[Redstone]

4. Good God, I feel for you. If Mrs R died, I'd probably prefer to be alone than

get involved in "online dating," just like I'm SO happy I don't have to fly on business trips anymore.

But then again, I'm old, so don't take my sentence above as any judgment of what you, personally should do or not do.

Redstone

[supernova]

5. I'm a woman and I totally relate to what you are saying

I use on online dating site and I hardly ever use IMs just for the reason you stated.

Fuck me (heh) if I can tell the difference between a nice man worth talking to, or somebody just trolling for free sex chat. :grr:

I do write to guys I'm interested in, but they don't reciprocate. Figures.

It's amazing to me that anyone manages to get together with anyone else, yet it happens all the time.

[hunter]

6. I hope you make a friend....

... or more.

Good Luck!

[DarkTirade]

7. Yeah, I've pretty much stopped bothering with sites like that.

Other than the ones that are more networking than dating, I still check my OKCupid account now and then.

[Radical Activist]

8. Interesting.

I tried online dating for a little while when I moved to a new city where I didn't know anybody. I went on a couple first dates but no second dates. Right now I'd rather be single than go through the hassle.

[tandot]

9. I met my husband 7 years ago through match.com and we are expecting our first child in June

I had to go through a lot of crappy dates before I met him, though.

Also, my brother-in-law met his wife through match.com and their first child was born in August.

Good luck with your date. I hope it works out :hi:

[alarimer]

10. Well I met someone online after I'd all but given up.

So it does happen.

And actually, I was the first person he ever met through online dating. I guess he got lucky. LOL

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. I hope that you have a good time...and you are pretty much right

about the online dating scene. Good luck with it (hope you have better luck with it than I did)

[Callalily]

12. Wishing you a pleasant

time with your new found friend.

[Blue_Tires]

13. pretty good rules of thumb

and i've been doing the online thing on and off for 10 years...have fun out there

[Orsino]

14. It's hit or miss.

My wife found me on match.com thirteen years ago, and each of us was delighted to discover that the other was as advertised.

It really does depend in large part on honesty, I guess. I'm not sure how one would recover from a first impression that one was fibbing, but perhaps it can happen, if there are enough other compatibilities.

[raccoon]

15. Hope it works out well for you.

IMO, dating sucks big time, whether online or in RL.

I want to get to know a guy BEFORE dating, which makes it hard.

Thanks for your tips, Droopy.

[peace frog]

16. Hope she's someone you'll want to see again

and that an honest friendship can blossom for you two. I feel for you; as someone said upthread, I can't imagine getting back into the dating scene if I became suddenly single again. Takes a lot of courage to keep yourself in the game in the face of disappointments. And you never know, this one could be magical. Best wishes.

[Brewman_Jax]

17. Your assessment

of on-line dating is correct. To add, a man may get unsolicited messages, but it's usually by someone that didn't read your ad in the first place and doesn't match. You can get one from someone that matches you, but that's extremely rare.

I've had no success, but I have met those that have had success with on-line dating.

Good luck with Saturday night. :hi: