Guide to Online Dating Services

Loves You, or Not? A Guide to Online Dating Services
Gone are the days of long walks in the afternoon, or phone calls lasting until sunrise. Gone are the sweaty palmed, knee trembling boys asking girls out, and the girls waiting for the boys to make the first move. Everything is available online: lists of sweet lines, electronic books of poetry, flower delivery services, and yes, dating.

Online dating has taken out most of the tension that comes with ordinary, by-the-bar, can-I-buy-you-a-drink rituals. It has also moved the sleaze of the real world online, so before you plunge into the nearest dating service website, take note of the following Dating Dozen:

• Don’t Stick to Just One – There are hundred of online dating services. Depending on your needs – and desperation – search all these sites and see which one appeals to you.

When you do find the website you need, you don’t need to stick to it only. You can post on as many sites as you want, as long as you can handle the email that will most likely come flowing your way.

• There are Billions of Fish, and Some of Them Bite – online Dating services attract angels and devils alike, so be wary. If you think you’re dealing with a maniac, report the person to the service owner.

• They’ll Ask, You Don’t Need to Answer – Some profiles will ask for your contact information, but do you really want to give out your complete address and zip code? Remember: online services don’t filter out potential stalkers, so be careful about what information you share.

• Relax! – Is someone talking about her dreams about marriage? Is a guy emailing you with inspirational messages that irritate you? Don’t let it get to you, and don’t get your nerves frazzled. Some services have very lonely people who are actually out to make you happy, not angry.

• Keep to Email – Some people will ask to see you immediately. Resist the urge to take the plunge. Get to know them through chat, read their profile thoroughly, and keep up a steady stream of emails before you organize a meeting. 

• Get to Know your BCC – Do you know what that “BCC” line is for in your email? It’s for emailing to people without your recipients knowing each others’ email addresses. If you have to send an email to a lot of people, including someone you met through an online dating service, put the email addresses in the BCC line. This will keep your long-time friends’ email addresses a secret from someone who might be a hazard to them.

• If You’re a Girl – Don’t hook up with a guy who talks sex on the first email. It means he doesn’t respect women, and he won’t respect you.

• If You’re a Guy – Don’t get irritated if girls refuse to talk about sex. This may be the information age, but gentlemanliness never goes out of fashion.

• Talk is Cheap – Don’t judge a potential date by the sweetness of emails, or niceness of chats. Remember, the whole idea of online dating services is invisibility to the opposite sex. You can’t gauge a person’s truthfulness from an email that could have been written while intoxicated or high.

• Pictures Don’t Tell the Whole Story! – Not everyone posts their pictures! Don’t expect to meet a Hollywood hunk or babe when you finally go on your date.

• Trust no One – In all things online, don’t think everyone is your friend. Share your stories, but keep more secrets.

• Collect and Select – Whoever said you have to have one online date? Get as many as you can, then pick Prince (or Princess) Charming.

Are you ready to take the plunge? Try online dating, but take care!