Quote:
A lot of people are still under the preception that only 40 year old loser virgins date over the web.
How appropriate for my avatar!
Quote:
When you are single, you and your single friends go to the bar and hope to either hook up for the night or find a future spouse. Why can't the web be used for the same thing? Is it too taboo and impersonal? Maybe for someone who avoids the web and chatting like the plague, it is strange.
And usually, as it used to be in my case back in the day, I had no problem meeting girls in bars. Getting drunk and having sex before really knowing if we were really compatible, while fun for the moment, more often than not did not usually work out for long-term relationships.
After a few years of not going to bars, basically becoming a hermit, and tired of being alone, I decided to give online dating a try. So I got hooked into Match.com. You would not believe the huge amount of lonely folks out there trying to connect. I had a great time online dating dozens of women, but the first lady that ever contacted me won my heart over the other ladies I met online.
Funny thing, online dating is merely an update to a very old fashioned idea - Letter writing. It's really quite amazing how it worked out.
After a few e-mails passed back and forth, we met publicly at a Starbucks. We got to get to know each other further with a few more dates, and before you know it, we decided to only see each other.
We've been married for about 2 1/2 years now and have a wonderful relationship.
A cousin of mine, who had some bad relationships, decided to give Match.com a try after seeing our success. She met a wonderful guy and they married last Spring.
The key factors to Smoggy's success in online dating:
1. Find the courage to put yourself out there. You're not alone. If you are looking to have a meaningful relationship - for the love of Bob, be honest. Start that meaningful relationship off on the right foot.
2. Really take advantage of email/letter writing back and forth a little bit. I recommend it over a chat room or msg board or anything that is more immediate, where you can really goof up if not careful.
3. If things work out, start chatting on the phone. Both your pictures will be on the online service (you are better off doing this than not). Put a voice to the picture.
4. Don't rush into meeting people right away and don't expect each meeting to be "the one" - just get used to socializing again and have a fun time. If "the one" comes along, it will happen.
You'd be surprised how fast your social calendar will fill up. Take your time and get to know several folks with the same interests.
5. There will be dates that will not work out. Do not curl yourself up in a fetal position over it. Pick yourself back up and move on to the next.
6. Be cautious and safe - Meet only in public places - before spending any serious "alone-time" with the person, make sure your friends or relatives have a chance to meet the person. There are predators out there, so you have to use common sense about all this.
7. Finally, have a great time! It's actually very fun and it'll get your butt out of the house once in a while!
Edited, Mon Jan 9 15:30:12 2006 by Smoggy Edited, Mon Jan 9 15:43:43 2006 by Smoggy