Internet Dating Basics
What are advantages of Internet dating sites?
There are a lot of advantages to internet dating because you have a large pool of people from which to choose. You have people from different ethnic backgrounds, different religious backgrounds. You have all kinds of people; people who are in professions that you would never meet if you weren't online. You have people from different countries that you would never meet if you weren't internet dating, so it exposes you to a lot of people. Also, internet dating can be done in the comfort of your own home. There's no middle man, nobody to introduce you. There's nobody to have hurt feelings in case the relationship doesn't work out and you can screen out a lot of people so it has many advantages.
What are disadvantages of Internet dating sites?
There are some disadvantages to internet dating. First of all it can be very addictive. So, even though you found someone that you think is great, you may still be online looking for other people because it's so interesting; it's so addictive. It may flatter you because "Wow, I'm so hot. Some people are really attracted to me that never would have been attracted to me before." So, in essence, it does something for your ego that's very false. That can be one of the disadvantages. Another disadvantage is that people don't always tell you the truth. They may give you a photograph up there that is ten years old, or they may tell you they're a certain weight when they're not or a certain height when they're not. They may tell you that they do something for a living that they don't, so you have to be really careful about what kind of lies people may possibly be telling you. Another disadvantage of using the internet, in terms of internet dating, is that people are oftentimes objectifying others. They look at this as it's a numbers game; they don't look at it as a real person that they can really relate to or have can relate to them. They are really looking at "Well, this is cutie123 or handsome456." They are not really looking at people as people, and because of that there can be some difficulty.
Should I avoid looking for Internet dates outside my area code?
When you're online and you're Internet dating, people think, "Should I just stick to my own area code? Should I stick to my own neighbourhood? Should I stick to my own state? My own country?" Well, there are no rules. If you want to be with somebody that's not geographically desirable, you can. But know that it's better to be with somebody that you can see every day so that you can get an inkling of what their life is like, and so that you can get involved in their life. If somebody is from another state or another country or another city, you're going to have a little more difficulty.
What is an Internet dating profile?
An Internet dating profile is on a dating site, and it is an advertisement about yourself. An internet dating profile tells others about your physicality, your hair color, your eye color and you ethnic background. It also tells a little bit about your hobbies, what you are interested in, your profession and your philosophies of life.
Should I post a photo on my Internet dating profile?
If you want a lot of dates on an internet dating service, it's a good idea to post a photograph on your profile. If you don't, not a lot of people will choose you. On the other hand, if you're a high profile person and you don't want to have your photograph out there on the internet for everyone to see, you may want to write a little note that says, 'I will send you a photograph at your request.' That's showing that you're open and you're ready to show who you are. It's important to realize that you have to have a photograph on an internet dating profile because people do want to see who you are, and do want to get some sense as to whether or not you're the kind of person they would be attracted to. Please put a photograph on the internet site that is of you now, not of you five years ago or when you were a child. Don't put on photos of you with your child, ex-mate or with your family on a dating profile. That's not acceptable - it should just be you.
What are some common mistakes in creating Internet dating profiles?
There are a lot of mistakes that people make when they create internet dating profiles. First of all, they don't have the correct photograph of themselves up. They may take the best photograph that they have ever taken in their life and put it up on their dating profile, but that's not really how they really look. That photograph may be touched up, but that's not them now. They may make the mistake of using a photograph that was ten years old, which is not OK. People also exaggerate a little bit on internet dating profiles. They tell things about themselves that are not really so, and that's not OK. Then they may use sexual innuendos, which is also unacceptable, or they may be sarcastic or use corny terms or humor that just is not understood by masses. You want to be real on an internet dating profile. You want to communicate who you are, and not make the mistake of misrepresenting yourself.
How can I ensure my safety when using Internet dating sites?
When using an Internet dating site, you have to be very cautious in terms of your safety. Firstly, you have to not give away all of your personal information on the Internet. Secondly, you need to definitely look at inconsistencies in terms of the email correspondence that you have back and forth. You need to hear inconsistencies when you're on the telephone with them. If they hold back information, that's not a very good sign because the key is to find out as much as you can about each other. If they are very vague about things, this could be a problem.
How can I ensure my safety when I meet an Internet date?
When you meet an Internet date for the first time, after being on an Internet dating site, you've got to be very cautious. You've got to be concerned about your safety. First of all, you have to be in an open space; be in a public space where there are a lot of people around. Next, bring your cell phone, because if there's an emergency, you can call somebody immediately. Bring some money, in case you have to high-tail it out, perhaps get a cab; this is very important to do. Also, you want to tell somebody that you've gone out on this date; tell a friend, tell a family member. Let people know where you are. This is very important.
