Yes, all you old timers are probably *gasping* at this, but hey it’s 2009. My dad craps a pickle every time I tell him “I met him online”. In order to prevent cardiac arrest, I have come up with a new way to drop the news.
Dad says, “Where did you meet this gentleman?”
I SAY
“I pulled his name off of the sex offender list; just kidding…I met him online.”
“I ran into him at the strip club…haha, I just met him online.”
“It said, “For A Good Time Call XXXX”, so I did; oh, I really met him online”
“I bumped into him at a gay night club, oh Dad, I just met him online”
“I met him at a marriage retreat; Okay, I met him online..and his wife!”
“I met him on a herpes dating site, well..kind of..minus the herpes”
So, you see? I try to soften the blow by making it sound off the wall and then when he hears I met them online, there is a small sigh of relief…not a big one, but a sigh none the least. What is so wrong about meeting people online? Why are people so snoodish (no, that’s not a word) when you tell them you met your SO online? Why are us online daters somewhat embarrassed to say, “I met him through the online personals”.
Dad- the way I see it is, I could either be at a bar picking up on drunk, toothless men or I could be in the comfort of my own home, scanning profiles, looking at pictures and picking out the man of my dreams. Why must I wait until I bump into him at some stupid coffee shop? What are the chances of me running into him at my best friends wedding? Duh, my best friend got married five years ago and he wasn’t there. Yes, I know what you say…”If you go looking for something, you will find it”. Great, that’s just the mind set I need. So, what you are saying is I’m going to go look for prince charming and then I will find him. That’s perfect. Let me guess, that’s not what you meant? I love you Dad, but you got to get with the program.
People that shy away from online dating, it’s really due to a lack of knowledge. “But there are a lot of crazy people out there”. Oh really? You know what? You’re right. I run into crazy people every day and I don’t think I”ve seen their face on www.match.com. What are you scared of? How is it different than meeting someone for lunch that you met at a bar? How is it different than meeting someone for coffee, someone that your co-worker set you up with? Mmm? It must be fear of the unknown and not have a personal relationship with your computer. People that do not know there way around the Internet or their computer tend to think that online dating is dangerous, scary, corny and for losers. Honestly, the ones that turn their nose up at it are the ones that are losing out.
Dating online has some serious perks. First of all, you don’t have to shit your pants trying to figure out how you are going to approach someone. It’s just with the click of a button. Blind dates are a thing of the past because now you can check out some one’s profile. Some one’s profile can basically tell you everything from their favorite color, to the job, to how much money they make, their beliefs, their likes/dislikes, what they like to do for fun, etc. Honestly, who wants to sit through a dinner date trying to learn all of these questions only to find out that they are all wrong for you. You can bypass all the bullshit and get straight to the juice.If you are worried about meeting someone that’s koo koo, then you must live under a little rock in Egypt. You’re chances of meeting someone koo koo are probably just the same as meeting someone in “reality”, “reality”- isn’t that what you call it?
Honestly, after dating online I’ve become extremely close to finding my “Ideal” man, comparing it to the men I’ve dated before the computer- it’s been way more promising. Now granted, I’ve met a few koo koo’s but I take caution like I would with any serial killer dater. I’m not trying to totally sway your opinion, I’m just throwing mine out there. You can’t really judge online dating unless you’ve done it before. It doesn’t work for everyone but it might just work for you. I’ve got a handful of online dating stories that are funny, dramatic, traumatic, blissful, weird, magical, etc. I’d love for you to share any online dating tips or stories.
ONLINE DATING DOCUMENTARY PEOPLE!
There is a documentary in the making about people who date online. There is a tv series in the works and they are looking for people who have all sorts of stories when it comes to online dating. Of course, you know I’ve already submitted mine because I can’ t keep my damn mouth shut. So, please bounce over to their website and spill your guts about all your online adventures. Their website is www.meeting-stories.org. Tell’em the Queen sent you.
AWESOME ONLINE DATING BOOKS PEOPLE!
Also, I just read a great book by Cherie Burbach (cool name) about online dating. If you are hesitant about dating online, feel clueless, don’t know where to start: This book is for you. It’s called “Internet Dating is not Like Ordering A Pizza”. I love the title. She totally breaks down online dating into a way that all of us can understand and learn from. She also wrote a previous book called At The Coffee Shop, which if you are EXTREMELY new to online dating, you should read this one first! To learn more about Cherie and to read more of her work, please visit www.TheDifferenceNow.com.
Okay, now that I’ve got that off of my chest- I’mma go stalk the personals. I’m the koo koo online dater that your friends warned you about…MuaHAHAHA!
I met my boyfriend online, and if we even break up [s] I’ll kill him [/s] I’d go back to online dating. I had such success meeting some who is so *right* for me, and I never had that kind of luck IRL. I mean, when you just meet a random person in a bar or whatever, what are the chances you have anything much in common, or similar values, or even the same thing in mind (long term dating or a hookup, for example)?
But if you meet them online, you can use a site that matches you based on those things to filter out the guys who are a waste of time for you and *then* you get the chance to weed through the rest, avoiding the ones that you know you wouldn’t be attracted to or who come across as creeps in writing. By the time you get to the first date, you have a *much* better chance of actually liking each other and being a good match. It’s simply much more efficient!
Another Great Post yer Majesty! I’ve met lots of great women online and only a few wackos…
As a former Shy Guy, it was the “approach anxiety” that drove me on line because at least there I knew the women were also interested in finding someone, whereas in “Real life” if I introduced myself I was either too nervous, or too safe or too something to get much further than, “nice shoes…”or whatever I managed to get up the courage to say.
finding people on line is now normal.
go for it!
Mark
http://ShyGuyHelp.com
I laughed so hard at your new method for breaking the news about meeting on the internet to your dad. It used to sound strange to me too when people said that they met on the internet, but hey, I met my husband in a bar so who am I to judge. I do know a lot of people that met a match on the internet that lives very close to where they live. They lived near each other for years and never met, so obviously without the internet they never would have crossed paths.
I haven’t had much luck with online dating, but I certainly don’t judge anyone for doing it! As you said why is it worse than meeting a man at a bar?
I have been talking to this amazing girl,and yes I’am Gay and proud off it. I find that online dating is the healty way to fulling inlove with someone, because you don’t have that constant stres off knowing what they are doing and thinking, my epal is in Amercica and she and I have like a rountine,when sheis online we will chat for a number off hours and call eachother whenever.
I have such a good connection and it won’t be broken.
I will be meeting Her sometime next year and I’m really looking forward to it.
We all need love and happiness in our lives.
Hey thanks for the cool shout out about my book! I encourage anyone to at least try Internet dating. It worked for me, and I really think it can work for anyone.
As “Miss Attitude” said, “why is it worse than meeting a man at a bar?”
I’m for online dating. It’s exciting when you start chatting and when you are doing well.
Dating online has been awesome for me, since my breakup a year ago, I’ve been meeting men from online and speed dating, even in line at the supermarket
Surely, one has to be careful, however, there are some great men out there, and of course, some major douchebags! 