Are you ready for online dating?
If you have been contemplating the idea of online dating but haven't had the courage
to take the plunge yet, maybe it's simply because you are not sure if it's right
for you.
A lot of people feel the same when they hear terms like online dating and cyber-dating,
as they sound so overwhelming. After all, there are millions of people out there,
literally a whole world waiting for you to meet, and this can be intimidating and
puzzling for anyone.
If this is how you feel, then you will need to think about what your expectations
are of a date and whether trying out online dating could bring you closer to what
you are really looking for.
Met on Midsummer's Eve
Getting to know yourself first
Given the fact that online dating requires you to make a profile of who you are
and what you want in a personal relationship, first you need to make this clear
to yourself. So take your time and really think about this. Try to understand yourself
and establish what you want to gain from online dating from the very beginning.
You're the one who knows yourself best, so try to honestly say if you think there
may be a possibility for you to find someone online. If the answer is yes, then
go for it!
Bear in mind that you should not go online to look for a relationship simply because
your friends do. Peer pressure is always worth resisting. Moreover, if you feel
uncomfortable about this kind of contact, e-mailing potential dates or sending instant
messages, online dating will probably not work for you.
Being open minded
If you want to access online relationship opportunities, you must be open to all
kind of possibilities, since people you meet online may become your friends or dates.
Try not to be judgmental, as they are all just ordinary people, just as interesting
and exciting like yourself. So if you decide to go ahead, make sure you do this
with a friendly, welcoming attitude and with an open mind.
You should also bear in mind to be honest regarding your intentions, as well. If
you want only casual dates, make sure you let potential partners know about it.
It is a question of fairness and respect not to get another person's hopes high,
and waste their time and money (especially if you are on a membership fee site).
After getting some clear ideas about the whole issue, you should try to make up
your mind about your choices. What exactly are you looking for? Do you fancy someone
younger or older than you are? An independent woman or a relatively sheltered lady?
A career man or a wannabe artist? The number of variables is infinite, and online
dating finally gives you the chance to pick and choose just like you wanted, because
there are plenty of fish in the sea of World Wide Web.
So go ahead and establish your priorities, then remember them once you start browsing
through profiles. Make sure you think through what you really want, because as they
say, you just might find it.
Finding the one
After narrowing down your criteria, make a further effort to be clear about your
plans. Most online dating sites offer you the option to search the members' database
by choosing different criteria, such as geographic position, interests, or even
hair color. Besides these, you could also refine your search by stating whether
you want casual or serious dates. This is a very efficient method for you to focus
on what you are really looking for, but don’t forget to remain flexible to a certain
extent. After all, some of the best friendships may start out as one thing and grow
into another. So don't constrain yourself too much.
Met on
Keeping it real
On the other hand, though, do your best to be honest. If traveling across the country
to meet someone is not really your cup of tea, don't lead anybody on and put off
the inevitable. When you try online dating, do your best to treat the others as
you would like to be treated, all the more if things tend to get serious. In fact,
one of the most important things you have to determine is how serious you are when
it comes to a long-term relationship. Some people are looking to enlarge their circle
of friends, while others want to have someone with whom to hang out on the weekends.
For all these options you can try www.mutualfriends.com, where you have plenty of
opportunities to meet people in your neighbourhood. If you are looking for romance,
this site offers you the possibility to clearly state this into your profile. Moreover,
you can guide your searches by criteria such as state or territory, postcode, the
type of relationship desired or whether they have a photo in their profile or not.
You can also refine your search by using tags, in order to find people who share
your interests.
Nothing to lose!
Online dating sites are a great method of making new friends, especially if you
have just relocated to a new city or a new district. Be sure to read the profiles
of the people you contact to see exactly what they are after. Some may want to get
married and settle down, while others may simply wish to have fun without committing
to anything serious. So it is better to know where you stand on these issues and
how the others’ goals fit yours. It is also better to be crystal clear about your
interests and values when you approach someone to e-mail or chat with them.
Believe it or not, if you choose online dating you will not be placed on the fringes
of society – as a matter of fact, you won't be even part of a minority. As online
dating has developed a lot and moved into the mainstream in the past years, you
can now take advantage of a huge number of opportunities to meet people who share
your views and interests. And since you already have an idea of what online dating
is like and how to go about it – just get in the game and start cyber-dating!