While online dating is becoming more accepted and is one of the easier ways to meet singles in your area, there are still people who won’t admit to signing up for an online dating site. There’s some kind of stigma that people feel looms overhead when they say that they’ve met their match online or that their relationship started from online dating. See, although we know that online dating is becoming a common practice, it still feels a little… Odd? There’s a stigma that if you resort to online dating sites to meet someone, either you’re a pervert or you are desperate and can’t meet people on your own; you have be reduced to meet new people online.
That isn’t always the case though. There are many reasons why people choose online dating as an alternative to dating the conventional way. Sometimes you’re too busy to go out and look for someone. Let’s be real, a lot of people have a lot on their plates and have schedules that are just packed. We know how time consuming (and frustrating) the dating scene can be. So why not try an online dating site? All you have to do is sign up to any one of the many dating services that are available, fill out a profile, upload a photograph and you’re set.
Many online dating sites run off of algorithms that select people that share some of the same interests as you, have your ideal qualities, and live in the same area as you do. These algorithms aren’t always correct of course. They aren’t going to match you directly to your ideal person right away. You are going to have to put in some leg work of course.
When the dating site sends you suggestions, you then will have to look through these profiles and see which ones you are interested in. You’ll get a chance to send a message to the people who you are interested in. From there you will strike up a conversation and will have to see where it goes. You never know who will contact you. Even if you aren’t looking for a relationship, you may find a really interesting person.
Online dating sites can be like a playground for flirty singles though. Some people sign up to these services to meet new people and have some fun. Not everyone who signs up to one of these online dating services are looking for a relationship. Some people are just looking for friends or a random hook up. So you may want to specify in your profile what you are looking for. Granted you still may get contacted by people who are looking for something you aren’t. You don’t want to be rude and ignore them. Rejection still hurts even if it is online dating. The computer monitor doesn’t negate the harshness of words if they are mean and hurtful. So please be mindful of that when you tell someone you aren’t interested. Even flirty singles have feelings that can be easily hurt.
Sandra Baker is a dating adviser, psychologist and content writer for Wildbuddies.com. With years of experience in the dating field, she knows how to help singles meet their soulmates and find a date online.