Does Online Dating Really Work?

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Online dating is a phenomenon that has swept the globe! Millions of people have jumped at the opportunity. It has literally made it possible to meet more people who may be interested in having a relationship. It has given quite a number of unlikely couples the opportunity to meet.

Does it really work though, that is the question so many people want answered. With so many people to choose from, isn’t the chance of finding a match or a happy ever after even more unlikely than it is the normal way? Do people truly find long lasting happiness through the internet?

What is the point of online dating anyway? There are online dating services that help you find dates – that’s basically people that may be of interest to you and you can have some fun with. There are others who will help you find a match, possibly Mr. or Miss Right. Still some will help you meet others of a similar faith such as with Jewish dating or Christian dating and the like. There are even some that cater to specific groups like gay or lesbian dating or senior dating and even married dating. Do many of these result in a lifetime pairing?

The answer: some do, quite a number don’t. Hang on! It isn’t the fault of the dating services. It works best for those who go into it knowing exactly what they want. For example, if you’re looking for true love and want to get married, preferably to someone who is of the same faith (Catholic) then you really shouldn’t be posting your personal ads on a site called just friends or one that’s called Jewish dating, right? Being clear on your personal criteria and going to the dating service that will provide you with the contacts who meet your desires go together. That’s what will give you the perfect match.

There are so many men and women around (no matter where you live) yet often people feel that there aren’t enough of them to go around. The common lament is the good ones are all taken or gay/lesbian. It’s like the rest all disappeared into the woodwork! Don’t despair, they are out there, maybe just in a different town…or state…or country than where you live. If you’re lucky you won’t have to go that far.

In the olden days there were pen pals. Then there were phone pals. Now there are internet friends. The only difference is the medium. Do any of them stand a better chance than others? Well, it sure is better with video and chat than snail mail, right? There are less chances of getting someone who is just pretending to be the guy in the picture (who turns out to be his married, older brother). You still need to meet the person in the end before deciding if the reality is equal to the online persona they’ve presented.

Internet dating definitely beats blind dating. There is absolutely no need to put yourself through the torture of having to sit in a restaurant, not quite sure if he’ll show up at all once he sees you. As long as you’ve been honest and up front, and of course both of you really are ready to meet, you may have a great beginning. You’ll also know exactly who you’re date is the moment she walks in the door, if they put their real picture up with their profile. No more of this whole night with nothing to talk about and nothing in common. You can actually feel confident that the least you will get is a meeting of minds.
Take a moment and think on this: with internet dating, you have to sign up; you make a conscious choice to make yourself available to the dating public. Then you have to decide what information about yourself you want to share (this may or may not include a photo in your profile). Once you put out your personal ad, you’ll begin getting responses from people who want to get to know you. Some you’ll like on sight (picture), others you have to think about (they don’t look like a hunk but they seem interesting or you have common interests). At some point, most likely after you get to know their mind and personality well, you’ll need to take a chance and meet up with the most interesting possibilities in person. You’ll go out looking your best and hope to impress this person, praying that he lives up to your expectation. In the end, you may or may not have a match.

Doesn’t that sound just like the regular dating game? The only difference is you had a different source (no cousins introducing you here) and you at least get to do your basic selection process without having to spend on an expensive dinner. You can take the cost of your two drinks and sink it into the online dating service fee instead.

The truth is the internet just increases your chances of finding someone who just might be up your alley. Online dating services do the work of having people sign up and get them interested in meeting other people. They’ll take care of getting everyone’s basic information and getting their basic likes and dislikes out in the open. You’re job will just be to select. Everything is done from the comfort of your own home, with no need for you to even get out of your chair for the preliminary evaluation.

Why not ask around? You might be surprised to learn that at least one of your friends has not only been in a successful online date but may actually have married an online buddy. Some of them will insist that it is actually better that they met online first. Meeting online made it possible for them to get to know each other without the physical aspect getting in the way.

In the end, only you can say whether online dating really works. Like they say, the proof is in the eating. If you know what you want, make the time, and of course, take the proper precautions against scams, the chances of ever after may just be an online connection away.